With just two days remaining before we reach the Canary Islands, Osprey is making good progress through the powerful low-pressure system that has dominated this stage of our Atlantic crossing. Last night, I took the helm for an extended overnight watch, allowing the crew twelve hours of uninterrupted rest below decks while we continued downwind through the heavy weather. Drawing on my solo sailing experience and knowledge of Osprey, this was also an opportunity to explore the boat's performance within the operating envelope we're developing for the Global Solo Challenge. We maintained speeds of thirteen to fifteen knots, with some exhilarating surfs reaching twenty-five knots. One instrument reading even showed thirty-two knots, although I'm treating that as an unverified figure rather than claiming a new record! In this episode, we take a look around below decks, narrowly avoid a soaking from a passing squall, and catch up with life aboard. The crew are rested, safe and in good spirits. Lanzarote is getting closer, and it's a pleasure to bring you along for the journey. Welcome aboard Osprey, somewhere in the Atlantic. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

With around 600 miles remaining to Lanzarote, we're once again experiencing some serious Atlantic weather aboard Osprey, our 80-foot Grand Mistral racing yacht. The wind is blowing around 30 knots, with 35 knots forecast overnight. But during daylight hours, we have an opportunity to develop one of the most valuable skills in offshore sailing: confidently and safely helming a powerful yacht through heavy weather. Our crew come from a wide range of sailing backgrounds, and this is a chance to learn how a large yacht behaves as waves pass beneath her, and how small, well-timed helm movements can make an enormous difference. The key is anticipating the boat's rate of turn, using the compass and visual reference points to understand how her bow is moving. As a wave lifts the stern, the underwater shape of the hull changes, creating asymmetric forces that can cause the yacht to round up into the wind. The helmsman's job is to recognise that movement, apply the necessary correction, and then immediately ease the rudder pressure as the boat responds. Holding the helm over too long creates overcorrection, with the yacht wandering from side to side rather than maintaining a steady course. We're approaching this exercise with absolute respect for the conditions. Osprey is deeply reefed, with four of our five reefs taken in and our dependable J5 headsail set. Everyone on deck is double-clipped, the boat is secured below, and we've deliberately chosen suitable open water for the exercise. We also have established heavy-weather alternatives, including heaving to or dropping sail and lying ahull if conditions require it. What's particularly rewarding is seeing how much the crew have developed over the last two weeks. Earlier in the passage, conditions like these meant our practical option was to heave to and wait. Now, with experience, preparation and supervision, we have another option: continuing safely under sail while building valuable skills. This is what developing seamanship means to us. Not taking unnecessary risks, but progressively expanding our capabilities through experience, understanding and good judgement. The techniques we're practising here can be carried back into everyday sailing, helping everyone become a more confident, capable and safer sailor. Welcome aboard Osprey, somewhere in the Atlantic, as we continue our passage towards Lanzarote. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

Developing seamanship isn't simply about sailing fast. It's about giving sailors the opportunity to develop real offshore skills, build confidence, and become capable, independent members of a crew. In this episode, we're halfway across the Atlantic aboard Osprey, our eighty-foot Grand Mistral racing yacht, approximately fifteen hundred miles offshore. Since leaving Falmouth, the conditions have been rough, leaving us with limited opportunities for structured foredeck training. Now, with winds around twenty-five knots, we have an opportunity to get the crew forward and practise a complete headsail change. We've deliberately borne away to approximately one hundred and twenty degrees apparent wind angle, reducing the loads on the sails and making the foredeck a more manageable working environment. The first job is getting the J three down safely. We work through securing the sail, handling the piston hanks, attaching sail ties, disconnecting sheets, and coordinating the crew using the traditional naval hauling call of "two-six-heave." Then we bring up the J five, our reliable offshore workhorse. The crew move it forward, secure the tack, attach the piston hanks, prepare the sheets, and return to the cockpit to hoist and trim before bringing Osprey back onto course. An experienced crew might complete this evolution in fifteen minutes. Here, we're taking more than an hour because the objective isn't speed. It's learning. Every movement matters. Clipping on, moving safely between attachment points, communicating, controlling heavy sails, and understanding how the entire operation fits together. I'm working alongside the crew, helping them develop the skills they'll eventually use independently. Meanwhile, the sailors in the cockpit are learning their responsibilities too. This is raw footage. There's very little commentary and almost no explanation. You're simply watching offshore seamanship being developed in real conditions. We've repeated this exercise twice since filming, and the improvement has been remarkable. If you've worked the foredeck offshore, please share your experiences in the comments. Different boats, different techniques, and different generations of sailors all have something to contribute. I'm also happy to answer questions. That's what this channel is about: real sailing, real learning, and developing seamanship through experience. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

Before heading into heavy weather aboard Osprey, I'm out on the foredeck for my evening deck check. It's something I do routinely at dusk and dawn, looking for anything that might become a problem once the wind and seas build. In this short video, we look at some of the rigging choices and systems on the foredeck, including the tack strop used to help secure a hanked-on headsail. We also talk about becoming a bit of a “rig whisperer.” By putting the side of your head against the rigging, almost like wearing headphones, you can actually listen for noises and vibrations coming from aloft. It's a surprisingly useful way of getting to know what your rig is telling you. This is just a quick glimpse into a normal offshore routine rather than a full technical walkthrough. If you'd like a more detailed tour of everything I inspect during my dawn and dusk deck checks, let me know in the comments and I'll make another video covering the whole process. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

On All Hallows Eve, as we lay ahull aboard Osprey in a fierce Atlantic storm, we received an unexpected visitor: a young glaucous gull, exhausted from battling the weather. Whilst trying to take shelter on deck, it instead became tangled in the cockpit lines, and so I took a decision and invited this little wandering spirit below, to share our food and good cheer.. For forty-eight hours, we cared for our unusual crew member, offering whatever food we had aboard. Spam fritters proved particularly popular! Once rested, we successfully released our visitor back into the Atlantic. Far from its usual coastal haunts, we felt it was better to let it find its own way rather than carry it farther south and east towards Lanzarote. I've always wanted a pet seagull, so this was something of a dream come true, and a rare chance to admire such a beautiful bird up close. On All Hallows' Eve, when thoughts turn to those who came before us, it felt especially fitting. After all, some say seabirds carry the spirits of sailors lost at sea. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

As we continue preparing Osprey for the approaching Atlantic storm, I've put together a little extra footage from around the boat. There's been a lot of interest in the practical side of preparing for heavy weather offshore: what we look at, what we check, how we secure things, and the small details that make a difference when conditions deteriorate. Rather than leave this footage on the cutting-room floor, I thought it would be useful to share another look around the deck as we continue getting everything ready for the weather ahead. This is simply an additional episode, following on from our previous video, for those of you who enjoy seeing the day-to-day reality of running a large offshore racing yacht at sea. Our regular daily upload schedule continues unchanged, and another full episode will be coming very shortly. Thanks for following along and for the continuing interest in the voyage. There's plenty more to come as we work our way across the Atlantic. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

In the middle of the Atlantic, we're preparing Osprey for what should be a simple tack as a heavy weather system approaches. But aboard an eighty-foot ocean racing yacht, even the simplest manoeuvre involves preparation, coordination, and an understanding of what lies ahead. This video is about something much bigger than tacking a boat. It's about what it means to be a captain. The responsibilities of a skipper stretch from the enormous to the almost invisible. At one moment, I'm looking at our position in the Atlantic, studying the weather, considering the route ahead, and making decisions that affect the safety of everyone aboard. A few minutes later, I'm helping a crew member with an injured arm, checking how someone is feeling, or heading into the galley to make breakfast. And that's exactly how it should be. From the moment someone steps aboard until the moment they leave the vessel and return home, the captain carries a responsibility that extends well beyond navigation and seamanship. It's about understanding people. Recognising when someone is tired, frightened, uncomfortable, or simply needs a little encouragement. It's about keeping morale alive when conditions become difficult, helping people find confidence in unfamiliar situations, and making sure everyone feels supported and valued. Sometimes leadership means making the big decisions. Sometimes it means listening. And sometimes it means making breakfast. I believe a good captain should be prepared to move constantly between those worlds, from the macro to the micro and back again, without losing sight of either. Because ultimately, the privilege of command isn't about being served. It's about serving the people who have placed their trust in you. And somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, with heavy weather approaching and a simple tack to complete, that's what this episode of Mariner is really about. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

We're about 1,000 miles offshore aboard Osprey, enjoying a brief spell of light airs before a sustained period of heavy weather arrives over the next couple of days. But rather than sit around waiting for the wind, we're making the most of the opportunity! There are plenty of jobs aboard a powerful 80-foot racing yacht that are much easier to tackle when the boat isn't charging through heavy seas. So the crew have rolled up their sleeves, broken out the tools, and got stuck into improving Osprey. It's a fantastic opportunity to work together, learn more about the boat, and make improvements that will pay dividends both in comfort and performance as this voyage continues. Every job completed is also another step towards our longer-term ambition: preparing Osprey to be at her very best on the start line of the Global Solo Challenge. I'm enormously grateful to everyone aboard for the enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment they're putting into this project. The benefits will be felt over the coming days at sea, but the real value extends far beyond this voyage. A thousand miles offshore, with heavy weather approaching, we're making every hour count. #Osprey #SpartanOceanRacing #OffshoreSailing #GlobalSoloChallenge #OceanRacing SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

Five hundred miles offshore, making our way across the Atlantic aboard Osprey, and we've encountered a weather system that's forcing us to reconsider our routing options. Every routing solution seems determined to send us hundreds of miles north, some almost as far as St. John's, Newfoundland, adding perhaps five hundred unnecessary miles to our passage. The problem is that the routing software is missing one very important option: the ability to stop. So that's exactly what we've done. With winds of thirty-five to forty knots, we've stopped the boat and settled into a much more comfortable and stable situation. Instead of pushing the boat and crew through difficult conditions, we're allowing the weather to move through while we take the opportunity to rest, attend to personal equipment, catch up on small jobs and recover some energy. We'll probably spend around twelve hours like this. When we get moving again, the crew will be refreshed, the boat will have avoided unnecessary punishment, and the weather should allow us to pick up a much more direct route towards Lanzarote, closer to the great circle. We also take a look around below decks and discuss our freshwater arrangements. Osprey's original water tanks are showing their age, with scale and contamination concerns making them unsuitable for drinking water. It's another practical challenge of operating an older offshore racing yacht, and one that requires careful management. But the bigger message of this episode is about seamanship. Knowing when and how to stop a sailing boat is every bit as important as knowing how to make it go fast. Whether that's heaving to, lying ahull or deploying a parachute sea anchor, the appropriate method depends on the boat and the conditions. Understanding those options, practising them and knowing how your own boat behaves can make an enormous difference when difficult weather arrives. Stopping isn't necessarily losing time. Sometimes it's the most efficient route forward. And perhaps more importantly, it gives both the boat and the people aboard the opportunity to recover, physically and psychologically, before continuing the voyage. Out here, five hundred miles offshore, that's exactly what we're doing.SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

In this episode, we're getting ready to take Osprey across the Atlantic, and I wanted to share three different perspectives on what goes into preparing an 80-foot racing yacht and her crew for a major offshore passage. We begin with footage of our departure from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and a look around Osprey at the end of our second day at sea. I also talk through the weather situation we were facing before departure. With a powerful northeasterly weather pattern complicating our plans and the Gulf Stream to cross within the first 36 hours, choosing the right departure window was far from straightforward. It's a good illustration of how much thought goes into the decisions we make before we even leave the dock. Next, we go aboard for some crew safety training. I take everyone through their life jackets, with particular attention to personal AIS man-overboard beacons, how they work, and why understanding your own equipment is so important. It's a fairly detailed session and gives you a genuine feel for what training with me aboard Osprey is like. We don't just tick boxes. We explore the equipment, ask questions, and make sure everyone understands what they're carrying and how it might save their life. Finally, we go back to the evening before departure. The crew have headed off for dinner, and I take you on a walk around the boat to inspect the extraordinary amount of work everyone has been doing. One of the challenges of preparing a boat like Osprey is that so many people are working on different systems simultaneously. There's tremendous energy and enthusiasm, but somebody has to keep the whole picture together. As skipper, I need to understand every change, every installation, and every job that's been completed. Many of the improvements people are making today will travel thousands of miles with Osprey, potentially all the way around the world. That's a wonderful thing, but it also comes with responsibility. My job is to bring all those individual efforts together, tidy up the loose ends, and make sure we leave with a boat that's organised, understood, and ready for sea. It's a little glimpse into the less glamorous, but absolutely essential, side of offshore sailing: weather decisions, safety training, teamwork, and the quiet responsibility of knowing your boat. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

In this episode we are about 48hrs from departure for Lanzarote, when the hotel services emergency no captain wnats to experience happens... the toilet blocks😬 It's hardly a rare occurrence on a boat where skill levels begin at many different levels, and it only has to happen once to make everyone a marine heads experts! Once we are past this stage, everything else- like crossing the Atlantic shoukd be a matter of course 😅 SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

Before taking Osprey offshore, it's time to go through the details that can make all the difference at sea. In this episode, I take you around the forward 30 feet of Osprey, our 80-foot ocean racing yacht, checking the equipment, fittings, lashings and arrangements that need to be secure before we head out into the Atlantic. Chafe is the enemy at sea. A line or fitting that looks perfectly satisfactory at the dock can become a serious problem after days of constant movement and loading. It's the small details that matter, and preventing trouble before it starts is a fundamental part of good seamanship. We then head below and consider an interesting question about collisions at sea. If you're unable to avoid hitting something, is it better to strike it head-on or turn and risk opening up a much larger section of the hull? The sinking of Titanic provides an interesting historical example, and we explore the practical considerations behind that decision. At approximately 15 minutes, we change scenes and take Osprey through the Cape Cod Canal during our passage towards Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. Taking a yacht of this size beneath fixed bridges requires careful attention to air draft, water levels and available clearance. With Osprey's mast towering above the deck, there's very little room for mistakes. It's an opportunity to see some of the practical considerations involved in moving a large ocean racing yacht through restricted waterways. SAIL ABOARD OSPREY IN 2027 We're inviting sailors and supporters to join us aboard Osprey for a programme of offshore racing and ocean passages in 2027. Our planned events include: RORC Transatlantic Race — Lanzarote to Antigua, January 2027. RORC Caribbean 600 — February 2027. Antigua to Bermuda — an offshore passage through the Atlantic in April. Rolex Fastnet Race — August 2027. These are opportunities to experience genuine offshore sailing aboard a powerful 80-foot ocean racing yacht, learn from the challenges of operating her, and become part of the wider campaign. Places are available through our sailing sponsorship programme, which supports Osprey's preparation and our longer-term racing ambitions. If you're interested in joining us, please contact me through CSM The Mariner. Tell me a little about your sailing experience, which event interests you, and what you'd like to achieve. SUPPORT THE GLOBAL SOLO CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN Osprey is being prepared for the Global Solo Challenge, a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. The work we're doing now, from rigging and sails to the smallest details of reliability and maintenance, is all part of preparing this extraordinary yacht for the demands of sailing alone around the planet. It's a substantial undertaking, and your support makes a real difference. PATREON If you'd like to help make the Global Solo Challenge campaign possible, support the ongoing work on Osprey, and follow the project more closely, you can join us on Patreon. https://patreon.com/themariner THE MARINER'S LIBRARY A collection of classic sailing and maritime literature, bringing some of the greatest stories of the sea to life. https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com THE MARINER PODCAST Conversations about offshore sailing, seamanship, ocean racing, adventure and the practical realities of life at sea. https://www.themarinerpodcast.com CSM THE MARINER Our website is being updated and will soon provide more information about Osprey, the sailing programme, and the Global Solo Challenge campaign. https://csmthemariner.com

We're getting closer to departure aboard Osprey, and preparations for our Atlantic crossing from New England to Lanzarote are continuing. In this episode, we're working through some of the smaller jobs that make a real difference when you're living and sailing offshore. I take a look at waterproofing sailing jackets, and we talk about the practical business of keeping stainless steel nuts, bolts and fasteners organised aboard a racing yacht. My philosophy is fairly simple: try to keep things together and reasonably organised, but don't become too obsessive about it. A boat needs to be a working environment, not a museum! We've also got the new interior LED lighting working properly. That means we can finally say goodbye to the flickering overhead lights, which is a very welcome improvement aboard Osprey. There's also something a little different in this episode. I've included around 15 minutes of footage from our recent Newport–Bermuda Race, looking specifically at winch operations. It's an opportunity to see some of the equipment in action and discuss the techniques, practical considerations and handling of the powerful winches aboard an 80-foot ocean racing yacht. As ever, it's a mixture of practical seamanship, boat maintenance, offshore racing and the everyday reality of getting a big sailing boat ready to cross an ocean. Thanks for following the journey, and particularly to everyone supporting the Osprey campaign. Your support helps keep this project moving forward. If you're enjoying these videos, please consider subscribing, leaving a comment and sharing them with anyone interested in sailing, ocean racing or life aboard a big boat. Fair winds, Chris CSM The Mariner | SV Osprey #Sailing #OceanRacing #NewportBermudaRace #OffshoreSailing #SVOsprey Need To Sail? We still have crew places available for both our upcoming Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands and the RORC Transatlantic Race in January. If you've ever wanted to experience serious offshore sailing aboard an 80-foot ocean racing yacht, get in touch! 📧 CSMTheMariner@gmail.com Experienced sailors and enthusiastic newcomers are welcome to enquire. SUPPORT THE MARINER If you enjoy these videos and would like to help keep OSPREY sailing and the stories coming, you can support the channel on Patreon. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themariner The Mariner website: https://csmthemariner.com/ The Mariner Podcast: https://themariner.podbean.com/ Podcast episodes and stories: https://csmthemariner.com/the-mariner-podcast/ Thanks for following the adventure. Your support, comments and encouragement make an enormous difference. Fair winds, Chris Stanmore-Major The Mariner | S/V OSPREY #TheMariner #Sailing #Transatlantic #OffshoreSailing #OceanRacing #RORC #GrandMistral80 #SailingAdventure #BoatLife #SailingCrew

Osprey's Transatlantic crew have arrived and it's time to get the provisioning done, winches serviced, compass bulbs changed, new grab handles on the foredeck and a whole list of other jobs, normal to a vessel preparing to put to sea. Our next adventure takes us across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands, where we'll prepare for the RORC Transatlantic Race in early January. It's a busy time aboard OSPREY, but it's also one of my favourite parts of any voyage: bringing the boat back together, welcoming the crew and getting ready to head offshore. ⛵ COME SAIL WITH US! We still have crew places available for both our upcoming Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands and the RORC Transatlantic Race in January. If you've ever wanted to experience serious offshore sailing aboard an 80-foot ocean racing yacht, get in touch! 📧 CSMTheMariner@gmail.com Experienced sailors and enthusiastic newcomers are welcome to enquire. SUPPORT THE MARINER If you enjoy these videos and would like to help keep OSPREY sailing and the stories coming, you can support the channel on Patreon. ❤️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themariner 🌍 The Mariner website: https://csmthemariner.com/ 🎙️ The Mariner Podcast: https://themariner.podbean.com/ 🎧 Podcast episodes and stories: https://csmthemariner.com/the-mariner-podcast/ Thanks for following the adventure. Your support, comments and encouragement make an enormous difference. Fair winds, Chris Stanmore-Major The Mariner | S/V OSPREY #TheMariner #Sailing #Transatlantic #OffshoreSailing #OceanRacing #RORC #GrandMistral80 #SailingAdventure #BoatLife #SailingCrew

We're back aboard OSPREY, our 80-foot Grand Mistral ocean racing yacht, getting everything ready for another Atlantic crossing! In this episode, I take you for a look around the boat, both on deck and below, as we work through the long list of jobs that come with preparing a big offshore racing yacht for sea. From cleaning bilges and sorting equipment to getting the deck, cockpit and living spaces ready for crew, there's plenty to do before everyone arrives and we begin our offshore training. Our next adventure takes us across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands, where we'll prepare for the RORC Transatlantic Race in early January. It's a busy time aboard OSPREY, but it's also one of my favourite parts of any voyage: bringing the boat back together, welcoming the crew and getting ready to head offshore. ⛵ COME SAIL WITH US! We still have crew places available for both our upcoming Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands and the RORC Transatlantic Race in January. If you've ever wanted to experience serious offshore sailing aboard an 80-foot ocean racing yacht, get in touch! 📧 CSMTheMariner@gmail.com Experienced sailors and enthusiastic newcomers are welcome to enquire. SUPPORT THE MARINER If you enjoy these videos and would like to help keep OSPREY sailing and the stories coming, you can support the channel on Patreon. ❤️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themariner 🌍 The Mariner website: https://csmthemariner.com/ 🎙️ The Mariner Podcast: https://themariner.podbean.com/ 🎧 Podcast episodes and stories: https://csmthemariner.com/the-mariner-podcast/ Thanks for following the adventure. Your support, comments and encouragement make an enormous difference. Fair winds, Chris Stanmore-Major The Mariner | S/V OSPREY #TheMariner #Sailing #Transatlantic #OffshoreSailing #OceanRacing #RORC #GrandMistral80 #SailingAdventure #BoatLife #SailingCrew

This is the second installment in my reading of 'Cruising Under Sail' by Eric Hiscock, from the 1987 edition. This book has been enormously important in my own sailing development. I first started using it to build my knowledge in 1996, when I was 18 years old and joining my first ship. Nearly thirty years later, I still find myself coming back to it. As you'll hear in the video, many of the ideas in this book became part of the foundation on which I built my seamanship. COME SAILING — TRANSATLANTIC, OCTOBER 2026 We’ll be departing Massachusetts on October 21, sailing across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands, and we still have a couple of places available. If you’d like to join the crew for the passage, get in touch through CSM The Mariner: csmthemariner@gmail.com ⁠ If you’d like to sponsor or otherwise support my campaign for the 2027 Global Solo Challenge, please get in touch as well. I’d love to hear from you. SUPPORT THE MARINER Patreon — support the videos, podcasts, sailing projects and the wider work: https://patreon.com/themariner⁠ THE MARINER’S LIBRARY More maritime books, history, stories and seamanship: https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com⁠ THE MARINER PODCAST For longer conversations on offshore sailing, seamanship, safety, heavy weather, experience and life at sea: https://www.themarinerpodcast.com⁠ If you prefer listening rather than watching, this episode will also appear on The Mariner Podcast, available anywhere you normally get your podcasts.

This is the first installment in my reading of Cruising Under Sail by Eric Hiscock, from the 1987 edition. This book has been enormously important in my own sailing development. I first started using it to build my knowledge in 1996, when I was 18 years old and joining my first ship. Nearly thirty years later, I still find myself coming back to it. As you'll hear in the video, many of the ideas in this book became part of the foundation on which I built my seamanship. COME SAILING — TRANSATLANTIC, OCTOBER 2026 We’ll be departing Massachusetts on October 21, sailing across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands, and we still have a couple of places available. If you’d like to join the crew for the passage, get in touch through CSM The Mariner: csmthemariner@gmail.com ⁠ If you’d like to sponsor or otherwise support my campaign for the 2027 Global Solo Challenge, please get in touch as well. I’d love to hear from you. SUPPORT THE MARINER Patreon — support the videos, podcasts, sailing projects and the wider work: https://patreon.com/themariner⁠ THE MARINER’S LIBRARY More maritime books, history, stories and seamanship: https://themarinerslibrary.podbean.com⁠ THE MARINER PODCAST For longer conversations on offshore sailing, seamanship, safety, heavy weather, experience and life at sea: https://www.themarinerpodcast.com⁠ If you prefer listening rather than watching, this episode will also appear on The Mariner Podcast, available anywhere you normally get your podcasts.