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EPISODES 1-50 Episodes 51-100 Episodes 101+

Episode 50: Sonny Natanielu - the revival of Polynesian voyaging

Sonny Natanielu Polynesian Voyaging

An absolutely fascinating chat with Sonny Natanielu, about the revival of traditional Polynesian voyaging methods using waka (canoes) that go back several hundred years. It was a tremendous insight into the importance of the ocean and significance of waka (canoes). Maori has its roots in times past, when voyaging waka forged the links between the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki and New Zealand and waka also linked together all of the peoples of Polynesia. The skills these pacific ancestors required to build and navigate these vessels across the Pacific using only natural materials were beyond imagination.

References mentioned in episode;

Episode 49: 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Skippers Debrief

Another Painkiller Rod West

In this episode I spent a session with Rod West, owner/skipper of Another Painkiller (a Beneteau First 44.7) and Philip Bell, owner/skipper of She (an Olsen 40) and we reflected on our preparation and race experience and did a post mortem of our entries in the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, our race results and the things we all did differently.

2017 was the first year that the Southport Yacht Club had seen 3 of its members enter this iconic ocean race and the conditions were amongst the best in the 73 year history, with the line honours record tumbling by several hours for the second year in a row.

Episode 48: Mike Sabin shares a life time of sailing adventures

Mike Sabin circumnavigator

Andy Lamont interviews Mike Sabin about his lifetime of adventures on the water. Mikes a boat builder, sail maker, has been a coastal patrol pilot and has sailed every part of the Australian coastline. At age 40 Mike sold everything and headed off in his new yacht 'Sly Fox' for 5 years of sailing and adventure all over the world, including sailing to Europe, where he removed his mast and spent 2 months cruising the German and French canals. Mike also shares tips on how to look after your sails and maximise their life expectancy.

Episode 47: Rob Mundle on Jimmy Spithill's America's Cup Journey & Biography

Jimmy Spithill's Americas Cup Journey

I caught up with my favourite maritime author - Rob Mundle in late 2017, on 'all things Jimmy Spithill' and his recent project writing Jimmy's biography 'Chasing the Cup - My Americas Cup Journey'.

Jimmy Spithill is arguably one of the world's greatest skippers: the youngest and a double winner of the America's Cup, winner of the Sydney Hobart; multiple world champion in match and fleet racing. What goes on inside the head of this extremely focused man, who is a true pioneer in the game called sailing? Rob shares some insights into this rags-to-riches story of fierce determination, court cases, seasickness, crashed boats and cars, the greatest comeback ever in sporting history and the dramatic 2017 America's Cup defence.  

Rob also shares a preview of the 2017 Race Sydney Hobart and reflects on his 50th year of involvement in the race (3 as crew and 47 as commentator).

Episode 46: Rolex Sydney Hobart Race - crew post mortem

Ocean Gem Rolex Sydney Hobart Race Crew

After preparing my Beneteau yacht 'Ocean Gem' for our first ever Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, I decided to interview our crew 4 weeks after we completed the race and gather their thoughts on the project and their experience. It started in September 2017 when we assembled a crew of 10 and a prepared a long project list that grew to more than 200 items. In early December we departed the Gold Coast in Queensland for Sydney via Lord Howe Island (300nm off Australia's east coast). The 800nm delivery journey qualified our crew and yacht for the 630nm race of a lifetime.

This is a great episode for those thinking of pushing their local club racing and blue water sailing to the next level. It demonstrates that with good preparation, anything is possible.

Episode 45: Andy Lamont completes his solo circumnavigation

Andy Lamont solo circumnavigation

I check in with Andy Lamont after he successfully completed his solo circumnavigation in his S&S 34 named Impulse in August 2017. Andy reflects on life after his 250+ day voyage, some of the highs and lows, how he handled storms and big seas and whats next on his bucket list.

Its a bumper two and a half hour chat with Andy in which he shares advice on sail configuration for solo sailing, handling storms, what its really like being alone in big weather and how his time away from his family and business has changed how he looks at life.

Episode 44: David Hows - Racing tips, solo sailing and Hamilton Island Race Week

David Hows Episode 44.jpg

Ocean Sailing Podcast producer David Hows shares his thoughts and tips on PHS club racing, solo sailing and planning a successful regatta. David races his 1992 Beneteau 445 'Ocean Gem' and discusses how to succeed at a club racing level when you are racing under the PHS system.

In preparation for the 1,300nm Solo Tasman race in 2018, David undertakes his first solo passage with a 580nm solo delivery trip from the Gold Coast to Hamilton Island in Queensland, Australia in preparation for his 2nd Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. David shares his advice on how to put a regatta campaign together if you are a racer/cruiser to ensure you strike the best balance between racing and having fun.

 

Episode 43: The Life Nomadik - sailing the world on a 38-foot catamaran

Ivo, Mira and Maya, The Life Nomadik

Guest Host; Dr Linus Wilson interviews a family living, traveling, learning and enjoying the world aboard the 38-foot catamaran Fata Morgana. Their names are Ivo, Mira and Maya. For them it’s a voyage into a new and unknown way of life. They left behind work, school, home and all those things that give us a false sense of security and comfort, in order to find alternative ways of learning and experiencing the world. They are traveling and living aboard and produce their own solar power and fresh water and they sail as much as possible and also catch and eat a lot of fish. 

In November 2012, Ivo, Mira and Maya piled up a bunch of clothes, books, and tools on a 1988 motor home and left their house in Canada in search of a boat. After five months on the road, they found their version of the "perfect boat". ‘Fata Morgana’ became their new home and school for an unknown number of years. Ivo, Mira and Maya are traveling around the world and living full-time aboard Fata Morgana, a 2001 Robertson & Caine Leopard 38.

Episode 42: Paul Ridley - Rower turned sailor - from Arctic to Caribbean

Paul Ridley Arctic Atlantic Ocean Rower

Guest host Andy Lamont talks to Paul Ridley - a rower turned sailor. He took up rowing in 2005 and within 4 years rowed 3,000nm across the Atlantic Ocean. Facing the worst nature had to offer, he was blown backwards 200 miles after a bad storm. Next came the Arctic Ocean, the only ocean that had never been rowed across. In August 2012, a team of four young explorers completed an unsupported, non-stop, record-setting voyage in one of the exploration world’s last great firsts. After 40 days and 1,000 miles, Collin West, Neal Mueller, Paul Ridley & Scott Mortensen powered their way along a dangerous section of the fabled Northwest Passage.

Paul then purchased a Lagoon 38 and took up cruising with his wife, sailing from the UK to Spain, Porto, Lisbon, the Canary Islands, Antigua, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal with plans to head to the Galapagos, Marquesas’, Tahiti and then Australia next.

Episode 41: Chris Barnes sails the 110 foot 1851 Schooner America

Chris Barnes, The Schooner America, The Americas Cup

In this episode my guest host Andy Lamont talks with Chris Barnes on his Panama stopover about his 17 years of cruising adventures at sea. Chris's story is riveting from start to finish with tales of meteorites, bushfires, hurricanes and an adventure filled life on the ocean 

Chris started dinghy sailing when he was young on the Portsmouth Harbour in England and then crossed the Atlantic in 34 days from England to Barbados in the yacht 'Robert Spray' modelled on Josua Slocum's original design. Chris spent several years skippering yachts for various owners, including sailing the 110 foot Schooner 'America'. 'America' was built in 1851 and is the yacht The Americas Cup is named after.

Chris shares insights into the rise, demise and rise again of 'America' including a period where she was left to rot in a shed 50 years ago, before a full rebuild was commissioned to restore her to the full glory we know today. Chris tells a great story of Atlantic crossings, boat yard mishaps and doing up to 9 knots boat speed in 15 knots of wind in a yacht more than 150 years old. Chris's adventures continued to Africa and eventually Australia where tragedy struck his family, as summer temperatures hit 46 degrees celsius (115 F) as Australias "Black Saturday" bushfires swept through his new hometown taking his home and more than 200 lives that day.

Episode 40: A family Pittwater cruising holiday

Sailing Cruising Pittwater, NSW, Australia

Cruising Pittwater (15nm north of Sydney) has got to be one of the top 10 cruising spots in Australia. With deepwater anchorages right up to the shoreline, free moorings, white sand beaches, private secluded bays and the 150 square kilometre Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park littered with hiking tracks, cruising the Pittwater, Cowan Creek and lower Hawkesbury River area is simply spectacular.

This episode is about our 2-week family sailing holiday on our Beneteau 445 yacht 'Ocean Gem' that included our 700nm return delivery trips sailing from the Gold Coast in Queensland, to Pittwater, New South Wales earlier this year and 8 days of fantastic cruising we enjoyed. We share the highs and lows of the the delivery trips and lots of sailing tips and recommendations about its magical cruising spots.

Episode 39: Stuart Morton - struck by lightning at anchor

Stuart Morton Episode 39.jpg

In this episode my guest host Andy Lamont talks with Stuart Morton about his cruising adventures on his Panama stopover. After leaving England 11 years ago on his 39 foot yacht Matador, Stuart and his wife Steph have cruised the Mediterranean, Lebanon, the Black Sea, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Gibraltar, USA, Cuba, Bahamas and the Caribbean.

Then while sitting in his cockpit anchored in Shelter Bay in Panama a storm came through punching out 30-40 knot squalls. A loud crack followed by a puff of black smoke cloud off top of mast and the smell of frying semi-conductors and circuits downstairs led to Stuarts initial fear that his yacht was on fire. Stuart accounts what happened next after realising Matador had been struck by lightning.

This episode is packed with the highs and lows of cruising internationally and the many challenges faced along the way.

Episode 38: 35th Americas Cup Preview: Oracle vs Emirates Team NZ

Peter Burling 35th Americas Cup Podcast Bermuda 2017

Its just 36 hours out from the start of the 35th Americas Cup and Oracle Team USA and Emirates Team New Zealand pick up where they left off 4 years ago in San Francisco. In this episode we explore what ETNZ has to do to upset a very dominant and confident defender in Jimmy Spithill's Oracle Team USA.

Will Oracles comeback from 8-1 down in 2013 come back to haunt ETNZ again or have they closed the door and moved on? We drill into the key differences between the boats and skippers, the battle of the press conference, the impact of the cyclists and exactly where Jimmy Spithill is likely to focus, to exploit weaknesses and gain advantage.

With inspiration from Al Pacino and Jimmy Spithill himself, its winner takes all time in Bermuda. As Queen Victoria was told by her attendant in 1851: ”Your Majesty, there is no second place”.

Episode 37: Jack Griffin - Americas Cup Challenger Semi-Finals

Jack Griffin Americas Cup Semi-Finals Bermuda 2017

On the eve of day one of the challenger semi-finals, we talk again with Cup Experience Founder; Jack Griffin on location in Bermuda about his take on the racing so far in the challenger qualifiers and 'all things' Americas Cup 2017. 

We dive into the differences between the teams to date, the surprises we have seen and what we have learned about the importance of 'the start' and the quality of your 'boards' (foils). This 35th edition of the Cup is unfolding into one of the most competitive events ever with close racing, multiple lead changes, collisions, penalties and of course the personalities. 

With speeds in excess of 40 knots and teams now foiling up and down wind for 100% of the race, simple mistakes cost you hundreds of metres. This cup is not just about pure boat speed, its also about consistency in execution, winning the start, foil and rudder selection and how you mode your boat for the conditions each day.

Episode 36: Jack Griffin - Game on at the 35th Americas Cup in Bermuda

Jack Griffin 35th Americas Cup Bermuda Jimmy Spithill

On the eve of the 35th edition, we talk with Cup Experience Founder; Jack Griffin from his home in Geneva, Switzerland about 'all things' Americas Cup. From the venue differences between San Francisco and Bermuda, to which teams are most likely to make the Louis Vuitton Cup Finals, to Jack's pick for the Americas Cup 2017 winner. This episode recaps the final moments of each of the last 30 years of Americas Cups and then Jack drills into who the form teams are for this years event, who is most likely to surprise us and whether Emirates Team New Zealand's cycle powered innovation will be the difference.

With major changes in the course format and weather in Bermuda, we could see the return of the upwind tacking duels of old - but this time in high speed catamarans, doing almost 50 knots and up on foils for 100% of the race. 

Episode 35: Nick Williams - Winner International Sea Scout Cup

Nic Williams Episode 35.jpg

Nick Williams is an unassuming, but naturally talented 14 year old sailor who sets out from New Zealand and heads to California to compete in the William Koch International Sea Scout Cup and achieves a result he and his sailing partner Nick Gardiner could only have dreamed of. 

Bill Koch’s relationship with the Sea Scout program pre-dates his career as a successful international businessman and winning America’s Cup skipper. It began more than 50 years ago when the Wichita, Kansas native enrolled in a summer sailing program at Culver Military Academy in Indiana. Modelled after the Sea Scout Program, Koch cites his early sailing experience as one that would alter the course of his life. “I learned then that the true art of sailing required teamwork, discipline and leadership,” he said. “If I could fine tune those skills, then I would be better able to manage the surprises that the sea constantly throws at you.”

Episode 34: Andy Lamont - Circumnavigation stopover in St. Lucia

Andy Lamont Circumnavigation S&S 34 St. Lucia

We track Andy Lamont down in St. Lucia in the Caribbean during his unplanned stopover for repairs to his self-steering and electrical systems. Andy left the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia in October 2016 for his non-stop westward bound solo circumnavigation and world record attempt in his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse'.

We find out all about his voyage so far, the set backs and forced change of plans, during his stopover prior to heading north to the Panama Canal before crossing the Pacific Ocean on his final leg home. Andy candidly shares his thoughts about solo sailing, his adventure so far and the roller coaster of highs and lows he has experienced.

Episode 33: Lisa Blair - Dismasted circumnavigating Antarctica solo

Lisa Blair dismasted Antarctica circumnavigation

We catch-up with Lisa Blair 65 days into her world record attempt to circumnavigate Antarctica solo as the first female and fastest sailor ever. Lisa shares the challenges and set backs to date, talks about weather, icebergs, repairs and leaks. A few days after the interview by Sat Phone, disaster strikes and Lisa’s mast comes crashing down. Working in the dark in 9m seas, we share a narration of Lisa's blow-by-blow account of her courageous efforts to save her hull from sinking, and her epic battle to cut her rig free. This is an episode about seamanship and the determination of one hell of a sailor, as she battles fatigue and hypothermia to overcome her biggest challenge yet on her Open 50, named Climate Action Now.

Episode 32: Lisa Blair - Shake down debrief for Antarctic circumnavigation

Lisa Blair Climate Action Now Circumnavigate Antartica

We check in with Lisa Blair a few days prior to her January departure to find out how her shake down trip form Sydney, NSW to Albany, WA went. Lisa tells us how "Climate Action Now" stood up to 60 knots of wind and a sizeable storm. We find out whats left to complete on her endless task prior to her departure, as she sets off to become the first female to circumnavigate Antartica solo.

Lisa will be the second competitor in history to take on the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race (ACOR). Originally based on the Open 50 racing design, Climate Action Now (AKA Funnel-Web) was purpose built to race in the Double Handed Melbourne to Osaka Yacht Race. Lisa Blair began sailing professionally in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Visual Arts at university and has since clocked up more than 50 000 nautical miles of ocean sailing. 

Episode 31: Wild Oats XI Rolex Sydney to Hobart pre-race training day

Wild Oats XI Sydney Hobart Training Episode 31.jpg

A day on the water with the Wild Oats XI Sydney Hobart crew in their ninth and final consecutive day of on-the-water training, in the lead up to the 72nd edition of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. This episode captures the anticipation beforehand of Rod Routh and David Hows as they fly to Sydney to join Mark Richards, Iain Murray and the Wild Oats XI team, followed by a debrief on the return trip home after an exciting day of action on and off the water.

Wild Oats XI is the most successful Sydney to Hobart yacht ever with eight line honours victories from 10 starts and is the current holder of the race record in just over 1 day, 18 hours for the 628nm race.

Episode 30: Andy Lamont - Unplanned solo circumnavigation stop

Andy Lamont CYCA Solo Circumnavigation

Disaster struck the first week of Andy’s non-stop westward bound solo circumnavigation and world record attempt in his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse’. By day 3 he hit challenges he had not expected during a 40-knot storm, 150nm offshore. From genoa failure to electrical problems, water ingress into his food storage and a bizarre EPIRB activation.

After months of preparation and years of planning Andy Lamont’s first days, created challenges he did not expect. We catch up with Andy at the CYCA in Sydney where he has undergone repairs, and upgrades to ensure that when he departs Sydney this month, he is ready for round 2 of ‘Andy Lamont sails around the world’ in the biggest adventure of his life.

Episode 29: Mike Horn - Modern day explorer, sailor & mountaineer

Mike Horn is globally acknowledged as the world’s greatest modern day explorer. From swimming the Amazon River solo and unsupported to an unmotorised circumnavigation of the globe at the equator, Mike’s list of accomplishments as a solo explorer is unparalleled.

 In two decades, he has seen more of the Earth than possibly any other human. He walked to the North Pole during darkness and has scaled the world’s 8,000 metre peaks, including a recent attempt to paraglide K2.

 In 2008 the yacht “Pangaea” was born so that young adults could experience and explore the natural world. Over 200,000 miles and multiple circumnavigations later, Mike has created a great environmental initiative to educate a global network of youth.

Episode 28: David Hows - Sailing the Tasman Sea Part 2

David Hows shares his story of preparing and sailing to a 45 foot Beneteau yacht named ‘Ocean Gem’ across the Tasman Sea from Auckland, New Zealand, via Norfolk Island to the Gold Coast in Australia in late 2013.

This second of a two-part episode is a step-by-step summary of his extensive preparation and substantial refit and it will help and inspire any blue water cruiser who is preparing to cross a large ocean. This personal insight into the highs and lows of voyage planning is a great story for every cruising sailor.

Originally published in iTunes as the 200+ page iBook: ‘Sailing the Tasman Sea’, it has been narrated into audio for this podcast.

Episode 27: David Hows - Sailing the Tasman Sea Part 1

David Hows shares his story of preparing and sailing to a 45 foot Beneteau yacht named ‘Ocean Gem’ across the Tasman Sea from Auckland, New Zealand, via Norfolk Island to the Gold Coast in Australia in late 2013.

This first of a two-part episode is a step-by-step summary of his extensive preparation and substantial refit and it will help and inspire any blue water cruiser who is preparing to cross a large ocean. This personal insight into the highs and lows of voyage planning is a great story for every cruising sailor.

Originally published in iTunes as the 200+ page iBook: ‘Sailing the Tasman Sea’, it has been narrated into audio for this podcast.

Episode 26: Martin Vaughan - Melbourne to Osaka Race

In this episode we chat with Martin Vaughan about his epic adventure and lessons learned from competing in the 5,500nm 2-handed 2013 Melbourne to Osaka Race.

As a long distance South to North Ocean Race, it’s a unique Pacific Ocean journey and it crosses multiple weather systems and seasons. The course starts in Portsea, Melbourne, heads into Bass Strait, up the east coast of Australia, into the southeasterly trade winds then through the Solomon Islands and the doldrums of the equator.  It then heads into the southeasterly trade winds and the equatorial current before fighting the Kuroshio (Japan current), which flows up the Pacific Coast of Japan to finish in the port of Osaka on Japan’s Honshu Island.

Episode 25: Kevin Bloom - Loss of 44 foot Leopard Catamaran on delivery

In 2015, after three South African seamen went missing somewhere in the vastness of the Southern Ocean, their families tried to trace their final movements. Their determination to uncover the truth, would require going to war with the world’s largest tourism conglomerate, a €20 billion-a-year monolith that had no interest in fielding questions.

In this episode we share a narration of the 10,000+ word story of tragedy and loss, followed by a candid chat with its author, Kevin Bloom about the missing pieces of the puzzle3 that led to the deaths of three sailors and the eventual relocation of the missing 44 foot Leopard Catamaran several months later.

Episode 24: Andy Lamont - Ready to depart for solo circumnavigation

After months of preparation and years of planning we check in with Andy Lamont a few days before he leaves the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia for his non-stop westward bound solo circumnavigation and world record attempt in his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse'.

We find out what's gone to plan, what’s changed, his set backs, his final departure plans and Andy's final thoughts before leaving for the biggest adventure of his life.

Andy: “May the wind always be at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your sails. And until we all meet you again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” From all of your friends at the Southport Yacht Club.

Episode 23: Lisa Blair - Antarctica Cup Ocean Race

Following the 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Lisa Blair is taking sailing to the extremes and aims to set the world record for becoming the first female to compete in the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, circumnavigate Antarctica, circumnavigate below latitude 45° south and break the current speed record of 102 days, 1 hour, 35 minutes and 50 seconds.

Lisa will be the second competitor in history to take on the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race (ACOR) that was founded by Chairman Robert Williams and will be racing the clock on the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, a three-lane racetrack circling Antarctica between 45 South and 60 South. Lisa is both a Clipper round-the-world race winner and solo Tasman competitor, but her next challenge takes sailing to a whole new level. 

Episode 22: Audi Hamilton Island Race Week crew debrief

Back from competing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week for the first time, we do a race crew debrief and share the highs and lows of competing at one of the most spectacular regattas on the planet. From trailer boats to 100-foot super maxi’s, a record fleet of 252 yachts competed across 14 divisions, racing in challenging weather and strong tidal currents around the Whitsunday Islands.

This candid debrief with some of the team off my Beneteau 445 (Ocean Gem), covers the highs, lows, challenges and set-backs of the week and what we would have to do differently next time round.

Episode 21: Ian Mackenzie - Import, buy, maintain and sell your yacht

Ian Mackenzie has spent more than 30 years valuing and selling yachts. As a specialist yacht broker he shares his knowledge on how to import, buy, maintain and sell your yacht. His lessons are relevant to both first time and experienced boat owners and his advice on the critical areas to be diligent, with maintenance and upgrades are insightful. 

We also drill down into the benefits and risks of buying offshore, the import process and the costs you need to be aware of when comparing buying locally to importing from abroad.

Episode 20: Roger "Clouds" Badham - Worlds best sailing meteorologist

Dr. Roger Badham spent 10 years at university to complete a PHD in meteorology. He has devoted the last 40 years to marine meteorology. Known as ‘Clouds’ in the yachting world, he is one of the most respected meteorologists in the business.

Clouds has forecast nine America’s Cups, seven Olympic Games, 30 around the world yacht races and countless yacht races and regattas all around the world, with more than 35 Sydney to Hobart race forecasts and during the past 30 years he has assisted as many as 500 vessels to cross the Tasman Sea.

He is also retained by Ferrari’s Formula One racing team. His insights into weather are fascinating.

Episode 19: Ocean Gem Crew - Sydney to Gold Coast Race crew debrief

Fresh from completing the 384nm Sydney to Gold Coast Race last week, we join my race crew for a post-race debrief, of what turned out to be the slowest edition of this race in history. Even 100-foot super maxi Wild Oats VI only averaged 8 knots for the course, taking 100% longer than their race record.

This debrief with the crew of my Beneteau 445, covers the highs, lows, challenges and set-backs of ocean racing and we talk about what we need to improve, in the build up to our first ever Sydney to Hobart Race in December 2016.

Episode 18: Elise Currey - 14 metre swell destroys Coffs Harbour Marina

Elise Currey heads up a ‘volunteer army’ at the Coffs Harbour Marina, north of Sydney on Australia’s East Coast. With her office smashed to pieces by a storm, that sent 14 metre swells surging through her marina a few weeks ago. Elise as marina manager is literally running her operations out of a shipping container as we speak to her, while the damage repairs that will take a few months, get underway.

When your office backs onto the Tasman Sea, sometimes a breakwater is not enough to keep nature out. In this contrasting story to episode 16, we find out the challenges of being situated in a ringside seat, with a wild ocean as your backdrop. 

Episode 17: Gerry Fitzgerald - Antartica, Sydney to Hobart, Solomon Islands

Gerry Fitzgerald is your consummate mariner. We dive into a lifetime on the ocean; from Queensland catamaran racing, to Antarctica expeditions, being boarded by hostile natives in the Solomon Islands, competing in the fatal 98 Sydney to Hobart Race, sailing an 1,800 ton tall ship out of Sydney Harbour and exploring the worlds seven oceans. Gerry has a lifetime of maritime stories to share.

Gerry’s experience, wisdom, advice and observations are second to none and no one is better equipped than he is, to offer marine safety and training courses, a passion he has turned his hand to, in recent years and he starts to spend more time on land, after decades on the ocean.  

Episode 16: Mark Stephenson - Biggest storm in 50 years

We check in with Mark Stephenson, Commodore of the Mersey Yacht Club in Devonport, Tasmania just weeks after the biggest storm they have seen in 50 years, swept away their marina and the vessels berthed at it.

In this candid chat, Mark shares details of the people and vessels rescued and sad stories of those that were lost. This interview provides a graphic insight into the forces of nature and the major impact a 24-hour storm can have on people’s lives. Nestled on the edge of Bass Strait, one of the most treacherous passages of ocean in the world, Mark tells us first hand what it was like to see his marina swept away.

  • Check out the live video footage in the show notes

Episode 15: Ian Thomson - Australian solo mono circumnavigation record

In this episode we catch up with Ian Thomson, organiser of the 6,350nm Around Australia Yacht Race. Its set to start from Sydney in August 2017 and this will be the first event, since Sir Peter Blake won it in 1988 that its been held.

Ian is the current solo mono-hull record holder, after circumnavigating Australia in 2012. From Ian’s live aboard yacht in the marina at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, we delve into what’s driven him to organise the 2017 race and find out more about the Ocean Crusaders; an organisation that Ian founded that has taken its ocean preservation education program into 18,000 schools so far.

Episode 14: Kym Fleet & David Hanton - Protecting your hull

We check in with Kym Fleet from Gold Cast City Marina and David Hanton of Bradford Marine to drill into the essential tips for recognising, avoiding and protecting yourself from problems that can result from poor hull maintenance.

Kym discusses the challenges, evolution and opportunities that have come with running the largest marina and shipyard facility in the Southern Hemisphere and talks about the standards yacht owners should expect from a top class shipyard.

David covers the types of anti-foul applications for racing and cruising sailors, advice on how to avoid inheriting someone else’s problems and when its worth stripping an older hull bare and starting all over again. He shares the tips and maintenance advice for keeping your hull ship shape.

Episode 13: Chuck O'Malley - Ocean-going cruising sail making

In this bonus episode courtesy of Andy Schell from the 59 North Podcast; we join a training workshop with Andy’s sailmaker Chuck O’Malley who he has worked with on various projects for more than a decade. In this episode, recorded at the WCC Ocean Sailing Seminar, Chuck discusses the technical aspects of building and maintaining ocean-going cruising sails. Chuck talks about design and construction characteristics, downwind sail choices, three-reef versus storm trysail setups, storm jibs, gennakers and Code 0 sails and more.

Chuck is founder and loft manager of Chesapeake Sails, a business he started in 2002 and he has successfully collaborated with numerous racing teams and has guided countless numbers of extended cruisers on how to plan and prepare their sail inventories for offshore sailing. 

Episode 12: Rob White - Sail wardrobe planning and material selection

We catch up with Rob White from Evolution Sails on sail wardrobe planning and material selection choices for both cruising and racing sailors. Rob shares four decades of sail planning, design and production experience and the changes and advances he is seeing, including the adoption of exotic materials at club racing level. Rob talks specifically about tips for making your boat go faster regardless of how old your sails or boat are.

Rob covers everything from Dacron to Carbon Fibre and the choices in between and we also spend some time talking about the ideal set up for short handed cruising sailors, so that speed to your next destination does not have to be compromised.

Episode 11: Andy Lamont - Preparing for his solo circumnavigation

Andy Lamont updates us on his preparations for his solo world record attempt to sail, non-stop, westward around the world in a ‘vessel less than 40 feet’ in length, departing from the Gold Coast, Australia on October 2nd this year.

In this follow up to episode’s 2 & 3, Andy explains the process of registering for a world record attempt, the ongoing preparations of ‘Impulse’; Andy’s S&S 34, lessons learned so far, the financial challenges, Andy’s growing list of supporters and some of the changes he has made to his original plans, 3 months on from when we last spoke to him.

Episode 10: Jessica Watson - Whats next after her circumnavigation

We catch up with Jessica Watson, 6 years after completing her voyage as the youngest person ever to sail non-stop, unassisted around the world in her S&S 34 ‘Ella’s Pink Lady’. 

We talk with Jessica about her pre-departure fears; how she dealt with the extreme weather she faced on her trip, life back on land after her voyage and her new tech venture in the marine industry and where her future passion in sailing lies.

Andy Lamont (from Episodes 2 & 3) joins the interview and gets some first hand advice from Jessica for his upcoming westward bound circumnavigation in an S&S 34, departing Oct 2016.

Episode 9: Andrew Randell - Finishing what his dad started 4 decades later

We talk with Andrew Randell about a boat building project his father started in 1963 that came to a standstill when tragedy struck his family while on holiday in 1966. 36 years later Andrew rescues the partly built yacht that had steadily deteriorated over almost 4 decades and he starts a 7 year mission to complete what his father had started.

For a guy that had never built a boat before, let alone sailed one, its a great story of what can be achieved when you are determined and focused. As a result of Andrews fine craftsmanship he was awarded the Hal Harper Award by the New South Wales Wooden Boat Association in 2011 for his demonstration of wooden boat building skills and the preservation of historical wooden boats.

  • Read this episodes show notes for extra photos and yacht plans starting from 1952.

Episode 8: Ken Thackeray - Founder of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club

In this episode we talk with Ken Thackeray the founder of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club about how the unplanned idea for SICYC came about by sheer chance and how this unique yacht club has grown into a large organisation with no employees, no physical yacht club venue and 4,700+ members in 14 countries.

SICYC is a great resources for cruising sailors and has created friendships is the most unusual of places as you'll find out in this candid chat with Ken at their 7th anniversary party.

Its annual Gloucester Rendezvous at Whitsunday in Queensland sees 200+ boats gather for 4 days of fun and activities.

  • Read this episodes show notes for extra photos and videos and get the links to SICYC online.

Episode 7: Peter Montgomery Part 2 - The voice of New Zealand Yachting

In this 2nd of the 2-part episode we continue to talk to Peter Montgomery, respected internationally as the voice of New Zealand Yachting after personally commentating on 12 Americas Cups, 9 Olympic Games and every Whitbread and Volvo around the world race to date.

If you missed Episode 6, I recommend you listen to it before this episode.

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out 60+ photos and some of Peter's famous commentary clips on video.

Episode 6: Peter Montgomery Part 1 - The voice of New Zealand Yachting

In this 1st of a 2 part episode we talk to Peter Montgomery, respected internationally as the voice of New Zealand Yachting after personally commentating on 12 Americas Cups, 9 Olympic Games and every Whitbread and Volvo around the world race to date.

Peter shares personal insights into his 40 year career in broadcasting, how the Americas Cup has changed, thoughts on some of the big personalities that drive the international yachting and why commentating will never be the same again. 

Peters reputation for colourful commentary that enhances the layman, helped develop a nations passion for sailing, through both the Americas Cup and Whitbread/Volvo Round the World Campaigns that New Zealand has been heavily involved in since the early 1980's.

This candid discussion with one of New Zealand's greatest ever broadcasters is a unique opportunity to understand what inspired Peter Montgomery to approach the task with such energy and passion.

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out 60+ photos and some of Peter's famous commentary clips on video

Episode 5: John Lucas - Sails a houseboat 3000nm to Thursday Island

We discover one of the most fascinating ocean passages of the 20th century in this episode. In 1972 John Lucas set out from Geelong, Victoria to sail a 40-foot house boat, with a makeshift mast, 3,000 nautical miles north up the east coast of Australia to Thursday Island, New Guinea for missionaries desperately in need of vessel to transit rivers to their local villages.

This 3-month journey led by skipper John Lucas and 3 novice crew led to the adventure of a lifetime. They faced storms, mutiny, sand bars, media scrutiny, and needed the approval from 26 different government departments across 3 different states, just to start their journey.

John recounts his story from 44 years ago with such clarity that you would think he had just completed it yesterday. Described as Australia's Kon-tiki, the media coverage in 1972 fascinated a nation.

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out the extensive media coverage articles from 1972

Episode 4: Ray McMahon - Building the Southport Yacht Club

In this episode we interview Ray McMahon, director of the Southport Yacht Club in the month the club celebrates its 70th anniversary birthday. Despite 70 years of history, keel boat racing only gathered significant momentum at the Southport Yacht Club in the past decade.

The Southport Yacht Club is located on the edge of the Broadwater at Main Beach, near Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia. 

We retrace the birth of yacht racing at SYC and discover how a few passionate volunteers founded, what has grown into a successful club that hosts more than 500 races a year today.

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out the historical photos of Southport Yacht Club and the Broadwater

Episode 3: Andy Lamont Part 2 - Taking his S&S 34 around the world solo

We continue to talk with Andy Lamont (in part 2 of a 2 part episode) who is setting off from the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia to sail his S&S 34 non-stop, singled-handed around the world. Its a fascinating story about his lifelong passion to sail around the world.

Andy provides a step by step insight into his preparation, refit, provisioning plans and philosophy about life in general. This candid 2-hour, 2-part podcast is a great example of how easy it can be to buy a simple yacht, do some basic preparations and set off around the world. 

We will follow Andy's story in his lead up to departure from Southport on Australia's Gold Coast later this year and check in regularly to capture and track his 300+ day voyage around the planet.

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out the photo library of Impulse and the work Andy has completed so far.

Episode 2: Andy Lamont Part 1 - Taking his S&S 34 around the world solo

We talk with Andy Lamont (in part 1 of a 2 part episode) who is setting off from the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia to sail his S&S 34 non-stop, singled-handed around the world. Its a fascinating story about his lifelong passion to sail around the world.

Andy provides a step by step insight into his preparation, refit, provisioning plans and philosophy about life in general. This candid 2-hour, 2-part podcast is a great example of how easy it can be to buy a simple yacht, do some basic preparations and set off around the world. 

We will follow Andy's story in his lead up to departure from Southport on Australia's Gold Coast later this year and check in regularly to capture and track his 300+ day voyage around the planet.

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out the photo library of Impulse and the work Andy has completed so far.

Episode 1: Rob Mundle - Australia’s maritime biographer and commentator

In this episode we interview Rob Mundle, yachting commentator, writer and sailor for more than 40 years. Having covered the successful 1983 Australian Americas Cup Challenge and several since along with 44 Sydney to Hobart's and every Hamilton Island Race Week, Rob is known as the voice of Australian yachting and the nations maritime biographer.

His book 'Fatal Storm' based on the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race has sold more than 250,000 copies in 6 languages globally. Rob has a unique perspective on yachting; past, present and future and his passion has created a lifetime of opportunities for him

  • Read this episodes show notes and check out the photo library and details of Rob's best selling book titles.