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“Shooting the Breeze” feels like the perfect title for this one! Jess & Hannah chat with special guests, Rose Ravetz and Huw Wahl - the creators of Wind, Tide and Oar: an analogue 16mm film exploring life under sail—without an engine.

We learn all about the trials of filming at sea with a 1960's hand wound camera and tribulations of a life unburdened by diesel. So join us as we Shoot the Breeze and dive head first into the story behind Wind, Tide and Oar!

Wind, Tide & Oar is a compelling exploration of engineless sailing, shot on analogue film over three years. The film delves into the experiences of those who travel solely by harnessing the natural elements alone, following a diverse array of traditional boats and uncovering the unique rhythms and motivations of engineless navigation.

Through the film’s reveries, sailing becomes a means to explore our interaction with and responsibility to the environment. It invites deep reflection on our relationship with nature, our understanding of and commitment to sustainability, and our care for the world around us.

WIND, TIDE & OAR - in UK Cinemas from 25th April 2025

Guests:
Rose Ravetz
Huw Wahl

Ships:
Defiance (Built circa 1975)
Guide Me (Built 1911)
Blue Mermaid (Built 2019)
Birubi (Built 1967)
Tres Hombres (Built 1943)
De Tukker
EcoClipper

Wind, Tide & Oar Links:
Official Trailer:
https://www.thenewmenardpress.com/wind-tide-and-oar
Website:
www.windtideandoar.com
Screening Schedule: 
https://tullstories.co.uk/films/wind-tide-oar-in-cinemas-spring-2025/
The Book: 
https://www.thenewmenardpress.com/wind-tide-and-oar
Film Review: 
https://www.pbo.co.uk/specials/wind-tide-oar-an-evocative-exploration-of-engineless-sailing-87764

Support the Show:
If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod.
You can also support us by buying us a slice of pizza here.

Episode artwork: We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Huw, Rose and Tull Stories for providing images and videos for this episode.

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In this special episode, we dive into the history and future of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as it celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea.

Jess and Hannah are joined by special guests: Joanna Bellis, the RNLI’s Interpretation Development Officer, and Laura Penhaul, a trainee helm at the St Agnes Lifeboat Station. Together, they explore the evolution of lifeboats, training practices throughout the ages, and what it means to be part of the RNLI today.

From the early days of distress calls and crew gathering before the age of pagers to Neptune’s favourite tipple! This episode is jam packed with something for everyone.

Guests:
Joanna Bellis – Interpretation Development Officer, RNLI
Laura Penhaul – Trainee Helm, St Agnes Lifeboat Station

Ships
Lady Daphne
Lynher Barge
(Listen to our Lynher episode here)
Ibis
Britannia
(Listen to our Britannia episode here)
Snark
Various RNLI lifeboats, you can meet the RNLI Fleet here

Other Resources:
For more information on the RNLI’s 200-year history:
RNLI Official Website
Lynher's Fundraiser
Lady Daphne's Fundraiser
BOOK: You Can Steer a Tall Ship by Ben Lowings
Heritage Harbours

Support the Show:
If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod.
You can also support us by buying us a slice of pizza here.

Episode artwork: We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the RNLI for granting us permission to use images from their incredible archive. The image we chose for our episode artwork shows the wreck of the Adolf Vinnen at The Lizard in 1923 (the local lifeboat assisted with aftermath) – this showing a Breeches Buoy from the clifftop. Images such as this help bring the history and legacy of the RNLI to life in our episode. All credits for the images go to the RNLI. From the RNLI Archive

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Boatbuilding. Conservation. Historic vessels. Jobs. These are the murky, complicated, fascinating themes we’ll get stuck into this episode.

Victoria Wallworth joins the Off Watch Gals for 2-parter where we delve into heritage vessels, what we can do with them, and how to engage more people in this wonderful world.

National Historic Ships Vessel Conservation Course: https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/resources/historic-vessel-conservation-qualification

National Historic Ships Vessel Conservation Book: https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/publications

Maritime Heritage Trust: https://www.maritimeheritage.org.uk/

Women in Boatbuilding: http://www.womeninboatbuilding.com/

The Matthew: https://matthew.co.uk/

Pioneer: http://www.pioneerck18.org/index.html

Boatbuilding Academy, Lyme Regis: https://boatbuildingacademy.com/

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Check out the Cornish Maritime Trust and become a member for just £30 a year: https://cornishmaritimetrust.org/

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Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

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A new ship and a new season of the Off Watch Podcast!

Join us in #gloucester as we take a tour aboard LV SULA and learn about the fascinating role of Light Vessels!

A massive thank you to Colin and Viv of LV14 SULA Lightship for sharing your time, your stories and your experiences with us - it was a brilliant day and we learned (and laughed!) a lot.

You can learn all about SULA (and even stay aboard!) here: https://sulalightship.com/
Also on AirB&B, CoolStays & Host Unusual

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Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

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Announcing Off Watch - Season 3!

We're back! New Season, New Ship! And we have lots to chat about!

We'll be looking at the fascinating history of working boats - from Pilot Cutters to Smacks & Trawlers to Thames Barges and lots more! We'll also be shining the ships spotlight on some of the hidden hero's that support the sailing word from the RNLI to Light Ships and beyond. 

And! After an eventful winter we find ourselves crewing on a new vessel, the Nevermore! - We like her a lot, though she's got some interesting quirks...

Season 3 will launch in early March, with new episodes released once a month. 

In the meantime, why not relisten to your favourite episodes so far and share them with your friends and crewmates! Stay up to date with the latest on Season 3 on our socials, @OffWatchPod, sign up to our newsletter (you can do so at www.offwatchpodcast.co.uk) and like the show and rate your favourite episodes on the podcast app of your choice

For now, Fair Winds!

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"1pm. Storm ended, sea calm. God is over all" - the eerie last words entered into the logbook of the Flannan Isles Lighthouse. After 3 harrowing days & nights of raging storms in December 1900, three lighthouse keepers vanished from the remote island and were never seen again.

Regular listeners will know that we love a good mystery! And as we find ourself heading towards the Flannan's aboard our very own ghost ship, we just had to share the story - it is Halloween after all!

And who better to talk to us about Scottish lighthouse mysteries than the Northern Lighthouse Board's very own Gillian Burns! Gillian is, quite frankly, one of the coolest people we have ever met, she shares stories of her incredible 30 year career at the NLB, where commuting to work by helicopter and staying in remote Lighthouses is the norm.

This really is one of the most fascinating episodes we have worked on!

This season, we’re working in collaboration with SHE_SEES for Lloyd's Register Foundation with Emilie Sandy and Freeweaver SAORI Studio, London

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Guests:
Gillian Burns, Navigation Officer The Northern Lighthouse Board
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Ships:
Waverly
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Lighthouses:
Flannan Islands
Bell Rock
Rhinns Of Islay
Wolf Rock
Eddystone
Longships
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Other Resources:
Video: Wolf Rock Lighthouse from the deck of the stricken 'Mazarine' Ro-Ro Freight/Ferry (Credit - Joe Garmory-Amps ) 
Article: The Unexplained Mystery of the Flannan Lighthouse (Credit -  The Malestrom)
Video: The Eerie Vanishing Of The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers (Credit - Buzzfeed Unsolved)

Support the show

Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod
Sign up to our newsletter on our website
Want to support the show? Buy us a slice of pizza here

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This episode, the Off Watch gals explore mental and physical wellbeing in the sailing industry and we delve into the influence of sexism on health. We’re joined by Hannah Stowe  - an artist, writer, sailor and scientist. We mull over solutions and ideas which would make the industry a more accepting place and discuss Hannah’s recently released book Move Like Water.

Enjoy listening!

This season, we’re working in collaboration with SHE_SEES for Lloyd's Register Foundation with Emilie Sandy and Freeweaver SAORI Studio, London

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Guests:
Hannah Stowe
Artist, writer, sailor and scientist

Buy Hannah’s book MOVE LIKE WATER from your local independent bookshop or borrow it from a library! It is also available at Waterstones, Amazon etc…

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Dr Sylvia Earle - Marine Scientist - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sylvia-Earle

Dr Earle’s organisation Mission Blue: https://missionblue.org/

SV Song of the Whale - https://www.marineconservationresearch.co.uk/rv-song-of-the-whale/

Dominica Sperm Whale Project: https://www.thespermwhaleproject.org/

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Mental Health Resources:

https://www.mind.org.uk/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

http://www.mentalhealthinternational.ca/

https://uksailtraining.org/sailtowellbeing/

https://www.sailors-society.org/

Support the show

Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod
Sign up to our newsletter on our website
Want to support the show? Buy us a slice of pizza here

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Provisioning for any lengthy voyage is a challenge, especially when fridge space is limited for fresh produce. And while it's not uncommon to see a  a mackerel line trailing behind a boat in light winds, wouldn't it be great if you could catch your fruit and veg enroute too! Luckily, today's special guest, Caro Warwick-Evans knows a thing or two about what the sea has to offer. Caro didn't just start a seaweed business, she co-founded an entire industry in the UK!

This season, we’re working in collaboration with SHE_SEES for Lloyd's Register Foundation with Emilie Sandy and Freeweaver SAORI Studio, London

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Guests:
Caro Warwick-Evans
Co-founder The Cornish Seaweed Company

Henry Chamberlain
Founder CEC The Coastal Exploration Co

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Ships:
Bessie Ellen
Tres Hombres
EcoClipper
Europa
Oosterschelde
R. Tucker Thompson
Selkie

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Other Resources:
The Seaweed Cookbook - Cornish Seaweed Co
Mushrooms: A Cautionary Tale - Ray Mears' Wild Food Episode 5

Support the show

Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod
Sign up to our newsletter on our website
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Disasters at sea have lead to fundamental changes in ship design, surveys and rules and regulations. Whilst the sea (and sailing) is a cruel mistress, there are some basics which can make it safer for seafarers and this is what the episode is all about!

You will hear from our wonderful guest Rhoda Willson who works for Lloyds Register and is passionate about saving lives. You will also hear about the plimsoll shoe, which is relevant. We promise.

This season, we’re working in collaboration with SHE_SEES for Lloyd's Register Foundation with Emilie Sandy and Freeweaver SAORI Studio, London

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Guests:
Rhoda Willson
Lead Specialist at Lloyds Register

Represents Lloyds Register at the International Association of Class Societies and is the General Policy Group member.
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Ships:
Jolie Brise
Blue Mermaid
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Other Resources:
Fastnet Disaster
The Oxford Companion Book of Ships and the Sea. Edited by Peter Kemp, 1988.
Lloyds Register Foundation - open source of historic regulations for sailing ships
SOLAS - Safety of Lives at Sea convention
MCA - Maritime & Coastguard Agency
MARPOL -  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
MAIB - Marine Accident Investigation Branch
IMO - International

Support the show

Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod
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When the going gets tough... the tough get a maritime lawyer!
Welcome to season 2 of the Off Watch Podcast! This episode, Jess & Hannah re-join the ship but it's not all plain sailing! Luckily, they are joined this week by special guest and Maritime Lawyer, Monica Kohli who shares some of the in's and out's of what happens when things go wrong at sea and also talks about her role at WISTA UK.

This season, Off Watch Podcast has partnered with the Lloyds Register Foundation as part of their amazing Rewriting Women into Maritime History project. We are telling the stories of women throughout the contemporary maritime industry under the banner of the She_Sees arm of the project.

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Guests:
Monica Kohli
Guard UK (Senior Lawyer)
WISTA UK (President)
Indian Maritime Association UK (Chair)

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Ships:
Ever Given
Astrid
Asgard II
Maria Assumpta
Barque Marque
Zebu

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Other Resources:
MCA - Maritime & Coastguard Agency
MARPOL -  International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
MAIB - Marine Accident Investigation Branch
IMO - International Maritime Organisation.

Support the show

Listen to two passionate traditional sailors talk about the subject they love and have a laugh at the same time!

Follow us on Facebook/Instagram/Youtube: @offwatchpod
Sign up to our newsletter on our website
Want to support the show? Buy us a slice of pizza here