The Mariner

It’s been a while since I last recorded an episode. A friend put it perfectly the other night — I’ve been “down below, sheltering.” There’s been a lot to deal with, but I’ve come through it.

Right now I’m lying alongside in Cherbourg, France, aboard Osprey — our 85-foot maxi — with a brand-new mainsail, surrounded by some of the best sailors and sailing service providers in the world. Ahead of us is a single, clear task over the ne...

In this episode you join me on deck as we enter the Needles Channel, en route to Southampton, to pick up the crew for the Fastnet Expedition 2025. 

This comes at the end of a 3500Nm solo  transatlantic voyage, on the 80 foot maxi, Osprey.

94 days before, in Nova Scotia, sick and stuck on the mooring, I set myself the challenge to get Osprey into the Centenary edition of the world's most famous offshore race - in this episode you jo...

This episode tells the full story of the sail that’s been with me through it all — my old Open 60 mainsail, which, although it has impossibly high mileage (100,000nm!), has proven indefatigable, indestructable and faithful right through to the end.

But, it’s about more than gear. It’s about the kind of grit and grace it takes to keep going when the world says you shouldn’t, whatever your passion may be.

The first half of the episod...

Thank you to everyone who’s already signed up to receive a piece of Osprey’s mainsail—the same sail that’s carrying me toward the UK right now. Your $100 pledges at the 'solo' tier on Patreon, are going straight to my beautiful tnew 197 sqm /2150 sqft mainsail that was just finished, that we will be using for the Centenary Fastnet.

https://www.patreon.com/themariner/shop/own-piece-of-mainsail-that-would-no...

Join me today on deck, onboard Osprey, my 85ft Maxi, as I complete my 33rd Transat, headed to England, to join the Centenary Fastnet Race and everything that lies beyond.

You are not going to want to miss this one. The Mariner is BACK!

Follow the story with DAILY videos over on the Mariner YouTube Channel

Tenacity in Pursuit

What if a piece of torn sailcloth could remind you what commitment looks like?

This mainsail is on its final...

In this episode we look at an MOB incident in the 2024 Round the Island Race in which a crew of five were inundated by a following sea off St. Catherine's Point, UK resulting in one tethered MOB, one MOB clear of the vessel with only a short distance to a lee shore... Oh and the skipper broke his leg in the knock down. Both MOB's were recovered without injury, but there is a lot to look at as I take this hot take on the actions tak...

Today, we're diving into the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau's (MAIB) report on the 2006 Roaring Meg of Cowes incident, where two crew were seriously injured in two crash gybes that happened within minutes of each other.

I'll be sharing insights as a professional sailor, examining what went wrong and the crucial lessons we can learn. 

If you would like to join me for more deep dives on topic's like: MOB recovery, heavy weather...

Join us in this episode as we delve into the nuanced art of headsail trimming, guided by the wisdom of Captain W.H. Illingworth's 'Offshore' (1948).

We explore often overlooked aspects of headsail trim, including car positioning, halyard tension, forestay sag and more.

Discover how these techniques can optimize your performance and elevate your sailing experience.

If you would like to join me for many more deep dives on topic's l...

Spinnaker poles have three bits of rigging holding them in place we all know that, but it often comes as a shock when sailors realize they have been missing the third (and arguably the most important) piece of rigging on their main boom.

Preventers save lives- it's just that simple. Please take time to listen to this podcast and update your knowledge on preventers and check out the Mariner Youtube channel for even more tips and det...

This episode we learn key elements the skipper of a vessel in heavy weather should keep in mind, to keep his vessel sound & her crew safe. Capt. Illingworth was a submarine commander in WWII as well as a racing skipper, and therefore had a better measure than most as to the thoughts uppermost in a skipper's mind in heavy conditions.

I hope my communication of his ideas into this new medium does not distract too much from his me...

I started this series of Advanced Seamanship Notes (Episodes 115-117) to bring to light specific areas of sailing knowledge which are A. difficult to locate in sailing resources on-line or off, and B. provided by a Mariner who is recognizably a 'Master' - in the true sense of the word. 

Captain J H Illingworth was considered the 'father of offshore sailing & racing' in postwar Britain. He started the Junior Offshore Group in th...

I started this series of Advanced Seamanship Notes (Episodes 115-117) to bring to light specific areas of sailing knowledge which are A. difficult to locate in sailing resources on-line or off, and B. provided by a Mariner who is recognizably a 'Master' - in the true sense of the word. 

Captain J H Illingworth was considered the 'father of offshore sailing & racing' in postwar Britain. He started the Junior Offshore Group in th...

I started this series of Advanced Seamanship Notes (Episodes 115-117) to bring to light specific areas of sailing knowledge which are A. difficult to locate in sailing resources on-line or off, and B. provided by a Mariner who is recognizably a 'Master' - in the true sense of the word. 

Captain J H Illingworth was considered the 'father of offshore sailing & racing' in postwar Britain. He started the Junior Offshore Group in th...

L is for many things at sea, but as always, I wanted to find something that would make us stop & think maybe and see things afloat from a new angle.

This episode gives us the opportunity to discuss things as divergent as structural delamination and emotional overload, excessive crankcase oil pressure and fighting complacency as we get more experienced.  L is for Leaks and boy are there a lot! 

To support the production of this ...

Another Questions and Tangents Episode, this time we look at emails sent regarding, PTSD and shouting, sea sickness & the function of the ear, buying old race boats (and the fun they can be!) and much more. PLUS loads of me rambling on.....

To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon. where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos and discussion.

Edward William Insur...

Marine insurance is a massive heartache for many sailors who are doing slightly 'non-standard' things in sailing, whether it is crossing oceans, sailing solo or cruising with your family- often times it is very difficult to get a policy that will cover you.  I have faced this problem for years- this episode I discuss who I am now insured with and why and read the answers to questions I submitted to the Chief Operating Officer of my...

Sometimes we get the opportunity to sit at the hand of the master and hear first hand what is the best way to do something.

This is the third part of one of those moments. 

This episode I read the last section of the Appendix of Capt. Voss' book 'Venturesome Voyages' and if that leaves you feeling a little less than interested, don't worry, it's just because you don't' know who Capt. Voss is.

I've got you covered on that too.

If yo...

Sometimes we get the opportunity to sit at the hand of the master and hear first hand what is the best way to do something.

This is the second part of one of those moments. 

This episode I read the second section of the Appendix of Capt. Voss' book 'Venturesome Voyages' and if that leaves you feeling a little less than interested, don't worry, it's just because you don't' know who Capt. Voss is.

I've got you covered on that too.

If...

Sometimes we get the opportunity to sit at the hand of the master and hear first hand what is the best way to do something.

This is one of those moments. 

This episode I read the Appendix of Capt. Voss' book 'Venturesome Voyages' and if that leaves you feeling a little less than interested, don't worry, it's just because you don't' know who Capt. Voss is.

I've got you covered on that too.

If you would like to listen to fantastic st...