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Ep. 264, Tom Cunliffe, Sailing and Writing and his new book Hurricane Force

Tom Cunliffe is a living legend among offshore sailors. He has lived his life at sea, mostly sailing traditional boats. He learned to sail on a 22 ft gaff sloop when a teenager on the Norfolk Broads. He studied law in university, but then ran off to sea. He has worked as mate on a coasting merchant vessel and skippered private yachts as well as having been a delivery and charter skipper. He was a sailing tutor for many years, progressing from running a dinghy sailing school in the south of France to becoming a senior offshore instructor at the British National Sailing Centre in Cowes. He has been a yachmaster examiner since 1978. He is the author of about 30 books about sailing, including "The Complete Yachmaster" and "Celestial Navigation." 

We talk about the harbor in Denmark where we was waiting out a storm, sailing in the Baltic Sea, classic boats, history, sailing into St Petersburg Russia, navigating in the Baltic islands without modern technology, sailing a 1911 pilot cutter, the difference between navigating today vs before GPS, the benefits of using paper charts for passage planning, the joy of finding your destination with celestial navigation, heaving-to, surviving a hurricane, the benefit of a heavy mast, his Mason 44, why he has always sailed full-keel boats, using the code zero, what he would choose if he were to buy a boat today, his upcoming novel "Hurricane Force," and more.

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Saari, sailboat, Tom Cunliffe
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Tom
Hirta, pilot cutter, sailboat, Tom Cunliffe
Hirta
Saari
Westernman, sailboat, Tom Cunliffe
Westernman
Constance, Mason 44, sailboat, Tom Cunliffe
Constance, a Mason 44

Ep. 263, Jolly Holly, Show Me Your Dinghy

Jolly Holly sails a 72' carbon fiber trimaran now, and has a history of restoring old boats and solo sailing. She is also the owner of ShowMeYourDinghy dinghy navigation lights, which I use and approve of. 

We talk about sailing in the Caribbean, getting knocked down, sailing solo vs with crew, observing fishing regulations, Sunfish, Tritium - her 71' carbon fiber catamaran, backlash from skeptics, refitting Tritium, what it feels like to sail a giant racing trimaran, anchoring and sizing an anchor for the trimaran, weight distribution, using the coffee-grinder, getting hit by a boat while driving a dinghy at night, designing the dinghy navigation lights, why headlamps are inadequate for navigation lights, and more.

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Tritium, trimaran, Jolly Holly
showmeyourdinghy, navigation light
Tritium, trimaran, Jolly Holly
Tritium, trimaran, Jolly Holly
Tritium, trimaran, Jolly Holly

Ep. 262, Daniel Turner 2, Mini Globe Race, Fiji

Daniel Turner is currently in second place in the Mini Globe Race, another Don McIntyre circumnavigation race. He was in Fiji when I interviewed him, right befrore the start of Leg three, Fiji to Cape Town. 

We talk about sailing from Antigua to Panama, dealing with a roller-furler malfunction, sailing to Fiji, a storm in the Tuomotus, using a drogue, helmets, preventers, response to the skeptics, the route and obstacles to Cape Town, sailing solo and how his enjoyment of it has changed during the race, Starlink, how sailing changes us, boat balance and reefing and sailing more efficiently, tips for sail trim, poling out two asymetrical spinnakers, hearing voices when solo, hallucinations from sleep deprivation, solitude vs lonliness, and more.

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Mini Globe Race, Dan Turner, Immortal Game, Globe 5.80, sailboat
Mini Globe Race, Dan Turner, Immortal Game, Globe 5.80, sailboat
Mini Globe Race, Dan Turner, Immortal Game, Globe 5.80, sailboat
patreon.com/paultrammell
patreon.com/paultrammell
Mini Globe Race, Dan Turner, Immortal Game, Globe 5.80, sailboat
patreon.com/paultrammell
patreon.com/paultrammell

Ep. 261, Ask an Electrician, Owen Murphy, Part 2

This is part two of my conversation with marine electrical engineer Owen Murphy.

We talk about meeting John Kretschmer, the influence of electrical systems and electronics on sailboat value, wiring diagrams, the risks of modern high-output systems, fuses, what electricity is, amps, electrical fields, panconsciousness, sailing in the South Pacific, sailing into an atoll, a tiger-shark story, grey sharks, a near-death experience while surfing, a strategy to stay in the South Pacific long-term, and more.

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Owen's phone: 
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Ep. 260, Ask an Electrician, Owen Murphy of Meridian Marine Electrical, Part 1

Owen Murphy is an ABYC certified marine electrical engineer and technician who offers both onsite and remote electrical system consulting, maintenance and installation. He sails a Pacific Seacraft 34 and is currently in Fiji. 

Owen answers questions from Patrons about their electrical systems. These include charging an AGM starter battery with LiFePo4 house batteries, saving weight on race yachts in the elctrical system, how to avoid electrical fires, the safety of Lithium batteries, explain the difference between grounding and bonding, what components need to be upgraded when converting to Lithium batteries, is the knowledge base required to work on sailboat electrical systems outpacing the average DIY sailor, where can one gain knowledge and experience in marine electrical...

We also talk about sailing solo vs with crew, sailing in the South Pacific, removing the engine fuses and circuit breakers, batteries, artificial intelligence, incorrect wiring, me jury-rigging my alternator on the way from NC to The Bahamas, and more.

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Owen's PS 34. The Solar panel is a 400W LG
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Owen's phone: 
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Owen Murphy, Meridian Marine Electrical
Owen at work
Owen Murphy, Meridian Marine Electrical
Two of Owen's electrical diagrams
Owen Murphy, Meridian Marine Electrical
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my alternator jury rig after the positive post broke off, as discussed in the episode (note, this is my work - while offshore - not Owen's)

Ep. 259, Deborah Hammett, Young Salt at Sixty

Deborah Hammett began sailing later in life and is the author of the book "Young Salt at Sixty." She sails a Jenneau Sun Odyssey 36 out of Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

We talk about Martha's Vineyard, seeing your hometown from the water, scaling down, what inspired her to become a sailor, The Bahamas, riding out a storm in Georgetown at anchor, anchors, the Dominican Republic, her boat, unexpected difficulties, sailing in the ICW solo, sleeping when solo sailing, favorite anchorages on the east coast of the US, sobriety and sailing, changing an impeller, losing power, her book, writing, and more.

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sailboat, Jenneau Sun Odyssey 36
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book, Young Salt at Sixty
sailboat, Jenneau Sun Odyssey 36

Ep. 258, Sailing with Six

Chris and Shona have been sailing around the world on a Leopard 46 catamaran with their four children. They started in Australia on a monohull and sailed up to the islands in the South Pacific. They then bought a catamaran in Mexico, went through the Panama Canal, up to Nova Scotia, and around the Caribbean, back through the canal, across the Pacific, through SE Asia, and to the Seychelles, where they were when I interviewed them.

We talk about sailing with children and homeschooling, how they learned to sail, comapring monohulls and catamarans, sailing upwind, solar power, batteries, safety protocols, keeping the kids interested (by keeping the adventure alive), fears, facing the unknown, liferafts, where the friendliest people are, the most fun place, YouTube, inspiring others to think outside the box, customs & immigration in various countries (Thailand was the easiest - USA the hardest), culture shock in South Florida, swimming with manta rays and whale sharks, dinghies and outboards, dinghy anchors, beautiful moments, and more.

sailing with six, Leopard 46, catamaran
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Owen's phone: 
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sailing with six, Leopard 46, catamaran
sailing with six, Leopard 46, catamaran

Ep. 257, Niels Nielson, Saare Yachts, also Bahamas Fee Increases, Unrest in Panama

Saare Yachts is a German company that builds quality, semi-custom yachts which are made in Estonia in the yard that formerly built Finngulf Yachts. 

In the intro, I discuss the new 5X-more expensive Bahamas cruising permits and new fees, as well as the strikes in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Niels and I talk about sailing in the Baltic Sea, sailing angles, history of the boatyard, building the hulls, vacuum infusion, vinyl-ester resin, foam, bulkheads, lead keels, keel bolts, traditional hull design, heeling, single rudders, engine access, electrical systems, alternators, induction stoves, having 2 alternators, German boom sheeting, a unique liferaft storage and launching system, and more.

Saare Yachts
Saare 38
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Saare Yachts
Saare Yachts
Saare 47
The vacuum-infusion process
Saare Yachts
Saare Yachts

Ep. 256, Filip Kotodziej, Isla de los Estados, Patagonia, and Antarctica

Filip Kotodziej is the skipper of SV Selma of SailCamp Expeditions, running high-latitued charters. He recently visited Isla de los Estados - an island off the souther tip of Argentina few people have visited. 

We talk about isla de los Estados, anchoring and anchorages, katabatic winds, currents and tides, charts and navigating, the boat Selma - a custom steel ketch, features of the boat that make her capable of high-latitude sailing, sailing in high winds, different sail configurations, dealing with heavy weather, clearing customs in Argentina and going to Isla de los Estados, tsumanis at sea, wildlife, foul-weather gear and staying warm and dry in the high latitudes, boots and gloves, safety prorocols and gear, penguins, South Georgia Island, and a surprise announcement. 

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Owen's WhatsApp: 
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Ep. 255, Cruising the Med and Sailing Naturally with Richard and Jude of Sailing Helios

Richard and Jude sold everything and bought a Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410 in 2022. Unable to get the boat delivered to Australia in a timely manner, they decided to take the boat in France and start their sailing lives by cruising the Mediterranean. 

We talk about crusing the Mediterranean, the boat, dual helms, anchoring, lights and a collision while at anchor, favorite places, cultures, food, making the transition to the cruising life, running a YouTube channel, running another channel in which they wear no clothes, health and extending lifespan, and more.

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Sailing Helios, Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410
Sailing Helios, Jenneau Sun Odyssey 410

Ep. 254, Matt Woodside, Golden Globe Race 2026 Entrant

Matt Woodside is entered in the 2026 Golden Globe Race (GGR). His boat is a Cape George 36 and he lives in Portland, Oregon. 

We talk about getting into sailing, the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, the GGR, simplifying the boat, refitting her, replacing the mast, reefing, heavy-weather strategies, heaving-to, towing drogues, using a storm trysail, his unique jury rig, abandoning ship, books, serving as a Flight Officer in a Navy aircraft, fears, food, to fish or not to fish, magic, old navigation tech, not sailing with a cat, modern navigation, unexpected events, bucket-list destinations, feedom, and more.

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Owen's WhatsApp: 
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Ep. 253, Diana Vega, First Mate in the Clipper Round the World Race

Diana Vega grew up on the Isle of Wight sailing in the Solent. She will be the First Mate with Guy Waites on Team Unicef UK in the 2025-2026 Clipper Round the World Race.

We talk about crew dynamics, a transatlantic on an Outremer catamaran, refitting a steel boat, installing a synthetic teak deck, heaving-to in the Bay of Biscay, the Clipper Race, the role of the first mate, training for the Clipper, the boats, Guy Waites, fear, anticipations, the southern ocean, book recommendations, bucket-list destinations, beautiful moments, unexplainable sights, and more.

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Clipper Round the World Race
Clipper Round the World Race
Guy Waites, Diana Vega, Clipper Round the World Race
Clipper Round the World Race
Clipper Round the World Race
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