April is looking good so far! Check out our week on the water! #cocoabeach #vacationflorida #sailing #thingstodo #sunsets

This video takes you inside the 4th PAPA Regatta in Croatia, where 12 yachts and over 80 participants from five countries — Belarus, Croatia, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine — came together for an unforgettable week at sea. You’ll see how it all unfolded: from race prep and skipper briefings to exciting starts and challenging conditions on the water. Off the water, the evenings were just as lively — with shared dinners, fun contests, and a festive awards ceremony to wrap it all up. The video also features real-time comments from participants, capturing their emotions, insights, and the true spirit of the regatta. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on social media to stay in the loop — and join us for the next big start! Credit: video by @alexeysmirnovcom #PAPARegatta #PAPARegatta2021 #TheArtOfSailing #InsideStory #Croatia

  Capt Joshua Slocum is famous among sailors for his single handed circumnavigation, West around the world between 1895 and 1898. No one had ever completed such a voyage alone and Slocum's book about his adventure became an instant classic, compared by some to David Henry Thoreau's 'Walden'. The real life character behind the myth, was and still is very much a mystery only compounded by the fact that Slocum went back to sea in 1909 and was never heard from again.   This incredible book takes us on a unique journey, meeting people who knew the Capt, not least three of his children (then surviving in the 1950's) and his wife, Hettie, then in her nineties.  There are many books about Slocum, but to me, this is the one that answers the most questions, and clarifies at least some of the burning questions about why this man, before all others, should be the one to take on, and succeed, in the heretofore impossible.  In the final chapters we also learn the details of Slocum's last departure and begin the discussion on where the Capt was headed on his next great adventure. If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon. where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos and discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. Remember to dock your finger carefully on the subscribe button! https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA

Capt Joshua Slocum is famous among sailors for his single handed circumnavigation, West around the world between 1895 and 1898. No one had ever completed such a voyage alone and Slocum's book about his adventure became an instant classic, compared by some to David Henry Thoreau's 'Walden'. The real life character behind the myth, was and still is very much a mystery only compounded by the fact that Slocum went back to sea in 1909 and was never heard from again.   This incredible book takes us on a unique journey, meeting people who knew the Capt, not least three of his children (then surviving in the 1950's) and his wife, Hettie, then in her nineties.  There are many books about Slocum, but to me, this is the one that answers the most questions, and clarifies at least some of the burning questions about why this man, before all others, should be the one to take on, and succeed, in the heretofore impossible.  In the final chapters we also learn the details of Slocum's last departure and begin the discussion on where the Capt was headed on his next great adventure. If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon. where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos and discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. Remember to dock your finger carefully on the subscribe button! https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA

I found this little anthology of sailing stories over the weekend and decided to give it a shot. I want you to consider that each story is written by a sailor just like you, who experienced something so unique in their sailing career, that they felt compelled to put it on paper and share it. What would it take for you to do the same? Probably quite a lot! These stories, like all the rest in the Mariner's Library are a fantastic window through time to a group of people you would no doubt love to have aboard one evening to share a drink with; That's not possible now, but through these stories their experiences remain to teach and entertain, and we can still have a laugh (or a shudder!) with these fellow rovers  100 years later. How awesome it that? If you appreciate this content, please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings at: www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)  

John Masefield's beautiful poem 'Sea Fever' has already inspired a few generations of sailors. With it's rallying call of; 'Take me down to the sea...', anyone with even a drop of saltwater in their veins can almost feel the wind on their face by the end of the iconic first stanza, but did you know Masefield's love affair with the sea goes much further than 'just' poetry? Masefield sailed and wrote extensively about the sea and none of his works is less known than, 'The Taking of the Gry' making this story an excellent option for the Mariner's Library- with this quality of authorship behind the pen- we know we are going to have an authentic maritime experience and this time it's a heist, and a grand one at that! The taking of an enemies prize ship- from the very harbour it is secured in! I really enjoyed reading this wonderful (and short!) book, and I hope, like me, you appreciate getting to hear this forgotten tome from the hand of a master. If you appreciate this content, please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings at: www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)

If you are a solo sailor, a racer, a cruiser or even a dinghy sailor...  you  should know who Sir Francis Chichester is. Basically, he is the guy that proved to the world in the 60's that you could sail solo around the world without stops. He did stop, just once and only because he wanted to, but very soon afterwards the Sunday Times in the UK created the Golden Globe; the first ever Solo, Non-stop Around the World yacht race in 1968 and the rest is history. BUT, this was not the first of Francis Chichester's adventures, nor his last and in this book, The Romantic Challenge, we discover Francis just a few years on from his successful circumnavigation, looking for something else in sailing that will whet his whistle in the same way the circumnav did.   What he choose to do was to challenge the concept of sailing 200Nm per a day, a big feat for even modern computer-designed cruiser. At the time in the early 70's it was a far away goal to most sailors except those who remembered the Clipper ships . As was his style, he chose to add greatly to the difficulty of the undertaking, by laying forth a goal of completing this high daily mileage on not one or two days, but for five! He drew a 4000Nm line across the Atlantic and challenged himself to complete 1000Nm in five consecutive days. Meaning every single one of them would be required to be over 200NM.  It was a quantum leap in the psychology of performance around sailing and we are lucky that Sir Francis's style of writing allows the reader to get under the skin of the endeavor and really see inside the mind of a master mariner at work as he wrestles with the task. If you appreciate this content, please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings at: www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)

If you are a solo sailor, a racer, a cruiser or even a dinghy sailor.... you  should know who Sir Francis Chichester is. Basically, he is the guy that proved to the world in the 60's that you could sail solo around the world without stops. He did stop, just once and only because he wanted to, but very soon afterwards the Sunday Times in the UK created the Golden Globe; the first ever Solo, Non-stop Around the World yacht race in 1968 and the rest is history. BUT, this was not the first of Francis Chichester's adventures, nor his last and in this book, The Romantic Challenge, we discover Francis just a few years on from his successful circumnavigation, looking for something else in sailing that will whet his whistle in the same way the circumnav did.   What he choose to do was to challenge the concept of sailing 200Nm per a day, a big feat for even modern computer-designed cruiser. At the time in the early 70's it was a far away goal to most sailors except those who remembered the Clipper ships . As was his style, he chose to add greatly to the difficulty of the undertaking, by laying forth a goal of completing this high daily mileage on not one or two days, but for five! He drew a 4000Nm line across the Atlantic and challenged himself to complete 1000Nm in five consecutive days. Meaning every single one of them would be required to be over 200NM.  It was a quantum leap in the psychology of performance around sailing and we are lucky that Sir Francis's style of writing allows the reader to get under the skin of the endeavor and really see inside the mind of a master mariner at work as he wrestles with the task. If you appreciate this content, please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings at: www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)

As I am a sailor, as I live in Nova Scotia, and as I am an Eric Hiscock fanboy, any book that can combine the first two and receive a glowing foreword from the third, has got to be OK by me.  As is always the way when discovering the most amazing sailing book you have ever read, I am not sure where it came from- but it's either a gem from the original Mariner's Library as it was donated to me; OR is one of the many sailing books I am now vacuuming up from all the marina and club house launderettes I visit, as I succumb to the feeling of responsibility to  bolster the variety and depth of the Mariner's Library while it's in my charge! Either way, it appeared on my desk and one look at the words written by Eric Hiscock and I was hooked!  As I read I discovered a wonderful narrator with a keen eye for not only the detail of life at sea but an ability to express what it FEELS like to be at sea.  The author's description of waiting out gales at sea-anchor in their tiny boat left me with clammy hands, as a hundred similar personal experiences were conjured to mind. The fact that I had not ever heard of this boat, the authors or their incredible voyage further underlines how important it is to breathe new life into these archives of incredible sailing experiences and learning by converting these lost tomes into publicly accessible podcasts.  If you agree please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings. www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)

As I am a sailor, as I live in Nova Scotia, and as I am an Eric Hiscock fanboy, any book that can combine the first two and receive a glowing foreword from the third, has got to be OK by me.  As is always the way when discovering the most amazing sailing book you have ever read, I am not sure where it came from- but it's either a gem from the original Mariner's Library as it was donated to me; OR is one of the many sailing books I am now vacuuming up from all the marina and club house launderettes I visit, as I succumb to the feeling of responsibility to  bolster the variety and depth of the Mariner's Library while it's in my charge! Either way, it appeared on my desk and one look at the words written by Eric Hiscock and I was hooked!  As I read I discovered a wonderful narrator with a keen eye for not only the detail of life at sea but an ability to express what it FEELS like to be at sea.  The author's description of waiting out gales at sea-anchor in their tiny boat left me with clammy hands, as a hundred similar personal experiences were conjured to mind. The fact that I had not ever heard of this boat, the authors or their incredible voyage further underlines how important it is to breathe new life into these archives of incredible sailing experiences and learning by converting these lost tomes into publicly accessible podcasts.  If you agree please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings. www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)

As I am a sailor, as I live in Nova Scotia, and as I am an Eric Hiscock fanboy, any book that can combine the first two and receive a glowing foreword from the third, has got to be OK by me.  As is always the way when discovering the most amazing sailing book you have ever read, I am not sure where it came from- but it's either a gem from the original Mariner's Library as it was donated to me; OR is one of the many sailing books I am now vacuuming up from all the marina and club house launderettes I visit, as I succumb to the feeling of responsibility to  bolster the variety and depth of the Mariner's Library while it's in my charge! Either way, it appeared on my desk and one look at the words written by Eric Hiscock and I was hooked!  As I read I discovered a wonderful narrator with a keen eye for not only the detail of life at sea but an ability to express what it FEELS like to be at sea.  The author's description of waiting out gales at sea-anchor in their tiny boat left me with clammy hands, as a hundred similar personal experiences were conjured to mind. The fact that I had not ever heard of this boat, the authors or their incredible voyage further underlines how important it is to breathe new life into these archives of incredible sailing experiences and learning by converting these lost tomes into publicly accessible podcasts.  If you agree please consider supporting the podcast with a donation of $5 per month. In return you will get access to more exclusive patron-only book readings. www.patreon.com/themariner (http://www.patreon.com/themariner)

When I was growing up, my parents read me 'Swallows & Amazons' by Arthur Ransome.  That first book, and the series of adventure stories for children Ransome followed it up with, still to this day remain for me some of the most magical and endearing tales of my youth. You can imagine then, my excitement at discovering a Ransome story here in the Mariner's Library that allows me as an adult and a sailor to connect with Ransome once again and discover that he also was a sailor. His stories perhaps underpin my love of the ocean, developed at a young age- it's wonderful at 45 years old to discover that he really did know his tack from his gybe, and had already done his hours at the tiller, 60 years before I heard his stories. I have really enjoyed reading this story and I hope in turn you get pleasure from listening.  If you find that you like this authors style I would point you towards 'Swallows & Amazons' and the Arthur Ransome society in the UK  https://arthur-ransome.org/ If you would like to support this podcast, which is published for free, five days a week (Tues-Sat) please follow the link over to Patreon, where you can join our community and for $5 a month gain access to loads more exclusive audio books recordings just like this one.

I had never heard of this book before finding it here in the Mariner's Library but 'The Cruises of the Joan' seems to have attached a lot of very positive comments from contemporary literary critics & sailors alike when it was released. W.E.Sinclair has what commentators at the time refer to as  'a humble style in his approach to recording his voyages'. However, as his mileage increases with journeys throughout Scotland and round the British Isles, it becomes increasingly apparent that his delicately chosen prose is actually perfectly suited to allow even a reader 100 years hence to enter the story, share in the adventure and vicariously live through what promises to be some otherwise unbelievable adventures off the coasts of Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland later on in the book. If you recognize the value in this free content, please consider going over to https://www.patreon.com/themariner to support this channel with a $5 monthly contribution. Episodes of the Mariner's library are published five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday.

After reading so many sailing books from the past 120 years I am starting to recognize certain authors who I had never heard of before starting the Mariner's Library who were giants within the sailing community a life time ago. One of the most commonly referenced authors from the first half of the 20th century has to be Weston Martyr, and the book everyone compliments is 'The Southseaman'.  Just learning whatever I can about the man, his adventures and the nature of his bond with the sea plus a quick reading of the opening few pages told me enough for me to know that we would be in for a great tale, told by a master storyteller.  I for one, am excited to hear for the first time an old, but fresh-to-me story, that was so inspiring and enjoyable to my own, long-gone sailing heroes If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos, life streams and sailing discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA Edward William Insurance. For 10% discount on your next mariner insurance policy: Please visit https://www.edwardwilliam.com/boat-insurance/proposal-form?pid=ORT Remember to quote the code MARINER10  to receive 10% off your premium.  

After reading so many sailing books from the past 120 years I am starting to recognize certain authors who I had never heard of before starting the Mariner's Library who were giants within the sailing community a life time ago. One of the most commonly referenced authors from the first half of the 20th century has to be Weston Martyr, and the book everyone compliments is 'The Southseaman'.  Just learning whatever I can about the man, his adventures and the nature of his bond with the sea plus a quick reading of the opening few pages told me enough for me to know that we would be in for a great tale, told by a master storyteller.  I for one, am excited to hear for the first time an old, but fresh-to-me story, that was so inspiring and enjoyable to my own, long-gone sailing heroes If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos, life streams and sailing discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA Edward William Insurance. For 10% discount on your next mariner insurance policy: Please visit https://www.edwardwilliam.com/boat-insurance/proposal-form?pid=ORT Remember to quote the code MARINER10  to receive 10% off your premium.  

After reading so many sailing books from the past 120 years I am starting to recognize certain authors who I had never heard of before starting the Mariner's Library who were giants within the sailing community a life time ago. One of the most commonly referenced authors from the first half of the 20th century has to be Weston Martyr, and the book everyone compliments is 'The Southseaman'.  Just learning whatever I can about the man, his adventures and the nature of his bond with the sea plus a quick reading of the opening few pages told me enough for me to know that we would be in for a great tale, told by a master storyteller.  I for one, am excited to hear for the first time an old, but fresh-to-me story, that was so inspiring and enjoyable to my own, long-gone sailing heroes. YOUTUBE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS AUDIO BOOK Please note- there are videos now available on YT with this audiobook series accompanied by wonderful sailing footage check it out here: https://youtu.be/r3vJATFzfoM If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos, life streams and sailing discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA Edward William Insurance. For 10% discount on your next mariner insurance policy: Please visit https://www.edwardwilliam.com/boat-insurance/proposal-form?pid=ORT Remember to quote the code MARINER10  to receive 10% off your premium.  

After reading so many sailing books from the past 120 years I am starting to recognize certain authors who I had never heard of before starting the Mariner's Library who were giants within the sailing community a life time ago. One of the most commonly referenced authors from the first half of the 20th century has to be Weston Martyr, and the book everyone compliments is 'The Southseaman'.  Just learning whatever I can about the man, his adventures and the nature of his bond with the sea plus a quick reading of the opening few pages told me enough for me to know that we would be in for a great tale, told by a master storyteller.  I for one, am excited to hear for the first time an old, but fresh-to-me story, that was so inspiring and enjoyable to my own, long-gone sailing heroes. If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos, life streams and sailing discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA Edward William Insurance. For 10% discount on your next mariner insurance policy: Please visit https://www.edwardwilliam.com/boat-insurance/proposal-form?pid=ORT Remember to quote the code MARINER10  to receive 10% off your premium.  

After reading so many sailing books from the past 120 years I am starting to recognize certain authors who I had never heard of before starting the Mariner's Library who were giants within the sailing community a life time ago. One of the most commonly referenced authors from the first half of the 20th century has to be Weston Martyr, and the book everyone compliments is 'The Southseaman'.  Just learning whatever I can about the man, his adventures and the nature of his bond with the sea plus a quick reading of the opening few pages told me enough for me to know that we would be in for a great tale, told by a master storyteller.  I for one, am excited to hear for the first time an old, but fresh-to-me story, that was so inspiring and enjoyable to my own, long-gone sailing heroes. If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos and discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA Edward William Insurance. For 10% discount on your next mariner insurance policy: Please visit https://www.edwardwilliam.com/boat-insurance/proposal-form?pid=ORT Remember to quote the code MARINER10  to receive 10% off your premium.  

40,000Nm,  a circumnavigation of the world, completed double-handed, in a decked in, dug-out, red cedar canoe. The bare facts on the page already seem impossible. There is only one sailor who holds a candle to Capt. Slocum, and that is Capt. Voss. If you don't know who that is, don't worry, I didn't know either until I read this book. Now, I can't stop stop wondering how on earth he did what he did, and realizing once again, that modern sailing truly stands on the shoulders of giants. I invite you to learn with me, the incredible story of one of the almost forgotten fathers of offshore sailing. If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon. where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos and discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. Remember to dock your finger carefully on the subscribe button! https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA  

40,000Nm,  a circumnavigation of the world, completed double-handed, in a decked in, dug-out, red cedar canoe. The bare facts on the page already seem impossible. There is only one sailor who holds a candle to Capt. Slocum, and that is Capt. Voss. If you don't know who that is, don't worry, I didn't know either until I read this book. Now, I can't stop stop wondering how on earth he did what he did, and realizing once again, that modern sailing truly stands on the shoulders of giants. I invite you to learn with me, the incredible story of one of the almost forgotten fathers of offshore sailing. If you would like to listen to more about sailing, the sea and regular discussions about safety & seamanship; check out The Mariner Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-mariner/id1710667118 To support the production of this material please consider heading over to Patreon. where for $5 a month you can get access to more audio books, videos and discussion. https://www.patreon.com/themariner  Check out also, The Mariner Youtube Channel - where we have gear reviews, how to videos, seamanship training videos and on the water reports from all over the world. Remember to dock your finger carefully on the subscribe button! https://youtu.be/t0cfY6HqjLA