#156 is another World Cruising Club ‘Ocean Sailing Forum,’ this one recorded back in January at the Toronto International Boat Show. In the Forum, I moderated a panel of experienced ocean sailors including Les Suter, who you’ll recall from episode 97, Toronto native Colin Kilgour, Sheryl Shard of the Distant Shores TV show, Caribbean 1500 and ARC Europe vets Joy & Ian Winterborn, and finally, drumroll please, Mia Karlsson! I give a thorough introduction to who all of the panelists are in the actual episode. Towards the last third, there is also a guest appearance by author & circumnavigator Liza Copeland!

These panel discussions, which we try and do at all of the boat shows - the next one, by the way, is coming up in Annapolis this fall…go to 59-north.com/events to register - touch on all aspects of ocean voyaging, from boat selection and outfitting, to sailing routes, crew selection, weather routing & forecasting and much more. This is a long one, running at close to 2 hours, so get comfy and enjoy the chat! While I’ve posted two previous Forums on the podcast, they’ve all had different panelists, so you can always learn something new. Finally, big thanks to the Toronto Show staff, specifically Rich, the sound engineering, for facilitating me recording our seminars there!

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Join me and my friends at Chesapeake Sailmakers in Annapolis for a weekend of traditional navigation and good old storytelling. Go to 59-north.com/celestial for details and to signup! Course is limited to the first twelve people to register. Hope to see you there!

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This episode is sponsored by Marine Electric Systems in Annapolis, MD. Patrick Tewes and his crew are gurus in electrical systems and design, from the ‘guts’ of the system like batteries and alternators, to the electronic nav aids like radar and autopilots. Patrick’s mentor, Bob Campbell, used to be affectionately known around town as the ‘Yoda’ of boat electrical systems. Which must make Patrick the ‘Luke Skywalker’ I suppose!? Patrick redid the entire electrical system on my dad’s Sojourner prior to his first Caribbean trip in 2013, and recently installed a Watt & Sea Hydrogenerator aboard Isbjorn prior to our Canadian Maritimes passage. The unit, when sailing over 6 knots and with the larger, 280mm prop, puts out up to 40 amps of clean power, making us entirely sustainable offshore. It’s my favorite new addition to the boat. Marine Electric Systems - specializing in custom electrical & electronic system design, installation, consulting, service, repair and education. Visit marineelectricsystems.net to contact Patrick and get started designing your dream system.