Oceans Unplugged

This week on the podcast, Lee is joined by Matt Barraud, director of the Morvargh Sailing Project, a Cornish charity that has been taking young people to sea under sail since 2010. Matt came to this work through his own sail training week with the Rona Sailing Project, and it changed his direction entirely. He now runs Morvargh alongside his wife and a team of volunteers, and still sails on every...

This week on the podcast, Lee is joined by Kelsey Pfendler, the American ocean rower who this summer became the fastest person ever to row solo from California to Hawaii. Kelsey's route to the Pacific started on a river rather than an ocean. She took her first whitewater trip at 18, qualified as a guide in the Adirondacks, and spent the best part of a decade running multi-day expeditions thro...

This week on the podcast, Lee is joined by Guy Waites, the North Yorkshire solo sailor who took his Tradewind 35, Sagarmatha, around the world singlehanded in the 2022 Golden Globe Race. Guy's route to the start line was anything but conventional. Two Jester Challenges, a 55 day Atlantic crossing in a 21 foot Corribee that capsized on the way, and two Clipper Races, the second of them as skip...

This week on the podcast, Lee is joined by Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean — the Scottish brothers behind BROAR, who have rowed two oceans together and set world records on both. In 2019 they crossed the Atlantic from La Gomera to Antigua in 35 days, becoming the fastest and youngest team of three to row it, and the first set of brothers to row any ocean. Last year they went considerably further,...

This week on the podcast, Lee is joined by Rhia Pritchard, a tugboat captain whose working life is spent on a very different kind of vessel to most of the boats we talk about on this show. Tug work is one of those corners of the maritime world that most people never see up close. It's demanding, highly skilled, and it goes on quietly in ports and harbours every day of the year. In this episod...

This week on the podcast, Lee is joined by Nick Taliadoros, one of the people behind the scenes at Oceans Unplugged. Nick is usually on the other side of the camera, so this time the roles shift and he takes the guest seat. The conversation covers the show itself, how it came together, and Nick's own relationship with boats and the water. It's a relaxed, honest chat about what pulls peop...

This week the roles are reversed. The man who usually asks the questions is the one answering them. Lee Gallacher has spent more than 30 years around the water — search and rescue, yacht racing, the coastguard, and maritime enforcement. It's the experience that sits behind every conversation on this podcast, but it's rarely the thing we actually talk about. In this episode, that changes.

This week on Oceans Unplugged , we’re joined by sailor Carsten Haas for a conversation about life on the water, the experiences that have shaped his sailing journey and what keeps drawing him back to the ocean. Carsten shares stories from his time sailing, the challenges and rewards that come with life at sea, and the lessons learned through years of experience on the water. We also explore the mi...

This week on Oceans Unplugged , we’re joined by Swiss offshore sailor Oliver Heer — the first Swiss-German skipper to complete the legendary Vendée Globe. Oliver shares his journey from a corporate career to professional ocean racing, the realities of sailing solo around the world, and the determination required to keep moving forward when the odds are against you. We explore the preparation, pres...

Nigel Rennie is an experienced RYA Yachtmaster Examiner, Ocean Yachtmaster and sailing instructor with decades of offshore sailing experience. In this episode of Oceans Unplugged, he shares insights into seamanship, ocean navigation and what it takes to become a world-class sailor. A huge thank you to our core sponsor YB Tracking. None of this would be possible without your help and the service yo...

In this episode of Oceans Unplugged, Lee Gallacher sits down with Captain Ben McInnis, Harbour Master of Portsmouth and a Master Mariner with decades of experience in the maritime industry. From starting his career at sea through a cadetship to becoming Harbour Master of one of the UK's busiest commercial ports, Ben shares what it takes to manage cruise ships, ferries, cargo vessels, and one...

In this episode of Oceans Unplugged, Lee Gallacher is joined by adventurer and ocean rower Lachlan Maclean, who, alongside his brothers, completed a record-breaking row across the Pacific Ocean from South America to Australia. Lachlan shares the incredible story behind one of the longest and fastest ocean rows ever completed, the physical and mental challenges of spending 139 days at sea, and the...

In this special solo episode of Oceans Unplugged, Lee Gallacher takes a step back from the interviews to reflect on the journey behind the podcast, a lifetime spent at sea, and the experiences that have shaped his career in sailing, racing, maritime safety, and adventure. From growing up in South Africa and racing around the world to working as a coastguard officer, lifeboatman, harbour authority...

In this episode of Oceans Unplugged, Lee Gallacher hosts Mike Sentch from YB Tracking to explore the cutting-edge technologies shaping yacht racing, motorsport, and extreme adventure events. Learn about the evolution of GPS trackers, safety innovations, and how real-time visualisation enhances spectator engagement and safety. Key Topics: The history and technological evolution of YB GPS trackers,...

In this episode of Oceans Unplugged, Lee Gallacher sits down with legendary adventurer and race organiser Don McIntyre founder of the Golden Globe Race, Ocean Globe Race, Mini Globe Race, and Real Ocean Rowing. From traditional seamanship and celestial navigation to the psychological challenges of solo ocean racing, Don shares incredible insights into what drives sailors to take on some of the tou...

Gunnar Christensen is a seasoned sailor, yacht captain, and adventurer preparing to compete in the legendary 2026 Golden Globe Race — one of the world’s toughest solo, non-stop sailing challenges. With decades of offshore experience, multiple Atlantic crossings, and a background as an RNLI volunteer, Gunnar combines old-school seamanship with an extraordinary passion for life at sea. In this episo...

In this episode of Oceans Unplugged , the roles are reversed as host Lee Gallacher takes the guest seat to share his extensive experience and career at sea. Drawing on years of service as a sailor, volunteer lifeboat crew member, harbour authority patrol coxswain, pilot launch coxswain, and coast guard officer, Lee provides a unique insight into the realities of working in the maritime world. Topi...

🌊 Oceans Unplugged – Dee Caffari Special 🌊 In this episode of Oceans Unplugged, Lee Gallacher sits down with legendary ocean racer Dee Caffari to dive deep into life beyond the horizon. From seven laps around the world to record-breaking multi-hull campaigns, Dee shares incredible stories of survival, speed, teamwork, and pushing human limits at sea. Together they discuss racing around the world...

Oceans Unplugged | Pip Hare – Dismasting in the Southern Ocean & the Reality of Vendée Globe In this episode of Oceans Unplugged , host Lee Gallacher sits down with offshore sailor Pip Hare for a powerful and deeply honest conversation. Pip shares the story of one of the most devastating moments of her career — losing her mast at 2 a.m., 800 miles from land, halfway through the Vendée Globe. A...

From the heart of global ocean cruising, Paul and Suzana Tetlow are the quiet force shaping some of the world’s most iconic sailing rallies. Based in Cowes and now leading the organisation behind the legendary ARC, they stepped into the role in 2023 after completing their own world voyage, bringing first-hand experience, credibility, and a deep understanding of life at sea. Paul, a former British...

In this episode, Lee interviews Ella Hibbert...a British sailor, adventurer, and sailing instructor known for her Arctic expeditions. - She’s a qualified Yachtmaster instructor and PADI divemaster, based in Portsmouth, England. Born in Germany and raised between England and France, she grew up around travel and the outdoors. - She’s passionate about ocean conservation and climate awareness, often...

Discover the extraordinary life of a professional sailor whose adventures span coast guard rescues, yacht deliveries, racing against the King of Spain, and navigating the highs and lows of the ocean. This episode dives into the raw stories behind the maritime profession and the lessons learned along the way. A huge thank you to our core sponsor YB Tracking - None of this would be possible without...