#298. Mike Beemer is an instructor at Skagit Valley Community College out in the Pacific Northwest. The school has recently purchased an old Westsail 39 that his students will renovate over the course of the next school year into an offshore-capable cruising boat, which they'll sell to an inspired sailor! They'll document the progress on the SVC 'Skallywags" YouTube channel. -- BOAT SHOPPING!, Live with August Sandberg & Andy Schell on crowdcast.io/holdfast. Thursday July 16, 5pm EDT. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. And also supported by Colligo Marine and Amundsen Sports.

Mike Beemer // Refitting a Westsail 39

The definitive podcast about sailing. Professional sailors Andy Schell, Emma Garschagen, and August Sandberg interview sailors from around the world to discover what motivates, scares & inspires them. For over ten years and through 400+ episodes, our hosts have interviewed sailors like Dee Caffari, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Liz Clark, John Kretschmer, Kirsten Neuschafer & many, many more. We talk to boat builders, yacht designers, YouTube stars, performance racers, and many more. HOLD FAST!

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Sports

Wilderness

Sailing was never a part of Lutz Kohne’s life growing up - it hit him square in the face as an adult, and completely changed his trajectory. He’s since worked as a professional skipper, as Race Director for the ogr and the ggr, and he is now preparing to set sail himself, around the world, solo, retro and unassisted as a participant in the golden globe race 2026. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter.  -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Lutz Kohne // Golden Globe Manager turned Racer

Henry Mickle & Bayley Richardson are self-described "Mates from the Land Down Under", cruising around the world in an old Beneteau. These two twenty-something friends made a pact, worked their asses off, saved their money, bought a boat and are living the dream — figuring it out as they go, but with knowledge and experience earned from working professionally offshore in Australia's oil industry. I spoke to them onboard FALKEN on anchor in Barbados about the wild highs and scary lows of their adventure so far in their mission to sail REVELRY home to Australia. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter.  -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Henry Mickel & Bayley Richardson // Sailing REVELRY Home to Oz

Jojo Pickering grew up with sailing as a central part of her life, vagabonding on the high seas with her family and sailing from Africa to the UK. As she got older, she spent more time ashore, starting a traveling theatre company with her husband and kids and bouncing around the UK, France and Spain. But the sea called her back — she recently completed an Atlantic circle with her family on a gaff-rigged sloop and now sails professionally as a skipper on classic yachts and with 59º North. Andy spoke to her onboard FALKEN in the Cape Verde islands. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter.  -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Jojo Pickering // From the Sea to the Theatre & Back Again

Sailor, kitesurfer, and paddler Liz Wardley returns to the show to talk with Emma about her record-breaking row across the Atlantic. She completed the World's Toughest Row at the end of January after 44 days at sea. She beat the previous record by 15 days. Liz has competed many times in The Ocean Race and was last on the podcast in 2019 when she was skippering Maiden. Emma talked to Liz while she was home in Australia, simultaneously recovering and preparing for the next challenge: rowing the World's Toughest Row Pacific. Liz tells stories from her solo row across the Atlantic, reflects on her path into sailing and now rowing, and shares plans for the double-handed Pacific row. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter.  -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Liz Wardley // A Sailor Smashing Records in the Worlds Toughest Row

Capt. Jen of Schooner WOODWIND returns to the podcast after having just sailed with Andy aboard FALKEN on the 2,100 mile passage across the Atlantic! Jen and Andy reflect on Jen's first big ocean crossing and what it was like to leave the wintry Chesapeake Bay for tropical Tradewind sailing. They also talk about challenges of running a small business, how Andy evolved from being a deckhand on the WOODWIND into running offshore passages around the world and much more. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter.  -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons —  just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Mike Beemer // Refitting a Westsail 39

Download our free app to listen on your phone