An Atlantic Crossing Begins Long Before You Leave Port

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