In this episode of 'Your Pocket Sailing Instructor,' Coach Penny Caldwell dives into the exciting world of boat show season, emphasizing the importance of taking advantage of sales and upgrades for your boat. She discusses the typical timing of boat shows in North America, which generally occur from January to March, and highlights the various items that can be upgraded or purchased at discounted prices during this period. Penny shares her personal experiences and recommendations for big-ticket items such as self-tailing winches, electronics, inflatable PFDs, and solar setups, all of which can significantly enhance the sailing experience.

Penny also touches on frequently replaced items like first aid supplies, running rigging, and spare parts, encouraging listeners to check their inventory and replace any outdated or worn-out gear. She concludes with a discussion on comfort items that can make sailing more enjoyable, such as sailing gloves and innovative products like toques with built-in headlamps. Overall, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide for sailors looking to upgrade their equipment and make the most of the boat show season.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Boat Show Season

02:37 Big Ticket Items to Consider

06:17 Electronics and Safety Gear Upgrades

09:30 Dinghies and Solar Power Solutions

11:48 Foul Weather Gear Essentials

14:08 Frequently Replaced Items

18:46 Comfort Items for a Better Sailing Experience

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Summary

In this episode of Your Pocket Sailing Instructor, Penny Caldwell discusses the Intermediate Cruising Course, also known as ASA 104. She outlines the prerequisites for the course, including prior sailing experience and necessary certifications. The course focuses on real-life navigation skills, managing a crew, and enhancing sailing abilities beyond the basics. Penny emphasizes the importance of preparation and understanding crew dynamics to ensure a successful sailing experience. She also encourages listeners to immerse themselves in sailing culture to gain additional knowledge and skills.

Takeaways

The Intermediate Cruising Course prepares you for chartering.

Prerequisites include basic sailing and navigation courses.

Real-life navigation experience is crucial for success.

Understanding crew dynamics is essential for a smooth trip.

You should have prior sailing experience before taking the course.

The course focuses on practical skills and real-time decision making.

Effective provisioning and meal planning are part of the course.

Communication of expectations with the crew is vital.

Immersing yourself in sailing culture enhances learning.

The course is designed for those ready to take on more responsibility.

Connect with Penny!

- ⁠Support Penny on Patreon! ⁠- ⁠Learn more about Penny's sailing school!⁠

- ⁠Get in touch!⁠

- ⁠Take a course! ⁠

- ⁠Penny's sailor resume⁠

-⁠ Instagram⁠

This past summer I was lucky enough to take my grandparents, mom and daughter on a sailing trip! It was VERY special to be able to share this experience with 4 generations on the boat...

In this episode I talk about my preparation, things to think about, where we went, why we went there and some highlights of the trip along the way. Filled my bucket!!

Connect with Penny!

- ⁠⁠Support Penny on Patreon! ⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Learn more about Penny's sailing school!⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Get in touch!⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Take a course! ⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Penny's sailor resume⁠⁠

-⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠

Are you behind on your gifts this year? Not quite sure what to get your sailor? I've got you covered with a list of small to big gift ideas!

Connect with Penny!

- ⁠⁠Support Penny on Patreon! ⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Learn more about Penny's sailing school!⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Get in touch!⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Take a course! ⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Penny's sailor resume⁠⁠

-⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠

Summary

In this episode, Coach Penny shares her recent sailing adventure in Croatia, reflecting on her experiences from a previous trip and the differences in crew dynamics, boat choice, and anchoring strategies. She discusses the benefits of sailing on a catamaran, the importance of provisioning, and the beautiful anchorages she discovered. Penny also touches on the changing weather conditions and her future sailing plans, emphasizing the joy of relaxation and camaraderie during the trip.

Takeaways

Penny returned to Croatia for a more relaxed sailing experience.

She chose a Lagoon 42 catamaran for more space and comfort.

Provisioning boxes made meal planning easier and more efficient.

Having experienced sailors on board allowed for a more enjoyable trip.

The catamaran handled well in strong winds, reaching impressive speeds.

Penny preferred anchoring in quieter locations away from crowds.

Weather changes impacted the trip, signaling the end of the sailing season.

The trip was a refreshing break from her usual coaching responsibilities.

Penny plans to explore other sailing destinations in the future.

She looks forward to sharing more adventures from her summer travels.

Connect with Penny!

- ⁠⁠Support Penny on Patreon! ⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Learn more about Penny's sailing school!⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Get in touch!⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Take a course! ⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠Penny's sailor resume⁠⁠

-⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠

I'm unfortunately going to take a break from the podcast for a bit... life has gotten a bit unruly and I need to reclaim some time! I'll be back though. Thank you for your support and for listening over the years! Fair winds...

Bonus episode created with Google Notebook LM.

Have an exciting trip in mind? This week I'm talking about creating an itinerary plan. How do I do it? What are the steps? Where should you spend the money and where can you save?

This week I'm talking about a Mayday call we overheard while in Desolation Sound this past summer...

Happy New Year and here's to 2025!

Connect with Penny!

- ⁠⁠⁠Support Penny on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Penny's sailing school!⁠⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠⁠Get in touch!⁠⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠⁠Take a course! ⁠⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠⁠Penny's sailor resume⁠⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠

I am WAY behind on my shopping this year, so thought I'd help put together some last minute ideas for you as well! Happy Holidays and looking forward to seeing you in 2025! Audio does not seem to be great this time around again. Still sorting out this new recording software they are making me use... sorry!

Connect with Penny!

- ⁠⁠⁠Support Penny on Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Penny's sailing school!⁠⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠⁠Get in touch!⁠⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠⁠Take a course! ⁠⁠⁠

- ⁠⁠⁠Penny's sailor resume⁠⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠