Your Pocket Sailing Instructor Podcast

Kinda appropriate that this is my 50th episode! Talking about when I brought Spindrift to Nelson and the ceremony I performed to greet her. Here are the specific descriptions you'll need: - Boat Purging Ceremony: “Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, I implore you in your graciousness to expunge...

Today I am talking all about winches! These are the winches that we use for our sheets and halyards on a sailboat though. I will do a different episode to focus on the anchor windlass system. Enjoy! Remember to like, share and follow this podcast so you never miss an episode! Here are some useful links for you… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailnelsonbc/ Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify....

Alright so to prepare you for this episode you could also listen to: EP 1: My Top 10 Comfort Items for Sailors EP 5: Maritime Mysteries & Mishaps: Old Presque Isle Lighthouse EP 9: My Top 8 Sailing Books Life has been throwing me some curveballs lately so I started to wondering if I had somehow broken some sacred oath or fallen on bad luck. I just can't seem to catch a break at the moment,...

I am starting something new with Technical Tuesdays! There are SO many items on our boats that need a little bit extra info... hence the Technical Tuesdays where I plan on bringing you quite, and essential, information to help you make informed decisions. This week I am talking about lines. What type to purchase for halyards, sheets, dock lines, anchor lines, cunningham, boom vang.... so many line...

Coming soon!

Alright, we have all been there! You're heading into the dock, speed is great, wind is great, crew are ready,... suddenly a boat starts leaving their slip right in front of you, your crew move aft to tell you only to drop the boat hook in the water, your other crew tries to grab the boat hook and drops the roving fender, and everyone on shore is watching. Yup. We have ALL been there! The lovely tr...

A few more notes about anchoring... show notes coming soon! 

There is something magical about spending a nice, quiet, night at anchor! When we were in Croatia, it was a blessing to be able to get away from all of the other tourists for some quiet R&R! Anchoring is a pretty simple thing once you master some basic steps. Here I will break it all down for you and provide you with some of my pro tips! Enjoy! Don't forget to send me any questions! Other epis...

This week I am talking all about being a good boating neighbour! How to be a safe, and non-jerky, boater! There are a few unwritten rules to keep in mind about boating and how others expect you to conduct yourself while on the water. At the marina be aware of any marina rules around parking, washroom/shower use, boat launch access, etc. return any carts to their location after use take all garbage...

Alright winter sucks for us northern sailors! True, I am lucky that my boat is in the water, but it's cold! I haven't sailed in months and I'm going through withdrawal! So, I thought I would let you in on my "happy list". The list of things that I do throughout the winter to keep me looking forward to next season and making sure I'm ready to make the most of it! Enjoy! Other episodes you may enjoy...

This week we are talking about safety (no surprise there!), but more specifically Personal Floatation Devices, Life Jackets and Tethers! What are they? What are the differences? Which one should you purchase? Where do you purchase them? When do you replace them? So many questions! Other episodes you may like: EP 3: Safety First! What Safety Gear do you Need? EP 14: Sailing Goals – Day Sailing EP 2...

This week I am giving you a sneak peak into some of the things I do during the off-season to keep my skills sharp and to get ready for next season. There is personal growth, professional growth, reviewing, renewing, and lots going on! This is pretty typical for me as a "what to do this year" plan. Other podcast episode you may like: EP 4: Off-Season Training: What can I do during the off-season? E...

Well it is boat show season! This means freebies, great deals, new products, drool-worthy boats, and so much more! This week I'm providing you with my tips on how to make the most of your visit! Other episodes you may be interested in: EP 14: Sailing Goals – Day Sailing EP 19: Which Sailing Course Do I Take? EP 27: How to be a prepared sailing crew Top Tips for Boat Shows 1. Dress appropriately: c...

This week we are talking about boat ownership! My Spindrift was an unexpected "gift" from my grandfather. I was not boat shopping and was not planning to have a large boat out here in Nelson. However, when he decided he wanted to pass the boat along, I could not pass it up! In the end, there are things I wish I had known before getting Spindrift and I may have done a few things differently... Othe...

This week I am talking about how to become Penny! LOL. I get asked this question A LOT. As in, how did I become an instructor, how do I get to sail offshore, how do I get people to pay me to teach them, etc. So many questions about my sailing path, so here it is! Where it all started... I am one of the lucky ones. I started my sailing journey (apparently) at about a year old when I was tucked unde...

Boating with kids is so rewarding and fun! Here are some things to think about... Safety first! Not only should you have all of the required and recommended Transport Canada safety gear on your boat, but everyone on board should know how to use it! If you are incapacitated somehow it is important for others on the boat to know what to do and where to locate things. Make a list and diagram of the s...

Episode notes coming soon!

Time for another top 10 list! With Christmas around the corner, here is my Top 10 Gifts for sailors! I also have a couple of other episodes that may help you find some goodies for your sailor (or yourself!) including: EP 1: Top 10 Comfort Items for Sailors, EP 9: My Top 8 Sailing Books, and EP 3: Safety First! What Safety Gear do you Need? Check out my FREE TOP 10 Comfort Items for Sailors Shoppin...

This week I am back to regular episodes and focusing on boat winterizing! Boo!! This means I'm putting my Spindrift away for a few months, but such is life. I do LOVE having seasons and the shifting weather though, just not the fact that I won't be sailing for a few months ;-). Some episodes to catch up on: EP 30: Sailing in Croatia - Getting Organized EP 31: Chartering in Croatia - Starting to ha...

For my last podcast in this series on our trip to Croatia, I am going to talk about our boat provisioning. I'll also talk about some of the boat things that were included, and some things that were not. I've got a pretty good idea now of what the essentials would be for you to purchase when you arrive in Croatia! So just a quick note about the types of things you may, or matoiletpaper biodegradabl...

Ah! So this week I am digging into where we went and what we did. SO FUN!! I have really had a hard time getting back to reality. I want boat life back :-( So simple and satisfying. Forget this school and work rubbish! Next week I will talk about provisioning and overall boat living systems. Some episodes to catch up on: EP 30: Sailing in Croatia - Getting Organized EP 31: Chartering in Croatia -...

Alright so I made it to Croatia in one piece and now the adventure begins!! But how did the trip go compared to what I was expecting? Let's just say, I was kept on my toes! Why did I pack that and not this?! Alright so like I mentioned last week, I packed for carryon only and packed light. In the end I think I did a pretty good job. The weather was much cooler than expected so another sweatshirt w...

I'm back! Sorry I have been MIA. Had a few things to deal with that had me traveling and such. Anyway, back at it and I just got back from 2 wonderful weeks sailing in Croatia! For this episode I'm going to talk about chartering, how I got involved in this flotilla, what are my qualifications, what did I research prior to going, what did I pack... and more! How did I get involved in a flotilla? So...

Hey guys! Sorry I have been MIA for last few weeks. Some family health emergencies have me busy, off work, traveling and my head is a big preoccupied. I will bring you more amazing sailing content ASAP!! Thanks for staying in touch!

So last week I introduced you to some ideas on how to be a prepared sailing crew . Well, this week we are going to look at the other side and talk about how to be a prepared skipper! First though, I want to acknowledge that I have hit 12,000 downloads !! What?! This is amazing. I'm so glad people are enjoying the podcast and taking it all in! Ok, back to business. So this week I'm looking at ways...