BLACK FRIDAY LIVESTREAM. I’m giving away $1,000 worth of books tonight. One book every five minutes. Stick around, drop your questions in the chat, and let’s talk boats, seamanship, offshore realities, storm tactics, and whatever else you want to throw at me. I’ll be going through your comments from the last few videos, reviewing boats live, and pulling questions straight from the chat. If you’ve ever wanted to ask me something directly, tonight is the night. If you want to grab Be The Captain while the deal is on: FREE worldwide shipping this week only: https://bethecaptain.com If you win a book tonight, DM me on Instagram or email me so I can get your shipping info. Thanks for hanging out, captains. Let’s make this one fun. Much love, James

BLACK FRIDAY BOOK DEAL: FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING: https://bethecaptain.com After 90,000 ocean miles, four Pacific crossings, losing a forestay, a knockdown, and a catamaran literally splitting in half… I’ve realized something nobody talks about: Most of the danger offshore doesn’t come from storms or gear. It comes from the mindset mistakes that every sailor makes without realizing it. Today we’re breaking down the 6 hidden fears that quietly sabotage your sailing, wreck your judgment, and stall your cruising dreams before you ever leave the dock. This video is NOT about gear, checklists, or fancy upgrades. This is the stuff that actually matters when everything is going sideways offshore and everyone is looking at YOU. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO • The six fears that kill more cruising dreams than money or storms • Why you rush when things go wrong (and how to stop it instantly) • The “fight or flight” trap every sailor falls into offshore • Why gear isn’t seamanship — and what actually is • How fatigue rewires your brain and destroys your judgment • My “Law of Compounding Chaos” (L&A January Issue) If you’ve ever wondered why some sailors sail offshore while others stay tied to the dock, these 6 mindset shifts are the difference. GET THE BOOK. BE THE CAPTAIN. My #1 goal with this channel is to help you become the calm, confident, capable captain your crew trusts when it matters most. That’s why I wrote Be The Captain: a field manual for real-world offshore judgment and leadership. Order the First Edition Hardcover + Audiobook: https://bethecaptain.com/products/be-the-captain-first-edition-hardcover Black Friday Deal: FREE Worldwide Shipping this week only JOIN THE LIVESTREAM THIS SATURDAY @ 5:30PM EST We deep-dive real offshore scenarios every week and break down decisions that keep boats and crews safe. Bring your questions — see you there. 👇 COMMENT BELOW What’s the fear that’s held YOU back from sailing offshore? Let’s talk about it, you’re not alone. Fair winds, Jamie / Sailing Zingaro Chapters: 00:00 – Happy Thanksgiving & Introduction 00:25 – The Real Reason Sailors Stay at the Dock 01:00 – FEAR #1: “I Need Everything Figured Out Before I Go” 02:04 – FEAR #2: “I Need to Act FAST — We Only Have Seconds!” 03:26 – How Fighter Pilots Stop Panic (Physiological Sigh) 03:36 – FEAR #3: Over-Dependence on Tech 04:33 – Training Yourself for No-Tech Sailing 07:49 – FEAR #4: “I Need Someone to Tell Me I’m a Captain” 09:28 – FEAR #5: “Fatigue Won’t Break Me” 10:42 – FEAR #6: Forgetting the Law of Compounding Chaos 12:02 – How to Stop Chaos Offshore 12:31 – Why These 6 Fears Matter 12:50 – Get the Book 13:19 – What Fears Hold YOU Back?

If you buy this boat, you'll need this book: https://bethecaptain.com/ Ever dreamed of starting a YouTube channel — and blowing up instantly? This 82-foot abandoned yacht might be the craziest “content cheat code” I've ever seen. Tonight on the Sailing Truth Show we’re looking at a massive Dutch-built aluminium Trintella that’s been sitting unfinished for decades… and heading to auction for $28,000. For 99% of sailors, this is a financial nightmare. For a new YouTuber? This might be the most powerful story engine you could ever buy. In this episode we’re breaking down: ⚓ Why this 82-foot boat was abandoned ⚓ What it would really cost to finish ⚓ Who should take on a project this insane ⚓ Why the story alone could carry a YouTube channel ⚓ What makes big, impossible builds go viral ⚓ How couples and creators use projects to explode their channels ⚓ Why dream projects are also the most dangerous ones If you’ve ever thought about starting a channel — or taking on a big refit — this episode is for you. And if you want the real offshore truth… we’re going deep tonight.

FULL TOUR: ➡️ https://patreon.com/svzingaro Every boat has a story… but this one is on another level. This is the MCP 68 Global Expedition — a 32-ton aluminum yacht that sailed six thousand miles upwind on its maiden voyage, straight into hurricane season… and nothing meaningful broke. Not the rig, not the systems, not the structure. This film isn’t a boat tour. It’s a deep dive into offshore engineering: — Why a ballasted swing keel on an aluminum boat is rare, and enhances performance — Why this hull survived 35 days of upwind punishment — How the raised deck-salon and mid-ship cabins change offshore living — The details most people walk past: triple-purchase mainsheet, alloy structure, access, drains, systems — The decisions that actually matter offshore (and the ones that don’t) Whether you’re a sailor or not, this is one hell of a story. Want to learn everything I teach offshore? ➡️ Be The Captain — https://BeTheCaptain.com Chapters 0:00 – Every Boat Has a Story 0:23 – The Impossible Maiden Voyage 0:59 – How This Boat Survived 1:25 – Offshore Engineering That Matters 4:02 – Centerboards vs. 9-Ton Swing Keel 5:58 – Smart Design You Don’t See at Boat Shows 9:33 – The Downsides You Need to Know 13:00 – What Actually Matters Offshore

Tonight I’m spending your money. We're going BOAT shopping. If you're interested in learning more about sailboats, pick up my book - https://bethecaptain.com/ Chapter two is dedicated to teaching you everything you need to know to pick a gread offshore boat. We’re boat shopping together in real time. Production boats, bluewater cruisers, steel cutters, project boats, dream boats — everything is fair game. We’ll break down: • The best sailboat deals happening right now • What’s worth the money (and what isn’t) • Real offshore capability vs marina queens • Keel, rig, and engine red flags • Deal breakers most buyers don’t even know to look for • The boats YOU send in live • And why some listings are straight-up dangerous My special link for Yachtworld: https://www.yachtworld.com/boats-for-sale/type-sail/make-amel+alubat+baba+baltic+bowman+c-c+cabo-rico+caliber+cape-dory+cape-george+contest+farr+frers+garcia+hans-christian+hylas+islander+kelly-peterson+koopmans+little-harbor+malo+mason+najad+ovni+oyster+pacific-seacraft+passport+pearson+robert-perry+rustler+saga+southerly+southern-cross+ta-shing+tayana+trintella+tripp+valiant+westsail+allures+catana+chris-white+dolphin+dudley-dix+hallberg-rassy+herreshoff+hinckley+hoek+island-packet+kanter+knysna+lerouge+meta+moody+nautor-swan+outbound+outremer+perry+schionning+shannon+spirit+sundeer+van-de-stadt+abeking-rasmussen+alberg+alden+allied+alloy-yachts+alumarine+aluminum-cruiser+bestevaer+bluewater+bluewater-yachts+brewer+bristol-channel-cutter+bruce-roberts+cal+colin-archer+columbia+columbia-yacht+colvin+contessa+corbin+cutter+deerfoot+endeavour+endurance+fuji+gib-sea+gozzard+gulfstar+hank-hinckley+hughes+irwin+lafitte+maple-leaf+morrelli-melvin+neel+nauticat+nor-sea+nordic+norseman+puffin+santa-cruz+slocum+sparkman-stephens+spirit-yachts+sweden-yachts+ta-chiao+ted-brewer+vagabond/ 📘 Grab my book “Be The Captain” https://bethecaptain.com

A Benetti yacht… for twenty-five thousand dollars?! This 61' Benetti steel sailing yacht, designed by Laurent Giles, is heading to auction — and on paper, it looks like the deal of the century. But is it really? In this livestream, I’ll break down everything you need to know: the real costs, the hidden problems, the refit risks, and what it would actually take to turn this classic into a safe, offshore-ready cruiser. We’ll go through: ⚓ What makes Benetti yachts special (and what doesn’t) 🛠️ The steel + aluminum construction — a blessing or a curse 💰 What it’ll really cost to fix and refit 🌊 Why this $25K price tag might be too good to be true If you’ve ever dreamt of finding a “deal” on a bluewater yacht — or you just want to see what happens when a luxury build ends up at auction — you’ll love this one.

Sailing knowledge isn’t centralized — it’s tribal. You learn from old salts, obscure blogs, long-out-of-print manuals, and the people who’ve actually done the miles. But with so much noise online, where do you find information you can actually trust? In this video, I’ll share the best places to learn real sailing — the YouTubers, books, courses, and communities that actually make better sailors — and why I built The Captain’s Locker, a free collection of the best offshore checklists, templates, and guides I’ve ever used. It’s all here — no paywalls, no sponsorships, no BS: 👉 https://www.bethecaptain.com/locker In this video: 00:00 – Why this video exists 00:40 – The question that started it all 01:00 – The Captain’s Locker (free resource) 03:20 – YouTube: The Wild West 05:30 – The Books That Actually Matter 07:00 – Courses & Certifications (What They Don’t Teach) 08:00 – Blogs, Forums & Magazines Worth Reading 09:30 – Experience: The Ultimate Teacher 11:00 – Final Thoughts Mentioned in this video: Lady K Sailing 👉 https://www.youtube.com/c/LadyKSailing Rigging Doctor 👉 https://www.youtube.com/c/RiggingDoctor Sailing Fair Isle 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@svfairisle Practical Sailor Magazine 👉 https://www.practical-sailor.com Peter Swanson’s Loose Cannon 👉 https://loosecannon.substack.com Beth Leonard – The Voyager’s Handbook 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071437657 Steve & Linda Dashew – Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia 👉 https://setsail.com/free-books/ SailLibra 👉 https://www.saillibra.com John Kretschmer Webinars 👉 https://www.johnkretschmersailing.com/webinars Koru Expeditions 👉 https://www.koru.world Morse Alpha Schedule 👉 https://www.morsealpha.com/2026-sailing-schedule Ocean Passages 👉 https://www.sailoceanpassages.com/sailing-schedule None of these folks are paying me — I just respect what they do. MY BOOK: 📘 Be The Captain – A Field Manual: https://www.bethecaptain.com 🎧 Audiobook + Extras: https://bethecaptain.com/products/be-the-captain-offshore-sailing-audiobook ⚓ Join the Crew (Patreon): https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro 📺 More videos: – My Catamaran Split in Half 100 Miles Offshore. Here’s How We Survived. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o__mcZS-jfU&t=117s – Offshore Weather Routing https://youtu.be/MfeWGROLU8s – The WORST Advice for Offshore Sailors https://youtu.be/JCKj882NpRs

Get The Book → https://bethecaptain.com The True Story Behind the Night I Almost Lost Everything—and What It Taught Me About Command at Sea. Two boats. Two oceans. Two mistakes I’ll never forget. This is the night I fell asleep under full sail and ran my boat straight into the reef—twice. It’s not about drama; it’s about what fatigue really does to judgment at sea, and what it means to take full responsibility for your boat and crew. ⚓ Support the Journey Join the Patreon crew for behind-the-scenes stories, uncut footage, and exclusive sailing lessons: → https://patreon.com/BeTheCaptain 🎬 Watch Next – My Catamaran Split In Half: Here’s How We Survived → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o__mcZS-jfU – Rescue 2000 Miles Offshore → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTlpurrBV3A Much love, James Evenson Be The Captain | https://bethecaptain.com Chapters 00:00 – I Fell Asleep at the Helm 00:40 – Mexico: The First Boat Crash 02:00 – The Crash 03:30 – Don’t Quit 05:00 – The Aftermath 09:00 – Bahamas: The Second Boat Crash 11:00 – Fatigue Strikes Again 14:00 – Escaping the Reef 18:00 – Lessons Learned

This true story, and dozens more like it, are in my book Be The Captain 👉 https://www.bethecaptain.com This is a true sailing story about what happens when a solo sailor falls asleep offshore. I’ve been through two different boat crashes, both from fatigue, and each taught me hard lessons about seamanship, preparation, and the realities of sailing offshore. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you fall asleep while sailing, or how to prevent it, this is a story you need to hear. 🗺 About Be The Captain It’s not a sailing book — it’s a captain’s manual for real life at sea. Every chapter is drawn from thousands of miles offshore, from heavy weather to leadership, anchoring, maintenance, and self-reliance. If you connected with this story, you’ll find the whole system in Be The Captain. 📘 Get your copy here → bethecaptain.com

Get 'em while they're signed: https://bethecaptain.com The Captain’s Collector’s Edition books are finally shipping! 4,000 copies signed and stacked, ready to make their way around the world. This is just the beginning of a huge adventure. Thank you for being part of it. Big thanks to those who came to help me: Steven Lindsey Amber Calahan Jon Moga Nikki Moga Yuri MORE FROM ME: 🎥 The Mason 65 Pacific Crossing series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lo0L22FDq4 https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro https://www.paypal.me/sailingzingaro IG: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_zingaro/

Full in-depth walkthrough of the Bluewater 56 — a Kevlar/Twaron-reinforced offshore sailboat designed for real bluewater passagemaking. This isn’t just a quick deck shot; it’s a detailed 90-minute tour filmed after I spent six weeks commissioning this yacht in Mallorca. 📕 My book: Be The Captain → https://bethecaptain.com. In this video, you’ll see: - German Frers’ design choices for offshore safety and performance - Kevlar/Twaron hull construction — stronger than aluminum or steel? - Deck layout and sail-handling systems for shorthanded passagemaking - Interior layout, tankage, and systems access for serious liveaboard use - My candid thoughts from commissioning the boat before she hit the water 🔗 Bluewater Yachts: https://www.bluewateryachts.com/ Support the channel: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sailingzingaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_zingaro/

Experience the Cannes boat show with Zingaro! Grab the first edition of my book → https://bethecaptain.com 📗 Book (ends July 31st): https://bethecaptain.com MORE FROM ME: 🎥 The Mason 65 Pacific Crossing series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lo0L22FDq4 https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro https://www.paypal.me/sailingzingaro IG: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_zingaro/

The real captain's log from the Atlantic Crossing of sailing vessel 'Aequus'. True story, read by the author: Captain James Evenson. Want the WHOLE Captain's Log series? Go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUJiKty_7zY&list=PLYK_-XEJdbbRoa8JEF-vt5NVATSTkCfPI Get the Collector’s Edition of my new book 'Be The Captain' → https://bethecaptain.com

🔴 LAST CHANCE – Signed Books Disappear July 24. Get the Collector’s Edition of Be The Captain™ before it’s gone → https://bethecaptain.com $80,000. It’s one of the most overlooked price points in the cruising world—and also one of the most interesting. You’re not quite scraping the bottom of the barrel, but you’re not shopping turnkey either. You’re in the middle: smart buyer territory. In this video, I give you my personal shortlist of 8 bluewater sailboats over 40 feet that I’d actually trust offshore—and 5 that show up all the time but aren’t what they seem. Whether you’re looking for your first liveaboard or downsizing for long-term cruising, this list is for you. 👇 Boats looked at in this video: 👇 Offshore-Capable Picks (My $80K Shortlist): Corbin 39 (1980): boats.com listing Shannon 38 (1979): YachtWorld listing Hallberg-Rassy 41 (1978): YachtWorld listing Najad 390 (1993): YachtWorld listing Valiant 40 (1982): YachtWorld listing C&C Landfall 40 (1986): YachtWorld listing Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 DS (2003): YachtWorld listing Tayana 42 (Vancouver) (1980): YachtWorld listing 🚫 Boats to Be Wary Of (Popular, But Not Offshore-Ready)🚫 Caliber 40 LRC (1998): YachtWorld listing Morgan Out Island 41 (1974): YachtWorld listing Hunter 45 Center Cockpit (2006): YachtWorld listing Moody 422 CC (1987): Port Navy Service listing Formosa 41 (1974): YachtWorld listing 📍 Chapters: 00:00 - THE BIG SHORT (list) 01:11 - How to LOOK at a boat 02:40 - Boat #1: Corbin 39 05:08 - Boat #2: Shannon 38 07:19 - Boat #3: Hallberg Rassy 41 09:12 - Boat #4: Najad 390 10:13 - Boat #5: Valiant 40 13:26 - Boat #6: C&C Landfall 40 14:45 - Boat #7: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40DS 17:20 - Boat #8: Tayana 42 19:16 - Warning #1: Caliber 40 LRC 20:32 - Warning #2: Morgan OI41 21:33 - Warning #3: Hunter 45 22:43 - Warning #4: Formosa 41 24:10 - Warning #5: Wauquiez Pretorien 40 25:15 - Be the Captain 26:00 - Special Announcement 📘 Want to go deeper? My book Be The Captain breaks down the entire anatomy of an offshore cruising boat—how to choose it, how to fix it, and how to sail it. Preorder now → https://bethecaptain.com ☕️ Support these videos and get behind-the-scenes access: 📍 Patreon.com/svzingaro

🔴 LAST CHANCE – Signed Books Disappear July 24. Get the Collector’s Edition of Be The Captain™ before it’s gone → https://bethecaptain.com In this video, I break down the real-world pros and cons of masthead rigs vs fractional rigs for offshore sailing. This isn’t just theory—I’ve sailed almost 100,000 nautical miles on both, in storms, trade winds, and dead calms. You’ll learn: Which rig performs better offshore—and why The surprising history behind these designs Why racing boats went one way and cruising boats went the other And what I personally trust on ocean crossings If you're choosing a boat, refitting a rig, or just want to understand what’s really going on up there, this one’s for you. Thanks for watching—let me know in the comments what rig you prefer, and why. #bluewater #bluewatersailing #offshorerescue #sailing #sailboat #sailboatlife #howto #education Chapters 00:00 - The Question 00:53 - A History of Sailboat Rigging 3:03 - Technical comparison: Fractional vs Masthead 6:16 - A note on Baby Stays 7:05 - Chainplate configuration 9:36 - Race and performance boats 11:51 - When fractional rigs still make sense offshore 12:40 - My Opinion 16:40 - "Be the Captain" THANK YOU

🔴 LAST CHANCE – Signed Books Disappear July 24. Get the Collector’s Edition of Be The Captain™ before it’s gone → https://bethecaptain.com In this video, I break down 10 real offshore sailboats — 5 that I think are smart, seaworthy buys... and 5 that raise red flags. These boats are all for sale right now, and I’ll walk you through what I look for in an offshore cruiser, what makes or breaks a good design, and why some “bluewater boats” aren’t as offshore-ready as they seem. Some are bargains. Some are disasters in disguise. I’m not here to sugarcoat — I’ve sailed over 85,000 miles offshore and made plenty of mistakes along the way. If you’re shopping for a serious cruising boat, this video could save you a ton of money… or even your life. More videos, gear tips, and raw offshore stories: https://youtube.com/svzingaro https://www.bethecaptain.com Chapters: 00:00 The best and worst sailboats 00:34 Good Boat #1: Valiant 42 01:19 Bad Boat #1: Oyster Lightwave 48 02:59 Good Boat #2: Mason 43 04:34 Bad Boat #2: Hunter Passage 42 06:31 Good Boat #3: Crealock 44 (Pacific Seacraft) 08:14 Bad Boat #3: Irwin 52 10:12 Good Boat #4: Little Harbor 44 11:36 Bad Boat #4: Sparkman Stephens 60 13:45 Good Boat #5: Hinkley 40 16:28 Bad Boat #5: Tripp 47

🔴 LAST CHANCE – Signed Books Disappear July 24. Get the Collector’s Edition of Be The Captain™ before it’s gone → https://bethecaptain.com Ever wondered why so many modern sailboats now have dual rudders? You might think it's about safety or redundancy—but there's actually a deeper story. This video reveals the real reasons behind the widespread adoption of dual rudders on cruising sailboats. We dive into the physics of sailing, explaining how wider hull shapes—driven by racing technology and market trends—have changed sailing dynamics, causing significant steering challenges offshore. Learn how rudder ventilation, weather helm, and the interaction between your sails and hull shape impact your boat’s performance, safety, and comfort at sea. We also hear directly from respected naval architect Matteo Polli, discuss real-world offshore sailing experiences, and clarify exactly what dual rudders can—and can't—do for you offshore. If you're considering buying or sailing a dual-rudder boat, this is a must-watch before heading offshore. Fair winds, James Support the channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/svzingaro 📌 Video Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: Why two rudders? 00:47 - Understanding Weather Helm & Balance 01:25 - Why are two rudders becoming standard? 01:46 - Rudder, keel & sail: Wings underwater 02:32 - Racing influence & marketing trends 03:05 - Why wide hulls cause rudder ventilation 03:35 - Single rudder vs. dual rudders 04:24 - How dual rudders solve ventilation problems 05:07 - The hidden downsides of dual rudders 06:18 - How heel affects balance (CLR & CE explained) 08:20 - Weather helm: Why wide boats round up 08:48 - Matteo Polli: Expert naval architect insights 09:33 - Real-world offshore sailing experience 10:28 - Challenges faced sailing dual-rudder boats offshore 11:21 - Brands shifting to dual rudders (Oyster, HR, Najad, Hylas) 12:17 - My recommendation for offshore sailors 12:58 - Conclusion & engagement 🔔 LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more honest sailing insights!

🔴 LAST CHANCE – Signed Books Disappear July 24. Get the Collector’s Edition of Be The Captain™ before it’s gone → https://bethecaptain.com In this video, I’m sharing the story behind Be The Captain—why I wrote it, what I’ve learned from thousands of readers like you, and a preview of what’s inside. Thank you for all the support, encouragement, and energy you've sent my way. I can't wait to put this book in your hands. Fair winds, James Evenson http://bethecaptainbook.com

🔴 LAST CHANCE – Signed Books Disappear July 24. Get the Collector’s Edition of Be The Captain™ before it’s gone → https://bethecaptain.com This is what I learned the night our catamaran cracked open 100 miles offshore. It wasn’t a rogue wave. It wasn’t one bad call. It was a chain of decisions—some rushed, some careless, some just unlucky. And the truth is, the biggest problem was built into the boat from the start… we just didn’t know it. In this video, I break down what went wrong, the gear we had (and didn’t), the timing we messed up, and the storm planning we should’ve done before we ever left French Polynesia. If you sail offshore—or plan to—this might be the most valuable 17 minutes you’ll spend on YouTube today. 🎥 Watch the FULL STORY: https://youtu.be/o__mcZS-jfU 👉 Support the channel and get behind-the-scenes content: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro ⚓ Learn more, sail smarter, and stay afloat. Chapters 00:00 The Craziest Story 00:44 The Cyclone Season 2:12 Bad Decision #1 2:50 The Adventurous Route 3:59 The Hurricane/Cyclone Overlap 4:44 Bad Decision #2 5:18 Lesson #1 6:13 Lesson #2 7:39 Lesson #3 9:04 Lesson #4 10:42 Lesson #5 11:10 Why our Sea Anchor Failed 13:28 Be the Captain 13:51 Design Flaw 15:47 Lessons for Life