No GPS. No sextant. Trapped inside an overturned hull, John Glennie calculated their position using a climbing airliner and its flight path. This is seamanship at its finest. Full Video: https://youtu.be/4HL28zAK0Xc 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

I used to climb the mast without proper protection, but years of experience completely changed the way I approach it. Now I use two static lines and multiple independent safety systems so one equipment failure doesn't become a fatal fall. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Plan on about five gallons of water per person each day for water-conscious boaters. For guests who want longer showers and fewer restrictions, that number can rise to 10 to 15 gallons. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com #Sailing #BoatLife #Liveaboard

Unless you have $200K lying around, I always suggest going with monohulls over catamarans. At lower prices, monohulls may be better equipped, more forgiving, and less prone to catastrophic failure. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com #Catamaran #Monohull #SailingAdvice #offshoresailing

When a steel stay broke underway, Colligo Marine's emergency shroud kit made it possible to replace the damaged rigging and keep sailing. This is one backup every offshore sailor should consider carrying. *This is not a sponsored post* 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com #Dyneema #SailboatRigging #SailingSafety #OffshoreSailing

He's walking around on his boat with no harness while sailing at 30 knots...and making it look easy. Experience can build incredible confidence to do cool stuff like this, but if you’re new to offshore sailing, always clip in. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com #Sailing #OffshoreSailing #SailingSafety #BoatLife

I once climbed the mast while underway and ended up badly bruised from being thrown against it repeatedly. Looking back, I should have stopped, anchored in a protected area and dealt with the problem safely. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

When I am sailing alone, I avoid putting out two anchors because recovering both can become nearly impossible if they start dragging. I would rather leave and find a better patch of sand. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

I once had someone jump off my catamaran while we were sailing, and I had to turn the boat around to recover her. If someone goes overboard, my first move is to heave to, stop the boat and regain control of the situation. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

After six exhausting days at sea, I was too tired to reef while the boat repeatedly launched off the waves and slammed back down. By the time I reached port, two backstays had broken at the swaged fittings, showing exactly where repeated shock loading can cause rigging to fail. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Speaking of dumb things I've done on a sailboat, let's revisit the time the Aruba Coast Guard stayed with us until three in the morning to help me get my sail under control... 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

While sailing toward Belize, I fell asleep at the wheel and drove my catamaran onto a reef with both daggerboards down. It was a brutal reminder of how quickly fatigue can turn into a serious emergency at sea. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

I prefer strong attached keels, but I would still sail around the world with a properly constructed bolted keel. What matters most is how the keel is built, supported and attached to the hull. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

I tried to save a dinghy that had spent five years baking in the sun, but the damage and repairs quickly became a money pit. A proper cover may cost a lot upfront, but protecting your gear from UV exposure can save you thousands later. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Kyle Jachney (Bluewater Yachts) and I talk about how some classic fiberglass sailboats were built with far more material than necessary, resulting in exceptionally heavy designs. They were incredibly strong, but all that extra weight had a major impact on how they sailed. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Guns onboard are legal to own but risky to carry abroad. Declare it and you might not get it back, hide it and you're risking prison. This is a personal call with real consequences either way. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

An 80-year-old asks if he's too old to start offshore sailing. I say go for it. Age isn't the dealbreaker, mobility is. Can you climb over the lifelines and pull yourself out of the water? That's what really matters. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Catalina 42, Morgan 41, Erwin, Gulf Star, or Beneteau: which mid-size cruiser gets you island hopping on a beer budget? Real talk on what to buy and why. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

Is a sailboat ever an investment, not just a money pit? The truth about depreciation curves, boat flipping, and why breaking even is the best most owners can hope for. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com

The Cal 40 is an epic boat. Here's a quick history of Cal Jensen, designer Bill Lapworth, and why Jensen-era hulls are still the ones to hunt for. The company didn't survive after Jensen sold it, but the boats he built before that are still considered ahead of their time. 📗 Get My Book: https://bethecaptain.com