

On the Wind Sailing
59º North Sailing Podcasts
The definitive podcast about sailing. Professional sailors Andy Schell, Nikki Henderson, and August Sandberg interview sailors from around the world to discover what motivates, scares & inspires them. For over twelve years and through 450+ episodes, our hosts have interviewed sailors like Dee Caffari, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Liz Clark, John Kretschmer, Kirsten Neuschafer, Nigel Calder, Pip Hare & many, many more. We talk to boat builders, yacht designers, YouTube stars, performance racers, and family cruisers. HOLD FAST!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 12, 2024 • 1h 4min
Capt. Jennifer Kaye // Schooner WOODWIND & Trans-Atlantic on FALKEN
Capt. Jen of Schooner WOODWIND returns to the podcast after having just sailed with Andy aboard FALKEN on the 2,100 mile passage across the Atlantic! Jen and Andy reflect on Jen's first big ocean crossing and what it was like to leave the wintry Chesapeake Bay for tropical Tradewind sailing. They also talk about challenges of running a small business, how Andy evolved from being a deckhand on the WOODWIND into running offshore passages around the world and much more. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Forbes Horton Yachts. Get in touch with Forbes today about buying or selling a boat. The show is also presented by Harborburn Cannon Company, creators of solid, marine-grade bronze, black-powder signal cannons — just like the ones from the age of sail but a bit smaller. If you own a boat, you need a cannon! To find out more, go to harborburn.com.

Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 6min
Emily Caruso // Pro Sailor & Empathetic Leader
Emily Caruso has spent 18 years and counting as a professional sailor, though only first learning about the sport in her late 20s. Growing up in the countryside in England, Emily had an epiphany one day during a weekend sailing excursion and hasn't looked back since. Andy & Emily sat down in person onboard FALKEN in Cape Verde to talk about her career path, what motivates and scares her, leadership, skippering Sir Francis Chichester's legendary GYPSY MOTH IV, working for 59º North, 'deep feeling' and so much more. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Jan 30, 2024 • 1h 6min
Jens Joachim Hiorth // Tall Ship Captain
Jens Joachim Hiorth is the Captain of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, the largest and oldest tall ship in Norway. The ship recently completed a circumnaivation around the great capes. August joined the Captain onboard the ship for a conversation on the particulars of running such a large ship on the high seas. Website: https://lehmkuhl.no -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Jan 23, 2024 • 1h 18min
Bill Strassberg // The Viking Route
Bill Strassberg literally wrote the book on the Viking Route, authoring the latest edition of the Cruising Club of America's guide to the far northern route across the Atlantic. Andy first got in touch with Bill when researching FALKEN's Greenland passage last summer and caught up with him late last year for the podcast. We talked about Bill's custom 60-foot cruising boat, his own sailing through the fjords of Greenland, what inspired him to write the guide and how he balances a career as a surgeon with his long-term sailing goals. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Jan 16, 2024 • 1h 6min
Cosima Franchini // Yacht Captain & Business Owner
A yacht captain shares her journey from childhood sailing to business ownership, including funny tales and challenges. The discussion touches on leadership challenges, unique branding in the industry, and personal growth. The podcast also explores the founders of 59 North sailing to Norway and the emotional transition from yacht captain to freelancer.

Jan 9, 2024 • 1h 1min
Matt Steverson // The Duracell Project
Ben Doerr sat down with Matt from The Duracell Project YouTube channel. Matt and his wife Janni are refitting Mike Plant's famous Open 60 "Duracell" into a comfortable cruising boat. Sitting in the cockpit of Duracell outside of Port Townsend, Matt and Ben discuss Matt's cruising and boatbuilding past and the many challenges of building the boat and the channel. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Jan 2, 2024 • 1h 19min
Capt. Jan Miles Returns // PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II
Captain Jan Miles returns to the podcast! Andy first sat down with Jan onboard Maryland's flagship PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II tallship way back in 2015 for a fascinating interview tracing Jan's career at sea. We return to the Captain's Cabin onboard PRIDE for this second, meandering chat about seamanship, life on tallships, the leadership structure on traditional ships and a whole lot more. This episode was recorded onboard PRIDE II at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October. Follow and support the PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II at pride2.org. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Dec 26, 2023 • 1h 18min
Elliot Rappaport // Reading the Glass
Elliot Rappaport has been a captain of sailing ships for the past three decades. He currently is a faculty member at Maine Maritime Academy, where he lives nearby with his wife and their dog. Elliot also sailed as a captain for many miles with Sea Education Association, an organization that offers shipboard programs in ocean science and leadership to undergraduates and high schoolers. He recently published a fantastic book called Reading the Glass: A Captain's View of Weather, Water, and Life on Ships. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Dec 19, 2023 • 1h 12min
Mats Grimsæth // Explorer and Photographer
Mats Grimsæth is a professional skipper, photographer and lecturer. He’s the youngest person to ever skipper a boat around the island of Spitsbergen on Svalbard, which is where he first met August. He has a great passion for the sea and for his fellow human beings. Having had a difficult time in his teenage years, he’s now using his considerable energy and outreach to help others in the same situation. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com

Dec 12, 2023 • 60min
Wendy Mitman Clarke // SAIL Magazine Editor
Wendy Mitman Clarke is the editor-in-chief at SAIL magazine and a long-time cruiser herself. I work with Wendy regularly as a columnist for SAIL, but had never actually sat down to talk about her own background. I caught up with her at the Annapolis Sailboat Show in October, and from the Captain's Cabin onboard the Pride of Baltimore II, we discussed her history as a sailor, 'failure' in the cruising lifestyle, what it's like running a magazine, the writing process and lots more. -- If you liked this conversation you'll LOVE The QUARTERDECK, 59 North's 'deep dives on the art of seamanship.' Join our interactive community and get involved in the conversation at quarterdeck.59-north.com. First two weeks FREE, then multiple pricing options thereafter. -- ON THE WIND is presented by Pelagic Autopilots, a group of dedicated sailors & engineers, developing autopilot solutions for the blue water cruiser, solo sailor, and racer. Pelagic systems have been tested in races and voyages around the globe. To learn more and to spec your own system, go to pelagicautopilot.com. The show is also presented by Blu3, makers of compact shallow-water tankless diving systems. To find out more about Blu3 tankless diving, go to diveblu3.com