Off Watch Podcast

Send us Fan Mail “Shooting the Breeze” feels like the perfect title for this one! Jess & Hannah chat with special guests, Rose Ravetz and Huw Wahl - the creators of Wind, Tide and Oar: an analogue 16mm film exploring life under sail—without an engine. We learn all about the trials of filming at sea with a 1960's hand wound camera and tribulations of a life unburdened by diesel. So join us...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, we dive into the history and future of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) as it celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea. Jess and Hannah are joined by special guests: Joanna Bellis, the RNLI’s Interpretation Development Officer, and Laura Penhaul, a trainee helm at the St Agnes Lifeboat Station. Together, they explore the evolution of lifeb...

Send us Fan Mail Boatbuilding. Conservation. Historic vessels. Jobs. These are the murky, complicated, fascinating themes we’ll get stuck into this episode. Victoria Wallworth joins the Off Watch Gals for 2-parter where we delve into heritage vessels, what we can do with them, and how to engage more people in this wonderful world. National Historic Ships Vessel Conservation Course: https://www.nat...

Send us Fan Mail A new ship and a new season of the Off Watch Podcast! Join us in #gloucester as we take a tour aboard LV SULA and learn about the fascinating role of Light Vessels! A massive thank you to Colin and Viv of LV14 SULA Lightship for sharing your time, your stories and your experiences with us - it was a brilliant day and we learned (and laughed!) a lot. You can learn all about SULA (a...

Send us Fan Mail Announcing Off Watch - Season 3! We're back! New Season, New Ship! And we have lots to chat about! We'll be looking at the fascinating history of working boats - from Pilot Cutters to Smacks & Trawlers to Thames Barges and lots more! We'll also be shining the ships spotlight on some of the hidden hero's that support the sailing word from the RNLI to Light S...

Send us Fan Mail "1pm. Storm ended, sea calm. God is over all" - the eerie last words entered into the logbook of the Flannan Isles Lighthouse. After 3 harrowing days & nights of raging storms in December 1900, three lighthouse keepers vanished from the remote island and were never seen again. Regular listeners will know that we love a good mystery! And as we find ourself heading tow...

Send us Fan Mail This episode, the Off Watch gals explore mental and physical wellbeing in the sailing industry and we delve into the influence of sexism on health. We’re joined by Hannah Stowe   - an artist, writer, sailor and scientist. We mull over solutions and ideas which would make the industry a more accepting place and discuss Hannah’s recently released book Move Like Water. Enjoy listenin...

Send us Fan Mail Provisioning for any lengthy voyage is a challenge, especially when fridge space is limited for fresh produce. And while it's not uncommon to see a  a mackerel line trailing behind a boat in light winds, wouldn't it be great if you could catch your fruit and veg enroute too! Luckily, today's special guest, Caro Warwick-Evans knows a thing or two about what the sea h...

Send us Fan Mail Disasters at sea have lead to fundamental changes in ship design, surveys and rules and regulations. Whilst the sea (and sailing) is a cruel mistress, there are some basics which can make it safer for seafarers and this is what the episode is all about! You will hear from our wonderful guest Rhoda Willson who works for Lloyds Register and is passionate about saving lives. You will...

Send us Fan Mail When the going gets tough... the tough get a maritime lawyer! Welcome to season 2 of the Off Watch Podcast! This episode, Jess & Hannah re-join the ship but it's not all plain sailing! Luckily, they are joined this week by special guest and Maritime Lawyer, Monica Kohli who shares some of the in's and out's of what happens when things go wrong at sea and also ta...

Send us Fan Mail Well we're be tween seasons and therefore this week you will join the Off Watch Gals on the Tween deck (actual nautical term). Here you'll find the parts of the interviews from Sean and Em (sailing and shipkeeping trainees from Season 1) that didn't make it to the final episodes. Be prepared for stories, opinions on how to get into the industry and just some general...

Send us Fan Mail This is the last episode of Season 1! This week, the Off Watch gals explore food onboard sailing vessels. Hannah finally gets back onboard the SS Great Britain  to discuss food onboard a Victorian passenger ship and Jess contacts an old sailing friend who has some tips and tricks to cooking onboard. Together Jess and Hannah wave goodbye to their shit ship and say hello to a couple...

Send us Fan Mail This week Jess and Hannah are in Falmouth talking about sail cargo with their guest Jorne Langelaan. Jorne is the CEO and founder of EcoClipper B.V - a sail cargo company who have recently launched their first ship De Tukker. Join the gals as they discuss the highs and lows of sail cargo, engineless sailing ships and bow thrusters! They also explore the She Sees/Rewriting Women in...

Send us Fan Mail In this weeks episode, Jess & Hannah find themselves heading West through the Solent. The gal’s shine the ship’s spotlight on a vessel they know and love: the Tamar Barge, “Lynher”. The pair are joined by one of Lynher’s custodians, Barbara Bridgman who tells us about how this lovely little ship came into their lives, Lynher’s early years and the exciting projects the future h...

Send us Fan Mail This week Jess and Hannah manage to get off their grubby old ship and explore the world of volunteering.  It’s part and parcel of our industry and part of learning, getting a foot in the door, of networking; but what are the pros and cons? We speak to some of the volunteers our sector so heavily relies on and the organisations that depend on them, to get the low down. In our first...

Send us Fan Mail This week Jess and Hannah discuss traineeships - a great way to get into the industry although there are things to consider. They're joined by fellow trainees and together they share their experiences. Jess and Hannah are also joined by the CEO of Seas Your Future, an organisation that focuses on training young people with multiple skills onboard their ship Pelican of London....

Send us Fan Mail Join Jess & Hannah in the first episode of the Off Watch Podcast. This episode explores what we mean by traditional sailing, the history of sailing vessel Irene in the UK, mental health on-board vessels and the subject of blue health. There’s also some news from the SS Great Britain museum in Bristol! Books: Westcountry Coasting Ketches, WJ Slade and Basil Greenhill, 1974 Good...