We leave the Cape Horn area (Puerto Williams) and sail across the South Atlantic to Cape Town, South Africa. We are surprised by unexpected ice berg[s] that could have resulted in a Titanic ending.... Pete shares some invaluable insights on the difference between racing sailors and cruising sailors. We also discuss sail choices, reefing techniques, energy management, survival equipment, etc. For those interested in knowing more about how the boat was prepared for this 9000 NM passage into the Southern Ocean, Pete has a podcast you can listen to/watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4SyyKLJe3U&t=44s

We sail 4500 nm from Panama to Cape Horn (bypassing Easter Island due to unfavorable winds) on a 15 meter Bavaria. It is not an easy passage: two gales and a Force 10 storm greet us. We suffer a knock-down, and a wave throws me across the saloon causing a deep gash on the back of my head, and a back injury (recovered from both). I discuss the navigation challenge (rhumb line vs great circle), energy management, wx, in-mast furling and the use of a storm sail. My Captain, Peter Cullum is a 'racer' while I am a 'cruiser'. The cohabitation relationship survived the passage, which took 33 days.

We cross the Panama Canal from the Atlantic side to the Pacific as the first leg of an adventure to Cape Horn (and beyond). I show the process, and discuss the cost for a 15 meter/50 foot monohull. I should have mentioned in the video that after the first series of 3 locks (going up), you spend the night in a huge man-made lake, before heading back down to sea-level the next day.

I'm invited by Alpine ski legend Ivica Kostelić to deliver his new Figaro 3 race boat (Amelicor) 500 NM to Malta so that he may race it in the Rolex Middle Sea race. Ivica demonstrates some of his sailing techniques (developed over 5 years of racing Class 40s) and we review some of the features of this boat (foils, 3D sail trim, comfortless interior, etc.). For 60% of the passage we alternate between 9 and 15 kts SOG, before the wind collapses on us. Follow Ivica's sailing adventure on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube (all under his name).

It's a bit of a champagne cruise on the return leg from Fastnet Rock to the finish line in Cherbourg, France --- all downwind in +/- 15 kts. As a precaution for the new crew, we did not fly the asym spinnaker at night, but still finished a respectable 80th of the 400 or so boats participating. I explain our 'preventer' set-up, and show how I have been coiling lines incorrectly for 10 years. ;-)

I enlisted to crew on Osprey with Skipper Chris Stanmore-Major for the Century celebration of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Osprey is an 82 ft (24 meter) Grand Mistral from 1996 -- built to do 'Round the World' races. Watch as I discover the differences between light cruisers and heavy duty racers. Follow Chris as he prepares a Solo 'West-About' on Youtube: The Mariner on Web: CSMTheMariner.com Alessia in Atlantis by Nathalie Laine on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and most other major book stores. Personal: 1) Although I appear to crew as 'crew cameraman', I stood watches at all stations throughout the race. 2) I paid a reasonable fee to be on the vessel as did all of the crew members. Book your own adventure with Chris on his website.

I do a quick back and forth across the Bay of Biscay -- once in 'normal' (acceptable) conditions, and 2nd in unexpected Gale conditions. I demonstrate 'scandalising the main' as well as putting in a reef in challenging conditions. I also show/discuss problems with Volvo Penta engine mounts, my Lewmar windlass and a malfunctioning solar panel. Finish with discussion of Code Zero vs Gennaker (large asymmetric spinnaker) and a celebration of 30 Biscay crossings.

Nothing too exciting in this passage: just basic sailing for 550 NM from Ireland to France to close out my "3 Body Problem" adventure. I demo putting a reef in, test a 'sheet to tiller' steerage system, explain crossing a tidal race, discuss entering a port at night, show the range of AIS receivers at sea, and dive to free my entangled propellor. I divert to Camaret Sur Mer due to lack of wind along the way, but all finishes well.

I sail 250 NM to an isolated rock (Sula Sgeir) off the north coast of Scotland, and then turn south for a 350 NM non-stop passage to Dun Laoghaire Ireland (near Dublin). The objective is to see if the tides in the Hebrides / North Channel are too strong to sail against. While I was slowed to 1.8 knots for 3 hours while abeam Islay/Rathlin, the rest was completely doable non-stop. I demo 'shaking out' a reef and give a brief tutorial for beginners on navigation marks in harbours. Nothing too exciting/dramatic, but good fun.

I do a bit of pre-departure maintenance, and then cast off my lines for Rockall -- an isolated Atlantic rock 250 NM Northwest of Ireland. A few maneuver demos (hove to, docking), the Volvo MDI bypass, a sad bird story, reefing strategy and some musical references to test your cultural depth. :-) 1030 NM sailed from La Rochelle to Rockall. Part 1 of two part series.

I take an unusual passage route to sail solo directly to Northern Norway from Iceland. Conditions are tough, but by sailing further North than planned, I was able to turn downwind when winds of 30-35 arrived. I unfurl and furl the 'gennaker', deal with an engine issue, mistake a lighthouse for an aircraft carrier, and finally meet a barman with Châteauneuf-du-Pape in stock.

I sail from Iceland's west coast (Isafjordur) to Siglufjordur, Husavik and Raufarhofn on Iceland's rugged North Coast. The challenge of sailing the fjords, with their constantly changing winds is met, and the reward is numerous sightings of whales. (I realize the order of port visits is out of correct order in the video. The video was too long, so I deleted parts, and that impacted the storyline.) Also, sorry I did not get better shots of the whales. My GoPro camera zoom feature is very 'limited'. Next top: Norway

I leave the island port off the SW coast of Iceland and proceed up the West Coast, visiting 6 ports in the majestic Western Fjords. Nothing 'dramatic' happened along this passage (good news), so I took the opportunity to demo in some detail my (imperfect) gybing and tacking procedures. I also show some aspects of using Raymarine's AIS system. (I still have much to learn before this is mastered.) Also, I show the difference between Predict Wind's 50 km GRIB presentation and the free Icelandic Met Service. Not much debate there.....

I leave Dingle Ireland for the southern coast of Iceland, a passage of 830 nm. I spend too much explaining my new toy: a top down furler, but then am repaid by near gale conditions for 3 days. Lots of fun. Remember: Alessia in Atlantis by Nathalie Laine :-) She is ignoring all labor rules and putting me on piece-rate commission.

I provide a tour of my new boat, an RM 890+ named 'Jenna' after my two daughters. I cast off lines for destinations North, and cross some AIS equipped fishing buoys along the way, before reaching my first intermediate destination of Dingle Ireland.

I complete my 8600 NM circuit of the North Atlantic with the final leg between Dingle Ireland and La Rochelle France. The entire circuit (2x Atlantic crossings with 6 short port calls) took exactly 3months. I discuss why this boat, though 20% faster than my Bavaria, should have been 50-70% faster. A vague reference to a new adventure is teased......

I sail across the North Atlantic from Newfoundland to Ireland in early July 2022. I am very fortunate in my selection of wx window, as the passage is almost like a Trade Wind passage (except the cold and fog). I discuss the issues of "seaworthiness" and the pros and cons of removeable forestays. I ask whether one should motor through a low wind zone, or sit it out. The passage took 13 days.

I sail a 1000 NM passage in fairly sporty conditions from Bermuda to two small French islands off the southern coast of Newfoundland (St Pierre et Miquelon). I discuss/demo my technique for putting in a reef while headed downwind (and welcome ways to improve). As I approach Newfoundland, an aggressive front arrives at the same time, and rather than argue with mother nature, I hove to (park at sea) for 18 hours.

I head west for what I think will be a 20 day trans-Atlantic passage to Bermuda (on an unusual route, at an unusual time of year - May). Loss of use of the spinnaker coupled with a rapidly descending high pressure zone, adds more than a thousand miles to the adventure.......

In low winds, I turn off the electric autopilot and experiment with 'sheet to tiller' steering; I show tools/spares brought along to ensure a reasonable level of autonomy; I show the wide variation in suggested routings and discuss the basic underpinnings of navigation on sailboats; Sargasso seaweed is a perpetual problem - I demo my technique for clearing the fouling. I did not film the arrival, because I arrived at 0230 on a very dark night. I ask: was this passage an ordeal, or an adventure?