Offshore Sailing and Cruising with Paul Trammell

Ronnie Simpson was racing solo around the world in an Open 50 when he dismasted soon after rounding Cape Horn, and with a storm approaching with forecasted 70-knot wind and 30' seas. We discuss the events leading up to the dismasting, making the decision to call for rescue, as well as the race, details about sailing a thirty-year-old open 50 in an around-the-world race, Cape Horn, sleeping, the beauty of sailing in the Southern Ocean, fears, emotions, and Ronnie's future plans of a Vendee Globe campaign.

Brendan and Chanell recently sailed their Bruce Roberts 36 from Bocas del Toro, Panama, to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, in late December, saw some dificult weather and had to adapt their plans. We also talk about the passage, the boat they bought in Florida, a 1985 Noresman 447 designed by Robert Perry, Panama, Tobobe, the Ngobe Indians, Starlink, pirates, foul weather, trouble with the windvane, superstitions, customs, Mexico, the ICW, creature comforts,

In this episode, I talk about the Global Solo Challenge and the boats in the race, focusing on sailboat data and how that affects a sailboat's performance. I also talk about what I've been up to, components on my boat that I like or dislike, angry local surfers, theft in Panama, seasickness, my electrical system upgrade to a lithium battery, and more.

When Suzanne was 7 years old, she set sail from Plymouth, England, on the schooner Wavewalker with her parents and brother. Their trip, which was recreating Captain Cook's third voyage around the world, was supposed to last for three years but ended up taking a decade. Along the way they were shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean and, as she grew older, Suzanne had to fight to gain an education and return home. Her international bestselling book 'Wavewalker' tells the story of that voyage. We talk all about not only the journey, but also the book, and most importantly, issues a family should consider before planning an exrtended voyage with children.

Tom and Kelsey live in Colorado and cruise and race in a 28' Corsair trimaran. I met the in the Ragged Islands, The Bahamas. They also raced the trimaran in the Race to Alaska. We talk about The Bahamas, Greenland, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, foul-weather gear, spearfishing, sharks, the Race to Alaska, human propulsion systems, restoring an aluminum boat, cruising in British Columbia and the Sea of Cortez, and more!

Webb Chiles is a solo sailor and author. He has circumnavigated six times, was the first American to sail solo around Cape Horn during which he broke Chichester's record, nearly circumnavigated in an open boat - an 18' Drascombe Lugger, and most recently circumnavigated on a Moore 24. His mission in life has been, as he says, "to go beyond the limits of human experience and sends back reports." He is the author of "Storm Passage," "Open Boat Across the Pacific," "The Ocean Waits," "A Single Wave," "The Fifth Circle," "Shadows," as well as many articles and poems. We talk about his sailing adventures and phiosophies, and discuss passages I highlighted in his book "Storm Passage," which I read (for the second time) before the interview. Webb is truly a legend among sailors, as well as a fascinating character and a great speaker.

Seth Bird sails a steel schooner and has worked on commercial vessels for over 20 years, ranging from the USCG and NOAA to oil field support vessels and tall ships. We talk about tall ships, marlinspike seamanship, lessons we can learn from commercial shipping, communications, talking to commercial ships on the VHF radio, AIS, steel boats, sailing a schooner, sailing without winches, raising the anchor without a windlass, anchors and anchoring, sailing with kids, and more!

Guy deBoer, who crashed on a reef in the 2022 GGR, is planning on sailing around the world in the spirit of the 2022 Golden Globe Race, but on his own, and in 2024. We talk about lessons learned from the 2022 race, repairing his boat, how he has it set up, reefing, downwind sail trim and sailplans, tiller vs wheel, windvanes, and lots more.

I spoke with Tapio during his stopover in Auckland, NZ, during the Ocean Globe Race. We talk about the race, his boat (a Swam 55 yawl), sails, the sinking of Asteria in the 2022 GGR, being rescued by Kirsten, Galiana's crew, crossing the equator, looking forward to Cape Horn, the decreasing wildlife in the oceans, and more.

Jelle Engel works for KM Yachtbuilders in sustainability development and sales and is a design manager. He supported the team to develop the Bestevaer 36 and 42, working closely with Dykstra Naval Architects. We talk abvout sailing to Greenland and Iceland, weather forecasting, ice, lifting keels, freezing into the ice, ballast in lifting-keel boats, aluminum boat advantages and disadvantages, owning and maintaining an aluminum boat, features of high-latitude boats, protecting rudders from ice, icebergs, polar bears, sailing in uninhabited places, and much more!