Offshore Sailing and Cruising with Paul Trammell

Peter Gibbons-Neff is currently racing in the Mini Transat. We talk about the Canary Islands, Starlink, sailing a Mini, sleep, AIS, camaraderie with other racers, buying the boat, silimarities and differences to cruising, hand steering and autopilot, power generation, the value of an MP3 player, swimming, risk management, wildlife, orcas, casualties, fixing things, difficult moments, favorite moments, US Patriot Sailing, future cruising and racing, dragging anchor in Panama, cruising the Caribbean in a mini, and much more!

Bryan and Jen are chasing their dreams in the South Pacific on their Catana Bali 4.0. We talk about French Polynesia, their catamaran, catamarans vs monohulls, teaching themselves to sail, escaping the drudgery of society, an unforcasted cyclonic even, repairing two saildrive shafts while at a remote atoll, maintaining optimism in trying times, floating the anchor in an atoll, other anchoring issues, happiness, fear, freedom, making decisions as a couple, favorite places, and much more!

Ronnie is preparing for the start of the Global Solo Challenge, and will be sailing around the world in his Open 50 "Shipyard Brewing." We talk about crossing the Atlantic, Nova Scotia, going up the mast, sailing his open 50 on different points of sail, killer whales, rigging, bottom paint, the Global Solo Challenge, communications, foul-weather gear, heavy weather, future plans, his new girlfriend, and much more!

Daniel took off from Norway to circumnavigate without any experience and made it happen. He has since signed up for the 2026 Golden Globe Race and bought an OE 32. We talk about his circumnavigation, the Caribbean, spearfishing in the San Blas islands, the South Pacific, Micronesia, the Philipines, Borneo, radar, Madagascar, rounding the Cape of Good Hope, anchors, the Golden Globe Race, books, Hydrovanes, downwind sailing, heavy weather, safety, reefing, and much more.

Olivia fell in love with sailing, learned fast, and took off, sailing solo on her Panda 34, and is currently in the South Pacific. We talk about getting started, courses, books, learning to sail, her first storm, dealing with fear, spirituality, her boat, removing the leaking teak deck, bedding compounds, the GGR, losing the engine, hydrovanes, writing, meeting people, solo sailing, self-reliance, safety, lines and reefing, making deals with God, and much more!

Merrill lives on his Tashiba 36 in a Marina in Boston and runs the business Shipshape, which connects marine contractors and boat owners. We talk about the pros and cons of living in a marina, marina pirates, dating while living in a marina, drunks falling off docks, dinghies, through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, making 1000 origami cranes, shopping for a boat, Shipshape, sailing destinations in New England and Boston, Nova Scotia, Panama, hunting for lost planes in The Bahamas, treasure hunting, writing, running over a red nun buoy in a catamaran, and more!

Olivier Hendrix is a long-time offshore sailor and the develper of iNav4U. We talk about sailing in the Mediterranean and Patagonia, storm training in the North Sea in the Winter, going overboard while tethered to the mast, staying warm in the North Sea, iNav4U, and much more.

Part 2 of my interview with Steve Alexander, who lost his autopilot on the way to the Azores from Bermuda. He also had failing backstays on the way, and a lost swing-keel. We talk about all this, as well as getting weather reports while offshore, Irridium, Starlink, Garmin InReach, approaching islands safely, provisioning, the danger of deferring responsibility, the importance of emotional support during a crisis, and much more

Steve was recently sailing from Bermuda to the Azores when he had a series of misfortunes, including losing the swing keel, backstay failure, and autopilot failure, leaving him undercanvassed and forced to steer when awake, and hove-to when sleeping, for about three weeks. We also talk about his boat, a Brewer 12.8, his previous boat, a Hallberg Rassy Rasmus, designing a windsheild for his boat, losing the swing keel between the Bahamas and Bermuda, safety, perseverance, Starlink, PredictWind, sailing solo vs with crew, and more.

Bob Bitchin is a sailor, a biker, an author of 11 books, and publisher of Latitudes and Attitudes magazine. We talk about sailing on other people's boats, anchoring on the Pacific side of Panama, fin-keel boats vs full-keel boats, eating rattlesnakes, working as a bodyguard for Evel Knievel, motorcycle clubs, similarities between biking and sailing, the brotherhood of sailors, ketches and sloops, sailing with Greenpeace on a suare-rigger, in-boom furling, Share the Sail charters, and much more.

Simon is the sales manager for North America for Victron Energy. We talk about lithium vs AGM batteries, alternator charging, DC/DC chargers, designing a solar array, starter batteries, the value of finding good information and asking questions, questions from Patreon patrons, high-output alternators, remote monitioring of your electrical system, expanding a solar array, sizing and inverter, and more.

Ambre was training for the 2023 Mini Transat and completing her qualifying 1000nm sail when she ran aground in an inlet in France and had to abandon ship. We talk about sailing a mini, lines and sail trim, safety, foul-weather gear, the wreck, future plans, and much more.

Jon is the founder of PredictWind, and a very accomplished sailor. We talk about sailing foiling boats, sailing in the Olympics, the Americas Cup, losing the mast in the Transpac, PredictWind, the data hub, weather routing, departure planning, and more.

Jerry spent the last two years exploring the Caribbean, visiting many islands in his Bristol 32. We talk about his refit, why he wanted a full-keel boat, stopping leaks, windvanes, weather, Dominica, Puerto Rico, St Croix, Mona Island, san Salvador, storm anchors, anchoring in currents,

Morgan Cole sails a Saltram Saga 36, was a boatbuilder, and was involved in Susie Goodall's refit of her 2018 GGR Boat. We talk about sailing full-keel boats, heavy weather, docking, Susie's refit, sailplans, tacking, downwind sail combinations, and much more.

Alan is a sailor that I met here in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We talk about his catamaran, sailing in the Western Caribbean, catamarans vs monohulls, rock climbing and its similarities to sailing, and much more.

I answer questions from my patrons (those who support through Patreon) including my experiences on different boats, how much money I spend, my tool collection, what gear I would have if I could afford it, calculating a power budget, where I get ideas for fictional stories and books, singlehanding, and reefing.

Nova Scotia, tying up to a fishing boat, the Atlantic circuit, killer whales, Newfoundland, Panama, lightning, deck details, owning and sailing an aluminum boat, anchoring, fishing in Canada, heaters, books,

Robert Perry talks about design elements, his newest designs - Francis Lee and the Carbon Cutter, sea chests, new Pacific Seacraft designs, the GGR, cutter vs ketch, furling booms, feathering props, Tayana 47, Perry Rendezvous, books, and more.

Dr. Aronson is a Professor and department head of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences at Florida Institute of Technology. We talk about Bocas del Toro, science, climate change and its effects on marine ecosystems, coral bleaching, coral diseases, sea-level rise, hurricanes, and much more.

I met Owen in St Augustine when I was fitting out Windflower when he and another electrician came by to give me advice. We talk about his Pacific Seacraft 34, how he became a full-time cruising sailor, batcar systems, reefing, solar power, lithium batteries, AIS, radar, wire management, alternators, wiring basics, avoiding wiring disasters, common wiring mistakes, lightning prevention, bonding, sacraficial metals, remote electrical support, troubleshooting and electrical system, the trippy magic of electricity, reincarnation, and much more.

MJ and Amy of Motherload Sailing are exploring the Caribbean with their 5 boys on their Bavaria 50. I met them in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We talk about Starlink, their passage here from the Bahamas, rudder failure, having kids on the boat, homeschooling, parenting strategies, parenting difficulties, safety, the Bahamas, running a YouTube channel, and more.

Earl has been sailing all his life, and relates some great stories, We talk about catamarans, losing a boat on a reef, foul weather in the Gulf Stream, powerboats, sailing with a family, different boats for different places, catamarans vs monohulls, crossing shallow water, maintaining a catamaran, common mistakes new sailors make, relationship dynamics when cruising, safety, weather

Simon Curwen recently was the first boat to cross the finish line in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, though he was relegated to the Chichester class for having to stop for repairs in Chile. During the interview, I tease out as much information as I can that cruising sailors might learn from. Since the GGR racers sail in classic cruising boats, they are a great source of information about what works on long passages in all kinds of conditions.

Renald had been living aboard and sailing for over ten years and is a sales rep for St Francis Catamarans. We talk about living aboard, making the decision to live aboard, choosing a boat, common mistakes, sailing, anchoring, and much more.

Brioni and Iain were sailing from Panama to French Polynesia. We talk about Starlink, sailing a catamaran, sailing in Scotland, dodging submarines, Cartagena, Colombia, failed antifouling, San Blass, Panama, customs, cultures, the Panama Canal, plans for French Polynesia, Wayfinder, and much more.

Reading from the book I co-wrote with Tapio Lehtinen "On a Belt of Foaming Seas," about his 2018 Golden Globe Race campaign. In this chapter, Tapio is sailing alone in the Southern Ocean trying to get past the islands and shoals south of New Zealand during a gale.

Jaz Kaner is a self-described 'recovering comedian' who's performed w/ the likes of Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carrey, before finding his Morgan 30 sailboat. We talk about everything from sharks & night-surfing to full-keels and our favorite sailing books & boats.

Raf and Sascha are fulfilling their dream of sailing around the world in their Beneteau Cyclades. We talk about refitting their boat, sailing in The Bahamas, spearfishing, and much more.

Reading from my latest book "Sailing to Newfoundland," starting with the chapter "Newfoundland!" in which I describe my arrival, and first week, in Newfoundland, at Cape La Hune Bay, an uninhabited fjord on the South Coast.

Discussing my time in the Bahamas, from the Abacos to Eleuthera, the Ragged Islands, and to Long Island, talking about the coral, sharks, anchoring, meeting friends, and more.

I met David and Nathalie in the Ragged Islands, and we quickly became friends. They sail an Outremer 50 catamaran, spearfish, and work smoothly as a team. We talk about catamaran sailing, spearfishing, sailing with children, sea lion invasions, getting along as a couple onboard, and much more.

Tapio recently sailed in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, as he did in 2018. He was doing well in the race until his boat sank in the Southern Ocean after rounding the Cape of Good Hope. We talk about preparing for the race, windvanes, sail configurations, wildlife encounters, the sinking of his boat, the rescue, and his journey on the cargo ship Darya Gayatri.

Elliott Smith recently competed in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, in which he sailed from France to Australia, solo, in a Kaiser Gale Force 34. His bowsprit broke near Cape Town, South Africa. He fixed it as best he could without assistance or going ashore (as the rules of the race demand) and continued. The bowsprit broke again in the Southern Ocean, and he retired from the race in Freemantle, Australia. We talk about things he learned in the race, navigating, wildlife, good times and hard times, and much more.

I met Jack, along with his wife, 2 kids, a dog, and a duck, in The Bahamas. Along with some great stories, we talk about sailing a ketch, youtube channels, sailing to the Bahamas from NY, engine trouble, Sea Tow, staying calm, bad crew, the ICW, heaving-to, sailing off anchor, docking a full-keel boat, having kids onboard, home-schooling, and much more.

I spoke with Simon and Sally while they were in Providencia, Colombia. We talk about there recent journey from Maine, stopping along the way down the US East Coast, to Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and to Provedencia. Among this and other things, we talk about their electric dinghy motor, Starlink, their lithium battery conversion, Panama, Costa Rica, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, autopilots, insurance, Tapio Lehtinen, The Bahamas, and their South Pacific plans.

Pat Lawless was racing in the GGR when his windvane self-steering failed and he was forced to retire in Cape Town. We talk about the race, his boat, Cape Town, Lanzarote, Dakar, and more.

Erick and Jenny recently transited the Panama Canal in their Downeast 38, Windsong, en route to the Galapagos Islands and French Polynesia. We talk about the logistics of the canal, using an agent, line handlers, insurance, getting a long-stay visa for French Polynesia, the logistics of visiting the Galapagos, and much more.

I met Christian in Hare Bay, a fjord in the uninhabited central south coast of Newfoundland, Canada. He continued on from there to the Azores and Europe. He runs Saga 47 Swan Sailing, an Offshore and Coastal Adventure Sailing business. We talk about his boat, his adventures, running a charter business, and more.

David Hows is the host of the Ocean Sailing Podcast and owner of Ocean Sailing Expeditions. We talk about his adventures sailing in the southern hemisphere, his 72' steel cutter, the Sydney Hobart Race, running a sailing charter business, and much more.

David Hows is the host of the Ocean Sailing Podcast and owner of Ocean Sailing Expeditions. We talk about his adventures sailing in the southern hemisphere, his 72' steel cutter, the Sydney Hobart Race, running a sailing charter business, and much more.

Part 2 of my conversation with Chris-Stanmore Major, discussing his Open 60, sailing an 80' maxi, running a chartering business, and more.

Sailing an open 60, heavy weather, sailing an 80' maxi, singlehanding big boats, Chris' podcasts "The Mariner" and "The Mariner's Library," approaching a new coast, cruising vs racing, The Global Solo Challenge, developing mental endurance, Cape Horn, favorite moments at sea, developing cold-water tolerance, and more!

Guy Morris is a sailor and an author. We talk about sailing around Los Angeles and Catalina, running aground, running a charter business, sinking at the dock, the pirate Henry Morgan and his lost treasure, Roatan, Mayan mythology, haunted caves, and his book, The Curse of Cortes.

Sailing in Norway, staying warm, learning to singlehand, whales, birds, polar bears, dressing for the cold, sailing a ketch, anchoring, ghost stories, photography

I bought my Hydrovane in 2020 and recently met Will Curry at the Annapolis Boat Show. Will is the Director of Sales and Sarah is the Direcrtor of Marketing for Hydrovane. We talk about moving onto a bigger boat, catamaran vs monohull sailing, the South Pacific, putting a Hydrovane on a catamaran, limitations and advantages of the Hydrovane, using a tiller pilot with the Hydrovane, orcas, the GGR, Elliot Smith, Damien Guillou, details about setting course with they Hydrovane, the importance of a whisker pole, downwind sailing, using the Hydrovane and an electronic AP at the same time, storm tactics, and more.

Guy was racing in the 2022 Golden Globe Race until he fell asleep after being up for 30 hours and ended up on the rocks in the Canary Islands. We talk about the crash and its causes, his solo sail from the USA to France, the race, a near collision with a fishing boat, lessons learned from the race, radio communications, navigation, being alone, damage and repairs to his boat Spirit (a Tashiba 36) relationships with the other racers, who's going to win, future plans, and more.

I met Alan in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in June of 2022. He sailed soon after to Sable Island and Newfoundland with John Kretschmer. We talk about sailing, radar, safety, fog, Sable Island, passage planning, reefing, marine traffic, a shipwreck he was involved in, commercial fishing, Lunenburg, Tapio Lehtinen's sinking ship, and much more.

This is a talk I gave to the North Florida Cruising Club about my journey to Newfoundland. I talk about sailing, anchoring, fishing, and hiking in the south coast fjords, as well as the sail there and back to Florida.

Peter is preparing for the 2023 Mini Transat. We talk about the Class Mini, the Mini Transat, racing vs cruising, buying a mini, lithium batteries, autopilots, sleep, hallucinations, foul weather gear, taking notes to improve performance, weather, running rigging, Patriot Sailing, safety, helmets, training, orcas, and more.