Offshore Sailing and Cruising with Paul Trammell

Diana Vega grew up on the Isle of Wight sailing in the Solent. She will be the First Mate with Guy Waites on Team Unicef UK in the 2025-2026 Clipper Round the World Race. We talk about crew dynamics, a transatlantic on an Outremer catamaran, refitting a steel boat, installing a synthetic teak deck, heaving-to in the Bay of Biscay, the Clipper Race, the role of the first mate, training for the Clipper, the boats, Guy Waites, fear, anticipations, the southern ocean, book recommendations, bucket-list destinations, beautiful moments, unexplainable sights, and more. Photos and links can be found at https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show through Patreon

Barry Perrins recently crossed his wake completing a 9-year circumnavigation aboard steel Van de Stadt.  We talk about his boat, the pros and cons of steel boats, his route, New Zealand, crocodiles in Australia, friendly people, Vanuatu, whale sharks, dancing with manta rays, anchors, lessons learned, nature, profound revelations, and more.  Links and photos are on the shownotes page Support the show through Patreon

Mike Price sails and races in Hawaii and owns Hyde Sails Hawaii. We talk about sailing in Hawaii, sailmaking, things sailors need to know about sails, when you need new sails, how to choose between different cruising and racing sails, triradial vs cross-cut sails, different materials, spinnakers, asym. vs. sym., top-down furlers, sail trim, interpreting telltales, maintaining sail shape when roller-reefing a roller-furled headsail, adjustable failrleads, foam luff, repairing sails at sea, Elliot Smith, a captain being held for hostage at Christmas Island, the liberty of sailing, and more. Photos and links are on the shownotes page here  Support the show through Patreon here

Brent bought Stargazer, an Endurance 35 six years ago in Vancouver and has since been restoring and rebuilding her. She has been almost completely rebuilt and now looks like a work of art. She can be seen on Instagram @storyofstargazer. We talk about the restoration process and get into the details of wood, joints, fiberglass, sanding, varnish, paint, woodworking, the decision to buy an old boat that needs work or a boat ready to go, electronics, chainplates, balancing living the experience with recording the moment, where to go, wilderness anchorages, dealing with internet offshore, and more. Links and photos are on the podcast shownotes page Support the show throught Patreon

Melanie Neal grew up on sailboats and has always lived the sailing and cruising life. She's been a yachtbroker for ten years and now owns Sunshine Cruising Yachts based in St. Augustine, Florida. I met Melanie years ago when I was looking for my first boat, and we've stayed in touch. We talk about boats Melanie likes, the Caliber 40 LRC, Island Packets, the Nicholson 31, the right size boat to singlehand, bolt-on keels, water intrusion around keel bolts, the steps involved in buying a boat, boat shows, common mistakes in boat buying, marinas, insurance, financing boats, maintenance, affects of Covid on the market, the market today, looking at boats, Melanie's dream boat, the benefits of a forgiving boat, moorings, The Bahamas, sharks, and more.  Photos and links are on the shownotes page Suppoert the show through Patreon

Istvan Kopar took 4th place in the 2018 Golden Globe Race - and was one of only five finishers. Next year on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, he will be attempting to be the first person to sail from the USA solo nonstop westbound around the world via the three great capes and he will be doing it at the same time as the GGR 2026 boats will be going the other way around the world.  We talk about his ambitions, his new boat - a Valiant 42, preparing for the westbound circumnavigation, his book Kihivas, his first circumnavigation with one stop on his boat Salammbô, the 2018 GGR, emergency tillers, navigation, heavy weather sailing techniques - heaving to, solo sailing, drogues, favorite land sightings, sharks, orcas, other wildlife, and more. Photos and links are on the shownotes page Support the show on Patreon

Mark Synnott is a New York Times bestselling author, a pioneering big wall first ascensionist and one of the most prolific exploratory climbers of his generation. Always seeking new adventures, in 2022 he sailed through the Northwest Passage while searching for the grave of and attempting to solve the mystery of what happened to legendary nineteenth-century explorer Sir John Franklin and his ships, HMS Erebus and Terror.  We talk about his boat Polar Sun - a Stevens 47, getting the boat ready for the Northwest Passage, ice and how to read ice charts, what happens if you get frozen in the ice, a boat that got crushed in the ice, how to freeze in safely, dressing properly for sailing in cold weather, shelter on the boat, crew issues, growlers, wildlife sightings, beluga whales, anchoring, writing books, and more.  links and photos are on the shownotes page Support the show through Patreon

Ulrika retired, sold her house, and bought a 1995 Island Packet 40. She has just started what she plans to be a long and casual circumnavigation. She was in Guyamas Mexico when I interviewed her. We talk about her boat, sailing from BC to Mexico, The Sea of Cortez, sailing singlehanded and with crew, Mexico, water, how the Island Packet performs, whisker poles, her previous boat - an Atkins Ingrid, sailing in British Columbia, electronics, radar, plans for the South Pacific, diving, whales, whale sharks, Papua New Guinea, and more! Photos and links can be found on the shownotes page at https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show through Patreon

The Last Voyage of Asteria is Tapio Lehtinen's latest book, co-written by Paul Trammell, and documents Tapio's 2022 Golden Globe Race, during which his boat, Asteria, sank while 460 nm SE of South Africa. In this episode, I read from the book, including the beginning and also the chapter titled "Lessons Learned," which disusses what Tapio learned from the sinking and from entering the life raft, and inccludes a list of all the safety gear required by the Golden Globe Race NOR.  Find links and photos here  Support the show here

Ronnie Simpson is a 40-year-old professional racing sailor from the United States of America who aims to sail in the 2027 Global Solo Challenge race. Recently, Ronnie was the skipper of the Open 50 Shipyard Brewing which competed in the first-ever Global Solo Challenge in 2023-24. Sailing in a strong third place for most of the race, Ronnie unfortunately dismasted off of Argentina in February 2024 and Shipyard Brewing was lost at sea. Having completed 80% of a singlehanded racing circumnavigation and rounding all of the three great capes including Cape Horn, Ronnie's resolve to race in and complete the Global Solo Challenge is now only stronger. To that effect, Ronnie purchased Class 40 #15 ‘Koloa Maoli' in early 2025 to mount another campaign for the Global Solo Challenge. As a combat-wounded and medically retired US Marine and Iraq war veteran who has sailed more than 175,000 miles at sea, Ronnie is proud to use his sailing efforts to raise both funds and awareness for US Patriot Sailing, a 501c3 Veterans' sailing non-profit organization. Ronnie credits sailing with saving his life and believes in the inspirational and therapeutic benefit of finding purpose through sailing. We talk about his new Class 40 sailboat Koloa Maoli, preparing the boat for the GSC, sailing the boat, the mast, the keel, comparing Class 40 boats to cruising boats, safety of Class 40 boats, building the GSC campaign, other races, sailing in Maine and Canada, destinations, how to win a long ocean race, the motivation and drive to race sailboats, cruising vs racing, delivering a Hanse with Elliot Smith, sailing a Hobie 18 in Maine, sailing a Gunboat 60, dream boats, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Sustainability Maine, Remoran hydrogenerators, and more. Links and photos are here. Support the show here.

Robert Perry is one of the most prolific, sucessful, and iconic sailboat designers of the modern age. He is known for designing the Valiant 40, Tayana 37, Tashiba 36, Baba 35, and many many more. His knowledge of sailboats is extensive to the point of making him a national treasure.  We talk about older crusing boats ideal for beginning cruisiers, ie: good boats for beginning offshore sailors, CCA and IOR rules, design elements, the Dufour Arpege, selling my first boat, John Vigor's book "20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere," Alberg sailboats, chainplates, Albin Vega 27, small boats vs big boats, Contessa sailboats, Cape Dory sailboats, Pearson Triton, Allied Seawind, Southern Cross sailboats, foam-cored hulls, Westsail 32, the birth of recreational offshore cruising, the Mini Globe Race, sailboat statistics and ratios like sail area to displacement and ballast to displacement, different ballast types, overhangs, interiors, modern production offshore boats, the Carbon Cutter, consulting, the Norseman 447, hard dodgers, andmore.

Fraser Flight was born and raised in Zimbabwe, where he up on a tobacco farm. He started sailing as a young boy on a lake alongside giraffes and rhinos. He progressed to competetive internationl dinghy racing as a child and offshore racing as an adult. He earned a Master of Yachts license, has logged over 80,000 miles on sailing and motor yachts, and has crossed the Atlantic 15 times. He is now entered in and preparing for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo nonstop circumnavigation race. We talk about learning to sail in Zimbabwe, sailing on an African lake,  elephants, the inspiring story of his grandfather's circumnavigation and settling in Zimbabwe, working on large motoryachts, entering the Global Solo Challenge, the rules of the GSC, shopping for a class 40, training for the OSC, practicing polyphasic sleeeping, meditation and its efficacy in polyphasic sleep training, sailing heros, sailing from Cape Town to Brazil, dealing with a broken boom and continuing under jury rig, sailng back to Africa, dealing with a storm and losing a spinnaker, climbing the mast in rough conditions offshore, working as a chief officer on a luxury motoryact, favorite places, bucket-list destinations, and more. Photos and links are on the podcast shownotes page here. Support the show through Patreon here. 

Brian Hathaway has been sailing around the world, mostly solo, on his Hunter 44. He recently sailed from St Helena to Recife, Brazil.  We talk about Recife, Brazil, St Helena, sailing downwind with twin headsails, customs, anchoring, singlehanding, pirates, self defense, crime, diving on a shipwreck in St Helena, and much more. Shownotes are here Support the show thought Patreon  

Mike Smith is a South African living in Australia and is building a wooden Suhali replica (the boat Robin Knox-Johnston sailed in the 1968 Golden Globe Race), in order to compete in the 2026 GGR.  We talk about his sailing history, growing up and sailing on the coast of South Africa, his boat-building history, creating the CNC plan for the boat, building the boat, watertight crash boxes, the cost of building a boat compared to buying one, building the bulkheads, planking the hull, other details about building, making the lead-ballast keel, advice for boatbuilders, and at the end, we spend a few minutes pontificating life. Photos of Mike's boat and his links are here Support the show through Patreon here

Daniel Turner is entered in the Mini Globe Race, sailing Immortal Game, his mini 5.80, which he built. He started racing small boats in Australia when he was six years old. He moved from Holdfast trainers to the 125 and Pacer classes, and raced on his father's Farr 30 and grandfather's Adams 12. Daniel spent four years in the Australian Army as a Combat Engineer and Combat Fitness Trainer and represented the Australian Defence Force at regattas in the Tasar class. Daniel also competed in a number of marathons and ultra-marathons including the Marathon Des Sables in 2015 (265 kms across the Sahara desert over 6 days) and is known as the toughest footrace on the planet. In 2018, he competed in the Melbourne to Osaka Yacht race.  We talk about building the boat, crossing the Atlantic in the boat, preparing to sail around the world, difficult moments during the passage and how he dealt with them, rules of the race, sailing the boat, safety, sleeping while solo sailing, the cost of the campaign, and much more. Find photos of Daniel's boat and links on the podcast shownotes page, here. Support the show through Patreon here.

Bill and JoAnne Harris are the Ocean Cruising Club Port Officers for the Bay Islands of Honduras (Roatan, Guanaja, Utila, Cayos Cochinos, and the Swan Islands. They sail SV Ultra, a trimaran, often spending hurricane season in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, and the rest of the year in the Bay Islands. We talk about Rio Dulce, crossing the bar on the way in, being an OCC Port Officer, the Bay Islands, spearfishing (or not), moorings and anchoring, Roatan, Guanaja, Utila, diving with whale sharks and manta rays, whales, staying long-term, getting groceries and supplies, hauling out, crime, anchorages in the Bay Islands, copmmunity projects, and more. Find links and photos here Support the show through Patreon

Captain Mark Sinclair was born in Manchester, UK, and emigrated to Australia in 1960. He served 20 years in the Royal Australian Navy up to the rank of Commander. During his extensive sea time he served in a tanker, icebreaker, minesweeper, destroyers and numerous hydrographic ships and aircraft. He navigated 4 ships and commanded 3 ships. He has sailed extensively all his life, and in 2018 participated in the Golden Globe Race (GGR) circumnavigating single-handed in Coconut in 332 days with one stop in Adelaide, and participated in the 2022 GGR, retiring in Lanzarote to attend his son's wedding. He then sailed across the North Atlantic to Trinidad. He skippered Explorer in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race, circumnavigating again. He holds Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Ocean certification and has sailed over 90,000 nautical miles.  We talk about the 2108 GGR, sailing long passages, sailing conservatively, heavy weather, selecting his GGR boat - a Lello 34, the Mini Globe Race, the Ocean Globe Race, beautiful moments, difficult situations, Cape Horn, baking bread, how he has his boat set up for solo passagemaking, favorite places, and more. Photos and links are on the shownotes page  Support the show through Patreon

MJ and Amy Sizemore from Motherload Sailing sailed in November from Linton Bay, Panama, to Ft. Pierce, Florida, through the Windward Passage, and without stopping. They sail a Bavaria 50 with their five boys, but have sold it and are buying a Lagoon 410 catamaran.  We talk about clearing out of Panama, the Ngäbe indigenous people, their nonstop passage, weather routing, foul weather in the Windward Passage, using a roller-furled mainsail, being hailed by Cuban helicopters, fishing, bird visitations, selling their boat and buying a catamaran, catching rain-water, spearfishing, triggerfish ceviche, pink meenies, raising a family on a boat, swim-through caves, a snake in the chain locker, San Blas, dinghies and dinghy security, air tags, and more. Shownotes and links are here  Support through Patreon here

Helga Marie Lovenskiold Kveseth, aka Mara, is a Norwegian entered in the 2026 Golden Globe Race, an around-the-world, solo, and nonstop race using only technology from 1968 or before. She holds a Captain's License and has over 25,000 nm sailing experience. She once trained for the olympics in fencing, was a rower competing on the world stage, and even a bobsleder. We talk about preparing for the Golden Globe Race - mentally and physically, qualifying for the race, different boats she is looking at for the race, catamarans vs monohulls, learning to sail, fear, dealing with losing a rudder, books, and much more! Podcast shownotes are here Support the show through Patreon here

Lin Pardey is a living legend best known for sailing long offshore passages in small traditional boats witout engines or electronics. Lin and her late husband Larry have sailed over 200,000nm, have circumnavigated in both directions, and have sailed around all the great capes east to west (contrary to prevailing wind). She is the author of 14 sailing nonfiction books, including her latest "Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond." We talk about boats and design elements she likes, old boats vs modern boats, writing, favorite passages, lessons learned while sailing, modern electronics vs sailing without, the benefits of learning to sail in a small boat, safety drills, making your boat unstoppable, learning to appreciate foul weather, heaving-to, favorite places, questions from podcast patrons, maintaining a safe distance from shore, secrets to staying active and healthy as we age, her book, and more. Podcast show notes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Bert Terhart is a Canadian adventurer who has cicumnavigated solo, nonstop,  navigating only with a sextant. He also crossed Canada from west coast to east coast in a canoe in one season, which we talk about on my other podcast "Dream Chasers and Eccentrics." In this episode, we talk about his circumnavigation and why he did it, sharks, preparing for worst-case scenarios, Captain Cook, broaching and knockdowns, tethers, dealing with heavy conditions, beautiful moments at sea, his circumnavigation route, the joy of hand steering, karma, and more. Links and shownotes are here Support the show here

Dealtry Pickford is a South African sailor entered in the 2027 Global Solo Challenge, an around-the-world nonstop solo race. HIs background is dinghy racing, and his boat is a class 40.  We talk about sailing a class 40, speed, different points of sail, difficult situations, sailing around South Africa, training for the Global Solo Challenge, the desire to do the race, the Southern Ocean, being alone at sea, staying calm in difficult situations, future cruising plans, the perfect cruising sailboat, saving the wandering albatross, and more. Shownotes and links are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Pat Lawless is an entrant in the 2026 Golden Globe Race. He also sailed in the 2022 GGR, but had a failure of his windvane and retired in Cape Town, South Africa.  We talk about the Canary Islands, his passage from Ireland, his Saltram Saga 36, sextant navigation, AIS, lightning, lessons learned in the 2022 GGR, finishing teak, waterproofing deck hardware, making to-do lists, using teak oil, meeting Tapio Lehtinen near the equator during the 2022 GGR, the sinking of Tapio's boat, Guy deBoer running aground, sleeping through alarms, deadman and other alarms, servicing winches, comparing a Rustler 36 to Pat's boat, the Aries windvane, and more. Podcast show notes can be found here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Ambre was born in Paris, but moved to the US when she was 10. She went to school and graduated with a degree in economics. After a brief career in New York City, she gave it all up to become a sailor, and now races Class Mini with her eyes on the Ocean Race and the Vendée Globe. She tells us about her new boat, #618, On the Road Again II, and training for the Mini Transat 2025. We talk about the new carbon-fiber boat, controlling and using our emotions, what she loves about racing, cruising, the Vendée Globe, men and women competing on equal ground, endurance, pain tolerance, confidence, the amount of effort required to become great at something, sailing fast, Guadeloupe, and more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show here patreon.com/paultrammell

Scott Johnston runs Yachting Scotland, an adventure-sailing and sailing tourism operation located in the Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland. Our discussion begins with us talking about our boats and comparing the pros and cons of my full-keel cruiser and his modern performance cruiser. We also talk about the weather and sailing conditions in Scotland, sailing destinations in Scotland, learning to sail, delivering climbers to sae cliffs, St Kilda, using a sea anchor, anchoring in deep water, starting a charter-sailing business, the love of sailing, freediving, Newfoundland, and more.  Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Doug Jackson spent fifteen years building a 75' steel junk-rigged sailboat in Tulsa Oklahoma. Aron Erwin introduced me to Doug, and I interviewed them both in episode 221 in the before and after Hurricane Milton episode. Doug had such an interesting boat that I had to do this episode.  We talk about St Augustine Florida, a boat that went aground in the Hurricane Milton, designing and building Seeker, bringing researchers aboard, the junk rig, learning to sail the boat, reefing, entering the St Augustine inlet, running into things, the inspiration to change his life and build this boat and move aboard her, taking risks, making friends, living a strenuous, curious, and meaningful life, tools, 3-D printing, and more. Shownotes (links and photos) are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Adam lives off-grid in southeast Alaska and sails a Cape George 36. He was also a small-boat commercial fisherman and a merchant marine.  We talk about Alaska, his history of commercial fishing, why we love untying the lines ashore, working as a merchant marine, finding the right boat, the Cape George 36, the Golden Globe Race and Kirsten Neuschafer, sailing in the fjords, the anchorages, Deigo Garcia, shark fishing, knife making, wildlife, orcas singing with thier heads out of the water, and more. Podcast shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Erden Eruc is an entrant in the 2026 Golden Globe Race, and has purchased Simon Curwen's Biscay 36, Clara. Erden is also one of only two people to have circumnavigated under human power, and Erden is the only to have done it solo, and he did it by rowing, cycling, kayaking, and hiking. He holds an amazing 18 Guiness World Records.  We talk about his boat, his sailing experience, reasons he wants to do the race, learning about the Hydrovane, projects needed on the boat, hopes and fears regarding the race, the photogates, future sailing plans, and much more. We also discussed his solo human-powered circumnavigation on my other podcast Dream Chasers and Eccentrics Podcast shownotes (links and photos) are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

When I spoke with Sam the previous week (ep. 224) he was en route to Dakar. In this episode, he is in Dakar. I also talk about my recent passage from San Blas to Linton Bay and then on to Escudo de Veraguas. Sam and I talk about the passage and trouble encountered on the way including damaging a spreader, reefing, using a modified climbing harness, sharks, a windvane problem, anchors and anchoring, using multiple anchors, sleeping while underway, anchor alarms, halucinating, radar and its limitations, Dakar, clearing customs and immigration, favorite places, and more. Podcast shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Sam was sailing in his Cape Dory 28 between the Canary Islands and Dakkar when I spoke to him.  Before the interview, I talk about the San Blas Islands. Sam and I talk about the conditions, his Cape Dory 28, his windvane and electronic autopilots, sailing a full-keel boat, replacing the bronze chainplates, fixing a leaking hull-deck joint, Morocco, The Canary Islands, The Gambia, sailing to The Bahamas on a 16' Hobie Cat, fear, sailing for the sailing or for the destinations, solo sailing and why we love it, the Annapolis Boat Show, and more.  Tune in next week for a continuation of this conversation. Sam and I got cut off at the end of this one, as he was underway and without reliable internet.  Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Olivia Owens Wyatt is a solo sailor, a filmaker, and a USCG 50-Ton Master certified captain. She is on her way around the world, currently in SE Asia, on a Panda 34. She is also entered in the 2026 Golden Globe Race We talk about Papua New Guinea, piracy, self-defense, Wayag, dealing with squalls, going without sleep, sailing through Indonesia, the perils of listening to bad advice, taking a tow from a coal-barge tug that led to near-disaster, preparing for the GGR, dealing with fear, wildlife encounters, sea snakes, happy people and where to find them, anchors, and more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Andrew recently completed a three-year journey around the Americas including the Faroe Islands, Greenland, through the Northwest Passage, Alaska, Costa Rica, Patagonia, Brazil, and Svalbard, in a JFA 45, an aluminum expedition yacht. We talk about highlights of the trip, as well as difficulties, favorite places, sailing in heavy weather, anchoring in Patagonia and tying ashore, the importance of having a properly prepared sailboat in the high latitudes, foul-weather gear, his boat, electronics, navigation, elephant seals and other wildlife, navigating through ice, a grizzly-bear threat, pros and cons of aluminum boats, properly isolating steel bolts from aluminum, dragging anchor, and more. Shownotes and links are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Aaron and Doug were anchored in the Intracoastal Waterway just north of St Augustine, Florida, during hurricane Milton (and Helene). I interviewed them before and then after Hurricane Milton.  We talk about anchoring; setting a tandem anchor; using multiple anchors; selecting a spot to sit out a hurricane; we get interuppted by a food delivery to my boat in San Blas, Panama; using two anchors in a tidal current; preparing the boat for the storm; alligators and sharks in the anchorage in Florida; crocodiles in the anchorage in Panama; after the hurricane; insurance; a boat that went aground during the storm; and more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Jacqueline Evers set off from The Netherlands in July 2023 and is now in New Zealand. She sails a 1977 Grinde 27 called Loveworx, designed by Peter Bruun and built in Denmark.  We talk about New Zealand, clearing into various countries and expenses, sailing solo with family visiting, her boat, the inner forestay, why she is sailing solo around the world, favorite places, what we learn about ourselves through solo sailing, bird visitations, fishing while sailing (or not), sharks, fear, big wind and waves in the Caribbean Sea, creative anchoring, anchors and chain, a beautiful moment, landfalls, the wonder of living on a sailboat, and more.  You can follow Jacqueline on her Youtube Channel Sailing Loveworkx  https://www.youtube.com/@sailingloveworkx Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Recorded at Esnasdup island in San Blas, aka Guna Yala, I discuss my year and a half in Panama. I talk about navigating here, places I've been, anchorages, marinas, the weather, wildlife, crime, clearing in and out, surfing, spearfishing, tropical disaeses, getting proper exercise when living on a boat, and much more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Gunnar Christensen is an entrant in the 2026 Golden Globe Race, and he recently bought a Hans Christian 34 in Trinidad and sailed it, solo, home to the UK. We talk about the boat, the voyage, his self-steering, Hydrovanes, Watt&Sea, trailing warps in heavy weather, sailing with hank-on headsails, jacklines and tethers, emergency ways to climb back onboard, symmetrical vs asymmetrical spinnakers, storm trysails, heavy weather, sailing a full-keel vs a fin-keel boat, sailing with a windvane, whales, reefing, PLB's, modifications needed, dodgers, Tapio's book "On a Belt of Foaming Seas," Southerly Yachts, the mental aspect of long-distance solo sailing, and more.  Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell  

Tom Fisher sails a Biscay 36. He was inspired to go to Newfoundland after readingthe book "Sailing to Newfoundland," and visited many of the places I went in 2022. We talk about growing up sailing in the UK, sailing barges, folkboats, comparing traditional full-keel boats to modern charter boats, his Biscay 36, radar, Starlink, AIS, St. Martin to Bermuda to Nova Scotia to Newfoundland, hiking to the top of the mountain at Deadman's Cove, waterfalls, outports, hiking around Francois, bears, blueberries, Hare Bay, Isle aux Mortes, and more. Podcast show notes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the show here patreon.com/paultrammell

Nathan and his wife Vivian run Ocean Passages, offering training passages aboard their Compass 47. We also talk about Tahiti and the Society Islands, dealing with cyclone season, Nova Scotia, dealing with heavy weather, electronics, anchoring, his association with John Kretschmer, training passages, heaving-to, different boats, different rigs, using preventers, accidental jibes, sailing to a schedule, lessons learned from John Kretschmer, and more. Podcast shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Porter Fox grew up on the coast of Maine sailing small boats. His father designed and built Whistler sailboats and founded Able Marine. Porter has written three books and also writes stories for The New York Times and other journals.  His latest book is Category Five, which we talk about.  We also talk about sailing around New York City, sailing a Whistler that his father built, sailing a cat ketch, cruising the New Jersey coast, sailing canoes in The Bahamas, sailing with John Kretschmer, climate change, the amplification of storms, sea-level rise, why we love the ocean, the importance of keeping a calm mind, defeating trauma, John Kretschmer's books, freeboard, net zero, and more. Shownotes are at https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Dave winkler is a Sea Two captain in Boston. We talk about sailing in Boston, problems sailers face and ask Sea Tow for help with, towing sailboats and using drogues during rudder-failure, mast breakage, the importance of taping over cotterpins in the standing rigging and lifelines, dangerous rescues, lobster bouys, rescuing a leatherback turtle, tips to avoid needing to call for help, and more. Find the shownotes here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Captain James is a former submariner in the US Navy. He's sailed over 70,000 nm on a wide variety of boats. We talk about life on a submarine, catamarans, sailing through the South Pacific, a near-disaster on a catamaran breaking up in a storm, dual rudders, center cockpits, raised deck salons, pointing high, chasing your dreams and doing what you really want instead of what you think you are supposed to do, dinghies, lifting-keel sailboats, adventures in anchoring, buoying the chain, the importance of freediving, backup anchors, Portugal, surfing, Costa Rica, wing masts, fast boats, dream boats, selectingthe right boat for you, the disturbing noises catamarans make, running a charter business, seasickness, and more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

In this bonus mid-week episode, I interview Sea Tow captain Ethan Maass, from Sea Tow Boston.  We talk about how Sea Tow serves sailors, how far they go to help, working with the Coast Guard when there's a problem, communications, what membership includes and doesn't, collisions, common safety shortcomings in boaters, emergency anchoring, getting lost, using divers, ordering pizza, and more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Erick and Jenny had just arrived in Fiji when I spoke with them, after having spent a year in French Polynesia. I interviewed the sepparately and asked the same questions, then editied it so you can hear their different, or similar, responses. We talk about favorite places, pleasant and difficult passages, favorite diving experiences, wildlife, sharks, things they did right and wrong, cultural experiences, things they miss on land, things they learned about sailing, and things they learned about themselves.  Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Tom and Chris are two sailors from the UK who developed Sail Ties, a free app that makes it easy to record all your sailing experience in one place. The app keeps a digital record of all your voyages, certificates, crew, vessels, and clubs. We talk about their sailing experiences, chartering in the Med, sailing around Sicily, the Sial Ties app, and more.  Find the app and get a discount on the plus version here https://sailties.net/partner/paultrammell podcast show notes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7

Kyle Davis, aka Captain Ky the Seaglass Guy, was in the San Blas islands in Panama when he came down with dengue fever. He ended up in a bad situation in a prison-like hospital and had to escape. Kyle is a sailor and a sea-glass hunter, and has also been know to catch crocodiles by hand. We also talk about fishing, sailing from Panama to Cartagena, zarpes, the consequences (or not) of not clearing out of a country, the San Blas islands (Guna Yala), lightning strikes, seasickness, surf, the indigenous cultures in Panama, coral-reef health, having boatwork done in Catagena, Santa Marta, sailing solo from Santa Marta to Aruba, visiting Cuba, staying in a van in the Cayman Islands, motorsailing, hunting for seaglass, cloning his late dog Little Coconut, and more. Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support the podcast here patreon.com/paultrammell

Grant Headifen is the founder and Global Director of Education of NauticEd, a modern sailing education organization that provides online sailing courses, a global network of sailing schools, and virtual-reality sail training.  In addition to sailing education, we talk about the force of wind and why it quadruples when wind speed doubles, a different formula for the amount of chain rode per depth, skills that new sailors neglect to study, USCG national standards, safety, avoiding collisions, learning to sail, the benefit of joining a yacht club and racing, sailing on different kinds of sailboats, cruising around Sicily, dealing with unruly crew, being an effective captain, sailing onto dock, NauticEd, a career opportunity to be a sailing instructor, comoditizing sailing education, and much more.  Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Jack Patton sails an electric Passport 42, and was sailing to Hawaii when we spoke. He is also the owner of Poerflow Marine, which makes electric-motor systems for sailboats. We talk about sailing an electric boat, the conversion from diesel, the cost comparison between repowering with diesel vs electric, cooling systems, regeneration, the Ecostar propeller, easy and difficult boats to convert, and more. We also talk about cruising the Sea of Cortez, the Tuamotu Islands and French Polynesia, and Vancouver Island. Podcast shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7  Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Timo and Jo bought NV, a 66' IMOCA ex-Vendee Globe sailboat and converted her into a family cruiser, without sacrificing performance. The draft is still 4.5m and the mast 100'. NV was originally designed, built & raced by famous Hungarian sailor Nándor Fa. He competed in her in the 1992 Vendée Globe finishing 5th, becoming the first non-frenchman to finish. When I spoke with Timo and Jo, they were in Lombok, Indonesia, preparing to go see the dragons on Komodo Island. We also talk about moving from a Young Sun 35 to the IMOCA racer, modifications to the boat to make it a family cruiser, maintaining the boat's weight, why we love sailing, and lots more.  Support the show with Patreon patreon.com/paultrammell Shownotes are here https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-7

Skip Novak is a lifetime offshore sailor, veteran of four Whitbread Round the World and other races, and owner of Pelagic Expeditions. He recently published the boat "On Sailing." We talk about the book, learning to sail, Kirsten Neuschafer, combining sailing and climbing, design aspects of proper bluewater cruising boats, deck layout on Skip's boats, rigging for heavy weather, heaving-to, drogues and sea anchors, rudders and keels, unnecessary features often found on modern sailboats, older boats, simplicity, communication, managing Starlink, safety, below-deck features of a bluewater boat, catamarans, favorite wildlife, sailing amongst ice, favorite moments, and more. Shownotes are at https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-6 Support the show through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Keith and Becca bought a Pearson 424 that needed a refit, and when the time came to repower, they found an inexpensive electric motor and made a quick decision to build an electri-motor system. They eventually sailed off from Texas to the Caribbean, worked their way upwind to the Windward Islands, then to the Azores, where they were when I talked to them. They've been sailing and living aboard for six years, and have a wealth of knowledge and experience with their electric-motor system. We get into all the details about their system, but we also talk about the Azores, free and silent motor assist sailing, having unlimited power, refitting their Pearson 424, sailing upwind through the Caribbean, losing the prop shaft coupler, cavitation caused by seaweed on the prop strut, micro-route-planning offshore with Starlink, unexpected issues, their 48-volt system, life at anchor with 2500 watts of solar and a large lithium battery bank, comparing the electric motor to a diesel motor, comparing costs of repowering with a diesel motor vs electric, how to make the decision to go electric or diesel, batteries, and more. Shownotes are at https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-6 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell

Tanguy de Lamotte is a French sailor and naval architect, and veteran of many offshore races, including the two Vendeé Globes and several Transats. He is also part of Vita Power, a company that makes electric boats. We talk about electric boats and their environmental advantages, the Vita Power boats, sailing IMOCA boats, foiling, cruising, and more. Shownotes are at https://www.paultrammell.com/podcast-season-6 Support through Patreon here patreon.com/paultrammell