We discover one of the most fascinating ocean passages of the 20th century in this episode. In 1972 John Lucas set out from Geelong, Victoria to sail a 40-foot house boat, with a makeshift mast, 3,000 nautical miles north up the east coast of Australia to Thursday Island, New Guinea for missionaries desperately in need of vessel to transit rivers to their local villages. This 3-month journey led by skipper John Lucas and 3 novice crew led to the adventure of a lifetime. They faced storms, mutiny, sand bars, media scrutiny, and needed the approval from 26 different government departments across 3 different states, just to start their journey. John recounts his story from 44 years ago with such clarity that you would think he had just completed it yesterday. Described as Australia's Kon-tiki, the media coverage in 1972 fascinated a nation. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

In this first of a 2 part episode we talk to Peter Montgomery, respected internationally as the voice of New Zealand Yachting after personally commentating on 12 Americas Cups, 9 Olympic Games and every Whitbread and Volvo around the world race to date. Peter shares personal insights into his 40 year career in broadcasting, how the Americas Cup has changed, thoughts on some of the big personalities that drive the international yachting and why commentating will never be the same again, Peters reputation for colourful commentary that enhances the layman, helped develop a nations passion for sailing, through both the Americas Cup and Whitbread/Volvo Round the World Campaigns that New Zealand has been heavily involved in since the early 1980's. This candid discussion with one of New Zealand's greatest ever broadcasters is a unique opportunity to understand what inspired Peter Montgomery to approach the task with such energy and passion. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

In this episode we talk with Ken Thackeray the founder of the Shag Islet Cruising Yacht Club about how the unplanned idea for SICYC came about by sheer chance and how this unique yacht club has grown into a large organisation with no employees, no physical yacht club venue and 4,700+ members in 14 countries. SICYC is a great resources for cruising sailors and has created friendships is the most unusual of places as you'll find out in this candid chat with Ken at their 7th anniversary party. Its annual Gloucester Rendezvous at Whitsunday in Queensland sees 200+ boats gather for 4 days of fun and activities. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

We catch up with Jessica Watson, 6 years after completing her voyage as the youngest person ever to sail non-stop, unassisted around the world in her S&S 34 ‘Ella’s Pink Lady’. We talk with Jessica about her pre-departure fears; how she dealt with the extreme weather she faced on her trip, life on land after her voyage and her new tech venture in the marine industry and where her future passion in sailing lies. Andy Lamont (from Episodes 2 & 3) joins the interview and gets some first hand advice from Jessica for his upcoming westward bound circumnavigation in an S&S 34, departing Oct 2016.​ Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

We catch up with Rob White from Evolution Sails on sail wardrobe planning and material selection choices for both cruising and racing sailors. Rob shares four decades of sail planning, design and production experience and the changes and advances he is seeing, including the adoption of exotic materials at club racing level. Rob talks specifically about tips for making your boat go faster regardless of how old your sails or boat are. Rob covers everything from Dacron to Carbon Fibre and the choices in between and we also spend some time talking about the ideal set up for short handed cruising sailors, so that speed to your next destination does not have to be compromised. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

We check in with Kym Fleet from Gold Cast City Marina and David Hanton of Bradford Marine to drill into essential tips for recognising, avoiding and protecting yourself from problems that can result from poor hull maintenance. Kym discusses the challenges, evolution and opportunities that have come with running the largest marina and shipyard facility in the Southern Hemisphere and talks about the standards yacht owners should expect from a top class shipyard. David covers the types of anti-foul applications for racing and cruising sailors, advice on how to avoid inheriting someone else’s problems and when its worth stripping an older hull bare and starting all over again. He shares the tips and maintenance advice for keeping your hull ship shape. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Elise Currey heads up a ‘volunteer army’ at the Coffs Harbour Marina, north of Sydney on Australia’s East Coast. With her office smashed to pieces by a storm, that sent 14 metre swells surging through her marina a few weeks ago. Elise as marina manager is literally running her operations out of a shipping container as we speak to her, while the damage repairs that will take a few months, get underway. When your office backs onto the Tasman Sea, sometimes a breakwater is not enough to keep nature out. In this contrasting story to episode 16, we find out the challenges of being situated in a ringside seat, with a wild ocean as your backdrop. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Andy Lamont updates us on his preparations for his solo world record attempt to sail, non-stop, westward around the world in a ‘vessel less than 40 feet’ in length, departing from the Gold Coast, Australia on October 2nd this year. In this follow up to episode’s 2 & 3, Andy explains the process of registering for a world record attempt, the ongoing preparations of ‘Impulse’; Andy’s S&S 34, lessons learned so far, the financial challenges, Andy’s growing list of supporters and some of the changes he has made to his original plans, 3 months on from when we last spoke to him. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

We talk with Andrew Randell about a boat building project his father started in 1963 that came to a standstill when tragedy struck his family while on holiday in 1966. 36 years later Andrew rescues the partly built yacht that had steadily deteriorated over almost 4 decades and he starts a 7 year mission to complete what his father had started. For a guy that had never built a boat before, let alone sailed one, it's a great story of what can be achieved when you are determined and focused. As a result of Andrews fine craftsmanship he was awarded the Hal Harper Award by the New South Wales Wooden Boat Association in 2011 for his demonstration of wooden boat building skills and the preservation of historical wooden boats. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

In this episode we catch up with Ian Thomson, organiser of the 6,350nm Around Australia Yacht Race. It's set to start from Sydney in August 2017 and this will be the first event, since Sir Peter Blake won it in 1988 that's been held. Ian is the current solo mono-hull record holder, after circumnavigating Australia in 2012. From Ian’s live aboard yacht in the marina at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, we delve into what’s driven him to organise the 2017 race and find out more about the Ocean Crusaders; an organisation that Ian founded that has taken its ocean preservation education program into 18,000 schools so far. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

We check in with Mark Stephenson, Commodore of the Mersey Yacht Club in Devonport, Tasmania just weeks after the biggest storm they have seen in 50 years, swept away their marina and the vessels berthed at it. In this candid chat, Mark shares details of the people and vessels rescued and sad stories of those that were lost. This interview provides a graphic insight into the forces of nature and the major impact a 24-hour storm can have on people’s lives. Nestled on the edge of Bass Strait, one of the most treacherous passages of ocean in the world, Mark tells us first hand what it was like to see his marina swept away. Check out the live video footage in the show notes for this episode at Oceansailingpodcast.com

In this bonus episode courtesy of Andy Schell from the 59 North Podcast, we join a training workshop with Andy’s sail maker Chuck O’Malley who he has worked with on various projects for more than a decade. In this episode, recorded at the WCC Ocean Sailing Seminar, Chuck discusses the technical aspects of building and maintaining ocean-going cruising sails. Chuck talks about design and construction characteristics, downwind sail choices, three-reef versus storm trysail setups; storm jibs; gennakers and Code 0 sails; and much more Chuck is founder and loft manager of Chesapeake Sails, a business he started in 2002 and he has successfully collaborated with numerous racing teams and has guided countless numbers of extended cruisers on how to plan and prepare their sail inventories for offshore sailing. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Back from competing at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week for the first time, we do a race crew debrief and share the highs and lows of competing at one of the most spectacular regattas on the planet. From trailer boats to 100-foot super maxi’s, a record fleet of 252 yachts competed across 14 divisions, racing in challenging weather and strong tidal currents around the Whitsunday Islands. This candid debrief with some of the team off my Beneteau 445 (Ocean Gem), covers the highs, lows, challenges and set-backs of the week and what we would have to do differently next time round. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Gerry Fitzgerald is your consummate mariner. We dive into a lifetime on the ocean; from Queensland catamaran racing, to Antarctica expeditions, being boarded by hostile natives in the Solomon Islands, competing in the fatal 98 Sydney to Hobart Race, sailing an 1,800 ton tall ship out of Sydney Harbour and exploring the worlds seven oceans. Gerry has a lifetime of maritime stories to share. Gerry’s experience, wisdom, advice and observations are second to none and no one is better equipped than he is, to offer marine safety and training courses, a passion he has turned his hand to, in recent years and he starts to spend more time on land, after decades on the ocean. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Dr. Roger Badham spent 10 years at university to complete a PHD in meteorology. He has devoted the last 40 years to marine meteorology. Known as ‘Clouds’ in the yachting world, he is one of the most respected meteorologists in the business. Clouds has forecast nine America’s Cups, seven Olympic Games, 30 around the world yacht races and countless yacht races and regattas all around the world, with more than 35 Sydney to Hobart race forecasts and during the past 30 years he has assisted as many as 500 vessels to cross the Tasman Sea. He is also retained by Ferrari’s Formula One racing team. His insights into weather are fascinating. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Ian Mackenzie has spent more than 30 years valuing and selling yachts. As a specialist yacht broker he shares his knowledge on how to import, buy, maintain and sell your yacht. His lessons are relevant to both first time and experienced boat owners and his advice on the critical areas to be diligent, with maintenance and upgrades are insightful. We also drill down into the benefits and risks of buying offshore, the import process and the costs you need to be aware of when comparing buying locally to importing from abroad. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

After months of preparation and years of planning we check in with Andy Lamont a few days before he leaves the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia for his non-stop westward bound solo circumnavigation and world record attempt in his S&S 34 yacht 'Impulse'. We find out what's gone to plan, what’s changed, his set backs, his final departure plans and Andy's final thoughts before leaving for the biggest adventure of his life. Andy: “May the wind always be at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your sails. And until we all meet you again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” From all of your friends at the Southport Yacht Club. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Following the 2015 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Lisa Blair is taking sailing to the extremes and aims to set the world record for becoming the first female to compete in the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race, circumnavigate Antarctica, circumnavigate below latitude 45° south and break the current speed record of 102 days, 1 hour, 35 minutes and 50 seconds. Lisa will be the second competitor in history to take on the Antarctica Cup Ocean Race (ACOR) that was founded by Chairman Robert Williams and will be racing the clock on the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, a three-lane racetrack circling Antarctica between 45 South and 60 South. Lisa is both a Clipper round-the-world race winner and solo Tasman competitor, but her next challenge takes sailing to a whole new level. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

Fresh from completing the 384nm Sydney to Gold Coast Race last week, we join my race crew for a post-race debrief, of what turned out to be the slowest edition of this race in history. Even 100-foot super maxi Wild Oats XI only averaged 8 knots for the course, taking 100% longer than their race record. This debrief with the crew of my Beneteau 445, covers the highs, lows, challenges and set-backs of ocean racing and we talk about what we need to improve, in the build up to our first ever Sydney to Hobart Race in December 2016. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com

In 2015, after three South African sailors went missing somewhere in the vastness of the Southern Ocean, their families tried to trace their final movements. Their determination to uncover the truth, would require going to war with the world’s largest tourism conglomerate, a €20 billion-a-year monolith that had no interest in fielding questions. In this episode we share a narration of the 10,000+ word story of tragedy and loss, followed by a candid chat with its author, Kevin Bloom about the missing pieces of the puzzle that led to the deaths of three sailors and the eventual relocation of the missing 44 foot Leopard Catamaran several months later. Find out more about podcast content and sailing opportunities: https://www.oceansailingpodcast.com