Ocean Sailing Podcast

James and Patti Hunt are Australians who truly have the traveller's spirit, having extensively backpacked as young Australians throughout Europe in the early 1980's. They were introduced to sailing in the chilly conditions off the south coast of England and purchased their first yacht 'Wanderlust' a Hurley 24 in 1987. By 1995 they made the decision to find the ideal cruising yacht to become their travelling home and subsequently purchased 'La Aventura' (Spanish for 'The Adventurer') from Jimmy Cornell. Over the next 25 years they sailed two-handed to 73 countries and covered approximately 50,000 miles, including a circumnavigation of the UK, two seasons in the Baltic, sailing to Eastern Europe, St Petersburg, Russia, on to the Mediterranean in 2000, where they spent the next 11 summers, then Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. By 2012 they crossed the Atlantic to the Eastern Caribbean, before spending 6 years exploring the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Panama, Cuba and east coast USA. 'La Aventura' is now back in the UK and for sale, having just completed a voyage from the Western Caribbean, back across the Atlantic via Bermuda and the Azores. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Andy Schell produces the sailing podcast: 'On the Wind'. With more than 250 episodes under his belt, along with a sailing calendar that sees him tick off more than 10,000 sea miles each year, Andy eats, sleeps and breathes 'all things sailing'. Andy shares his love of sailing and podcasting in a rare and candid interview, where he's on the other end of the microphone for a change. Andy and his wife Mia, are renowned for their generosity in sharing sailing content, knowledge and hands on adventures. I was inspired by Andy's work to launch the Ocean Sailing Podcast in 2016, so its a privilege to spend an hour with Andy, drilling into what drives him and the things that keep him awake at night. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Deborah Dalziel is both sailor and sailing technology entrepreneur. We explore the story behind the business idea, to find out what drove Deborah, as the Founder of www.MySail.Team to create a Web and App platform, designed to make race crew management easier for boat owners and skippers, while making it simpler for race crew to access and find crew positions on new yachts for races and regattas. With more than 500 yachts and 2,500 crew using My Sail, it's really gaining traction and proving that sailors love technology, that saves time and simplifies life. As a Canadian immigrant to Australia, who has bootstrapped her start-up with a ton of grit and determination, Deborah shares her vision, the challenges, set backs and future growth plans for My Sail and what she hopes to achieve with the product enhancements that lie ahead. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Vernon Deck is a great example of jumping head first into sailing and just figuring it out as you go along. He learned by watching sailing videos and doing local racing as crew, then purchased a yacht, spent 3 weeks on preparation, then untied and departed. His first 3 seasons were spent sailing the 780nm passage between Brisbane and Cairn on the Australian East Coast on a S&S 34 before buying a much faster Sayer 37 yacht and heading offshore to Solomon Islands, then onto Papua New Guinea and then Indonesia. After a lifetime of adventure and earning a living as a sports photographer, Vernon now spends half of each year in Austria earning a living and the other half onboard his yacht, cruising his way north through the Pacific. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Paul Trammel has a passion for surfing, sailing and free-diving. Paul shares his plans to sell up and head off for a life of solo sailing adventure, funded in part by his solo-sailing book writing. With plans to live on the ocean permanently, Paul talks about how has made his dreams a reality, along with tips on the content distribution platforms that budding new sailing writers can now use to monetise digital and printed content. Paul lives by the mantra: "Fear is here for us to face and adventure waits on the other side" and he talks about the solo adventures that inspired his new book: 'Journey to the Ragged Islands: Sailing Solo Through The Bahamas', which includes stories of his adventures, 67 photographs, visits to dozens of uninhabited islands, several shark encounters, six blue holes and three point breaks. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Dennis Webster built his 37-foot plywood catamaran 'Catalyst' for just $27,000 and then set off with his family to sail from New Zealand to the Pacific Islands, Guam, Japan and Alaska before sailing down the west coast of Canada and the USA and westward across the Pacific on a 3 year journey packed full of adventures and crazy stories. From frozen fuel, to working on fishing trawlers out of Dutch Harbour, to being hit by 60 knots at anchor, being arrested, a whale collision that almost caused a capsize, this family of five had the adventure of a lifetime on a tiny budget. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

The inside passage to Alaska has been paddled by native canoes since time immemorial. It's in the spirit of tradition, exploration, and the lawless self-reliance of the gold rush that the Race to Alaska was born. R2AK is the first of its kind and North America's longest human and wind powered race, and currently the largest cash prize for a race of its kind. It's like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. You, a boat, a starting gun. $10,000 if you finish first, a set of steak knives if you're second. Cathartic elation if you can simply complete the course. R2AK is a self-supported race with no supply drops and no safety net. Any boat without an engine can enter. Last year 37 teams were accepted and 21 finished. Graham Shaw was 1 of the 21 and he shares his story. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

An episode with the Ocean Gem crew, who recount their epic 1,000nm trip from Southport to Pittwater via Middleton Reef, Elizabeth Reef, Lord Howe Island and Balls Pyramid. These unique reefs and islands are 300nm off Australia's Coast and are steeped in a history of untouched reefs, shipwrecks, incredible sea and bird life and the chance to stand knee deep in water, in the southern most coral reef in the world, surrounded by a 5,000m deep ocean in every direction. This 9-day ocean passage initially took us 300nm upwind to Middleton Reef, a stopover at Elizabeth Reef and 2 days ashore at Lord Howe Island before sailing around the 'jurassic like' Balls Pyramid, en-route to Pittwater, NSW on a 10-25 knot, 3-day, downwind sleigh ride, in preparation for the Pittwater to Southport race in January. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

A fascinating interview with New Zealand scientist and sailor; Josh Scarrow, who has spent time on the ice in Antartica on three different occasions, taking him to 85 degrees south, 2,800 metres high and temperatures below -20 degrees C. Josh is with the Antarctica NZ organisation and shares his sailing experience from Hobart to Antarctica on the 95m icebreaker Aurora Australis and his flying adventures both to and across Antartica. Josh is also a sailor at heart and his Pacific adventures have taken him from Auckland to Port Vila on a 60 foot catamaran. Josh shares his perspective on the melting ice caps and what it would take to raise the sea levels as much as 60 metres globally. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Nick has packed a lot into his 30-year sailing career including an around-the-globe non-stop world sailing speed record in 2002, where he and his team captured the Trophée Jules Verne. That same year, he also achieved a 1st place in the largest solo transatlantic yacht race, La Route du Rhum. With 2 Americas Cups, 15 world sailing speed records and Volvo Ocean Races under his belt, Nick possesses a passion and drive to win thats seldom seen. A sailor, windsurfer and free diver, Nick is still the first and only person to ever windsurf 125nm, across the notorious Bass Strait to Tasmania in 22h 11m. In this episode Nick provides advice about focus, passion and managing energy levels to maximise performance. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

After competing in the Solo Tasman Yacht Challenge 1974, Christchurch man Tony Allan was sailing back to New Zealand from Mooloolaba, Australia, when his boat, ​Rebel II​, capsized two days into the journey, leaving him adrift in his life raft for 20 days. As Tony wasn't expected back to Lyttelton for another 12 days, had no form of radio contact and, suddenly, after a life-time spent on water, was now afraid of the sea and how he would survive? This is an inspiring story of survival as Tony battled through nightmares, hearing voices, loneliness, and absolute vulnerability. Tony's is the longest-known survival on the Tasman Sea in a life raft. Tony kept himself busy during the days lost at sea, his mounting depression, and how he rationed the little food he had. Tony had to deal with the realities of living in a slowly-sinking raft and being constantly soaked by the sea and tells of his and his extremely lucky rescue. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Sytske du Crocq is a Netherlands based sailing entrepreneur who has turned her passion for racing in exotic destinations, into a global business. I met Sytske by chance at Hamilton Island in Australia when she was here to compete in the Sydney to Gold Coast Race and unearthed a great story, about what you can create if you have passion and determination. Sail Race Crew offer both grand prix yacht racing and cruising adventures on yachts as extreme as TP52's and Volvo 70's and as classy and Swan 65's. With destinations all over the world and access to 4,900 yachts, they create 'bucket list' experiences for sailors of all ages. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Mark Gallick joins me onboard Ocean Gem for a 600nm ocean passage from Hamilton Island to Southport in Queensland. Its a challenging passage that takes in islands, reefs, whales, commercial and military traffic and a number of navigational challenges including the shallow 70nm passage down the western side of Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Mark shares the personal goals he wanted to achieve on our voyage south and his future plans for acquisition of a Seawind catamaran to go cruising with his family. We dive into Mark's 22 year career with the US Coast Guard including some colourful stories and being stationed on the US mainland, Hawaii and the Bahamas. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Guest host Joe Richardson interviews Jason Ker, founder of Ker Yacht Design onboard his very own 'Ker designed' 19.2m (63 feet) racer/cruiser yacht "Dark Horse of England". Jason Ker launched Ker Yacht Design than 20 years ago and he talks about how he got started in yacht design, his ocean racing experiences with both the Fastnet and Sydney Hobart Races under his belt. He lives by the design philosophy that "you are only as good as your last boat". With success all over the world, it's a fascinating and technical insight into the mind of one of the world's leading yacht designers with proven pedigree ranging from monohulls to cats, cruisers to grand prix ocean racers and he shares the highs and lows of the GFC and financial risks of designing for the Americas Cup. Jason talks about yacht design 10 years from now and what the future might look like. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Guest host Paul Trammell is back and interviews David Young who lives in Jacksonville Florida on his Endeavour 35 yacht, built in 1984. He shares his experience on Pacific voyaging, using parachute anchors and drogues, 4 decades of ocean sailing; starting with pilot charts, radio direction finders and sextants and talks about evolution to GPS, the risks of GPS navigating and the explosive growth in confident technology-equipped cruisers. David met the famous sailor 'Bernard Moitessier' in the early eighties at a boat yard in Northern California, when was building his new steel yacht 'Joshua'. David shares some of Bernard's advice about handling storms and various sea states, along with staying well off the coast in onshore gales. David yacht was ship wrecked off the northern coast of San Francisco in a bad gale after rolling through 360 degrees and losing his mast. Bernard Moitessier new yacht 'Joshua' was also beached and wrecked in a subsequent Cabo San Lucas storm with 30-40 other yachts a few years later. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

David Hows set out from Hobart in Tasmania and sailed 1,300nm solo across the notorious Tasman Sea to New Plymouth in New Zealand in preparation for the 4-yearly 1,400nm Solo Tasman Yacht Race back to Mooloolaba on Australia's Sunshine Coast. David talks about race stratgey, sleep patterns, nutrition and sail performance management. He also shares his challenges and set backs which include; battery charging problems, bilge pump failure, loss of autopilot, tainted drinking water, dysentery, dropping a spinnaker into the sea, when a hoist went wrong and wrapping his spinnaker around his forestay for the 4 days of the race. He finished 3rd on line honours and 1st on IRC. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Paul Trammel is one of the most down-to-earth, consummate sailors you will meet. With a passion for surfing, sailing and free-diving, the ocean is a big part of Paul's life. From cruising the Bahamas, to free diving into under water caves in Florida, to sleeping with alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp and surfing big waves in Puerto Rico. Paul's tales of his free spirited adventures and his outlook on life is simply inspiring. Paul lives by the mantra: "Fear is here for us to face and adventure waits on the other side". Paul shares his adventures in his 1972 Dufour Arpege, named Sobrius and they were colourful from the get go. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

In this episode, we'll hear from guest host Caroline Ballard from a fellow podcast called HumaNature, which tells stories where humans and our habitat meet. After passing Sable Island (a small island situated 190 nm southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia) on their first Atlantic crossing, this is a short story of a family who traded life on land for a 25,000nm sea adventure. They share the tale of encountering strange noises in the middle of the night and how they were terrified at first, but eventually discovered the source, which turned into a unique, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Guest host Paul Trammell talks with Jim den Hartog and Helen den Dekker on board Gaia, a steel Colvin Gazelle designed yacht, that they spent a decade building from plans. Paul interviewed Jim and Helen at Conception Island in the Bahamas and they share tales of their lessons from sailing all over the world, including 22 years at sea and never experiencing a storm, along with sailing the intra-coastal waterway from Maine to Florida in the USA. Jim and Helen have circumnavigated the globe and draw on their many adventures in this episode. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

We catch up with Lena Padukova in Gothenburg, Sweden for finish of the penultimate leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Lena is an experienced ocean sailor, mountaineer and leader of multiple ocean adventures and land expeditions. Lena shares stories from her years of sailing all over the planet from the Pacific to the Arctic and her lessons learned from leading teams and crews to high latitudes and high altitude destinations. In this candid chat we discuss leadership styles and the risks that come with taking people on adventures in extreme conditions. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

David Hows, producer of the Ocean Sailing Podcast; shares his thoughts on his first 7 years of keel boat cruising, racing and ocean passages in his Beneteau 445 'Ocean Gem'. After 25,000nm and 400+ races, with the most recent adventure being a double solo Tasman Sea crossing of 2,800nm in total and lots of 'thinking time" David shares his plans to turn his passion for sailing into something bigger than a part-time pastime. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

An absolutely fascinating chat with Sonny Natanielu, about the revival of traditional Polynesian voyaging methods using waka (canoes) that go back several hundred years. It was a tremendous insight into the importance of the ocean and significance of waka (canoes). Maori has its roots in times past, when voyaging waka forged the links between the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki and New Zealand and waka also linked together all of the peoples of Polynesia. The skills these pacific ancestors required to build and navigate these vessels across the Pacific using only natural materials were beyond imagination. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

In this episode I spent a session with Rod West, owner/skipper of Another Painkiller (a Beneteau First 44.7) and Philip Bell, owner/skipper of She (an Olsen 40) and we reflected on our preparation and race experience and did a post mortem of our entries in the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, our race results and the things we all did differently. 2017 was the first year that the Southport Yacht Club had seen 3 of its members enter this iconic ocean race and the conditions were amongst the best in the 73 year history, with the line honours record tumbling by several hours for the second year in a row. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Andy Lamont interviews Mike Sabin about his lifetime of adventures on the water. Mikes a boat builder, sail maker, has been a coastal patrol pilot and has sailed every part of the Australian coastline. At age 40 Mike sold everything and headed off in his new yacht 'Sly Fox' for 5 years of sailing and adventure all over the world, including sailing to Europe, where he removed his mast and spent 2 months cruising the French canals. Mike also shares tips on how to look after your sails and maximise their life expectancy. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

I caught up with my favourite maritime author - Rob Mundle in late 2017, on 'all things Jimmy Spithill' and his recent project writing Jimmy's biography 'Chasing the Cup - My Americas Cup Journey'. Jimmy Spithill is arguably one of the world's greatest skippers: the youngest and a double winner of the America's Cup, winner of the Sydney Hobart; multiple world champion in match and fleet racing. What goes on inside the head of this extremely focused man, who is a true pioneer in the game called sailing? Rob shares some insights into this rags-to-riches story of fierce determination, court cases, seasickness, crashed boats and cars, the greatest comeback ever in sporting history and the dramatic 2017 America's Cup defence. Rob also shares a preview of the 2017 Race Sydney Hobart and reflects on his 50th year of involvement in the race (3 as crew and 47 as commentator). Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

After preparing my Beneteau yacht 'Ocean Gem' for our first ever Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, I decided to interview our crew 4 weeks after we completed the race and gather their thoughts on the project and their experience. It started in September 2017 when we assembled a crew of 10 and a prepared a long project list that grew to more than 200 items. In early December we departed the Gold Coast in Queensland for Sydney via Lord Howe Island (300nm off Australia's east coast). The 800nm delivery journey qualified our crew and yacht for the 630nm race of a lifetime. This is a great episode for those thinking of pushing their local club racing and blue water sailing to the next level. It demonstrates that with good preparation, anything is possible. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

I check in with Andy Lamont after he successfully completed his solo circumnavigation in his S&S 34 named Impulse in August 2017. Andy reflects on life after his 250+ day voyage, some of the highs and lows, how he handled storms and big seas and whats next on his bucket list. Its a bumper two and a half hour chat with Andy in which he shares advice on sail configuration for solo sailing, handling storms, what its really like being alone in big weather and how his time away from his family and business has changed how he looks at life. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Ocean Sailing Podcast producer David Hows shares his thoughts and tips on PHS club racing, solo sailing and planning a successful regatta. David races his 1992 Beneteau 445 'Ocean Gem' and discusses how to succeed at a club racing level when you are racing under the PHS system. In preparation for the 1,300nm Solo Tasman race in 2018, David undertakes his first solo passage with a 580nm solo delivery trip from the Gold Coast to Hamilton Island in Queensland, Australia in preparation for his 2nd Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. David shares his advice on how to put a regatta campaign together if you are a racer/cruiser to ensure you strike the best balance between racing and having fun. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Guest Host; Dr Linus Wilson interviews a family living, traveling, learning and enjoying the world aboard the 38-foot catamaran Fata Morgana. Their names are Ivo, Mira and Maya. For them it's a voyage into a new and unknown way of life. They left behind work, school, home and all those things that give us a false sense of security and comfort, in order to find alternative ways of learning and experiencing the world. They are traveling and living aboard and produce their own solar power and fresh water and they sail as much as possible and also catch and eat a lot of fish. In November 2012, Ivo, Mira and Maya piled up a bunch of clothes, books, and tools on a 1988 motor home and left their house in Canada in search of a boat. After five months on the road, they found their version of the "perfect boat". 'Fata Morgana' became their new home and school for an unknown number of years. Ivo, Mira and Maya are traveling around the world and living full-time aboard Fata Morgana, a 2001 Robertson & Caine Leopard 38. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Guest host Andy Lamont talks to Paul Ridley - rower turned sailor. He took up rowing in 2005 and within 4 years rowed 3,000nm across the Atlantic Ocean. Facing the worst nature had to offer, he was blown backwards 200 miles after a bad storm. Next came the Arctic Ocean, the only ocean that had never been rowed across. In August 2012, a team of four young explorers completed an unsupported, non-stop, record-setting voyage in one of the exploration world's last great firsts. After 40 days and 1,000 miles, Collin West, Neal Mueller, Paul Ridley & Scott Mortensen powered their way along a dangerous section of the fabled Northwest Passage. Paul then purchased a Lagoon 38 and took up cruising with his wife, sailing from the UK to Spain, Porto, Lisbon, the Canary Islands, Antigua, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal with plans to head to the Galapagos, Marquesas', Tahiti and then Australia next. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

In this episode my guest host Andy Lamont talks with Chris Barnes on his Panama stopover about his 17 years of cruising adventures at sea. Chris's story is riveting from start to finish with tales of meteorites, bushfires, hurricanes and an adventure filled life on the ocean Chris started dinghy sailing when he was young on the Portsmouth Harbour in England and then crossed the Atlantic in 34 days from England to Barbados in the yacht 'Robert Spray' modelled on Josua Slocum's original design. Chris spent several years skippering yachts for various owners, including sailing the 110 foot Schooner 'America'. 'America' was built in 1851 and is the yacht The Americas Cup is named after. Chris shares insights into the rise, demise and rise again of 'America' including a period where she was left to rot in a shed 50 years ago, before a full rebuild was commissioned to restore her to the full glory we know today. Chris tells a great story of Atlantic crossings, boat yard mishaps and doing up to 9 knots boat speed in 15 knots of wind in a yacht more than 150 years old. Chris's adventures continued to Africa and eventually Australia where tragedy struck his family, as summer temperatures hit 46 degrees celsius (115 F) as Australias "Black Saturday" bushfires swept through his new hometown taking his home and more than 200 lives that day. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Cruising Pittwater (15nm north of Sydney) has got to be one of the top 10 cruising spots in Australia. With deepwater anchorages right up to the shoreline, free moorings, white sand beaches, private secluded bays and the 150 square kilometre Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park littered with hiking tracks, cruising the Pittwater, Cowan Creek and lower Hawkesbury River area is simply spectacular. This episode is about our 2-week family sailing holiday on our Beneteau 445 yacht 'Ocean Gem' that included our 700nm return delivery trips sailing from the Gold Coast in Queensland, to Pittwater, New South Wales earlier this year and 8 days of fantastic cruising we enjoyed. We share the highs and lows of the the delivery trips and lots of sailing tips and recommendations about its magical cruising spots. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

In this episode my guest host Andy Lamont talks with Stuart Morton about his sailing adventures on his Panama stopover. After leaving England 11 years ago on his 39 foot sailing yacht Matador, Stuart and his wife Steph have cruised the Mediterranean, Lebanon, the Black Sea, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Gibraltar, USA, Cuba, Bahamas and the Caribbean. Then while sitting in his cockpit anchored in Shelter Bay in Panama a storm came through punching out 30-40 knot squalls. A loud crack followed by a puff of black smoke cloud off top of mast and the smell of frying semi-conductors and circuits downstairs led to Stuarts initial fear that his yacht was on fire. Stuart accounts what happened next after realising Matador had been struck by lightning. This episode is packed with the highs and lows of cruising internationally and the many sailing challenges faced along the way. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Its just 36 hours out from the start of the 35th Americas Cup and Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand pick up where they left off 4 years ago in San Francisco. In this episode we explore what ETNZ has to do to upset a very dominant and confident defender in Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA. Will Oracles comeback from 8-1 down in 2013 come back to haunt ETNZ again or have they closed the door and moved on? We drill into the key differences between the boats and skippers, the battle of the press conference, the impact of the cyclists on sailing and exactly where Jimmy Spithill is likely to focus, to exploit weaknesses and gain advantage. With inspiration from Al Pacino and Jimmy Spithill himself, its winner takes all time in Bermuda. As Queen Victoria was told by her attendant in 1851: "Your Majesty, there is no second place". Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

On the eve of day one of the challenger semi-finals, we talk again with Cup Experience Founder; Jack Griffin on location in Bermuda about his take on the racing so far in the challenger qualifiers and 'all things' Americas Cup 2017. We dive into the sailing differences between the teams to date, the surprises we have seen and what we have learned about the importance of 'the start' and the quality of your 'boards' (foils). This 35th edition of the Cup is unfolding into one of the most competitive events ever with close racing, multiple lead changes, collisions, penalties and of course the sailing personalities. With speeds in excess of 40 knots and teams now foiling up and down wind for 100% of the race, simple mistakes cost you hundreds of metres. This cup is not just about pure boat speed, its also about consistency in execution, winning the start, foil and rudder selection and how you mode your boat for the conditions each day. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

On the eve of the 35th edition, we talk with Cup Experience Founder and Americas cup sailing commentator; Jack Griffin from his home in Geneva, Switzerland about 'all things' Americas Cup. From the venue differences between San Francisco and Bermuda, to which teams are most likely to make the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals, to Jack's pick for the Americas Cup 2017 winner. This episode recaps the final moments of each of the last 30 years of Americas Cup finals and then Jack drills into who the form teams are for this years event, who is most likely to surprise us and whether Emirates Team New Zealand's cycle powered sailing innovation will be the difference. With major changes in the course format and weather in Bermuda, we could see the return of the upwind tacking duels of old - but this time in high speed catamarans, doing almost 50 knots and up on foils for 100% of the race. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Nick Williams is an unassuming, but naturally talented 14 year old sailor who sets out from New Zealand and heads to California to compete in the William Koch International Sea Scout Cup and achieves a result he and his sailing partner Nick Gardiner could only have dreamed of. Bill Koch's relationship with the Sea Scout program pre-dates his career as a successful international businessman and winning America's Cup skipper. It began more than 50 years ago when the Wichita, Kansas native enrolled in a summer sailing program at Culver Military Academy in Indiana. Modelled after the Sea Scout Program, Koch cites his early sailing experience as one that would alter the course of his life. "I learned then that the true art of sailing required teamwork, discipline and leadership," he said. "If I could fine tune those skills, then I would be better able to manage the surprises that the sea constantly throws at you." Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

We track Andy Lamont down in St. Lucia in the Caribbean during his unplanned stopover for repairs to his self-steering and electrical systems. Andy left the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia in October 2016 for his non-stop westward bound solo circumnavigation and world record attempt sailing his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse'. We find out all about his sailing voyage so far, the set backs and forced change of plans, during his stopover prior to heading north to the Panama Canal before crossing the Pacific Ocean on his final leg home. Andy candidly shares his thoughts about solo sailing, his adventure so far and the roller coaster of highs and lows he has experienced. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

We catch-up with Lisa Blair 65 days into her world record attempt to circumnavigate Antarctica solo as the first female and fastest sailor ever. Lisa shares the challenges and set backs to date, talks about weather, icebergs, repairs and leaks. A few days after the interview by Sat Phone, disaster strikes and Lisa's mast comes crashing down. Working in the dark sailing into 9m seas, we share a narration of Lisa's blow-by-blow account of her courageous efforts to save her hull from sinking, and her epic battle to cut her rig free. This is an episode about seamanship and the determination of one hell of a sailor, as she battles fatigue and hypothermia to overcome her biggest challenge yet sailing her Open 50, named Climate Action Now. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

We check in with Lisa Blair a few days prior to her departure to find out how her shake down trip form Sydney, NSW to Albany, WA went. Lisa tells us how "Climate Action Now" stood up to 60 knots of wind and a sizeable storm. We find out whats left to complete on her endless task prior to her departure, as she sets off to become the first female to complete a sailing circumnavigation of Antartica solo. Lisa will be the second competitor in history to take on the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race (ACOR). Originally based on the Open 50 racing design, Climate Action Now (AKA Funnel-Web) was purpose built to race in the Double Handed Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. Lisa Blair began sailing professionally in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Visual Arts at university and has since clocked up more than 50 000 nautical miles of ocean sailing. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

A sailing day on the water with the Wild Oats XI Sydney Hobart crew in their ninth and final consecutive day of on-the-water training, in the lead up to the 72nd edition of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. This episode captures the anticipation beforehand of Rod Routh and David Hows as they fly to Sydney to join Mark Richards, Iain Murray and the Wild Oats XI team sailing on Sydney Harbour, followed by a debrief on the return trip home after an exciting day of action on and off the water. Wild Oats XI is the most successful Sydney to Hobart yacht ever with eight line honours victories from 10 starts and is the current holder of the race record in just over 1 day, 18 hours for the 628nm race. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Disaster struck the first week of Andy's non-stop westward bound solo circumnavigation and world record sailing attempt in his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse'. By day 3 he hit challenges he had not expected during a 40-knot storm, while sailing 150nm offshore. From genoa failure to electrical problems, water ingress into his food storage and a bizarre EPIRB activation. After months of preparation and years of planning Andy Lamont's first days, created challenges he did not expect. We catch up with Andy after he sailed into the CYCA in Sydney where he has undergone repairs, and upgrades to ensure that when he departs Sydney this month, he is ready for round 2 of 'Andy Lamont sails around the world' in the biggest adventure of his life. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Mike Horn is globally acknowledged as the world's greatest modern day explorer. From swimming the Amazon River solo and unsupported to an unmotorised circumnavigation of the globe at the equator, Mike's list of accomplishments as a solo explorer is unparalleled. In two decades, he has seen more of the Earth than possibly any other human. He walked to the North Pole during darkness and has scaled the world's 8,000 metre peaks, including a recent attempt to paraglide K2. In 2008 the yacht "Pangaea" was born so that young adults could experience sailing and explore the natural world. Over 200,000 miles and multiple sailing circumnavigations later, Mike has created a great environmental initiative to educate a global network of youth. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

David Hows shares his story of preparing and sailing to a 45 foot Beneteau yacht named 'Ocean Gem' across the Tasman Sea from Auckland, New Zealand, via Norfolk Island to the Gold Coast in Australia in late 2013. This second of a two-part episode is a step-by-step summary of his extensive preparation and substantial refit and it will help and inspire any blue water cruiser who is preparing to sail across a large ocean. This personal insight into the highs and lows of voyage planning is a great story for every cruising sailor. Originally published in iTunes as the 200+ page iBook: 'Sailing the Tasman Sea', it has been narrated into audio for this podcast. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

David Hows shares his story of preparing and sailing to a 45 foot Beneteau yacht named 'Ocean Gem' across the Tasman Sea from Auckland, New Zealand, via Norfolk Island to the Gold Coast in Australia in late 2013. This first of a two-part episode is a step-by-step summary of his extensive preparation and substantial refit and it will help and inspire any blue water cruiser who is preparing to sail across a large ocean. This personal insight into the highs and lows of voyage planning is a great story for every cruising sailor. Originally published in iTunes as the 200+ page iBook: 'Sailing the Tasman Sea', it has been narrated into audio for this podcast. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

In this episode we chat with Martin Vaughan about his epic sailing adventure and lessons learned from competing in the 5,500nm 2-handed 2013 Melbourne to Osaka Race. As a long distance South to North Ocean Race, it's a unique Pacific Ocean journey and it crosses multiple weather systems and seasons. The course starts in Portsea, Melbourne, heads into Bass Strait, up the east coast of Australia, into the southeasterly trade winds then through the Solomon Islands and the doldrums of the equator. It then heads into the southeasterly trade winds and the equatorial current before fighting the Kuroshio (Japan current), which flows up the Pacific Coast of Japan to finish in the port of Osaka on Japan's Honshu Island. Its a yacht race and sailing adventure like no other. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

In 2015, after three South African sailors went missing after sailing into the vastness of the Southern Ocean and their families desperately tried to trace their final movements. Their determination to uncover the truth, would require going to war with the world's largest tourism conglomerate, a €20 billion-a-year monolith that had no interest in fielding questions. In this episode we share a narration of the 10,000+ word story of sailing tragedy and loss, followed by a candid chat with its author, Kevin Bloom about the missing pieces of the puzzle that led to the deaths of three sailors and the eventual relocation of the missing 44 foot Leopard Catamaran several months later. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

After months of preparation and years of planning we check in with Andy Lamont a few days before he leaves the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia for his non-stop westward bound sailing solo circumnavigation and world record attempt in his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse'. We find out what's gone to plan, what's changed, his set backs, his final departure plans and Andy's final thoughts before leaving for the biggest sailing adventure of his life. Andy: "May the wind always be at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your sails. And until we all meet you again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand." From all of your friends at the Southport Yacht Club. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Following the 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Lisa Blair is taking sailing to the extremes and aims to set the world record for becoming the first female to compete in the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, circumnavigate Antarctica, circumnavigate below latitude 45° south and break the current speed record of 102 days, 1 hour, 35 minutes and 50 seconds. Lisa will be the second competitor in history to take on the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race (ACOR) that was founded by Chairman Robert Williams and will be racing the clock sailing around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, a three-lane racetrack circling Antarctica between 45 South and 60 South. Lisa is both a Clipper round-the-world race winner and solo Tasman competitor, but her next challenge takes sailing to a whole new level. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.

Back from competing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week for the first time, we do a race crew debrief and share the highs and lows of sailing at one of the most spectacular regattas on the planet. From trailer boats to 100-foot super maxi's, a record fleet of 252 yachts competed across 14 divisions, racing in challenging weather and strong tidal currents while sailing around the Whitsunday Islands. This candid debrief with some of the team off my Beneteau 445 (Ocean Gem), covers the highs, lows, challenges and set-backs of the week and what we would have to do differently next time round. Visit Ocean Sailing Podcast for offshore sailing opportunities and podcast extras and follow us on Facebook.