The Mariner

Whilst the news that 'Flat Earth' is even 'a thing' may be new to you- what will come as a much larger shock is that 1% (3.8 million) of the US population actively believe in the FE theory,  and 16% (51 Million) say they 'have doubts' about the certainty that the world is in fact a globe.  In this episode I take a look at the Flat Earth conspiracy theory and outline the main pieces of evidence tha...

This episode I discuss my ideas for a new race- The Nova Round the World Yacht Race. With the Classic Challenge division of the Ocean Globe Race now cancelled despite my best attempts to keep it alive, the opportunity suddenly exists to create a North American RTW sailing event to give the Ocean Globe Race Classic Division boats somewhere to race in 2023/24. I have given this a lot of consideratio...

In this episode I read the penultimate episode of Capt. Joshua Slocum's 'Sailing Alone Around the World'. In these chapters (17 &18) Slocum is approaching the Cape of Storms- the modern day Cape of Good Hope which is the final challenge he must over come before completing his incredible solo circumnavigation of the world in 1897.   Just before you go.... If you recognize that creating this con...

This episode I discuss what Remembrance Day means to me, I read some poetry that I hope illuminates the timeless difficulties veterans have faced once they return to civilian life and I share a problem that has arisen regarding my plans to have 2 boats in the upcoming Ocean Globe Race specifically for veterans. Just before you go.... If you recognize that creating this content requires hours of ef...

The start of a four part mini series, this episode looks at one aspect of dealing with high winds   with your boat- namely on a mooring. I discuss how I chose the location for the moorings I use for my boats including, macro & micro geographic considerations, and what I was considering technically when I settled on the mooring system components that I specified. Wow... I just reread that.... t...

In this episode I read some more listener questions and ramble on into long winded tangents about subjects that are vaguely connected to the original question.  We discuss asymmetric versus symmetric spinnakers, fitting bowsprits to older displacement boats, a little more on hyperbolic navigation inaccuracies, safety when sailing with inexperienced family members and much, much more.   Just before...

In this episode we explore Estimated Position Error as a improving function of the 5,000 year history of Navigation.  While today's nav technology would be considered witchcraft 1000 years ago, everything we have now is built on the hard work and incredible bravery of millions of mariners who pushed the edges of what was possible with the tools of their time. This week I discuss the steps that led...

In this episode we rejoin Capt Joshua Slocum, sailing single handed around the world in 1895- this week he is sailing up the coast of Queensland and then heading out into the Indian Ocean on his way to becoming the first person ever to sail solo around the world. Just before you go.... If you recognize that creating this content requires hours of effort and you would like to help support for the e...

Finally, after 18 months of sitting on our hands waiting for some semblance of 'normal' to return to the world - Spartan Ocean Racing is ready to get back on the water and start sailing! Personally, I am hugely excited by the realization that we can now start to dream a little and start to plan some awesome sailing for 2022 and beyond. Uppermost in my mind is the fact that the new schedule of even...

This episode I finish up the story of the delivery of the Maxi 'Weddell' to Nova Scotia. Whilst the voyage its' self was not very eventful (just the way I like them!) there was lots to consider as this was effectively my first passage with a new (to me) vessel.  Just before you go.... If you recognize that creating this content requires hours of effort and you would like to help support for the eq...

There has been a break in the podcast due to me travelling to Europe to pick up a new boat for the Veteran's Sailing Program, but I'm back now and what a story I have to tell! Nothing's ever simple with boats! Grab a cup of tea and sit yourself down and have a listen to the first part of my tale- just getting to the boat through Covid Lockdown travel restrictions, then losing my financing, then cr...

This episode I announce the winners of the Patreon prize draw which gives three lucky listeners the opportunity to join me on board one of our race boats in the next year to compete in either a major race, regatta or transatlantic event!  After that we get into the main subject of this episode - man overboard.  I take you in depth through the procedure I have been taught and now teach to recover s...

In this episode I continue reading Capt. Joshua Slocum's excellent narrative of his solo circumnavigation of the world in 1895. In Chapters 13 &14 Slocum leaves Samoa, sailing to Australia and then Tasmania.  Australia is an opportunity for Slocum to relax a little- he is on the far side of the world from his starting point in Boston and is once again amongst friends and those who know of his...

In this episode we explore D is for Damage and as always it's me shooting right from the hip discussing this crucial subject as we would sat on the deck of your boat with a cup of tea.  I am unapologetic for tangents and spurious information but the deal here is to plumb what exactly a 'pro' sailor is meant to know should things go sideways. I discuss, use of 'Mayday', grounding, keel damage, losi...

As always Questions & Tangents 5 hovers close to the optimal track suggested by this week's listener questions before tacking off onto a flyer to 'knock the corners' with whatever happens to be floating through my head! Topics include (but are not limited to!): Hydrogen Fuel for boats, Synthetic rigging on cruising boats, anchoring, setting the depth sounder correctly and delivering Longobarda...

In this episode I discuss the strange story of Dr. John Rae, a man struck from history by the wife of the famous/infamous Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin. Rae's brilliant cartography expeditions to the far North of Canada in the mid 1800's not only identified the last part of the puzzle of transiting the Northwest passage but also revealed the final fate of Franklin's Arctic expedition that had...

The episode we explore the third subject of our on-going 'ABC of Boating' with C is for Cooking. Food, food preparation and its effect on crew morale, decision making ability, accident avoidance, emotional rationality and overall performance (whether cruising or racing)cannot be under estimated. Cooking can be the make or break element on a an offshore passage and is something I take extremely ser...

This episode I discuss the early origins of waterproof clothing and the designs that have developed over the centuries to a point were, now- we at least 'expect' to be dry when it rains! To bring things right up to date, I also review Helly Hansen's 'Aegir' Ocean Waterproofs -which are at the cutting edge of heavy duty offshore sailing gear and have been kindly supplied by Helly Hansen as part of...

In this episode I continue reading Capt. Joshua Slocum's excellent narrative of his solo circumnavigation of the world in 1895. In chapters 11 & 12 Slocum starts out first in Juan Fernandez ,where he visits the cave the Alexander Selkirk lived in for four years and four months, a story that became the inspiration for 'Robinson Crusoe'  Next Slocum sails 72 days non-stop to Apia in Samoa where...

This episode I read listener's questions and then proceed to talk abut whatever comes into my head working on the basis that if it is somewhat related to sailing we will all enjoy the process!! Sometimes, amid the tangents I even end up answering the question! Miracle of miracles !:) If you have any questions you would like answering please send them to csmthemariner@gmail.com    If you recognize...

This episode I cover the recent updates concerning the proposed Olympic Offshore Racing event, The Global Ocean Race and the plan we are developing to campaign two boats for Veterans. I also talk about Covid and how that is affecting sailing this year and introduce a few more details about our new boat Longobarda. If you have any questions you would like answering please send them to csmthemariner...

In this episode we continue the Alphabet of Boating and I have selected the most basic of terms to cover at this early stage in an effort to lay a wide foundation for the more specific and technical elements of sailing that will no doubt come later on.  This episode- B is for Boat and with the guidance of the Wikipedia entry on 'Boat'- I describe what is known about the early development of humans...

In this episode I continue reading Capt. Joshua Slocum's excellent narrative of his solo circumnavigation of the world in 1895. In this episode- pushed back into the Magellen Strait, Slocum must guard against Fuegain pirates, load a cargo of tallow and work the Spray back into position to once again head out into the open ocean.   If you have any questions you would like answering please send them...

In this episode I interview Rob Philips who is both a friend from various Spartan offshore adventures and also one of the cast of the new series of 'Below Decks' a reality TV show about super yacht crew.  We catch up with Rob in his 'normal' job working as a exploration geologist in the Jungles of Fiji. As always with these remote interviews it is tricky to manage the sound quality so apologies if...

In this episode I start a new series intended to deep dive into various seamanship topic, organized only by their relationship to the alphabet! This series will be done entirely 'off-the-cuff' and without research as a self critical way of unearthing what I actually know as a 'professional'. The theory is that unlike other professions that may allow for research to be done 'on the job' sailing req...