Offshore Sailing and Cruising with Paul Trammell

Tapio was one of only 5 finishers out of 18 boats that started in the 2018 Golden Globe Race, a singlehand, nonstop race around the world in old production cruisers limited to using 1968 technology. We talk about his boat, his experiences at sea for 322 days, whales, albatross, books, navigation, and the upcoming Ocean Globe Race. Tapio is a legend of ocean sailing, and has much to pass on to all of us.

Andrew Evans is a singlehanded sailor and author of THE book on the subject. All serious singlehanders have either read the book, or they will. We discuss how he has his Olson 30 set up, foul-weather gear, tethers and harnesses, sheet-to-tiller steering, tying off the tiller, autopilots, tacking and gybing singlehanded, sleeping while sialing alone, meal planning for singlehanders, handling spinnakers alone, the mental challenges of solo sailing, and the rewards of solo sailing. This is a must-hear podcast not only for singlehanders, but for anyone who sails offshore, since even sailors with crews might find themselves in a situation where they have to handle the boat alone.

Erick and Jen are living the dream of exploring and looking for surf and good spearfinshing on a beautiful Downeaster 38. We talk about how he chose his boat, the ten-year refit, male/female dynamics on a boat, instruments, solar power, developing the dream to live aboard and sail, budgeting and spending, meeting people while cruising, and much more.

I interviewed Pete Goss in November, 2019, when I met him in the Chesapeake Bay. We discuss his rescue of a fellow racer in the 1996 Vendee Globe race, in which he turned around in hurricane-force winds in the Southern Ocean and sailed upwind for three days and miraculously found Raphael Dinelli in his life raft. We also discuss his new boat, a Garcia 45, various issues facing singlehanders, like sleep and foul-weather gear, writing, and future plans.