The Sailing Podcast

Episode 67 of The Sailing Podcast is a conversation with Topher Cochrane and Ross Gerber about the making of the  ‘Chasing Bubbles’ movie. Chasing Bubbles is about the circumnavigation by...

During the interview we hear how Bill sailed with his son, Joe, to Huelva, Spain to participate in the Jimmy Cornell Americas 500 regatta. The regatta followed Columbus exact route to the new world.

This reminded me of a great audio book I downloaded from Audible.com called “Columbus: The Four voyages”.

If you enjoy listening to sailing podcasts I am sure you would also enjoy listening to this book which is an account of Christopher Columbus’s journey in 1492 across the Atlantic.

Audible offers a free 30 day trial, which includes being able to download one audiobook for free so if you haven’t tried out their service you can get access to a trial of Audible by using my link – just go to thesailingpodcast.com/free and this will take you to the Audible Trial sign-up page, where, if you sign up for a monthly gold plan, you get the first month free.

The sailing podcast continues with Bill telling us about his other sailing journeys. In 1994-1995 Bill circumnavigated South America. Heading across the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, then down the coast of Peru and Argentina to Magellan. He tried to round Cape Horn but gale force winds prevented it. Bill and his crew got to within 6 miles of Cape Horn but had to retreat into the Straits of Magellan. Once through here they then sailed up the coast of Argentina to Brazil and returned to San Juan.

In 1996 - 1997 Bill circumnavigated Western Europe. First they sailed to Amsterdam and took the mast down before heading up the Isomer, then continued heading up the Rhine to Mainz. From there they headed across the Mein to the Mein-Donau set of locks that raised the yacht 400 meters into the Danube. This allowed them to then cruise down through Austria, Romania, Bulgaria and the Kosovo region just 2 years after the war. Bill's yacht was one of the first pleasure boats to make the trip. They arrived in Istanbul then headed back down the Mediterranean, then crossed the Atlantic back to San Juan.

In 2000 Bill took off to sail to Scandinavia to visit an old college buddy. They made a half dozen stops up to Maine then did Nova Scotia into Hallifax. Bill left with two old buddies. He took the first watch at 5 am and told the crew to stay in the sack as the way out of Hallifax is long. About 15 miles later the crew got up (about 9am), had breakfast and by 11am a weary Bill tired gave the helm to the crew, telling him to stay in 5o feet of water. Bill stayed with him for a while and chewed him out when he moved into shallow water.

Finally they were out of the harbor and heading out to sea when Bill hit the sack. A while later he was awakened with a hard thump. Bill ran up and his buddy was in a daze. The engine was still full ahead and he had fallen asleep and the boat turned into the shore. They tried every trick in the book to get off the rocks but the tide was dropping. Three hours later the keel cracked the hull open and the boat filled with water. A day later the boat was high and dry. They tried to salvage a few items from the wreck with the assistance of the locals.

Bill got back to San Juan and a week later he received an email from a buddy in Caracas, Venezuela. "Bill, I heard you lost your boat. I'm leaving Venesuela. I want you to accept my yacht as a gift". Bill was thinking how this was his third shipwreck. Surely, like baseball, three strikes and you are out! Bill had wanted to toss the hat in - But then, how could he say say no...

In 2001 he went to Venezuela, picked up the boat and sailed it back. The boat was a true WWII relic. Made of German black iron Uboat steel by Hein Garbers. Gargers had worked as a spy for the Doenitz by taking German spies to Argentina from South Africa in his 35 foot sailboat. After the war he got hold of German U-boat steel and built 9 boat in 1948/49 - and this was one.

Episode 60 of The Sailing Podcast is with Carolyn Shearlock of www.theboatgalley.com. Carolyn agreed to do a Q & A podcast, answering questions that listeners had emailed in over the past couple of weeks.

Carolyn and her husband Dave have spent many years cruising on their monohull Que Tal, a Tayana 37' and are currently in Florida getting ready to head off again on their new boat, a Gemini 105M catamaran.

During the interview we hear Carolyn answer questions about:

• Storing food when you have limited refrigeration

• How to store your fresh fruit and vegetables aboard

• Cooking fish and advice on pressure cookers


The Boat Galley

Carolyn has collected all her resources at www.theboatgalley.com. If there are questions you had that we were unable to cover in the podcast head to theboatgalley.com and use the search bar, in the top right hand corner, to see if there is an article on your topic.

There is also the Boat Galley Cookbook available on Amazon. Many listeners, who submitted questions, praised the cookbook as a must-have for cruising sailors.

Marc Konesco from www.loveatfirstsail.com says 'Carolyn's book was a great reference for us and we got lots of information from her for our trip'.

Kelly from www.sailingchance.com says, 'I love the Boat Galley! Carolyn has been so incredibly helpful along my personal cruising and sailing journey'.

You can stay in contact with Carolyn at the following places:

Facebook - facebook.com/theboatgalley


Instagram - instagram.com/theboatgalley


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Some of the questions covered in the episode were:

Q - How to preserve food with limited refrigeration?

A - The trick is to make the best use of the refrigerator space you do have, by learning what doesn't need to be refrigerated and other items that don't need to be refrigerated until open, etc.

Q - From Ron A - who was a guest on the Medsailor podcast


How can you store items like eggs, cheese and butter without refrigeration?

A - Look for UHT (long life) milk to store in the boat. There are some great substitutes such as Nestle NIDOpowdered milk and many options for people who don't like milk, such as soy milk or rice milk out there.

Q - Oceantrader and Bruce had asked about storing and preserving eggs.

A - The only trick is that you need to get eggs that haven't been refrigerated – and in the US, it can be very hard to find them! Maybe look for a local farmer's market or find someone who raises their own chickens!

Q - What is the best way to store various vegetables for long distance sailing?

A - Most fruits and vegetables can be kept anywhere from a few days to a month or longer without refrigeration. It begins when you buy the items: best if it's never been refrigerated and no bruises or blemishes

Q - Matt had asked - I have heard of people removing labels of cans, spraying produce with vinegar to avoid pests. Do you do this?

A - I dunk all the produce in a vinegar and water rinse when I first bring it aboard. I fill a good sized pot with a gallon or so of water, and then add maybe a quarter cup – 50 ml or so – of white vinegar. Swish things around well to get dirt and bugs off, then lay it out to dry. The vinegar also helps to prolong the life of the fruit and veggies – particularly soft foods like berries. Just make sure it's 100% dry before putting it away – this is really key for not having rotting food

Q - Anne had asked 'which types of vegetable/fruit can be kept together, and which should be separated for slower ripening and flavor encroachment?'

A -Some foods have to be kept away from others and some need special care:

• Citrus: wrap in foil

• Onions and garlic – keep in dark but not with potatoes (potatoes sprout)

• Potatoes – in dark

• Tomatoes if unripe, keep in dark place; if ripe,

Episode 59 of The Sailing Podcast is with Kika and Dan from www.SailingUma.com. Visit http://thesailingpodcast.com/59 for more information

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They are currently in Fort Pierce, Florida preparing their 1976 Pearson 36' Uma for cruising. I contacted the Sailing Uma team after receiving a suggestion from one of my listeners, Doug, saying they were putting out some great videos on how their boat preparations were going.

Kika and Dan met while studying architecture and decided to choose a sailboat instead of an office. They share some of their goals during the interview, which include using their skills while underway to help people who may not have the means to afford an architect to help them with their project. Kika and Dan have a business named Dadum Studios and hope to operate from their yacht as they travel the world.

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During the interview we hear about:

- Electric engines versus diesel engines

- Surprises in the holding tank

- How they mastered fibreglass repairs on their keel

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**Sailing Uma**

I had subscribed to Kika and Dan's Sailing Uma channel on YouTube prior to talking to them. I must admit I hadn't spent the time looking at all their videos until listener, Doug, recommended I interview them for the podcast. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were sharing some of their boat repairs on YouTube.

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During the interview it becomes apparent Kika and Dan have some prior experience in renovating and repairs. They have taken these skills across to their new passion - Uma - a 36 foot Pearson made in 1976. Prior to carrying out repairs the Sailing Uma team have done a lot of research using other YouTube information as well as using the Pearson owners forums. Taking all their research into account, they have painstakingly carried out repairs and taken the extra time to record the efforts. This is then edited down into short, informative lessons in boat repair. I say lessons as, although they are not attempting to pose as experts, they are taking the time to show enough detail to allow anyone to follow along with the repairs.

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During the interview we discussed how they decided to purchase an ocean going yacht while actually searching for a lake boat. Sometimes great opportunities just present themselves. Kika and Dan admit they have limited sailing experience (although Dan has completed an ocean passage) and the process of repairing the yacht is a perfect starting point for learning about sailing.

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You can follow along with the Sailing Uma team at the following places:

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YouTube channel - www.youtube.com and search for Sailing Uma

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Website - www.sailinguma.com

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Facebook - www.facebook.com/SailingUma

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Instagram - @SailingUma or #sailinguma

Patreon - www.patreon.com/sailinguma

I would encourage you to visit thePatreon page and help support Kika and Dan in achieving their goals. Both with getting their travels underway and looking for opportunities to support people who don't have the means to engage an architect. As the interview with Kika and Dan progressed I came to understand what great people they are. Their motivation is to establish themselves with a sailing lifestyle and then use this as a platform to help others, who may not be able to afford professional help. Visit their Patreon page and help them meet their goals!

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Visit http://www.thesailingpodcast.com/59 for more information

For more information visit http://thesailingpodcast.com/58 - Episode 58 of The Sailing Podcast is with Jack Bouttell, who is currently on a trajectory towards sailing in the Vendee Globe. At 24 years old he has a few significant achievements under his belt, including winning the ‘bizuth’ division of the Solitaire Du Figaro in 2013, sailing on Dongfeng during winning a leg of the Volvo ocean race earlier this year, and then returning to the 2015 Solitaire Du Figaro and claiming a top 10 placing.

One of Jack's advantages is having set his goals early in life. This included choosing to remain in England at the age of 17, while his family returned to Australia. His acceptance into the Artemis Offshore Academy provided the opportunity to train and compete in the Class Figaro - a world class training ground for solo sailors.

During the interview we hear about:

• The 52 hour test to enter the Artemis Offshore Academy

• Winning a leg of the Volvo Ocean Race aboard Dongfeng

• The challenges and lifestyle of a professional sailor


Jack Bouttell Racing

As a youngster Jack started sailing on the Gold Coast, QLD, where his father purchased a MG14 for $1000. A passion for sailing began to take root as Jack and his crew worked and raced the boat.

At 14 years old the family moved to England where Jack continued to sail. His thoughts began to turn to the ultimate sailing challenge, solo racing, after he buried his head into sailing books such as:

• Ocean Warriors
by Rob Mundle

• Taking on the World
by Ellen Macarthur

• Close to the Wind
by Pete Goss



During this interview I asked Jack about what had contributed to his drive and determination to reach for goal such as sailing in the Vendee Globe. Having a father who previously raced at a world class level and a mother who supported his dreams has given him a great start in life.

The door into the solo sailing world came in the form of the Artemis Offshore Academy. Jack explained the goals of the academy - to put a British sailor onto the podium of the Vendee Globe. Acceptance into the Artemis Offshore Academy included a gruelling 52 hour entrance exam. The candidates had to self manage their activities, such as food and sleep, while completing a range of tasks. Physical and mental competence was measured at the beginning and end of the test. Once accepted Jack began to focus on the Solitaire Du Figaro.

In 2013 Jack Bouttell finished in a remarkable 21st place overall and won the rookie, or bizuth' division of the race. While he struggled to get to the line in the 2014 Solitaire Du Figaro, Jack still managed to remain competitive. Jack reflects that many valuable lessons were learnt in his 2014 campaign. This included the need to be in peak mental condition as well as physically prepared for the race. After the 2014 race he began work for the Dongfeng team, preparing for the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race.

Jack was given the opportunity to join the 3rd leg aboard Dongfeng in the Volvo Ocean race. With his duties as trimmer and helmsman, Jack was able to take part in a special event - the arrival of the Chinese Yacht into the Chinese port in first place. A great accomplishment for the young sailor to add to an already impressive resume of competitive sailing.

After securing a leg on the Volvos, Jack returned to Europe to once again focus on the Figaro race. Jacks preparations payed dividends. With improved financial resources and continuing support of the Artemis Offshore Academy he demonstrated his potential and placed 10th in the field.

The current challenge for Jack Bouttell is the Jacques-Vabre Transat race. This is a 2 handed yacht race following the historic coffee route from France to Brazil. The start date is October 25 2015 and you can follow the progress of:

Jack Bouttell Racing at www.facebook.com/jackbouttellracing.

More information is at http://www.thesailingpodcast.com/57 . Riley and Elayna from Sailing La Vagabonde join the podcast to talk moustaches, music and making videos. Hear about how they came to find 36,500 subscribers on YouTube and how their audience is rewarding their adventurous spirit through www.patreon.com/lavagabonde .

The story of La Vagabonde started with Riley searching for a yacht to sail singlehanded, which led to finding La Vagabonde in Italy. From here he crossed paths with Elayna, who joined Riley to sail throughout Europe and across the Atlantic.

Elayna began producing videos of the trip and posted them to YouTube for the entertainment of friends and then began to notice many others were starting to watch and share their videos. Their following quickly grew to 36,500 subscribers and their first video has over 600,000 views to date.

In this episode we hear about:

- How Riley found a yacht, sailing and Elayna

- How Elayna began producing videos of the journey

- How their audience is supporting them via Patreon.com

More information is available at http://thesailingpodcast.com/57

Episode 56 of The Sailing Podcast is with Wendy Hinman, author of Tightwads on the Loose - more information is available at http://thesailingpodcast.com/56 .

Wendy and her husband, Garth, bought a 31’ yacht, which fitted their budget better than Garth’s large frame. While visiting 19 countries and sailing over 34,000 miles, they learned life aboard is about living simply and adventurously.

I spoke to Wendy after a glowing recommendation from Tom, who was reading Wendy's book and could see she had great stories and advice to share about cruising on a budget and following a dream.

In this episode we hear about:

- How much they spent on their yacht

- How they financed their travels with renting our their house

- How they dealt with problems such as an electrical meltdown

You can find a copy of 'Tightwads on the Loose' at - http://amzn.to/1JlyUwM

I contacted Wendy Hinman after a listener Tom wrote to me saying:

"I have been reading Wendy Hinman's great book, 'Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven-Year Pacific Odyssey' and I think she'd be a great guest on your show. 

Wendy seems like she has all the elements that you like to highlight in your podcasts: a great adventure story, lots of detailed advice on how to cruise, and many entertaining stories. She's back from her 7-year trip with her husband, and now they're building their new dream boat to go out again, so I'm sure there's some interesting stories there that haven't been told yet. I sure would like to hear more about them and their plans. Can you try to see if you can get her on your podcast? You have a wonderful knack of drawing out such great stories!"

Well thanks Tom, for the great suggestion and you were 100% correct and Wendy did have some great stories to share.

You can find more information about Wendy Hinman at her website, the facebook page, and there is plenty of great cruising information at the blog from their journey. Check out the following pages:

Wendy Hinman website - http://www.wendyhinman.com

Wendy Hinman facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/wendy.hinman.7

Velella's Adventures in Waterworld blog - http://yachtvelella.blogspot.com

Thanks for listening to the podcast and I hope you have a great day and thank you for joining us on our journey

More information at http://thesailingpodcast.com/56

Episode 50 of the Sailing Podcast is with Charlie Preen of Cumberland Yacht Charter. We discussed bareboat yacht charter and the wonderful Whitsunday Islands located in Queensland, Australia. Find more information at the website - http://thesailingpodcast.com/50

Episode 49 of The Sailing Podcast is with Film Maker Emilie Svennson. The movie 'Sailing on a Shoestring' is a sailing documentary by Emilie Svennson about her father Erik Svennson. Erik built a ferro-cement yacht in South Africa during the apathied and travelled for 8 years - all before Emilie was even born. It is a touching movie reliving the stories of adventure and concluding with the search for the yacht 'Cam-Rita'.

During the interview we hear how:

- the film began as a college project

- Emilie used Kickstarter to finance the movie

- How it effected her relationship with her father

- How to get a 20% discount on the price to download the movie

Visit www.thesailingpodcast.com for more information

Episode 48 of The Sailing Podcast is with Paul and Sheryl Shard of Distant Shores TV who share some of their experiences on how to make money while cruising.

There are many ideas on how to keep money in the cruising kitty once you have started your journey and plenty of examples of people who are making money while cruising.

You will find links to the people mentioned in the interview at the episode page at www.thesailingpodcast.com/48

If there are some ideas that you have on how to make money while cruising, please add them into the comments section of the episode. I am collating this information into an eBook on the topic 'Make Money While Cruising' so if you would like to sign up to receive a copy just visit the page www.thesailingpodcast.com/ebook and enter your email address to receive a free copy of this eBook when it is completed.

During the interview we hear about:

• Writing or filming while you sail

• Creating a product to sell while cruising

• Using your existing skills to provide a service

• How to put your sailing skills to work

• Contract work, sabbaticals and seasonal work

Don't forget to visit www.distantshores.ca to register for their newsletter and if you would like to thank Paul and Sheryl Shard for their interview, send them a message via Twitter - @DistantShoresTV