Ahoy, Sailors! I’ve got a spectacular show for you featuring Deborah Hammett, solo sailor and author of a book which achieved #1 in Sailing Narratives on Amazon’s Best Sellers list - her book is titled ‘Young Salt at 60: Becoming Better Than Retired.’ I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce you to this amazing solo sailor who shares her story of how she went from being an elementary school teacher for 27 yrs, to becoming a school principle, and then after retiring from education, discovered an entirely new lifestyle as a liveaboard cruiser, solo sailor, and a best-selling author. In my interview with Deborah, we dive deep into how she found her passion for sailing and how she deals with challenging situations that go hand-in-hand with the cruising lifestyle. We also talk about safety at sea, what it’s like to cruise with a partner/kids vs sailing solo, and sailing solo as a woman. Deborah also shares strategies for keeping up with boat maintenance, finding confidence as a solo sailor, how staying healthy and strong is imperative for sailors, especially as we age, plus boatloads more!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

LINKS:

Deborah Hammett/Young Salt at Sixty | https://www.youngsalt60.com/

Deborah Hammett on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/youngsalt60/

Deborah Hammett on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/people/Young-Salt/61573527542027/

Deborah Hammett’s book ‘Young Salt at 60: Becoming Better Than Retired’ | https://www.amazon.com/Young-Salt-Sixty-Becoming-Retired/dp/B0DVJ6KSHY

Greetings, Sailors! Welcome to the Passages From the Heart Podcast, Ep 17, in which The First Mate and I sit down to have a lil’ chat and debriefing with Jerome Rand of Sailing Into Oblivion! In this episode, we talk about the many valuable lessons we learned from our three-day coaching session with Jerome, up on Lake Superior, aboard our new-to-us 2002 Com-Pac 25. We talk about a plethora of things related to sailing and stewardship of a new, larger boat — some of which includes learning about our diesel engine, bending on our new North Sails, spinnakers, sail trim, finding magic and freedom under sail, destination sailing, the hard knocks of Docktown (docking!), roving fenders, making 760 pivots within the marina, exit-strategizing/resetting when things don’t go as planned, making pre-departure checklists, and much, much more!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

LINKS:

• Jerome Rand/Sailing Into Oblivion | https://www.sailingintooblivion.com\
• Sailing Into Oblivion Podcast | https://sailingintooblivion.podbean.com/
• Passages From The Heart/Chelle Heart | https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com

Ahoy, sailors! I'm thrilled to introduce you to a remarkable young yachtswoman, Rosie, who, since 2023, has embarked upon restoring — resurrecting — a 1966 Bristol 27 for her senior project at the College of the Atlantic (COA), located in Bar Harbor, Maine. Rosie, originally from the Falkland Islands, graduates from college this June — and along with this stellar achievement, she comes away, in-hand, with a newly renovated sailing vessel she lovingly calls Gentoo, named for the Gentoo penguins commonly found, year-round, among the Falkland Islands. Through her years of training, conscientious planning, hard work, and forging friendships with those around her, Rosie’s efforts in breathing life back into Gentoo have culminated in an amazing gift — finding community. In addition to Rosie’s passion for sailing and yacht restoration, Rosie also dedicates her time — along with her heart and soul — to her artwork, much of which features seascapes, sea life, wildlife, and other things found in the natural world around her. Be sure to watch the video all the way to the end where you can find a portfolio of pictures featuring the stages of Gentoo’s restoration the past two years. Don’t forget to also check out the links (below) to learn more about Rosie, Gentoo, Rosie's artwork, and other topics we cover in our conversation!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

LINKS:

Rosie’s Restoration on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sailgentoo/

Rosie’s Art on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rosie.chater.art/

Ahoy, sailors! Today’s episode features a topic that’s a difficult one for most sailors/boat owners — should I sell the boat? Specifically, for me, my new-to-me sailboat, SV Solitude, a beautiful 2002 Com-Pac 25 berthed upon on gorgeous Lake Superior. As life often does, a curve ball has been thrown my way and I must navigate through some serious soul-searching to determine if my sailing dreams will be over before they even begin. I also bring you up to speed on some Mini Globe Race (MGR) news and I introduce you to a couple of new amazing sailing books that have recently been published: “Passages: Cape Horn and Beyond,” by legendary sailor Lin Pardey as well as “The Last Voyage of Asteria,” by 2018/2022 Golden Globe skipper Tapio Lehtinen and co-author Offshore Sailing & Cruising host, Paul Trammell.

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

LINKS:

Passages From The Heart/Chelle Heart | https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com

[MANY APOLOGIES FOR MY MISPRONUNCIATION OF 'ANTIGUA' ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ALSO, MY APOLOGIES FOR THE OCCASIONAL AUDIO/VIDEO CONNECTION ISSUES.] No Welcome, sailors, back to the Passages From The Heart Podcast! So, what happens when average-means are combined with above-average ambition? Meet Josh Kali, builder of his own 5.8m mini yacht, a sailing vessel he calls Skookum, and entrant in the inaugural 2025 Mini Globe Race, otherwise known as the MGR. I recently had the amazing opportunity to catch up with Josh as he is ramping up for departure of the second leg of the MGR, a 4k+ nm passage from the west coast of Panama to the first “pit-stop” in French Polynesia. So what is the MGR, you may wonder? In a nutshell, the Mini Globe Race, or the MGR, is a race in which entrants will sail around the world, west about, in five legs via the traditional trade winds route, in a home-built 5.8m (19.02 ft) length sailboat. In this episode, Josh shares how he came to find his passion for sailing and how he discovered a fire-in-the-belly to not only compete in a grueling around-the-world sailing race, but to take on the challenge of building his own 5.8m sailboat with which to compete in the MGR!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

• Josh Kali Ocean Racing | http://joshkalioceanracing.com
• Mini Globe Race | https://minigloberace.com

Ahoy, sailors, and welcome back to the show! This episode marks my first pod of 2025 and I'm super-stoked to fill y'all in on what's up'! Let's start by saying that I've been keeping busy with all kinds of sailing-related activities! Also, sailing season is just 'round the corner, here, so I've got lots of goodies cookin' to ready for my first season of sailing, up on Lake Superior, with my new-to-me 2002 Com-Pac 25, SV Solitude! And -- oh, by the way -- are you looking for an amazing new-to-you boat to do some sailing with this coming season? If so, I might just have the boat for you!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

LINKS:

Passages From The Heart/Chelle Heart | https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com

Ahoy, sailors! I’m so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite captains — Captain Brandi — a captain I spent time sailing with, on Lake Superior, this past summer. Captain Brandi shares how she came to find her passion in sailing and why she decided to obtain her USCG captain’s license. Captain Brandi also reflects upon the challenges of being a young female captain, how lessons learned out on the water — and from sailing — keep her humble, and how she finds tremendous joy in helping others experience just how amazing sailing is!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

LINKS:

Apostle National Lakeshore Park: https://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm

Sea Change Expeditions: https://seachangeexpeditions.org/

Ocean Research Project: https://www.oceanresearchproject.org

Welcome, sailors! In this podcast episode, I share a behind-the-scenes look at my recent boat shopping experience and how — and why — I landed on moving forward with purchasing my 2002 Com-Pac 25, SV Solitude!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

Passages From The Heart/Chelle Heart | https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com

Ahoy, sailors! Rather than sharing an interview, today’s podcast takes a bit of a different approach than previous podcast episodes. If you’ve been following me on my website, as well as on this YouTube channel, you’re probably in-the-know about how my sailing journey has unfolded the past five years. This summer, my sailing adventures evolved, further, to include sailing around the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. As a result of these experiences, my sailing plans have charted a new course; not so much one that was foreseen, but more so, one that has been born from a promise made to myself over forty years ago. Take a listen as I tell you about how the next chapter of my sailing life is soon to begin!

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

Links:

Passages From The Heart/Chelle Heart | https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com

Welcome, sailors, to another episode of the Passages From the Heart podcast! In today’s episode, I talk with Owen Murphy, founder/owner of Meridian Marine Electrical! Recently, I had the pleasure of working with Owen to help me convert my Com-Pac 23, Charm’s, former AGM battery system to a new lithium battery system. He also helped me demystify the electrical system onboard Charisma, my Com-Pac Legacy. From a very early age, Owen knew he would, one day, be sailing offshore, passage-making. It took some time to realize his childhood dream, but after years of working as a school teacher, a rigger, and then finally a marine electrician, The Universe smiled wide upon Owen and he, at last, set sail towards endless horizons aboard Rumi, his 1994 Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34.

PLEASE BE KIND -- I'm no expert -- I'm just a regular gal learning as I go! Also, I don't have a huge budget dedicated to equipment and/or other resources for recording video and audio -- but, I put lots of love and time into creating these podcasts in the hopes that sharing what I learn might help you!

Did you know that I blog regularly/create videos about sailing and other life-happenings? Come raft up with me at https://passagesfromtheheart.wordpress.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@passagesfromtheheart

Fair winds! ~ xo

Links:

Meridian Marine Electrical Website | https://www.meridian-marine-electrical.com/

Meridian Marine Electrical instagram | https://www.instagram.com/meridian_marine_electrical/

Sailing Rumi on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ4uF_bH6TEjykfDB66PYjw