📕 GET THE BOOK: Be The Captain. Winner of the 2026 Eric Hoffer Award. 25 years of offshore decisions in one book → https://bethecaptain.com 🔓 FREE: The Captain's Locker. Printable watch schedules, pre-departure checklists, delivery tools → https://bethecaptain.com/locker Every week the brokerage sites are full of boats wearing a price tag that has nothing to do with reality. Some are genuine deals hiding in plain sight. Some are floating money pits with a fresh coat of wax and a broker who knows exactly what he's not telling you. Tonight I pull up real YachtWorld listings, live, and we judge them together: DEAL or DISASTER. I'll read the listing the way a surveyor reads it, walk the photos for what they're NOT showing you, name what the survey is going to find, and give you my real number versus the ask. You bring your own listings in the chat and I'll judge those too. This isn't about trashing anyone's boat. It's about the price, the story, and learning to see what's really there before you wire the money. 🎁 LIVE BOOK GIVEAWAY every 30 minutes. Be here, be in the chat, win a signed copy. 💬 DROP A LISTING: paste a YachtWorld or boats.com link in the chat and I'll work it live. ⚓ Be The Captain comes with $300 in PredictWind + Defender savings. Grab it here → https://bethecaptain.com/live LIVE every Saturday, 3 PM Eastern. Presentation, live Q&A, and a book every 30 minutes. #SailingTruthShow #YachtWorld #BoatBuying #BluewaterSailing #SailingZingaro

📕 GET THE BOOK: Be The Captain. Winner of the 2026 Eric Hoffer Award. 25 years of offshore decisions in one book → https://bethecaptain.com 🔓 FREE: The Captain's Locker. Printable watch schedules, pre-departure checklists, delivery tools → https://bethecaptain.com/locker The Blue Water 56 is back for round two, and the factory left us a surprise. The anchor was sitting on the dock, the windlass refused to turn, and when I opened the control box I found the problem: the solenoid was never installed. Not failed. Missing. Something tells me nobody ever tested it. In this episode we finish the commissioning. I install the new solenoid, fix the furler wiring that came swapped from the factory, and rig the ground tackle properly, with a full masterclass on anchor swivels, shackle loading, and lock-wiring so it never comes apart and never cuts a hand. Then the crew from Nance & Underwood tunes the rig in two days flat, and we get the payoff: the first sail of Hull #9, plus why every brand-new rig needs re-tuning under load once the construction stretch sets in. We close with the full walkthrough: three chainplates per side, the old-school structure almost nobody builds anymore, some of the best stainless welding I have ever seen on a production boat, Manship hatches throughout, and an interior in white oak and teak. ⏪ MISSED PART 1? The crane lift, first engine start, and lithium troubleshooting: https://youtu.be/iuZGa8mr_bo 🔧 THE RIGGERS: Nance & Underwood Rigging and Sails, Fort Lauderdale. Stepped and tuned this entire rig in two days: https://www.riggingandsails.com/ 🏴‍☠️ Pirate Pawl Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4j0I12JFMA ⛵ Talk to Kyle about the Blue Water 56: https://www.bluewateryachts.com/ ⚓ RECOMMENDED GEAR & STORES Defender Marine has been outfitting boaters since 1938, with trusted brands, expert advice, and everything you need for maintenance, upgrades, and refits. 👉 Shop Defender Marine: https://defender.com/en_us/ Get 10% off your next Defender Marine order when you purchase a copy of Be The Captain through the link below. 👉 Get the book and claim your discount: https://bethecaptain.com/ MORE FROM ME: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro IG: https://www.instagram.com/sailing_zingaro/ ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 0:00 - A $2M Boat With a Missing Part 0:19 - Wiring the Electric Furler (Hensel Junction Box) 1:21 - The Windlass Won't Turn 2:10 - The Solenoid the Factory Never Installed 3:04 - Tuning a Brand-New Rig in Two Days 3:57 - Anchor Swivel, Shackles & Lock-Wire Masterclass 7:00 - Final Checks: The Furlers Were Wired Backwards 8:22 - First Sail: Hull #9 Under Canvas 9:52 - Construction Stretch: Why New Rigs Get Re-Tuned 10:47 - Dustin's Story: Tall Ships, Pitcairn & Pirate Paul 12:13 - Kyle on Hull #9, Plus Docking & Lines 13:08 - Exterior Tour: Deck Hardware & the Best Welds I've Seen 18:18 - Three Chainplates Per Side: The Old-School Way 20:15 - Interior Tour: Galley, White Oak & Manship Hatches 24:51 - Wrap-Up: The Next One in October #BlueWater56 #SailingZingaro #BoatCommissioning #YachtTour #Rigging #MarineEngineering

📖 GET MY FIELD MANUAL: https://bethecaptain.com Grab your copy of "Be The Captain" to learn the systems, risk management, and technical seamanship needed to handle any blue water cruiser. What actually happens after a brand-new blue water cruiser leaves the factory? A perfect commissioning means the owner never knows there was a problem to begin with! In this video, we track the journey of a stunning brand-new Blue Water 56 (Hull #9). We start on the deck of a massive cargo ship where the boat has been welded down for transport, cut her free, and watch the high-stakes crane lift as she touches the ocean for the very first time. But it’s not all smooth sailing. Right out of the gate, we run into a tricky lithium battery over-voltage issue when firing up the Cummins generator. I break out the laptop, dive into the Victron and MG systems, and show you exactly how we troubleshoot and dial in a massive 10,000-watt inverter setup. ...And yes, we do a complete interior and exterior walkthrough tour at the end of the video! ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 0:00 - The Reality of Shipping a Blue Water Yacht 1:37 - The Big Crane Lift: Splashing Hull #9 4:56 - First Engine Start (Checking for Leaks) 6:31 - Troubleshooting Lithium Batteries & Generator Bugs 12:49 - Shifting Slips & Preparing the Rig 13:27 - Stepping a Brand New Seldon Mast 16:29 - Full Walkthrough Tour: Exterior & Custom Stainless Work 20:06 - Luxury Yacht Interior Tour (Teak & White Oak) 23:49 - Why Buy Hull #9 (with Kyle from Blue Water) ⚓ RECOMMENDED GEAR & STORES Defender Marine has been outfitting boaters since 1938, with trusted brands, expert advice, and everything you need for maintenance, upgrades, and refits. 👉Shop Defender Marine: https://defender.com/en_us/ Get 10% off your next Defender Marine order when you purchase a copy of Be The Captain through the link below. 👉Get the book and claim your discount: https://bethecaptain.com/ If you love the gritty, technical details of high-end seamanship and marine systems, make sure to hit that subscribe button! #BlueWater56 #BoatLife #MarineEngineering #YachtTour #VictronEnergy #SailingZingaro

⚓ Sailing Truth Show — live every Saturday @ 3:00PM EST⚓ 📘 Get Be The Captain → https://bethecaptain.com📘 90,000 miles offshore. An award-finalist sailing book. And a frankly embarrassing number of times I should not have made it home. Tonight I'm putting myself on the chopping block: the dumbest, scariest, "what was I thinking" moments of my sailing life. Grounding at full speed and punching a chunk of lead out of the keel. Climbing the mast with no harness. Swimming half a mile from the boat in the middle of the ocean. And the night I came feet from losing her on the rocks in Panama. Every one of these left a scar and a lesson. I put the lessons in the book so you can skip the scars. 📘 Get Be The Captain → https://bethecaptain.com📘 The offshore decision-making playbook 8,000+ sailors are using to go cruising with confidence. Drop your own "dumbest thing" in the chat — we're doing this one together.

When the anemometer climbs past 70 knots, the ocean changes. The wind ceases to be just air—it becomes an absolute wall of sound. In this episode, I’m sitting down with my good friend and prolific offshore captain, Ryan Rayfield from Sail Libra. We dive headfirst into what it’s actually like to experience a 74-knot howling gale while holed up on a mooring ball at Block Island. Ryan breaks down the terrifying "harmonica" effect of a ketch rig vibrating in hurricane-force gusts, and the exact tactical survival choices you have to make when a massive New England front comes through with total fury. But surviving the storm was only half the battle. Ryan also shares the legendary story of how he snapped his prop shaft just days before a tropical storm hit Bermuda—and managed to source a car drive shaft from a local automotive junkyard, machine it down, and install it in under 48 hours to save his boat. If you want to know what real, raw, heavy-weather blue-water cruising looks like, this is it. 👇 Want to build real blue-water confidence? Stand watch, handle sails, and learn heavy-weather tactics firsthand by booking an open-ocean passage training trip with Ryan: 🌐 Official Website: https://www.saillibra.com/ ⛵ View Upcoming Passages: https://www.saillibra.com/passages 📗 My Book: 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/ Chapters: 00:00 - Catching up in Grenada & Sail Libra Open Berths 02:10 - Grew up on a Lake: Ryan's Sailing Backstory 03:24 - Delta Airlines, Southeast Asia, & The Sailing Bug 04:08 - Running a Coast Charter Business for 10 Years 07:58 - The Reality of Blue-Water Logistics 11:31 - Snapping the Prop Shaft Off Bermuda 15:10 - Junkyard Marine Engineering: The Automotive Fix 25:38 - Hurricane Gusts: 74 Knots at Block Island 26:57 - The Strategy Behind "Riding the Back of a Storm" 31:49 - Working with the Crew in Heavy Weather 37:25 - Standing Rigging Lifespans & Refits 43:21 - Dealing with Rigging Failures Offshore 48:49 - Crossing the Gulf Stream: Night vs. Daylight 56:51 - Navigating Ocean Eddies & Currents 01:05:38 - Hand-Steering vs. Autopilots in a Gale 01:13:30 - What it Sounds Like Inside a Howling Ketch 01:19:23 - The Art of Heaving-To in a Storm 01:23:52 - Arriving in Bermuda & Radio Chattering Disasters 01:28:11 - True Survival Stories: Cut the Rigging Loose! 01:32:51 - Sailing with Family & Spencer Turning 16 01:42:02 - The Abeking & Rasmussen Pedigree of s/v Libra 01:55:58 - Custom Engine Rooms & Technical Layouts 01:59:01 - Crew Medical Issues & Scopolamine Patch Horror Stories 02:06:33 - Passing through Panama & Spotting Waterspouts 02:12:50 - Cruising Mindset vs. Ocean Racing Speed

When your autopilot dies offshore, you need a backup plan. Two bungee cords and properly trimmed sails can keep you on course for thousands of miles on a catamaran. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Everyone chasing the cruising dream gets pointed at the same handful of "name" boats — and most of them are priced out of reach for a first-timer. So today Kyle Jachney and I are talking about the ones nobody puts on a list: the older, affordable fiberglass cruisers from the 70s and 80s that quietly get people offshore for a fraction of the price. We go through the whole spread — Irwin, Gulfstar, Morgan, Endeavour, Pearson, CSY, Alden, Bristol, Little Harbor, Tartan, and more — and the most important thing we get into is that these are not all the same boat. There's a real gap between a value-built production cruiser and a genuinely high-end yacht that's only "affordable" now because it's old. Knowing which is which is the difference between a smart first boat and a money pit. What we cover: – Which of these builders punches above their price today – Where the build-quality lines actually fall (and why "old fiberglass" is a lazy way to think about it) – What to look hard at before you buy a 40-year-old boat – The models that still make sense for real offshore use If you're trying to get on the water without a six-figure budget, this is the conversation we wish someone had handed us early on. 📕 The seamanship manual behind the channel — Be The Captain: https://bethecaptain.com 🎥 Co-hosted with Kyle Jachney of Bluewater Yachts: https://www.bluewateryachts.com/ ⛵ More offshore breakdowns and deliveries: subscribe and hit the bell. Drop your boat in the comments, especially if you own one of these, and we got something wrong. That's half the fun. #sailing #liveaboard #cruising #bluewater #classicplastic #sailboat #boatbuying

1,800 miles from the nearest road, my autopilot exploded into pieces on my lap. Three and a half days into an 18-day crossing from Ecuador to Easter Island, on a light catamaran with small rudders and no displacement, the wheel pilot's ring snapped, the belt cut itself in four places, and the ball bearings went everywhere. No bailout. No spare. Pitcairn was 1,200 miles west. Antarctica was south. We had to make it work with what was on board. This technique is explained in detail in chapter 6E of my book: https://bethecaptain.com/ This is the story of how bungee cords got us to Easter Island, and how a decommissioned road sign got us out of it. In this video, I break down: - What actually failed on the ST4000 wheel pilot, and why it failed in benign conditions - The fiberglass repair attempt that worked for three hours before exploding again - Sheet-to-tiller theory and why it doesn't translate directly to a light cat - The bungee-cord rudder balance technique I've now used on every boat I've owned since - Why I always carry four new bungee cords in the package on every passage - The Easter Island repair: clamping a linear drive arm to the rudder shaft using a road sign from the Department of Transportation, fire hose, and a homemade quadrant - The mindset shift that turns a catastrophic failure into a win The bungee technique is written up in full in Chapter 6E of Be The Captain. If you want the diagrams and the step-by-step on how to tune it for your own boat, grab the book: https://bethecaptain.com Coming next: the full Ecuador to Easter Island passage breakdown — routing, weather, the seven anchorages, check-in procedure, and what to bring. Subscribe so you're there when it drops. Lessons from this one: 1. Carry a real autopilot. Wheel pilots are not offshore gear. 2. Bungee cords, fire hose, and an open mind solve more problems than spare parts. 3. Sit with the problem. The solution is always there. You just have to think. 4. Ask for help. The cruising community runs on it. Much love, James #sailing #offshore #seamanship CHAPTERS: 00:00 Autopilot Failure 1,800 Miles From Our Destination 00:24 Pacific Crossing to Easter Island Setup 01:30 Cargo Ship Encounter Before the Failure 02:28 Autopilot Breaks at Sea 03:01 Raymarine ST4000 Wheel Pilot Failure Explained 04:54 Emergency Decisions: Turn Back or Press On 05:20 Fiberglass Autopilot Repair Attempt 07:10 Sheet to Tiller Self Steering With Bungee Cords 10:09 How to Rig Sheet-to-Tiller on Your Sailboat 15:50 Bungee Cord Load Fatigue and Chafe 17:28 Arriving at Easter Island Under Sail Trim 18:14 DIY Linear Drive Autopilot Repair 21:49 Lessons Learned: Offshore Seamanship 23:52 Next Video: Sailing to Easter Island Routing

Most boats never make it to Mai'O. You can't just sail in... the island decides who comes ashore. Years ago, my girlfriend and I were anchored in Moorea when we met a man whose friend was from Mai'O. He asked if we could bring his friend home. We said yes — and what happened next was one of the most beautiful weeks of my sailing life. A hero's welcome. Meals I'll never forget. Spear fishing tours. Real hospitality from a place almost no outsider gets to see. Tonight I'm telling the whole story live — the passage, the arrival, the people, the food, the goodbye. Drop your questions in chat as we go. 📕 Be The Captain — Eric Hoffer Grand Prize finalist, Foreword INDIES finalist. First Edition: 👉 https://bethecaptain.com/ #SailingTruthShow #SailingLife #AMA #LiveStream #Sailing #BeTheCaptain #SailingZingaro

Ferrocement boats might look solid, but they fail from the inside out. Once cracks form, seawater corrodes the internal structure until the boat essentially destroys itself. Cheap doesn’t mean worth it. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Since you’re leaning into the "Sailing Truth Show" angle, the description needs to feel less like a "vlog" and more like a masterclass. You want to hook the casual viewer who is afraid of getting sick, while establishing yourself as the authority who has written the book on the subject. Here is a high-conversion description for the livestream: Ever Been Seasick? Here's how to fight it... | Sailing Truth Show Most people think seasickness is a stomach problem. It’s not. It’s a full-scale biological conflict between your brain and your environment. In today’s episode of the Sailing Truth Show, we’re stripping away the "sundowners and bikinis" version of sailing to talk about the gritty reality of what the sea does to the human body. Whether you’re a veteran skipper or a dreamer planning your first passage, understanding the physiological "Danger Zone" of the first 72 hours is the difference between a successful voyage and a total crew breakdown. In this stream, we’re covering: Sensory Conflict Theory: The real reason your brain thinks you've been poisoned. The Zombie Phase: Why Day 2 is the most dangerous time for decision-making (and how to survive it). The Emergency Reset: A step-by-step walkthrough of the "Physiological Sigh"—the fastest way to kill panic and regain focus offshore. Fueling the Beast: Why I rely on Radix Nutrition to keep my cognitive levels high when the world is upside down. The "Sea Legs" Miracle: What actually happens to your brain on Day 3. Get the Field Manual: Everything discussed today—including the seasickness med charts and the S.A.F.E. checklist—is pulled directly from my book, Be The Captain. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://bethecaptain.com/ Special Thanks: Shoutout to Radix Nutrition for fueling the boat. When you're in the "Zombie Phase," nutrient density is your best friend. Check them out: https://radixnutrition.com/ Support the Mission: If you value the "No-BS" side of sailing education, consider joining our Patreon crew. You make these deep-dives possible. ⚓ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro #Sailing #Seasickness #BeTheCaptain #OffshoreSailing #SailingZingaro #Seamanship

I charge $500 for a 90-min boat consultation. Today, for free, I'm giving you the forensic audit process I’ve developed over 24 years on the water, from nuclear submarines to offshore sailboats. Why this matters: * The Forensic Audit: How to list every system and calculate its true remaining lifespan. * The 16-Year Rule: Why standing rigging is a $20,000 bill waiting to happen. * Hassle Tax: How to negotiate 20% off the price when inheriting deferred maintenance. * Bronze Truth: Why "beautiful" through-holes might actually be pink, brittle, and dangerous. Get the Book: If you want the full breakdown on vetting offshore vessels, I’ve dedicated an entire chapter of my book to this exact subject. We have less than 200 copies left of the first edition cowhide cover before the second printing arrives. 📖 Grab "Be The Captain" here: https://bethecaptain.com/ ⚓ Book a Private Consultation: https://bethecaptain.com/pages/private-offshore-decision-session Contact Chris (rigger): https://www.cc-rigging.com/

Most buyers approach boats with the wrong framework. Unlike cars, there’s no mileage benchmark, no universal build standard, and no simple depreciation curve. A sailboat is a collection of complex, interdependent systems—and understanding that is the foundation of making a smart purchase. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Is Robert Perry actually the greatest cruising boat designer of all time, or is the "Perry Legend" just clever marketing from the Taiwan boat era? Today, I am putting my 18 years of living aboard and 60,000 miles of Navy submarine navigation experience to the test to judge the "Sailing Truth" behind Perry’s most iconic designs. From the groundbreaking Valiant 40 that redefined performance cruising to the Pacific Seacraft 48 Raised Saloon Cutter—a design Perry himself called one of his strongest and most successful—we are ranking the heavyweights. We’ll go beyond the aesthetics and dive into the blueprints to look at displacement, skeg-hung rudders, and why these hulls still command the ocean in 2026. In this episode of the Sailing Truth Show: The Blueprint Breakdown: Analyzing the Pacific Seacraft 48 (Profile & Layout F, 1-29-15) and why its 41,000 lb displacement makes it an offshore machine. Engineering vs. Romance: Why "Iron Jennies" (engines) and high-capacity tankage are just as important as a Robert Perry sheer line. The GOAT Debate: Ranking the Tayana 37, Lafitte 44, and Passport 47 against modern standards. The Command Mindset: Why even the "perfect design" won't save you if you haven't mastered the skills I cover in my books. ⚓ GET THE BOOK: I’m currently signing the second-printing run of Be The Captain. Grab the manual that focuses on real-world offshore seamanship, not just technical checklists. https://bethecaptain.com/ 📖 PRE-ORDER: Deepen your understanding of boat culture and mindset with my upcoming book, Be The Crew. Captain@bethecaptain.com About James Evenson: I am a professional offshore sailor, delivery captain, and veteran of the U.S. Navy submarine service. I’ve lived aboard sailboats full-time for 18 years and am currently planning "The Last Pirate" ship build in Indonesia—a custom Sulawesi Privateer featuring ironwood construction and a Gardner 8LXB engine. Stay Connected: I’m currently streaming via hotel from Panama while managing the logistics of my latest book run. #RobertPerry #SailingTruth #OffshoreSailing #BoatDesign #BeTheCaptain #PacificSeacraft #Valiant40 #Liveaboard

Learn exactly how to pickle your Seawater Pro water maker to protect your membranes during storage. Get the award-winning book: https://bethecaptain.com/ #sailing #watermaker #sailboat #desalination #sailboatlife

🏆 AWARD NEWS: Be The Captain is officially a finalist for the Eric Hoffer First Horizon and Foreword INDIES Awards! Grab your award-nominated copy here: https://bethecaptain.com/ Most people buy the wrong boat for the wrong reasons, and they get buried in the paperwork they didn’t see coming. In today’s "Sailing Truth" livestream, we are pulling back the curtain on the technical, legal, and financial reality of boat ownership. I’m also making a major announcement regarding the future of the channel and my Oyster 485. After 85,000 miles and years of living aboard, it’s time to practice what I preach. Registration & Flags: Why Poland, Langkawi, or Delaware? The Paperwork Trap: How to check for maritime liens and "Invisible Debt." VAT & Taxes: The most expensive mistake you can make in a boat deal. Survey Secrets: Why you should never trust a broker’s recommendation. Selling a Legend: My process for prepping the Oyster 485 for her next owner. If you’re serious about the offshore lifestyle, stop guessing and start leading. 📖 Order Be The Captain: https://bethecaptain.com/ 📩 For Consultation/Boat Inquiries/Partnerships: Contact us at captain@bethecaptain.com

Most people searching for the perfect bluewater sailboat will never see one like this. My book is about EXACTLY this kind of decision-making: 👉 https://bethecaptain.com In this livestream, I walk through a 1979 Hans Christian 38 MkII listed for $129,000 in Sidney, BC, a boat that's had somewhere north of $80K in the right kind of upgrades between 2022 and 2024. New Yanmar 4JH57, new Selden rig, Hasse sails, full rewire, B&G electronics, new Lofrans windlass, Vulcan anchor, 300' of new chain. This isn't a cosmetic refit. This is a full bluewater prep. So why is she for sale two years later? That's the question most buyers don't ask, and it's the most important one. In this stream I break down the four types of boat owners you'll encounter when shopping for an offshore boat, which one you actually want to buy from, and why even "perfect" refits aren't created equal. If you've ever looked at a listing and wondered what's really going on behind the spec sheet, this one's for you. ⛵ Listing: https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1979-hans-christian-38-mkii-9566488/ 00:00 The free $500 consultation 01:00 The comment that started this 03:30 Answering it backward 04:20 The 4 types of boat owners 04:34 Type 1: Fixes what breaks 08:50 Type 2: Dockside comfort 10:35 Type 3: Going cruising 13:10 Type 4: Campaign and move on 14:15 Hans Christian 38 MkII 28:05 Reading the listing 29:45 Book giveaway + awards news 35:10 What's missing from the listing 38:20 Full listing walkthrough 43:55 Why spend $120K on a 1979? 46:25 Q&A starts 46:44 Marelon vs bronze thru-hulls 49:45 Harryproa — blue water? 53:25 Reefing a cutter rig 57:30 Hans Christian Teak Pain 1:02:00 Lightning strike prep 1:06:10 Valiant 40 vs 42 1:09:05 Buying an abandoned boat 1:12:00 Be The Crew blurb read 1:18:50 Is a submarine a cruiser? 1:21:30 Outro #bluewatersailboat #hanschristian #sailboatbuying #offshoresailing #bethecaptain

On June 10th, 2024, SV Theros left Halifax bound for the Azores. Three days later, their AIS signal went dark 34 miles southwest of Sable Island. Four weeks after that, Parks Canada found the crew on the beach. They had washed ashore in their inflatable dinghy. The Transportation Safety Board concluded the evidence is consistent with a fire on board. One crew member was found wearing a flotation suit melted down the entire left side while they were wearing it. They survived the fire. They survived the sinking. What killed them was everything that came after. This video is about what failed, and the five things that would have changed the outcome — any single one of them. The five lessons: Mount your EPIRB outside with a hydrostatic release File a float plan with a hard overdue time Carry 10 gallons of water in your aft lazarette Build a ditch bag with a communication layer Understand your battery system before you leave the dock A Garmin inReach. $300. One button. They'd still be alive. If this video made you think about how prepared you actually are: Be The Captain is the offshore decision-making manual I wish had existed when I started. 85,000 miles of hard lessons, distilled into one book. Copies ship direct from me: https://bethecaptain.com/ 🔗 Fundraiser for the family of Igor (SV Life of Pie): https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-life-of-pi-recover-from-a-fire-that-sunk-their-boat 🔗 Float plan templates — Coast Guard Auxiliary: https://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/download/USCGFloatPlan.pdf 🔗 Boat US fillable float plan: https://www.boatus.com/documents/boatus/boatus-float-plan.pdf 🔗 Category 1 EPIRB with hydrostatic release: https://tinyurl.com/2369bw8e 🔗 Garmin inReach: https://tinyurl.com/y4jwpj3s 🔗 Ditch Bag Inventory and more: https://bethecaptain.com/pages/locker This video is dedicated to the crew of SV Theros, and to Igor and his family. We owe it to them to learn what they couldn't come home and teach us.

This is the introduction and first chapter of the Be The Captain audiobook, read by the author. Chapter 1 is called Think Like a Captain. It's not about sailing techniques or gear. It's about command, and the mindset that separates people who make good decisions offshore from people who don't. If you want to know what the book is about before you commit, this is the best place to start. 📖 Get the full audiobook + hardcover: https://bethecaptain.com

In 2014, I delivered a Beneteau First 47.7 from the Bahamas to Cartagena. Somewhere in the Caribbean, 150 miles offshore, I found myself ankle-deep in water, crew vacuuming the bilge in the dark, batteries dead, no GPS, no autopilot. I didn't know at the time how close we were to losing the keel entirely. When we hauled the boat in Cartagena, I understood what had happened — and I understood something else. That boat had a sister ship. The Cheeky Rafiki. This video is about how production boats are built, why this specific failure mode exists, how to spot it on your own boat, and why the conversation about it has stayed too quiet for too long. 📖 Be The Captain — the last signed First Edition copies ship FREE for 2 more days: https://bethecaptain.com If you own a production boat — especially a fin-keel racer-cruiser built between the '70s and now — pull up your floorboards and watch this first. 🔗 Official Cheeky Rafiki MAIB Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/55408664e5274a157200005b/MAIBInvReport_8_2015.pdf Sailing Zingaro | James Evenson 85,000+ offshore miles | U.S. Navy Submarine veteran | Author, Be The Captain Chapters 0:00 The night I almost lost the keel 1:17 The delivery: Bahamas to Cartagena 2:24 Wind builds — and so does the water 4:02 Last night at sea: ankle deep, batteries dead 5:35 We make it — emergency haul out in Cartagena 6:27 How production boats are actually built 8:04 The grid, the glue, and what holds it together 9:43 Why fin-keel race boats stress this bond to failure 11:18 What I found when the boat came out of the water 13:44 The Cheeky Rafiki — a sister ship, four souls lost 15:23 This isn't about bashing Beneteau 16:12 Who's responsible when a boat fails offshore? 17:01 What actually happened to Cheeky Rafiki 19:20 Why I quit doing deliveries 20:57 What you need to do — pull up your floorboards #sailing #sailinglife #offshore #sailboat #boatsafety #beneteau #cheekyrafiki #keelfailure #bluewatersailing #passagemaking #sailingyoutube #learntosail #boatlife #productionboat #sailingzingaro