On the Wind Sailing (59º North Sailing Podcasts)

#74. Frank & Patty Fabian are the philosophical opposites of last week's guests, Ted & Claudia Reshetiloff. But their story is no less inspiring. Where Ted & Claudia packed up their working lives, yanked their young kids out of school and set off for new lives in the Caribbean, Frank & Patty took a more deliberate route. Learning the ropes for 17 years on their Catalina 30, they taught themselves ocean sailing, worked hard and saved harder, and finally bought a Leopard 48 catamaran - for cash - to set off with the Caribbean 1500 rally and realize a nearly lifelong dream. 

Newly retired, the Fabian's told me their story from the luxurious cabin of Sunsplash. And you can sail with them! Visit sailsunsplash.com to book a crewed charter with Frank & Patty in the Virgin Islands (I didn't even know they were running a business on the boat until halfway through this conversation!). As an aside, they offer some very simple yet GREAT financial advice within for those looking to follow in their footsteps, young or old.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Sign up for an offshore passage at 59-north.com/events.

Andy & Matt ramble on about anything and everything, from sailing in Greenland to DJ’ing in the turntable era and most things in between. Andy was able to catch up with Matt right before he left for the 2023 Ocean Research Project expedition to Greenland the very next day. Matt is always an interesting guest and this episode is no exception. To support Matt’s mission and follow his expedition north to Greenland, head over to Ocean Research Project.

Don't miss this year's Seam'nship Workshop at the 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. Register now at 59-north.com/seamnship

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Edson Marine, "Making adventures happen since 1859." To find the highest quality bilge pumps, steering gear and other hardware just like we use on ICEBEAR & ISBJORN, go to edsonmarine.com.

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BIG thanks to True North Designs for supplying the gorgeous solid oak furniture in the Mission Control container office in Sweden, where much of the podcast is produced!

True North designs & builds furniture in Denmark that is so beautiful that you want them at home and so strong that you can use them in your workplace. They are driven by the passion for beautiful functional design and good craftsmanship, and want to contribute to the renewal of the Danish design tradition together with a new generation of Danish designers.

Reach out on info@truenorth-designs.com if you have questions that you would like answered.

#255: Oda Pedersen Taule is a 20-something Norwegian sailor who set out single-handed on her little sloop SNUPPA, bound for Australia. Self-taught at ocean sailing, Oda learned the hard way, getting badly beaten up on her first Bay of Biscay crossing, even needing to call the coast guard for help, and tearfully sharing some emotional moments with the crew who came to her rescue. The experience didn't discourage her though - on the contrary. Oda & I met in Bergen in December to record the podcast in person, and despite her youth, I discovered that Oda is wise beyond her years and can teach us all a lot about patience, perseverance, and the passion to follow your dreams.

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On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine. And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and Sun Powered Yachts.

#121. Cameron Deyell is a musician based in Brooklyn by way of Auckland, New Zealand. Note the new intro music this week, a song called 'Hey Rose' by his band 'Streets of Laredo.' The full song plays at the conclusion of the episode. Cameron's also a sailor and traveler, and much of his solo music is informed by his sailing experience and sailing dreams. Cameron invited Andy to his Brooklyn studio to record this interview, where they discuss his music career and his sailing background.

Cameron also wrote and performed the new ad music for the podcast. Look for a bonus episode this week with a look behind-the-scenes at how that came together.

Check out Cameron's band at 'Streets of Laredo' at streets-of-laredo.com. Cameron's solo project is at totarajack.com. 

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Isbjorn, a classic Swan 48, at isbjornsailing.com.

And to find Franz Amussen and his podcasts and sailing tutorials, visit medsailor.com.

#205. Bruce Scwab is the first American sailor to complete the legendary Vendee Globe race. Bruce grew up in northern California and started sailing with his dad a young age, eventually working at a rig shop for many years where he honed his as a solo racing sailor, winning the first event he ever entered. Bruce now lives in Maine and specializes in outfitting cruising boats with alternative energy sources and is on the forefront of marine energy technology. I’m running this recycled chat today ahead of another chat I have planned with Bruce in October about the more technical side of outfitting & managing onboard energy systems. Find Bruce online at oceanplanetenergy.com.

#98. Retired Senator Tom Harkin invited me and my dad to his house in Hope Town, Bahamas, a place he’s been going to since the 70s to escape the rat race in DC, and which he’ll spend a lot more time at now in retirement. We took the ferry over and had lunch with Tom and his wife Ruth on the dock overlooking the sea of Abaco and Tom’s new sailboat, a 26’ lifting keel Seaward. We recorded the podcast on the deck behind Tom’s house, overlooking the Atlantic ocean. My dad was there as well, listening in the background. Tom’s got an amazing life story, a lot of which includes his love of sailing. We discussed his younger days in the Navy ROTC, how he became a fighter pilot, what it’s like to takeoff and land from the deck of an aircraft carrier, how he built a trimaran in Japan, how he survived ejecting from a fighter plane on a training mission gone wrong, and much more. This is a good one, so listen up! 

Come ocean sailing with Andy, like Tom did, on Isbjorn, our classic Swan 48. Book a trip at 59-north.com/offshore!

BONUS. Matt Rutherford has been on the podcast more than anyone else in our 230+ episodes, and his stories are always epic. What follows is a presentation Matt did in Toronto in January at the boat show there about his Around the America’s voyage on the 27’ Albin Vega ‘St Brendan.’ Matt’s told this story before on the podcast, but he’s so damn good at it that I never tire of listening to it, and you can always learn something new from him. I’m also playing this as a bonus episode this week because Matt just launched his own podcast - aptly titled ‘Single-Handed’ - so I encourage you to check that out for more of his incredible adventures. And be sure to check out Matt’s updated oceanresearchproject.org website.

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BONUS episodes of On the Wind are presented by us at 59 North, Ltd. Sign on to sail aboard our Swan 48 Isbjorn, or join us for a workshop in Annapolis on offshore sailing, celestial navigation and more. 

#191: Kristoffer Applequist is kind of a big deal in Sweden. One of the countries premier comedians, Kristoffer is also a sailor, and a longtime fan of the podcast. He reached out to me a while back, and we’ve since become friends. Mia & I visited his beautiful house in the Sunne, in central Sweden, to talk to Kristoffer about his comedy background & his sailing ambitions. Since this conversation, his sailing goals have seriously ratcheted up - he recently bought a Hallberg-Rassy Monsun 31, and has even bigger cruising plans. Follow him on Instagram @appelstoffe.

Ask us Anything! Send questions to mia@59-north.com, or leave us a voicemail on 443-440-5411 and we'll play it on the show!

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath. Go online for their full catalog of nautical & weather instruments at weems-plath.com.

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Come offshore sailing with Andy & Mia on Isbjorn at 59-north.com/offshore.

#222. Carlton Goldthwaite is the visionary founder & owner of Broadreach, a North-Carolina based company that offers adventure travel and cultural immersion programs for students worldwide, a company very close to my heart - my first official captain’s job was in 2008, as a Broadreach skipper based out of French St Martin and co-leading three-week sailing & diving trips around the Leeward Islands. Carlton & I spoke in-person at the Broadreach HQ in Raleigh about his seaside childhood on the coast of New Jersey, his vagabonding experiences as a young adult, his stint on Wall Street as a junk bond trader, and the origins and evolution of Broadreach itself.

#90. This week's episode features another LIVE lecture from the Toronto International Boat Show about sailing offshore to the Bahamas! The tried and true route is down the ICW from the Chesapeake. But that takes weeks! Which ic great if you have the time to meander and enjoy the nice towns along the way.

But if you're really keen to get to the islands and enjoy that time there, there's a much faster way, and it's in the ocean. In five days from Norfolk or Beaufort, you can be sipping rum and laying back in the Abacos! The focus of today's episode is getting over the fear and trepidation of going offshore in general, and then planning specifically for a Bahamas-bound passage. What weather to expect, where to make landfall, etc.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth at 59-north.com.

#9. Andy talks about Isbjorn's big refit and the 70-mile shakedown cruise he and Mia did up the west coast of Sweden. Special thanks to Helly Hansen for inviting us to their event; and to Isbjorn crewmember Karl for composing and performing the music motifs on this week's show.

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Our 2020 Passage Calendar is now live! Go to 59-north.com/2020 to sail with us in the Atlantic.

#213. Andy Jamieson joined the crew of Infinity, a 120-foot hand-built schooner, on a voyage towards Antarctica. The adventures that ensued were filmed and recently released as 'Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World,' easily one of the best sailing movies we've seen. Go to seagypsiesmovie.com to watch for yourself.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. Go to weems-plath.com.

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Join Andy & Mia on the ocean sailing adventure of a lifetime and sail offshore on their Swan 48 'Isbjorn.' Head to 59-north.com/offshore to see routes & dates for 2018, 2019 & beyond.

#351. Andy Chase is a professional mariner in every sense of the word. He's worked all over the world on all types of ships - big, small, sailing ships and container ships. Nonfiction writer John McPhee even based his wonderful book 'Looking for a Ship' on Andy's maritime career. Most recently, Andy's been a long-time professor at Maine Maritime Academy and even skippered the schooner BOWDOIN back to the Arctic. I spoke to Andy at length about his career and his thoughts on seamanship, which there are many.

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Join the conversation on The Quarterdeck, 59º North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Annual membership site with access to the canon of seamanship content (articles, videos, podcasts & more); a thriving community passionate about sailing; and direct access to Andy, Mia, August, Nikki & Emma, the 'Admiralty' to have all of your sailing & seamanship questions answered! quarterdeck.59-north.com

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ON THE WIND is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. Visit weems-plath.com to see their full catalog.

ON THE WIND is supported by Candlewick Press, publisher of Old Wood Boat, a new picture book by artist and sailor Nikki McClure. Old Wood Boat goes on sale May 10 wherever you buy your books.

ON THE WIND is also supported by Buldano, our favorite brand of towels for at home and on the boats. Take 20% off your order at buldano.com with code 'onthewind'.

#244. Pete Goss became a hero in the 1996 Vendee Globe for rescuing fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli in a survival storm in the Southern Ocean. Pete tells this story and many others from onboard his new Garcia Exploration 45 at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. This one's an all-timer, so pay attention!

On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine. And also supported by BRNKL Systems and Adlard Coles.

#188: Linda Hammarberg & her husband Ludvig recently returned to Sweden after a multi-year circumnavigation with their two young kids, Otto & Lovis, onboard ‘Mary af Roverhamn,’ their Joshua-type steel ketch. During parts of the voyage they were followed by a film crew from Swedish television for the show ‘familje pa Aventyr’ - which basically translates to ‘Families on Adventure.’ The Hammarberg’s are typically Swedish, in that they're very humble, and yet very accomplished sailors. Mia & I spoke to them in their shoreside home in Marstrand in January about their adventures sailing around the world and the struggles they had on returning home. Follow their continuing adventures on symary.com.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath. Shop online at weems-plath.com.

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Come ocean sailing on Isbjorn, our Swan 48, at 59-north.com.

#11. Andy takes a look at breakages in the ARC this year and how crews coped with them. He spent some time on the docks interviewing sailors as they made their repairs. The story appears on the ARC website as one of this week's feature, and we've decided to turn it into a podcast episode as well. So here it is, with the full audio from the sailors on the docks. Thanks for listening!

#249. Herb McCormick has made a career of writing about sailing, but it wasn't entirely on purpose. A fifth-generation Newport, Rhode Island native, Herb didn't even know that sailing was a thing at all until a chance meeting in his 20's. After vagabonding around for a while, he wound up with a low-level job at Cruising World during the heyday of sailing magazines, and slowly started working his way up, of course eventually becoming Editor. Herb has seen it all in sailing, from the racing and cruising scene to an epic 13-month Around the America's expedition on the 64-foot steel cutter OCEAN WATCH. I talked to Herb about what inspired him to follow his passion on the water.

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On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine.

And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities.

#375. Writer & sailor Charlie Doane returns to the show (ep. #269) to talk about his new book 'The Boy Who Fell To Shore.' Charlie tells the story of how Thomas Thor Tangvald went from a seagoing vagabond during an oceanic childhood to disappearing at sea in 2014. During a long chat in Annapolis after boat show last week, Charlie recounted to Andy how he discovered the story, his process for researching & writing it, and what he thinks really happened to Thomas after his disappearance.

From the publisher: "Cast ashore into regular contact with human society for the first time at age 15, this intellectually gifted and uniquely educated young man at first reveled in his new environment but ultimately was led by his trauma into spirals of addiction and broken relationships. Thomas hasn’t been seen since he sailed away from French Guiana in 2014, and some believe he must still be alive." 

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by new sponsor Earth Fed Muscle and by our old friends at Weems & Plath. Learn more about both sponsors on the show, or follow the links above.

#298. Mike Beemer is an instructor at Skagit Valley Community College out in the Pacific Northwest. The school has recently purchased an old Westsail 39 that his students will renovate over the course of the next school year into an offshore-capable cruising boat, which they'll sell to an inspired sailor! They'll document the progress on the SVC 'Skallywags" YouTube channel.

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BOAT SHOPPING!, Live with August Sandberg & Andy Schell on crowdcast.io/holdfast. Thursday July 16, 5pm EDT.

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. And also supported by Colligo Marine and Amundsen Sports.

#3. Matt Rutherford, the first person ever to sail solo and nonstop around the Americas, recounts the first Ocean Research Project expedition to the North Atlantic Gyre and the inspiration and hard work that got him there in the first place (don't miss Episode 2, released earlier today, when Matt describes the dramatic salvage attempt on the Swan 48 Wolfhound during this trip). Otherwise known as the 'Atlantic Garbage Patch' - the Pacific's ugly cousin - Rutherford and NOAA scientist Nicole Trenholm sailed nearly 7,000 miles to gather and bring back home samples he hopes will help solve at least a little bit of our ocean's problems. The couple spent 80 days at sea, including a short stop in Bermuda for repairs and refueling. This is the story.

#279. Dee Caffari is perhaps the most accomplished sailor I've ever had on the show, and she's easily the most inspiring. Dee has sailed around the world a full 6 times, 3 of them solo and nonstop, and most recently as skipper of the Turn the Tide on Plastic Volvo campaign. There isn't much she hasn't done in racing, whether solo or crewed, as skipper or in another role, but I took away much deeper insights from our conversation on things like leadership, psychology and inspiration. Mia & I met Dee in England to hear her story.

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Celestial Nav workshop in Annapolis, Feb 1 & 2, 2020 at Eastport Yacht Club! Go to 59-north.com/celestial for details & to signup.

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Sail on ICEBEAR in the Caribbean in 2020! New passages added in the Leeward & Windward Islands. Go to 59-north.com/2020-caribe to sign on!

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ON THE WIND is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. Check out all their navigation tools, clocks, barometers and more at weems-plath.com.

ON THE WIND is also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and BRNKL Systems Inc. Sign up for Hank Schmitt's OPO membership at sailopo.com, and check out BRNKL's boat-monitoring hardware at brnkl.io.

#201. Brion Toss is a certified Master Rigger and author of the bible on the subject, The Rigger’s Apprentice. I’ve long admired Brion and first got to meet him in 2008 at the Annapolis Sailboat Show, right before I became a rigger’s apprentice myself. I’ve managed to keep in touch with him over the years (and of course have a copy of his book aboard Isbjorn), and finally we’re teaming up to host a hands-on rigging seminar weekend in Annapolis this coming October, 2017. This is a recycled version of a lengthy and informative chat I had with Brion back in 2014 on all things yacht rigging.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath. Visit weems-plath.com to view their entire catalog of professional nautical & weather instruments.

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On the Wind is also supported by Colligo Marine & Offshore Passage Opportunities.

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Go ocean sailing on Isbjorn, Andy & Mia's S&S Swan 48 at 59-north.com/offshore.

#148. Paul & Sheryl Shard talk to us live from Toronto about their start in sailing, how they got into movie-making, combining their passion for movies, travel and sailing, Paul's career as a boat-builder, Sheryl's theatre background and lots more! Audience Q&A included throughout.

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I wanted to post my episode about Cuba this week, but being at the rally has left me with little time to finish it up. It’s a very cool story, but I think I can make it even cooler, so I’m putting it off a week.

Instead, episode 148 is another interview with Paul & Sheryl Shard of the Distant Shores sailing tv show. I’ve been hanging on to this one for a while now - we recorded it live in Toronto back in January - and it’s a really cool deep dive into their sailing history, the popularity of their show, some of their favorite stories from over the years and all their traveling and lots more. Paul & Sheryl are professional media people, so they do a really nice job of storytelling. We mixed in a few audience questions throughout as well.

Mia and I have gotten to know the Shard’s quite well over the past several years. They’re some of our favorite people in sailing, and we love catching up with them at boat shows and on the water. In fact, while we were racing Isbjorn in the Caribbean 600, we saw them sailing north, and downwind, as we sailed south and around Montserrat, beating our brains out upwind in the race!

As for Isbjorn, she remains on the canal next to Pam Wall’s house in Ft. Lauderdale. Mia and I head back down on May 15th ahead of our next leg north to Annapolis. We have some very cool projects in the works with Pam that I’ll just tease now, but which won’t release for a while, so stay tuned for news on that. Our passages are sold out for the rest of 2016, but we’ve got a lot of cool stuff happening in 2017, including two Atlantic crossings and some sailing in the Azores and Scotland, so check out the calendar and register at 59-north.com/offshore to come sailing with us! And just today I got the maps for our 2018 passage routes to the Arctic and Iceland from our graphics guy Steve Olson, which is VERY exciting! I’ll be opening those trips and publishing the full schedule soon, for what will truly be the adventure of a lifetime!

Finally, if you enjoy the podcast, please do me a favor and review it on iTunes. I appreciate all the great feedback - if you’ve emailed me at some point and I haven’t replied, send a gentle reminder and I promise I will! I genuinely try to get to all of them, and really enjoy hearing from our fans.

Okay, with that, please enjoy my latest conversation, live from Toronto, with Paul & Sheryl Shard!

#129. is Mark Baummer, a Chesapeake Bay Pilot, one of the guys who will go out and take command of commercial ships when they enter the Bay from an ocean voyage. In this episode Mark and I talk about our trip together (Mia and I did a ride-along with Mark on a 750-foot coal ship), about how he got into the merchant marine in the first place, what it is a pilot actually does, how he became a pilot and much, much more. This is a fascinating look at a professional maritime career, and a real treat to have Mark on the show. Enjoy!

#75. This is Part 4 of Andy & Mia's last big offshore passage on Arcturus from 2012, when they sailed direct to Sweden from Scotland. If you missed Parts 1, 2 & 3 they were  the last two Friday episodes, so you'll want to hear these in order.

Thanks to the Blaggards for the music! Check them out at blaggards.com.

Want to come ocean sailing with Andy? New passages for 2015 announced on a Shnnon 43 ketch, a Swan 57 and a trip to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on Sojourner! Visit 59-north.com/events for details and to register.

#41. Mario Vittone is a Navy vet and retired USCG rescue swimmer with a resume that will blow your mind. Andy got in touch with him via a mutual friend, and had an interesting chat about his experience in helo rescues at sea, cold water immersion, safety offshore and more. They discussed the recent Cheeki Rafiki search, the sinking of the Bounty and how Mario's career has recently transitioned from on-the-scene rescue ops to consultancy work and a successful writing career. Mario writes regularly on gCaptain.com and for various industry magazines and publications. Check out his own website at mariovittone.com. Enjoy episode 41!

#131 is Tucker Thompson, TV & Publich Host of the America’s Cup, former America’s Cup sailor himself and Annapolis, Maryland native. I met Tucker at the Annapolis Boat Show launch party in early October when we were introduced by a mutual friend. For the first time in Annapolis show history, the Auld Mug was on display, and was a highlight of the launch party, where guests were invited to pose for photos with it. Mia and I were the very last people that night to get a photo with the cup before the Secret Service agents in charge of guarding it (yes, you heard that right), packed it up for the evening in it’s Loius Vitton trunk. I was politely reprimanded for leaning my elbow on the table the cup stood on during the photo.

#77. I wrote this piece in 2008, long before I got into any of this sailing stuff professionally (or even otherwise). I was dreaming of going offshore, and this is how I put that initial dream into practice. It's read in the present tense, but remember, was written in 2008, so it's not what I'm thinking now, but what I was thinking then. Hopefully it can inspire you to put your own dreams into action!

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Isbjorn, our 1972 Swan 48, at 59-north.com.

ISBJØRN's rig towers over the other sailboats in her winter marina, but at the far end of the pontoons, there is one mast that makes even her spar look tiny. It belongs to a veteran of ocean racing, built as “Toshiba” for the last ever Whitbread Round the World race in 1997. She’s now under the command of skipper Morten Landmark, who uses it for family cruising and to humble the Shetland Race fleet. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Yachts, the yacht sales professionals. Forbes Yachts sell the boats that allow you to effortlessly connect your passion for yachting to the sea, bringing your world one step closer to perfection. Visit forbesyachts.com to get in touch.

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ON THE WIND is also supported by SailTies, a free app that makes it easy to record all your sailing experience in one place. A digital record of all your voyages, certificates, crew, vessels and clubs. To find out more about SailTies, go to sailties.net.

#377. Mr. Brady & Alex Blue return to the podcast to talk about their transition from full-time cruising onboard SV DELOS to their shore-based lifestyle in Lake Tahoe. We discuss the ins and outs of starting a new business and their experience with Cruiser's Academy, what their long-term offshore sailing plans on, living with a 'purpose', work-life balance and lots more.

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by our old friends Forbes Horton Yachts and Weems & Plath. Learn more about both sponsors on the show, or follow the links above.

#251. Rachel Slade is the acclaimed author of 'Into the Raging Sea,' the heartbreaking account of the sinking of the American merchant ship 'El Faro.' With a degree in political science from Barnard College and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, Rachel began her journalism career as the design editor at Boston magazine and moved up the masthead to executive editor. After a decade on staff, she became a full-time freelance writer in 2016. Incredibly, 'Into the Raging Sea' is her first book. Rachel & I discussed her background growing up on the water, her interest in merchant shipping and her own thoughts on the tragic sinking of El Faro. This one's an all-timer, so pay attention!

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On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine. And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities, and SunPowered Yachts.

#155 is…me. Back in January, Teddy J of the Sail Loot podcast and I had a marathon recording session, banging out two-and-a-half hours of material while Mia and I were up there for the Toronto Boat Show. I had a bit of a cold, hence my voice sounding a bit off. The first hour-and-a-half was Teddy interviewing me for his show. Sail Loot focuses on folks in sailing who have figured out a way to make money by doing what they love (like in my case), or make some kind of passive income so they are free to actually go sailing. Teddy’s working on that himself.

Anyway, Teddy’s half of the interview, where I turned the tables and interviewed him, appeared on my show earlier this year. Simultaneously, my portion released on his show on the same day. I know there will be some of you guys who tuned in to Sail Loot to hear me on Teddy’s show, but for those of you who haven’t what follows is a fresh look at my entire sailing history, going way back to when my parents had just gotten married and went on their first captained charter on their honeymoon from Florida to the Bahamas. I talk about how my dad’s dad, ‘Pappap’ as I know him, started a restaurant in 1952 so he could own and train his own race horses, how that same restaurant is now run by my dad and my uncle (and which affords my dad the income and the flexibility that allows him to sail as much as he does), how I grew up on the Chesapeake with my parents, where I went to college and what for, my first job on the Woodwind and on and on. I don’t think Teddy left too many stones unturned here, and there are a lot of little practical nuggets in here of just how I positioned my career to end up at the point we are at today. This stuff didn’t just happen by accident (well, some of it maybe).

Anyway, enjoy the conversation between me and Teddy, and let me know in an email what else you'd like to know about me!

As per usual, thanks to all of you for listening, and for all the great support I got this week after my surgery! Enjoy episode 155 with yours truly.

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I just got in to Lunenburg earlier this afternoon. It’s Saturday, July 9 as I record this intro. Isbjorn is due in sometime tonight, but they’ve been beating against a 20-25 knot northeasterly, so it’s been challenging, and slow going. I, you might recall, am on day 4 of recovering from my appendectomy. Today is the best day yet, and I’m confident that I’ll be ready to head back to sea in another two days and very much looking forward to Newfoundland. Don’t forget, anybody with last minute vacation time, we’ve still got a couple spots left for Leg 9, the return from Lunenburg to Annapolis. If you even remotely have the inclination to do it, come! Lunenburg is such a cool town, as I was reminded yet again on my arrival today. If you can’t make a sailing trip with us but still want to support the podcast and the business, head over to 59-north.com/shop and buy a bag of ‘Oh-Dark-Thirty’ coffee, an Isbjorn sailing t-shirt, or one of our new isbjorn sailing winter beanies, which are pretty sweet.

#270. Ben Shaw & Lauren Keane were recent crewmembers on ICEBEAR for the Annapolis to Lunenburg passage. Mia & I first met Ben’s parents, Sid & Rebecca, in 2011 in St. Pierre, as we were getting ready to sail ARCTURUS trans-Atlantic. Inspired by us, and with a career in radio production Ben recently started the ‘Out the Gate’ sailing podcast. I talked to him and Lauren about their goals to take their kids long-distance cruising and how they’re making that dream into reality.

Sail south on ISBJORN in November. Check out 59-north.com/offshore to sign on.

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On the Wind is presented by Costa Sunglasses. And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities; and Sun Powered Yachts.

#136. is Rick & Julie Palm, live from Cruiser’s University in Annapolis way back in October. Rick & Julie Palm have been mentors of sorts for Mia and I. They had the role of event managers for World Cruising Club before we took over and have been active in the Caribbean 1500 basically since its inception under Steve Black, who was a dear friend of theirs. And they are consummate ocean sailors. If you want to follow the lead of a successful and humble ocean sailing couple, you can’t beat these two. They started cruising on a Tayana 37 and then upgraded to a Tayana 52 and completed a circumnavigation. Recently, now in their 70s, they bought an Outremer 51 catamaran. Comparable to the Gunboats in flat out speed, their new boat, Archer, is capable of speeds over 20 knots and is a true performance catamaran.

In this episode Rick, Julie and I talk to a Cruiser’s University class about making the transition from monohull to catamaran, delving into Rick & Julie’s cruising history and what it’s like sailing over 20 knots in their new cat! If you’re in the Caribbean or Maine, look for the Ferrari red cat called Archer and say hi.

#349. Peter Gibbons-Neff - the namesake of PGN Ocean Racing - is a solo sailor from Annapolis aiming for the single-handed Mini Transat next year in 2023. Peter & I have crossed paths many times, most recently in Kinsale, Ireland - we were outbound on ICEBEAR heading to Sweden, and Peter was inbound on his Mini arriving from France. We traded photos and I promised then I'd get him on the show! Peter tells me the story of how we wound up in the same harbor an ocean away from home.

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Join the conversation on The Quarterdeck, 59º North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Annual membership site with access to the canon of seamanship content (articles, videos, podcasts & more); a thriving community passionate about sailing; and direct access to Andy, Mia, August, Nikki & Emma, the 'Admiralty' to have all of your sailing & seamanship questions answered! quarterdeck.59-north.com

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ON THE WIND is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. Visit weems-plath.com to see their full catalog.

ON THE WIND is supported by Candlewick Press, publisher of Old Wood Boat, a new picture book by artist and sailor Nikki McClure. Old Wood Boat goes on sale May 10 wherever you buy your books.

ON THE WIND is also supported by Buldano, our favorite brand of towels for at home and on the boats. Take 20% off your order at buldano.com with code 'onthewind'.

#261. Gerard Dykstra is one of the world's iconic yacht designers. He's most notable to me as the designer of the Bestevaer 53, by far my favorite of all the aluminum expedition yachts which are now so popular. And he designed the first one for himself as a very simple, robust personal cruising yacht. He's also designed some of the most iconic superyachts like the Panamax ketch HETAIROS and the infamous MALTESE FALCON. Not to mention a few tall ships to boot. I first met Gerard in Isafjordur, Iceland and later talked to him on Skype about his career as a sailor first, then as a designer. 

Vendee Globe sailor Pip Hare returns to the show for a 3rd time only one month before the start of her second Vendee Globe. In 2020, Pip became only the 8th woman to ever complete the Vendee Globe, and on a shoestring, crowdfunded budget to boot. In the years since, Pip has parlayed that hard work and early success into a second campaign aboard a new, faster and foiling IMOCA 60. I caught up with Pip to talk about everything from her fitness routine to making an IMOCA 60 fly in this super fun and meandering episode.

Don't miss our half-day workshop in Annapolis on Friday Oct. 11, 'Offshore Cruising Distilled: The Sh*t That Matters Most!'.

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Yachts, the yacht sales professionals. Forbes Yachts sell the boats that allow you to effortlessly connect your passion for yachting to the sea, bringing your world one step closer to perfection. Visit forbesyachts.com to get in touch.

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ON THE WIND is also supported by SailTies, a free app that makes it easy to record all your sailing experience in one place. A digital record of all your voyages, certificates, crew, vessels and clubs. To find out more about SailTies, go to sailties.net

#248. Bryan Rolfe is a grass-roots 30-something cruiser with big dreams and a small budget. He's been documenting his adventures aboard his 27-foot Albin Vega TARKA on YouTube, and is currently in the Caribbean. Mia & I have followed Bryan from afar since he started his trip, and my conversation with him ended up being a very inspirational look at how someone takes a dream and turns it into reality. Longtime fans of the show will know how excited I get talking to other young folks out there cruising, but this episode is truly for anyone who dreams of heading off in their own boat, no matter your age or finiancial situation. Bryan truly started from scratch, and tells the whole inspiring story of how he made his dreams reality.

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On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine.

And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities.

#356. Paul Heiney is a well-known writer and broadcaster, as well as a seasoned ocean sailor. His voyages include a singlehanded race across the Atlantic, a long passage from England to Cape Horn and back, and a cruise around Iceland. His work is published regularly in sailing magazines and he has written several books, some about his sailing trips. Paul is also the commodore of the Royal Cruising Club.

Paul has also been an organic farmer and keeper of working farm horses. He is married to columnist and broadcaster, Libby Purves. They have a late son, Nicholas, and a daughter Rose. Paul and Libby live beside the seaside on the Suffolk coast with their dog.

You can find his latest book, Farewell Mr Puffin, wherever books are sold. See more about Paul's life and work at paulheiney.com/

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Join the conversation on The Quarterdeck, 59º North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Annual membership site with access to the canon of seamanship content (articles, videos, podcasts & more); a thriving community passionate about sailing; and direct access to Andy, Mia, August, Nikki & Emma, the 'Admiralty' to have all of your sailing & seamanship questions answered! quarterdeck.59-north.com

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ON THE WIND is presented by Athletic Greens. Their daily product, AG1, contains 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced nutrients in one convenient daily serving. One Scoop, 8 ounces of water. It's all you really need, really. Visit athleticgreens.com/onthewind for an exclusive offer from Athletic Greens.

ON THE WIND is also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities, the #1 Crew Networking Service in North America. OPO has helped thousands of sailors meet and make successful passages since 1993. Sign up at sailopo.com. The service is free for owners looking for crew, and once you pay the membership fee as a crew, you sail for FREE!

ON THE WIND is also supported by Harborburn Cannon Co., brought to you by the founders of 59 North Sailing. Harborburn was born of an idea by a group of sailing friends looking for a way to add some fun onboard our boats. We figured “if you own a boat, you need a cannon!”

#200: It’s been a long-time coming, but Mia Karlsson is FINALLY on the podcast! Mia is my wife, of course, and while we don’t share a last name, we share just about everything else! Mia tongue-in-cheek promised to be the 200th episode on the show, long before she ever thought I’d make it this far, so I called her bluff! We recorded a long & rambling chat just before setting out across the Atlantic while Isbjorn was anchored in St. Croix.

As I record this intro, we’ve made it to Sweden and Mia has completed her 4th Atlantic crossing, one more than me, which she’s quick to point out. We talked about Mia’s history as a competitive swimmer, growing up in the Swedish countryside, traveling, and of course how she’s come to love the sailing lifestyle.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath. Check out their line of high-end professional binoculars at weems-plath.com.

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Sail offshore with Andy & Mia on their S&S Swan 48 Isbjorn. Visit 59-north.com/offshore to see their full calendar of sailing passages.

#313. Mia Karlsson should be no stranger to you all. She is the co-owner and founder of 59 North Sailing, and is married to Andy Schell. They live in Sweden with their son Axel, where Mia is an active outdoorswoman and puzzler. She grew up in Sweden and has been an avid traveler since she was young. When she and Andy met, her sailing career began. Mia has now sailed over 50,000 miles and completed five Atlantic crossings. She created the first mate position on the 59 North Swan's, which is the job that Emma now occupies. Emma will also be appearing as a regular guest-host for ON THE WIND, so stay tuned for more episodes with her as interviewer!

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ON THE WIND is exclusively sponsored by Dakota Lithium, an American company building tough, long-lasting lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for a variety of applications. We just installed 200 aH of Dakota Lithium on SPICA in Sweden, and are preparing for a major lithium conversion on ICEBEAR, our Swan 59. Check them out at dakotalithium.com.

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Join us on the 59º North QUARTERDECK, our online platform where members and the 'Admiralty' dive deep on the art of seamanship. New for 2021 is a monthly, members-only newsletter called THE SKIPPER'S BRIEFING, straight to your inbox with exclusive content, commentary, and a recap of the best of the past month on the Quarterdeck. There is nothing like it in sailing - join us at quarterdeck.59-north.com to become a better thinker, leader & sailor.

Follow ICEBEAR & ISBJORN on their voyage SOUTH to the Caribbean! With the uncertainties of COVID, we're not even sure where we'll end up! Follow our progress and read the passage logs at 59-north.com. New episodes coming next week. Until then, HOLD FAST!

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The QUARTERDECK is now open! Go to quarterdeck.59-north.com and sign up to become a member of our new platform where Andy Schell & ISBJORN skipper August Sandberg will explore 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' First two weeks free. There's nothing like it on the Internet in the sailing world, and we can't wait to share it with you and explore seamanship ideas together. See you on the QUARTERDECK!

Suzanne Heywood was raised on a sailboat. What started as a three year circumnavigation with her family turned into a decade of living aboard, sailing, and struggling to get an education. Suzanne's book, 'Wavewalker,' tells the story of that voyage. In this episode, Emma and Suzanne talk about 'Wavewalker,' Suzanne's relationship to sailing now, and her thoughts on giving kids an unconventional upbringing.

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

#86. Andy sat down in person with Liza Copeland at the Toronto Boat Show not too long ago. In fact, they shared a booth alongside Paul & Sheryl Shard, who were all part of the seminar program at the show. Liza has sold an astounding number of her books, all about the cruising lifestyle, which has made her a household name in the sailing world. She first circumnavigated with her young family aboard a production Beneteau, and has since sailed over 100,000 miles in that boat, called 'Bagheera.'

Andy & Liza discussed how she got into cruising and what it's like saiing around the world with a family! This is truly an inspiring episode for anyone thinking of sailing with kids (Andy met her son at the show, who's now a successful airline pilot - and still a sailor!). 

You can find Liza's books online at aboutcruising.com.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth for the Canadian Maritimes this summer and the Caribbean 1500 next fall at 59-north.com/events.

#225. Henrik Engblom is the bosun on the tall ship Pommern, one of the classic Cape Horn clipper ships that sailed out of the Aland Islands in the early 20th century. Aland is a Swedish-speaking but legally Finnish archipelago in the Baltic Sea, about 40 miles northeast of Stockholm, and home to a rich cultural & maritime history. Only in his 20s, Henrik, a native Alander Islander, is already a Master Rigger and in charge of Pommern’s restoration. Mia & I visited the ship back in 2013 when we sailed to Aland on Arcturus. I was excited to be back last summer aboard Isbjorn, when in August Henrik gave me a tour of the ship and talked to me at length about his career.

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Want to work for the podcast? We're hiring! Email andy@59-north.com.

#147. is a fun one. Back in March, I had planned to do another podcast with Matt Rutherford to get an update on what he’s doing with his Ocean Research Project. As it were, Paul Exner was also in town to speak at a seminar Mia and I hosted in Annapolis. AND, ship’s pilot Mark Baummer was around, and had asked me for some advice to help him plan a passage to Bermuda on his Gemini catamaran. So, the inklings of an idea sprang to life - why not get the three of these guys together, all former podcasts guests, and have a little roundtable chat?

So that’s exactly what we did. Matt invited us over to the house he’s taking care of in Eastport, and we sat around the coffee table in the living room. I got things going with Matt, and the hope was that everyone would kind of just jump in at points and start talking on their own. I was not let down. After a while, Matt, Paul & Mark just kinda started needing out on each other, and MAN was it fun to see! The longer the episode goes, the less you’ll hear my voice, as I just sat back and smiled and watched!

We covered an array of topics, from Matt’s latest adventures, to Mark’s new boat, thoughts on electronics and radar, why Mark as a ship captain thinks required AIS might actually be a bad thing on the Chesapeake and much much more! This is a long and meandering episode, but I think you’ll agree it’s definitely worth your time!
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A quick update on Isbjorn before we get to the show. Thanks to our good friend Pam Wall, she’s safely docked on a canal in Ft. Lauderdale until our trip north which starts May 18. The Cuba passage was a highlight of my sailing and traveling career - and I promise I’ll have an entire episode dedicated to that very soon - and it was great fun to share it with our awesome crew.

We have one spot left on the Annapolis-Lunenburg passage from July 1-8, so check out the details on that at 59-north.com/offshore. We also just opened another spot for the Caribbean 600 race next February, so if you want to ‘level up’ and do some serious ocean racing, check out 59-north.com/oceanracing for details on that.

Alright, with that, enjoy an awesome roundtable chat with me, Matt Rutherford, Mark Baummer & Paul Exner!

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This episode is sponsored by Broadreach, my former employer and one of the coolest sailing jobs I’ve ever had. Aside from being an amazing place to send your kids for an adventurer summer (listen up parents!), they’re on the lookout for skippers and mates to work the upcoming summer season out of St. Martin. Contract length varies from two to three months starting in early June through early to late August. Go to broadreachstaff.com to complete the initial job application!

Broadreach - The World is Yours to Discover!

#204. Randall Reeves is about to embark on an ambitious passage he's dubbed the ‘Figure 8 Voyage,’ in October. With a 39’ steel boat and only his thoughts to accompany him, he's hoping to complete a circumnavigation of both the America’s & Antarctica, alone and nonstop. Inspired by historic explorers and modern sailors like Matt Rutherford, Randall’s is a personal challenge. I spoke to him back in April, while we we’re still in St. Croix, about his sailing past, his preparation & his goals for the trip. Follow Randall & support the adventure at figure8voyage.com.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928.

Sail offshore with Andy & Mia on a Swan 48. Check out our passage calendar at 59-north.com/offshore.

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On the Wind is also supported by Colligo Marine and Offshore Passage Opportunities.

#379. Hannah Goldberg is a sailor, freelance social media manager, and content creator. She quit her 9-5 desk job in 2021 and left life on land to pursue a dream to sail around the world. In the last year and a half, Hannah has sailed over 10,000 nautical miles, on 5 different boats, in 11 countries. She has crossed the Atlantic Ocean and transited through the Panama Canal. Hannah has connected with over a million people through her videos on TikTok, where she shares her sailing journey.

In this episode, Emma and Hannah discuss Hannah's journey to becoming a full-time sailor, the role of social media, spirituality, and pursuing her purpose.

You can connect with Hannah & follow her journey here.

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts and supported by Weems & Plath. Learn more about both sponsors & friends on the show, or follow the links above.

#18. Peter Trogdon. New intro song from the Blaggards, 'Botany Bay'! Andy sat down with Peter in January in Annapolis to talk all about Weems & Plath, Peter's history as a sailor, the history of navigation, and the new exhibit on navigation at the Smithsonian Institute in DC. Peter also discussed some of his other non-sailing hobbies. This episode was sponsored by SpinSheet magazine, and is the first in a series of podcast/article projects. Read the article that came from this podcast in the March 2014 issue of SpinSheet, available all around the Chesapeake or on SpinSheet.com. Thanks Peter & SpinSheet!

Episode one of the new season of Sailing Stories, featuring the story of 59 North and SV Delos and their adventures aboard ISJORN in the High Arctic.

Buy the second edition of the book at 59-north.com/80north.

#256: August Sandberg is a young Norwegian sailor and filmmaker. After being inspired at a young age by the Norwegian sailing greats, he bought a boat with his friend and sailed it across the Atlantic and down to Panama. He now works as a teacher, professional filmmaker and sailor. Andy caught up with him at his home on the west coast of Norway.

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On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine. And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and Sun Powered Yachts.

#181: Yves Gelinas is a French-Canadian single-handed sailor and inventor of the Cape Horn wind vane, the simplest, most robust, and most elegant solution for self-steering on an offshore cruising boat. Yves invented and perfected the gear while circumnavigating nonstop via the Great Capes in his beloved Alberg 30 Jean du Sud in the 80s. During that voyage, he filmed Around the World with Jean du Sud, which quickly came to be considered the greatest sailing movie ever made. Yves still builds the Cape Horn units himself from his workshop in Quebec & still sails Jean du Sud, most recently voyaging to Martinique in 2015.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath.

Join Andy & Mia on an offshore passage aboard Isbjorn, their classic S&S Swan 48 at 59-north.com/offshore.

#42. This week's essay Friday is an excerpt from the Log of Arcturus, which I keep onboard the boat. Written by hand, as it's happening, the log is a diary of sorts about our travels. This was written in August of 2012, almost exactly two years ago, during the 3-day passage from Malmo on Sweden's southwest coast to Visby, on the island of Gotland. It's good timing, as starting after work today, we'll be on vacation for the next three weeks, heading this time out of the Baltic and essentially retracing our steps from this here trip. It's fun to read what I've written and see what goes on in my head on those late, solo night watches. Hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed reliving it!

#126 & 127 are parts one and two of World Cruising Club's 2015 Ocean Sailing Forum. It’s a panel discussion of all things ocean sailing. I moderated it, and our guests included Lee & Rachel Cumberland of Satori, their Tayana 37; Rick & Julie Palm of Archer, their Outremer 51 catamaran; and Sheryl & Paul Shard of Distant Shores, their Southerly 49. Paul & Sheryl also have been making the popular TV series of the same name now for over 25 years.

Thanks to Sailrite for sponsoring this week's episode.

Join Andy & Mia offshore on Isbjorn, our classic Swan 48. 59-north.com/offshore.

#184: Olly Cotterell is one of the youngest Clipper Race skippers ever, sailing to a podium position in the 2013-2014 edition of the RTW race onboard OneDLL. He currently skipper’s the prototype, foiling racing yacht ‘Maverick,’ which recently won her class in the RORC Trans-Atlantic Race. Olly & I have a connection in that we’ve both worked for Broadreach. We met up to record this episode in person in Antigua, ahead of the Caribbean 600. Olly has an amazing story that includes growing up on a sailboat in Bermuda, working up the ranks as an RYA instructor, surfing at 35 knots in the Southern Ocean in the Clipper Race and much more.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath.

Join Andy & Mia on an offshore passage aboard Isbjorn, their classic S&S Swan 48 at 59-north.com/offshore.

#202: Johnny Owens & Paul Rogan are 2/6th of the ‘Ireland to Iceland 2017’ crew whom we met on the docks in the faraway fishing town of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides. Their gang of merry sailors were on an adventure to the Arctic in a 40-foot steel ketch, Johnny’s father as captain, making music as they want in the pubs along the way. We invited them to Isbjorn to share their story of adventure and creativity. Their expedition is designed to raise funds and awareness for Good2Talk Westmeath, a Mullingar, Ireland-based charity who provide Suicide Prevention, Counselling and Psychotherapy service. Go to facebook.com/irelandtoiceland2017 to follow their adventures.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. weems-plath.com.

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On the Wind is also supported by Colligo Marine & Offshore Passage Opportunities.

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Sail offshore on a Swan 48 with Andy & Mia at 59-north.com/offshore.

#1. We're kicking things off with Allan Palmer, captain of the brig 'Tre Kronor' out of Stockholm, and native of Mariehamn, in the Aland Islands. Andy and Allan discuss the 'International Association of Cape Horners', what it's like to rig a traditional square-rigged ship, and how he's trying to save some of the old seafaring traditions in the Baltic. We recorded the episode in the captain's quarters aft on the 'Tre Kronor', at a small wooden desk beside the nav station. Very cool.

#305. Who better than to discuss heavy weather with than Southern Ocean veteran Susie Goodall, and Spitzbergen explorer August Sandberg! Today's show is adapted from the LIVE video session we held on the topic at the height of the pandemic. We define heavy weather, talk about our favorite tactics and of course tell some harrowing storm stories!

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The QUARTERDECK is now open! Go to quarterdeck.59-north.com and sign up to become a member of our new platform where Andy Schell & ISBJORN skipper August Sandberg will explore 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' First two weeks free. There's nothing like it on the Internet in the sailing world, and we can't wait to share it with you and explore seamanship ideas together. See you on the QUARTERDECK!

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ON THE WIND is sponsored exclusively this season by Forbes Horton Yachts. Go to forbesyachts.com to get in touch and find your dream boat.

#15. Erik de Jong designed and built his own 52' steel boat for Arctic expeditions. It's called 'Bagheera', and you can go sailing with him! Erik was super cool to talk to - he and I have a lot in common, having grown up sailing with our dads. Erik has always known he's wanted to design boats since he was a little kid, and followed that dream. He now lives in Halifax working most of the year for a shipbuilding firm, handling engineering and business contracts, and sails for 4 months in the summer on 'Bagheera' up to Greenland and the Arctic.

#258 David Hows is the host of the Ocean Sailing Podcast. He sails his own Beneteau 44.5 “Ocean Gem” and has raced it extensively between Australia and New Zealand. He has now crossed the Tasman Sea three times, two of those single-handed. David interviewed Andy for his podcast - they spoke of the podcasting business, filming and photography, and the anxiety that comes with running a boat offshore.

Legendary Finnish sailor Tapio Lehtinen returns to the podcast to talk to Andy about losing his boat in the recent Golden Globe Race and the emotional toll it took on him. They discuss theories on why the boat sank and talk about how that experience has influenced his preparation for the upcoming Ocean Globe Race. Tapio is preparing his classic Swan 55 GALIANA with a crew of young Finnish sailors. It will be Tapio’s second Whitbread-style race after he sailed the original route in the 80s.

Don't miss this year's Seam'nship Workshop at the 2023 Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. Register now at 59-north.com/seamnship

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. 

#81. Andy sits down with yachting photographer Tim Wright last week at the ARC finish in Saint Lucia. Tim has been photographing the ARC finish since 2000, and has been a professional photographer since the early 1990s. 

He sailed, single-handed, in the first ARC in 1986 on a 29-footer, and never went home. After a lightbulb idea to photograph a race in Bequia, he took the success of that and expanded on it to create what he calls an 'itinerant photography lifestyle,' whereby he sails his boat up and down the Caribbean taking photos of sailing events.

We talk about his career ARC and how he 'made' it in photography and created one heck of a lifestyle job. See all of Tim's work on photoaction.com.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Sojourner, Serenity and others at the newly redesigned 59-north.com/events.

#65. Andy discusses his way of getting and interpreting weather forecasts offshore, and why he thinks people tend to overanalyze it to the detriment of their enjoyment of ocean sailing. This is apart educational, part rant, and part just what works for Andy & Mia. What works for you when it comes to offshore weather?

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Yachts. Forbes & Jamie Horton are real-deal yacht brokers, living the dream everyone talks about having cruised the Bahamas and Caribbean in both sail and power boats, with and without kids! Visit forbesyachts.com to buy or sell your dream boat or listen to Forbes' latest adventures on a 35-foot lobster boat in the Bahamas in episode 332.

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Passionate about seamanship? At 59º North we are, and we provide ways for you to LEARN seamanship through The QUARTERDECK; and EARN seamanship by sailing offshore with us on one of our four boats. Check out our unique online platform at quarterdeck.59-north.com, and see where we're sailing next on 59-north.com.

#79. Andy sits down with Samuli & Timo in Saint Lucia to talk about Leopard's record-breaking run in this year's ARC. Nearly 3,000 miles in just over 8 days! While the boat was long gone, Samuli and Timo were still on island with their families and graciously chatted with Andy at Elena's Cafe in Rodney Bay Marina for an in-person chat. They talk about sailing culture in Finland, Samuli's pro racing career, Timo's adventures in the mountains and of course what it's like to sail a 100-foot maxi at 30+ knots offshore.

To follow the ARC in real-time, visit worldcruising.com/arc or keep up to date on facebook.com/arcrally.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Sojourner, Serenity or a Swan 57 at 59-north.com/events.

#105 is an essay in which Andy describes the ups and downs of starting a sailing business. Financially and emotionally it's been a roller coaster ride since buying Isbjorn. Andy talks about that process and how far he and Mia have come since buying the Swan 48 in February.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Isbjorn, a classi Swan 48, at isbjornsailing.com.

#193. Greetings from Bermuda, where we recently made landfall on Isbjorn! This week’s recycled episode features Webb Chiles, certainly one of the most adventurous small boat sailors in recent memory, if not one of the greatest. He’s been around the world several times, cross the Pacific in an open boat, nearly drowned when he fell overboard off Florida and on and on. He’s written several books about his adventures over the years, and indeed continues to make new adventures. I spoke to him a few years back about his exploits, why he pursues them, how he handles fear, what motivates him towards his sailing goals and more.

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On the Wind is sponsored by Weems & Plath.

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Come ocean sailing on Andy & Mia's Swan 48 Isbjorn at 59-north.com/offshore.

#171, The legendary yacht designer German Frers…He earned his chops working for S&S under Olin Stephens himself, but it was only through a chance meeting that he got to sketch his first namesake yacht. Frers’ one-off designs quickly began attracting the best production builders like Swan & Hallberg-Rassy, who hired him to design their bluewater cruising boats, and some of the most iconic super yachts ever built came off of his drawing board. I spoke to German on Skype from his office in Argentina about all this & much more.

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Big thanks to last week’s guest & Hallberg-Rassy CEO Magnus Rassy for helping arrange this week’s interview with German Frers. The two episodes kind of go together, as German & I started our conversation discussing his side of the HR44 story, from the designer’s perspective which Magnus told at length last week from the sort of visionary’s/boat-builders perspective. You don’t need to listen to one to understand the other, but they’re fun to hear back-to-back.

#9. Andre and Marie-Claude sailed in the Caribbean 1500 two years ago aboard their Moody 'Dancing Lizard.' This was a conversation I had with them over good French coffee and scrambled eggs aboard their boat in Hampton, VA before the start of the rally. Andre and Marie-Claude were two of my favorite folks in that event, and I see them popping up here and there on Facebook, cheering on their French-Canadian compatriots in this year's rally! Thanks for breakfast guys, and thanks for chatting!

#48. This is the Voice of Experience piece I wrote for SAIL magazine back in 2013 about my experience losing an anchor on my first-ever charter as a 20-year-old in New Zealand. Without further ado, enjoy this weeks (embarassing) Essay Friday. What's some of your stupid mistakes onboard?

#277. Sierra Groth & Billy Swezey are the inspiring couple behind Tula's Endless Summer. Their adventure started when Billy bought a dilapidated boat that had been abandoned in a New York boatyard and set about restoring her and meandering his way single-handed down the US East Coast. Billy met Sierra in Florida, and since then they, with their dog Jetty, have been inseparable, cruising the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean in a variety of boats from the original TULA to a motor trawler named NEVERLAND, and now their ex-racing catamaran ADRENALINE. We spoke to Billy & Sierra onboard ICEBEAR at the recent Annapolis Sailboat Show.

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Sail on ICEBEAR in the Caribbean in 2020! THREE new passages added in the Leeward & Windward Islands. Go to 59-north.com/2020-caribe to sign on!

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ON THE WIND is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. Check out all their navigation tools, clocks, barometers and more at weems-plath.com.

ON THE WIND is also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and BRNKL Systems Inc. Sign up for Hank Schmitt's OPO membership at sailopo.com, and check out BRNKL's boat-monitoring hardware at brnkl.io.

#186: Today’s episode is a recording I made of my seminar on Heavy Weather Sailing I gave at last weekends Ocean Sailing Seminar, hosted by World Cruising Club in Annapolis. While I’m lucky not to have too many gnarly heavy-weather sea stories of my own, I’ve studied the subject for years and enjoying talking about it theoretically. What follows is a discussion on what I feel are the ‘best practices’ for handling heavy weather, of course brought to life by a few of my own sea stories. Follow along with slides from the presentation at 59-north.com/heavyweather. 

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath. Go to weems-plath.com to see their catalog of nautical instruments & tools.

Jojo Pickering grew up with sailing as a central part of her life, vagabonding on the high seas with her family and sailing from Africa to the UK. As she got older, she spent more time ashore, starting a traveling theatre company with her husband and kids and bouncing around the UK, France and Spain. But the sea called her back — she recently completed an Atlantic circle with her family on a gaff-rigged sloop and now sails professionally as a skipper on classic yachts and with 59º North. Andy spoke to her onboard FALKEN in the Cape Verde islands.

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Capt. Jen of Schooner WOODWIND returns to the podcast after having just sailed with Andy aboard FALKEN on the 2,100 mile passage across the Atlantic! Jen and Andy reflect on Jen's first big ocean crossing and what it was like to leave the wintry Chesapeake Bay for tropical Tradewind sailing. They also talk about challenges of running a small business, how Andy evolved from being a deckhand on the WOODWIND into running offshore passages around the world and much more.

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

#112. is a Two Inspired Guys rerun with Pawel Motawa, a Polish sailor Andy met at the ARC Rally a few years back. Pawel had a TV studio in Poland, and then bought his dream boat - a steel sloop - and has been spending the past several years sailing in Antarctica. The interview was recorded onboard his boat 'Malaika' in St. Lucia after he'd crossed the Atlantic from Europe.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Isbjorn, a classic Swan 48, at isbjornsailing.com.

#52. Andy discusses how he and Mia stay fit and healthy onboard. From eating right and paying attention to ingredient labels, to why German beer is better for you, to how to create a workout around a deck of cards, Andy covers his own methods of keeping fit and healthy on Arcturus. Have your own ideas? Share them with us!

BONUS: Andy & Mia discuss the first six weeks onboard ICEBEAR for this week's episode of How I Think About Sailing. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

#264. Vendee Globe sailor Bruce Schwab returns to the podcast with guest hosts (and now Isbjorn skippers!) Ben Doerr & Simon Borjeson, to discuss the power management refit options for ICEBEAR, our Swan 59. Bruce runs Ocean Planet Energy in Maine and specializes in power generation, and we discussed diesel versus electric propulsion, lithium batteries, gensets, AC/DC power and lots more.

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On the Wind is presented by Costa Sunglasses.

And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and Sun Powered Yachts.

#280. Back in 2018, the crew of SV DELOS joined Mia, James & I onboard ISBJORN for a 3-week adventure in the High Arctic. Needless to say, it was life-changing. Earlier this fall, we got to relive the adventure with Brian & Brady, who flew out to the Annapolis Sailboat Show to give a presentation on our trip, and show the first-ever screening of their '80 NORTH' film project to a USA audience. What follows is the audio of that presentation, which I hope you'll enjoy.

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Celestial Nav workshop in Annapolis, Feb 1 & 2, 2020 at Eastport Yacht Club! Go to 59-north.com/celestial for details & to signup.

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Sail on ICEBEAR in the Caribbean in 2020! New passages added in the Leeward & Windward Islands. Go to 59-north.com/2020-caribe to sign on!

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ON THE WIND is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928. Check out all their navigation tools, clocks, barometers and more at weems-plath.com.

ON THE WIND is also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and BRNKL Systems Inc. Sign up for Hank Schmitt's OPO membership at sailopo.com, and check out BRNKL's boat-monitoring hardware at brnkl.io.

Elliot Rappaport has been a captain of sailing ships for the past three decades. He currently is a faculty member at Maine Maritime Academy, where he lives nearby with his wife and their dog. Elliot also sailed as a captain for many miles with Sea Education Association, an organization that offers shipboard programs in ocean science and leadership to undergraduates and high schoolers. He recently published a fantastic book called Reading the Glass: A Captain's View of Weather, Water, and Life on Ships. 

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If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. 

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ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

#57. Brion's back to chat with Andy about some more technical aspects of yacht rigging, specifically to how it relates to ocean sailing, in Part 2 of yesterday's interview. They discuss proper preventers, rig tune, rig inspections, Dynex Dux and the advent of synthetics, and much more.

#83. Bruce Scwab is the first American sailor to complete the legendary solo, nonstop Vendee Globe ocean race. It was his second solo circumnavigation onboard Ocean Planet, the boat he designed and developed on the west coast. 

Bruce grew up in northern California and started sailing with his dad a young age, eventually working at a rig shop for many years where he honed his skills on the owners boat as a solo racing sailor, winning the first event he ever entered.

DON'T MISS Bruce's YouTube channel with some incredible footage from the Vendee, including a horrendous Southern Ocean storm.

'In hindsight, I realized that for my entire life I'd been training for the Vendee and didn't even realize it,' Bruce says. The lightbult went off and he started putting together a program with the nonprofit Ocean Planet, who funded the boat. He tells the whole story - and then some - here on the podcast.

Bruce now lives in Maine and specializes in outfitting cruising boats with alternative energy sources and high-end batteries, and is on the forefront of marine energy technology. Check him out at bruceschwab.com or oceanplanet.org.

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on Sojourner! Summer Annapolis-Lunenburg & fall Caribbean passages available on 59-north.com.

#232. Paul & Sheryl Shard of course have the popular TV series Distant Shores, and for 25 years have been sailing the world on their boats of the same name and documenting their travels. Mia & I met them again in Toronto in January where they were excitedly awaiting the launch of their latest boat, a new Southerly 48. We sat down with them between seminars to talk about the design process, how Southerly are now owned by Discovery Yachts in the UK, what they wanted in their new design, and about how they’re getting ready and planning for the next phase of their cruising life by sailing trans-Atlantic and getting ready for the Pacific!

On the Wind is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. And also supported by Weems & Plath, and Broadreach.

#215. Gary Adams is the new owner of Oban Marina, in Scotland, which we visited on Isbjorn in June. He's also a former Clipper Race crewmember, who sailed with our friend - and podcast #184 guest - Ollie Cotterell. Gary & Andy sat down on the island of Kerrera to talk about Gary's sailing & business background, his Clipper Race experience and what it's like owning a marina.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments. weems-plath.com.

#93. You know that intro music you love from the podcast? It's Blaggards! Andy spoke with lead singer and co-founder of the band, Patrick Devlin just in time for St. Paddy's Day. Patrick's story is a classic one of following your passion into a passable career, and he's had remarkable success with it.

Patrick talks about not drinking, starting a band, U2, growing up in Ireland, sadness in his family, touring and playing all-day shows on St. Paddy's Day! Check out Blaggards music at blaggards.com or on Facebook.com/blaggards.

#91. Andy's seminar about sailing to Europe and back from the 2015 Toronto Boat Show in January. Recorded in front of a live audience!

Episode includes Q&A at the end, tips on weather routing, northern versus southern routes to Europe, and how to get back!

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy? Book a berth on at 59-north.com/events.

#107. Paul Exner sits down with Brian Duff in Tortola. Brian's old friends with both Paul & Andy. Brian started Southbound Rigging in Annapolis, MD a few years back, where Andy first started working as a rigger in 2009. Brian sold the shop to Mike Meer (who's been on the podcast!) and sailed his Westsail 32 south to the BVI to start a new life as a boat broker.

Paul of course lives in the BVI, and soon became friends with Brian. They chat on this episode about Brian's work as a boat broker, his life as a rigger, how he moved south from Annapolis and his new venture as a restaurant owner at The Island Last Resort in Trellis Bay. If you're ever cruising in the BVI, stop in and have a drink!

Want to go ocean sailing with Andy or Paul? Book a berth on Isbjorn, our Swan 48 at 59-north.com/offshore, or on Paul's Solstice, a Cape George 31 at moderngeographic.com.

#29. Welcome back! This week is a seminar Andy recorded at the Cruiser's University in Annapolis during the Spring Sailboat Show. People talk endlessly about preparing their boats to go offshore, but what about their brains? Andy spends over an hour going through the stages of a voyage, from preparation through to landfall, and discusses the common anxieties, what to expect, and how to keep it all in perspective. Enjoy!

#240. Mike Beemer is the department chair of the Marine Technology program at Skagit College in Anacortes, Washington. Mike & I were initially introduced by John & Amanda Neal from Mahina Expeditions, who work with Mike on some of their offshore cruising seminars. After trying to connect for over a year, Mike & I finally got to chat about his career. Mike started life as a vagabonding sailor & liveaboard, eventually discovering his passion for teaching. He’s since become a sort of evangelical of marine technology, opening up doors for young people and cruisers alike in the field of marine tech. Additionally, Mike leads flotilla’s in the summertime up the Inside Passage to Alaska.

On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine. And also supported by Adlard Coles, and BRNKL Systems.

#229: Andreas Heide is captain of the sailing yacht 'Barba', and the motivation behind the expeditions they run in far northern Norway. In winter. I should mention that Barba isn't a beefed up expedition yacht - she's a Jeanneau Sun Fast 37, more likely found in the Caribbean than the Arctic. No matter. After learning to sail in 2009, Andreas and his companions started setting out north and looking for Orcas. Here's his incredible story.

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#254: Simon Borjeson returns to the podcast as ISBJORN's new skipper for the first few two-boat passages later this year. Simon & I became friends when we met during the ARC Europe rally a few years back, and bonded on our love of sailing, skiing and endurance sports. Back then he was sailing his dad's X-42 EUPHORIA across the Atlantic, while simultaneously training for the 70km OtillO Swimrun World Championships. Simon came out to the farm in Sweden in December for a weekend of planning, and we sat down to discuss his love of sailing & adventure, the cutting-edge foiling motorboats he's currently involved in building, how he got involved with ISBJORN, his thoughts on leadership and more.

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On the Wind is presented by Rutgerson Marine. And also supported by Offshore Passage Opportunities and Sun Powered Yachts.

#203. Cap’n Fatty Goodlander pretty much needs no introduction. He & his wife Carolyn have circumnavigated the globe a full three times, setting an example along the way of how to do it safely & on the cheap. Fatty’s brand of storytelling is legendary - he’s an editor-at-large in Cruising World magazine, and has appeared in basically every sailing publication there was over the past 30 years. He even had a radio show published on NPR. Mia & I met Fatty & Carolyn in Tortola this past spring and sat down in the cozy aft cabin of their boat ‘Ganesh’ to record a meandering and highly entertaining interview with perhaps the most entertaining sailor of all.

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On the Wind is presented by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments.

The podcast is also supported by Colligo Marine & Offshore Passage Opportunities.

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Sail to the Arctic in 2018 on the Swan 48 Isbjorn! 59-north.com/offshore.

#2. This is the riveting story of Matt and the R/V Ault's dramatic five-day salvage attempt on the abandoned Swan 48 Wolfhound, told by the man himself. I caught up with Matt just after his first Ocean Research Project expedition to the Atlantic Gyre. He and scientist Nicole Trenholm were collecting data on the plastics accumulating in the 'Great Atlantic Garbage Patch,' for lack of a better description. They came across the abandoned Swan 48 Wolfhound 700 miles east of Bermuda on their return voyage. The boat had been sighted several times previously, as reported by Charlie Doane on sailfeed.com. Matt knew nothing of this, and went over to investigate, fearing the worst. 

#95. Despite the intro, this is not the first Thursday episode…but it is another business-oriented episode, kind of a hybrid actually. Andy sat down with Forbes Horton of his namesake Yacht Sales brokerage in his office in Annapolis. Forbes’ firm, thanks to Lloyd Cooper, put together the deal to buy Isbjorn, the Swan 48 we talked about previously. Andy has known Forbes for a while - they talk about how they met, how he got into sailing and his own adventures in a Tartan 34c, the brokerage business in general, and how the deal came together with Isbjorn! 

Need a good bluewater sailboat? Go to forbesyachts.com and get in touch with Forbes and Lloyd. They’re the best in the business.

Want to go on an ocean sailing expedition? Head on over to 59-north.com/sailingpassages to book a berth on the Swan 48 ‘Isbjorn.’ We’re heading to the Caribbean for 2016, Europe in the spring!

Andy discusses the Beta Engine refit he and Mia did on ARCTURUS in Sweden in 2013, with the help of their friend Micah. This is episode #5, season 3 of our other show, HOW I THINK ABOUT SAILING, which you can download and subscribe to for FREE anywhere you get your podcasts!

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Subscribe to How I Think About Sailing wherever you get your podcasts. Season 3 started in earnest on January 16, where Andy will look back over the last decade and see how his thoughts on sailing have evolved and what he's learned from his mistakes.

#291. Now made obsolete by technology, the romantic aspect of celestial navigation will never die. Andy & August talk history & philosophy of celestial during our latest LIVE session. If you want to see the visuals, watch the replay at crowdcast.io/holdfast.

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Signup for our VIRTUAL celestial nav workshop, starting May 16, on 59-north.com/celestial.

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Join 59º North LIVE! During the coronavirus lockdown we're hosting FREE Live Sessions, 1-2 hour topical discussions on all things ocean sailing. From Offshore Weather Fundamentals to Dyneema Splicing, Live Interviews & more. It's highly interactive - audience members can come on screen to ask questions, chat, etc. It's a blast! Check out 59-north.com/live to learn more and see the LIVE Session schedule!

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ON THE WIND is presented by Sailing Yacht Power Solutions - makers of the revolutionary power generation solution that eliminates the need for a separate generator and uses your current engine installation. Contact S/Y Power Solutions at Info@sypowers.com

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ON THE WIND is also supported by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928, And Chesapeake Sailmakers, Local Annapolis based sailmaker, and distributer of Elvstrom Sails. 

Angel Collinson is a pro free skier who comes from a family of pro skiers. She grew up at Snowbird Resort in Utah where her parents were professional ski patrollers. Even her brother John is a pro freakier. You can see them both in Teton Gravity Research films, among other places. Angel is new to sailing but recently bought a steel boat in Maine her and her boyfriend are outfitting for long-term cruising. Angel & I had a long and insightful conversation on managing fear, how backcountry skiing and offshore sailing are related, when to trust your gut instinct, mental health and lots more.

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The QUARTERDECK is now open! Go to quarterdeck.59-north.com and sign up to become a member of our new platform where Andy Schell & ISBJORN skipper August Sandberg will explore 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' First two weeks free. There's nothing like it on the Internet in the sailing world, and we can't wait to share it with you and explore seamanship ideas together. See you on the QUARTERDECK!

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ON THE WIND is sponsored exclusively this season by Forbes Horton Yachts. Go to forbesyachts.com to get in touch and find your dream boat.

#40. Essay Friday - What I learned in two Atlantic crossings. The first, of course was in 2011 aboard Arcturus, which I  discussed at length with Clint Wells in Tuesday's episode. The second, which I haven't written much about, was the following year, on Kinship, a Saga 43 that Mia and I skippered in ARC Europe, crossing the Atlantic via Bermuda-Azores-Portugal. Both were very different experiences and taught me valuable lessons. This is what I wrote following the second crossing in July 2012. Enjoy!