Salty Podcast: Sailing Stories

Send us Fan Mail What drives someone to leave everything behind and race solo across an ocean? Five years ago, Amber Hassan didn't know how to sail. Today, she's preparing to cross the Atlantic alone in one of sailing's most challenging races. Her journey from New York professional to offshore racer began during the pandemic when she escaped to the Florida Keys and discovered an une...

Send us Fan Mail Some audio issues with one of my guests, Christian Parker.  He was on his boat in the Florida Keys and was using his phone for the Livestream.  What does true sailing freedom look like? For Christian (better known as @ShipwreckedSurvivor) and his fiancée Pippa, it's about stripping away the unnecessary, embracing simplicity, and making this ancient art accessible to everyone—...

Send us Fan Mail 📅 Wed, 6pm CT 8/20/25 📍 Live on @SaltyAbandon (FB, IG, X) + @SVSaltyAbandon (YouTube) ▶️ Playlist & past episodes: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist Dive into the fascinating world of luxury yachting with Hugo Ortega, a 500-ton Superyacht captain, mentor, and the new bosun on Below Deck Season 12. In this candid conversation, Hugo reveals his unlikely journey from dis...

Send us Fan Mail The truth about yacht insurance isn't what most boat owners expect to hear. As insurance veteran Keri Gonzalez reveals in this candid conversation, "Insurance is not your friend, we're not a good neighbor, you're not in good hands." With 36 years of experience as an insurance broker, Keri strips away the marketing slogans to expose what boat owners need to...

Send us Fan Mail Austin embodies what he calls the "tropical freedom mindset" – a philosophy that's taken him from the digital nomad scenes of Costa Rica and Colombia to his current life aboard Cha-Cha, a lovingly restored 1965 Choilee Bermuda 30 catch rig sailboat. With refreshing candor, he admits he's still learning to sail, yet his plans to navigate south to Florida and the...

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like when you refuse to choose between career and adventure? Casey and Steve have found that sweet spot—spending half the year aboard their 50-foot aluminum sailboat and the other half working as expedition leaders on ships traveling to Antarctica and the Arctic. Their story begins at a whale research station in British Columbia, where marine biologist Casey met...

Send us Fan Mail Watch Full Episode https://youtube.com/live/Pf-pWDAL048 When Maya and Aladino first laid eyes on their Cape George 36, most sailors would have walked away. What appeared decent from the outside concealed extensive rot and deterioration beneath. But this creative couple—whose backgrounds seemed destined for a nomadic seafaring life—saw potential where others saw a hopeless project....

Send us Fan Mail The allure of crystal-clear Bahamian waters calls countless sailors each year, but planning that perfect island-hopping adventure requires insider knowledge and careful preparation. In this special bonus episode of the Salty Podcast, I'm sharing my upcoming journey from Orange Beach to Georgetown, Exumas—a voyage that represents both adventure and healing after the loss of my...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever dreamed of escaping to paradise without emptying your savings account? Meet Stan Loveday, a sailor, author, and retired firefighter who traded his landlocked existence for the gentle rocking of his sailboat "Southeast Up Disorder" in Key West's mooring field.  Stan reveals the remarkable economics of his lifestyle choice – paying just $450 monthly for...

Send us Fan Mail Buying a boat isn't just a transaction—it's the gateway to freedom, adventure, and a lifestyle that many dream about but aren't always prepared for. Sisters Melanie and Carolyn Neale from Sunshine Cruising Yachts bring their extraordinary background as lifelong sailors and yacht brokers to this enlightening conversation about what it really takes to find your perfec...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a 60-year-old retired teacher decides to sail solo from New England to the Bahamas? Deborah Hammett's remarkable journey proves that our boldest chapters can begin exactly when society expects us to slow down. After three decades teaching on Martha's Vineyard, Deborah traded lesson plans for navigation charts and sailed her 36-foot Jeanneau "Mavia&...

Send us Fan Mail The moment Jerome Rand set sail from the United States in his 1975 Westsail 32, he entered a world few modern sailors will ever experience. For 271 consecutive days, battling the planet's most treacherous waters completely alone, Rand wasn't just testing his sailing abilities – he was discovering the very edges of human resilience. What makes Rand's journey uniquely...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to transform from a military officer into a global sailor chasing the horizon? Captain James Canning's journey aboard his Regina 43 sailboat Archila reveals the realities behind the sailing dream – equal parts adventure, challenge, and unexpected wildlife encounters. From his early days learning on small dinghies in central England to navigating the treacher...

Send us Fan Mail What drives someone with zero ocean experience to sail 2,500 miles across the Pacific alone with just a cat as crew? Oliver's remarkable journey from Oregon to Hawaii captivated millions, transforming him from an unknown sailor with a few thousand followers into a viral sensation greeted as a hero upon his arrival in Waikiki. The raw authenticity of his story resonates deeply...

Send us Fan Mail Rich Whitlock (@rich_whitlock9603) shares the smart upgrades he’s made to his 2018 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419—from ☀️ solar and 📡 Starlink to 🧭 chartplotters & more.  Whether you're refitting your cruiser or dreaming of the liveaboard life, this episode is packed with tips and gear talk you don’t want to miss. Ever wondered what happens when submarine engineering meets mo...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could walk away from everything? The bills, the commute, the endless cycle of working to pay for things you barely have time to enjoy? Captain Mark J. Reinhardt didn't just dream about it—he did it. Speaking from his sailboat in the Solomon Islands, Mark takes us deep into the realities of living completely off-grid on the open water. With candid honesty rarely fo...

Send us Fan Mail Oliver from Sailing Phoenix returns for a live update before he sets sail on one of the biggest adventures of his life—a solo(ish) crossing from Oregon to Hawaii with his trusty crewmate, Phoenix the cat. Since our last chat in November 2024, Oliver has been hard at work making critical repairs and upgrades to his sailboat to get it ocean-ready for the journey ahead. In this episo...

Send us Fan Mail Hayden & Radeen of S/V Island Spirit are back, streaming 🎙️ LIVE from Saint-Martin in the Caribbean (but the ended up being in Antigua)  🌬️ Wind patterns (with graphs), ⚓️ Best anchorages 🌀 Pro tips for maneuvering & anchoring around Sint Maarten YouTube Link:  https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcast57 #SaltyPodcast #SaltyAbandon #SailingTips #IslandSpirit #SintMaarten Support...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Part 3 of the Island Packet Factory Tour series! In this final episode, factory owners Darrell & Leslie Allen take Capn Tinsley deep inside the Island Packet Factory in Largo, FL. Watch where the skilled team brings each custom sailboat to life—from the mold to the finishing touches—and learn a few ways you can get your own Island Packet sailboat.  Made in America!...

Send us Fan Mail Juliette of sailing vessel Spica shares her journey from sailing novice to confident sailor, now planning an ambitious voyage from Florida to Nova Scotia, Greenland, and ultimately Norway. • First hooked on sailing after a four-day course in Annapolis on an Island Packet 32 • Purchased an Island Packet 35 after meeting owners who had lived aboard for 11 years in the Keys • Initial...

Send us Fan Mail Step aboard hull #22 of the Island Packet 349 as we explore its design, smart upgrades, and why it might just be my dream boat! This is Part 2 of a special 3-part of my Island Packet Factory Tour. Let’s dive in!  @IslandPacketYachts   This is Part 2 of a 3-part series inside the Island Packet Factory on YouTube: ⚓ Part 1: First look at the IP 44 Motor Sailer:  https://tinyurl.com...

Send us Fan Mail This is Part 1 of a 3-part series inside the Island Packet Factory on YouTube: ⚓ Part 1: First look at the IP 44 Motor Sailer (this episode): https://tinyurl.com/IPFactoryPart1 ⚓ Part 2: A full tour of the Island Packet 349:  https://tinyurl.com/IPFactoryPart2 ⚓ Part 3: A behind-the-scenes factory tour to see how these legendary boats are built (Coming soon) A century of months...

Send us Fan Mail What draws sailors to cross vast oceans, leaving behind comfort and certainty for the unknown? Saskia shares her remarkable journey from the Florida Keys to French Polynesia, revealing both the exhilarating freedom and surprising challenges of the cruising lifestyle. Originally beginning her Instagram (@saskiasailing) simply to update family about their Pacific crossing, Saskia ne...

Send us Fan Mail Emerald waters, secluded beaches, and tropical breezes await in the Florida Keys—America's own Caribbean paradise. But how can you experience this boater's dream without draining your cruising kitty on expensive marinas? Our expert local guests John and Vanessa Lindsley, seasoned Key West sailors, reveal the secrets to finding gorgeous, protected anchorages throughout th...

Send us Fan Mail Sailing legend Dennis Jay joins us to share his inspiring journey across the beautiful Bahamas. Discover how life's challenges can lead to new adventures and the vibrant community of sailors in Georgetown. • Dennis’ early beginnings with sailing and his love for boats • The story behind acquiring Delta Blues and its journey • First impressions of the Bahamas and the coastal a...