Essay Podcast

77: Evolution of a Dream

77: Evolution of a Dream

I wrote this piece in 2008, long before I got into any of this sailing stuff professionally (or even otherwise). I was dreaming of going offshore, and this is how I put that initial dream into practice. It's read in the present tense, but remember, was written in 2008, so it's not what I'm thinking now, but what I was thinking then. Hopefully it can inspire you to put your own dreams into action!

50: Adam Buxton's Drunken Sailor

50: Adam Buxton's Drunken Sailor

Sometimes doing the right thing pays off. I was going to just publish this, but in the middle of the night one night decided I'd better ask Dr. Buckles himself if I could use it. I'd want others to do the same with my work. So, not expecting a reply from a comedian of Adam Buxton's stature, I asked anyway, on Twitter. He immediately responded and said it'd be fine to use it! So thanks Adam! Check him out, one of my favorite comedians, on adam-buxton.co.uk or on Twitter @adambuxton, and enjoy his version of the classic Drunken Sailor song on today's Essay Friday!

44: 'Black Swan' Outfitting

44: 'Black Swan' Outfitting

Another 'Essay Friday' for you to think about! Andy's ideas on how to outfit the ocean sailing yacht based on the principles found within Nassim Taleb's classic book 'The Black Swan.' Andy talks about not the chances of a piece of gear failing onboard, but rather the consequences of that failure and how that should influence what you decide to fit, or not fit, on an oceangoing boat. What do you think?

42: Into the Baltic

42: Into the Baltic

This week's essay Friday is an excerpt from the Log of Arcturus, which I keep onboard the boat. Written by hand, as it's happening, the log is a diary of sorts about our travels. This was written in August of 2012, almost exactly two years ago, during the 3-day passage from Malmo on Sweden's southwest coast to Visby, on the island of Gotland. It's good timing, as starting after work today, we'll be on vacation for the next three weeks, heading this time out of the Baltic and essentially retracing our steps from this here trip. It's fun to read what I've written and see what goes on in my head on those late, solo night watches. Hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed reliving it!

40: Lessons from 2 Atlantic Crossings

40: Lessons from 2 Atlantic Crossings

Essay Friday - What I learned in two Atlantic crossings. The first, of course was in 2011 aboard Arcturus, which I  discussed at length with Clint Wells in Tuesday's episode. The second, which I haven't written much about, was the following year, on Kinship, a Saga 43 that Mia and I skippered in ARC Europe, crossing the Atlantic via Bermuda-Azores-Portugal. Both were very different experiences and taught me valuable lessons. This is what I wrote following the second crossing in July 2012. Enjoy!

38: 'Sailing Down the Years' in Sweden

38: 'Sailing Down the Years' in Sweden

Essay Friday - I read today the first chapter of a book I just found yesterday in downtown Stockholm on the history of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) and the sailing culture here in Sweden and how it's evolved over the past 200 years. It's something I'm interested in myself, and it has a lot of good quotes about sailing in general to take away from it. These Friday essays will be a mix of my own thoughts and opinions, and excerpts like this when I find interesting stuff I'd like to share. Enjoy!

35: Naked in Public

35: Naked in Public

Welcome! New concept this week borrowed from Tim Ferriss and his podcast, which I'm a huge fan of (check it out). Every Friday I'll be recording an essay of sorts - stories, opinions, ideas, Q&A if we can get some folks involved, that sort of thing. It'll be a nice compliment to the interviews I do with guests, which will be out earlier in the week. So enjoy this story of my first experience being naked in Scandinavian-style with my wife Mia, her best friend Johanna, and my best friend Clint in the sauna in Finland.

11: Breakages & Jury Rigs

11: Breakages & Jury Rigs

Any Atlantic crossing is as much a test of boats and gear as it is a test of mental fortitude, and the 2013 ARC was no exception. There was fickle weather in the first half, followed by strong squalls and relentless tradewinds over the past week, pushing boats and gear to the limit. Yachts are arriving into Rodney Bay Marina in various states of disrepair. I walked the docks today to get an idea of what crews are repairing, how it happened, and what they might have done in hindsight to prevent it.

Photo courtesy Tim Wright of Photoaction - shows Pollux finishing under jury rig.