On the Wind Sailing

The rumors are true - 59º North has bought the Schooner Woodwind business in Annapolis! Andy, Mia, founder Jen Kaye & new GM Ryan Ellison share some behind-the-scenes at the top of today's show. Come help celebrate with us at Annapolis Sailboat Show, and meet today's podcast guest Mara, who will be at the show and hanging around with 59º North in tent O-8! Mara Løvenskiold is a Norwegian athlete-turned-sailor, getting ready to start the next edition of the nonstop round-the-world Golden Globe Race in 2026. She's been a professional fencer and bobsledder and turned to sailing after a chance encounter got her on a catamaran headed around the world. After circumnavigating over three years with Sailing Ripple Effect, Mara set her sights on her next big challenge in the Golden Globe. Andy talked to her from Sweden about her career and GGR prep. -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This episode is sponsored by Orca. Visit getorca.com to modernize your onboard navigation with the Orca Display and Orca Core. We've got them on SPICA & ISBJØRN and so far are LOVING the experience of proper tablet navigation, waterproof wireless charging, logged passages and slick charts and instruments.  This episode is also supported by Buldano Turkish Towels. Use the promo code "onthewind" to get 20% off their website at buldano.com! Make sure to say hi to Michael if you're at Annapolis Sailboat Show too!

Sidse Johannsen is a Danish solo sailor with major plans. When Andy spoke to her in June, she was in final preparations to sail her C&C 40 from Denmark to Greenland, where she'd worked as a teacher some years ago and always longed to return to. She talks about the trials and stresses of buying and outfitting a new boat for northern sailing, what life was like teaching in Greenland and how she hopes to inspire other women sailors like herself through her books and speeches. Buy Sidse's book "Too Much & Too Wild: Alone at Sea" on Amazon! -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This episode is sponsored by Orca. Visit getorca.com to modernize your onboard navigation with the Orca Display and Orca Core. We've got them on SPICA & ISBJØRN and so far are LOVING the experience of proper tablet navigation, waterproof wireless charging, logged passages and slick charts and instruments.  This episode is also supported by Buldano Turkish Towels. Use the promo code "onthewind" to get 20% off their website at buldano.com! Make sure to say hi to Michael if you're at Annapolis Sailboat Show too!

Cole Brauer made history in 2024 as the first American woman to race solo, non-stop around the world. She crossed the line wearing a hat that read Wild Feminist — a bold and powerful statement from a sailor who’d once been told she was too short for the Southern Ocean. Clearly, she proved them wrong — and along the way, captured the hearts and minds of over 450,000 fans by sharing raw, vulnerable glimpses into her life alone at sea. We caught up in Cowes at the end of July, just before the start of the Fastnet. It’s not often I get to sit down with another woman my age competing at this level — so I loved this chat with Cole. And, I have a feeling you’re going to enjoy it too. -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This episode is sponsored by Orca. Visit getorca.com to modernize your onboard navigation with the Orca Display and Orca Core. We've got them on SPICA & ISBJØRN and so far are LOVING the experience of proper tablet navigation, waterproof wireless charging, logged passages and slick charts and instruments. 

Daniel Alfredsson, a commercial diver from Bergen, Norway, is gearing up for the solo 2026 Golden Globe Race aboard a retro sailboat. He shares his journey of selecting the boat, emphasizing the blend of trust and adventure. The conversation dives into the emotional challenges of solitude at sea and the logistical hurdles of long-term sailing. Humorous anecdotes about packing essentials, including food and even pets, capture the personal side of preparations. The lively exchange wraps up with a spirited discussion about cultural quirks between Norway and Sweden.

Dan Deckard, an architect and content creator, joins forces with sailing partner Kika to share tales from their adventures aboard Uma. They dive into their chaotic experiences with botched visas and airport jails while highlighting the hurdles of rebuilding their boat. The duo recounts humorous moments living in a shipping container, moving from Haiti’s rich history to navigating the challenges of the marine industry. With a blend of resilience, humor, and candid reflections, they discuss pushing through obstacles in their quest for freedom on the open seas.

August Sandberg has returned from paternal leave and vacation, and together with Andy Schell they catch up and talk about anchoring in the archipelago of Sweden and Norway – something which is done quite differently amongst sailors in this part of the world. Back in summertime a video Andy posted on Instagram went viral when he showed how he had removed the bow anchor from SPICA completely. This sparked many discussions in the comments and gave a great topic to share with you all. -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This episode is sponsored by Orca. Visit getorca.com to modernize your onboard navigation with the Orca Display and Orca Core. We've got them on SPICA & ISBJØRN and so far are LOVING the experience of proper tablet navigation, waterproof wireless charging, logged passages and slick charts and instruments. 

Founders of SeaPeople, Logan and Caroline Rowell take us through the motivation behind creating an all-encompassing app for cruiser connectivity. It's basically a "Welcome to 2025" to the next generation of cruisers. Much of offshore communications are quite frankly, decades behind tech. SeaPeople is embracing techs ability to create community in the most remote corners of the earth. In this engaging conversation, we discuss the fine balancing act of staying connected versus unplugging, things we miss about the dinosaur days of sailing and things we love about instant access to data, like-minds and community. Thanks for listening and go check out SeaPeople!  -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This episode is sponsored by Orca. Visit getorca.com to modernize your onboard navigation with the Orca Display and Orca Core. We've got them on SPICA & ISBJØRN and so far are LOVING the experience of proper tablet navigation, waterproof wireless charging, logged passages and slick charts and instruments. 

AUDIO ISSUE FIXED :) Max Campbell returns to the podcast, talking to Andy from New Zealand where he's been in refit-mode on his Swan 37 ELIXIR. Since Max was last on the show in 2019, following his solo Atlantic Circle, he's rebuilt and sailed the ELIXIR halfway around the world, taking friends and strangers across oceans as part of his "Untide" project. Max is truly living the dream, funding his cruising through clever partnerships and occasional charter yacht jobs. We talked about how far he's come since 2019 and what's next for him and ELIXIR. -- Support the podcast & become a member of The Quarterdeck, where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear, safety-at-sea, meet like-minded sailors, find crew, and more. Check it out on quarterdeck.59-north.com. See you there! -- This episode is sponsored by Orca. Visit getorca.com to modernize your onboard navigation with the Orca Display and Orca Core. We've got them on SPICA & ISBJØRN and so far are LOVING the experience of proper tablet navigation, waterproof wireless charging, logged passages and slick charts and instruments. 

Mark Sinclair, aka Captain Coconut, is a solo sailor and hydrographic surveyor currently halfway through his fourth circumnavigation attempt. He shares insights about navigating the Pacific, dealing with extreme heat, and the importance of self-reliance while sailing. Captivating anecdotes reveal the unique marine life differences between oceans and personal challenges faced at sea. Mark also discusses cutting-edge hydrographic technologies and reflects on how his Navy career shaped his approach to fear and risk. His journey is inspiring for adventurers and dreamers alike!

Victoria Low is the newly appointed CEO of The Magenta Project. I first met Vicky back in 2021, after being told she was the person to talk to if you’re planning any serious international sailing campaign — and it’s easy to see why. With over three decades in sailing public relations and communications, including five Volvo Ocean Race campaigns, she really understands how this sport tells its story. What is so impressive about Vicky is how she uses that insight — and her influence — to drive real change. From authoring a report on women in sailing that exposed endemic discrimination, to leading The Magenta Project, she’s exposing truths, finding real solutions and paving new pathways for the next generation of female sailors. -- This season of ON THE WIND is sponsored by Weather Routing Inc., aka 'WRI', 59º North's longtime weather routing & forecasting friends. To learn more and sign up for WRI, go to wriwx.com and tell them that 59º North sent you.  -- This season of ON THE WIND is also sponsored by Boat How To, an educational website co-founded by longtime friend of the pod & sailing tech guru Nigel Calder. Check out the courses at BoatHowTo.com.