In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team, who will be sailing across the Atlantic for the first time.  They will also be joined by Simon’s dad for the trip, so it will be three generations crossing the Atlantic.  Simon and Sawyer were on the podcast back in EP-29.  Now they are prepping to cross the Atlantic in their Passport 40 sailboat.  We discussed all of the various elements of planning such a trip.  Most people tend to focus on...

On today’s podcast, we have a fascinating guest, Peter Gibbons-Neff.  Peter has entered the 2023 Mini-transat race.  This is a race where sailors race across the Atlantic Ocean solo, in 21 ft boats.  Peter is a US Marine veteran and is taking on this big challenge to support US Patriot Sailing.  US Patriot Sailing is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports Veterans by offering camaraderie, mission accomplishment, and new dynamic experiences through group sailing adventures.  They foster...

On today’s podcast, we are welcoming back a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72, 73, 77 & 78.  We have been following Mike and his wife on their journey from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.   They are now in the Bahamas and exploring many of the great destinations there.  Mike also talks about all of the things you need to know to be a cruiser, that they do not teach you in sailing school.  This is a two-part episode,...

On today’s podcast, we are welcoming back a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72, 73, 77 & 78.  We have been following Mike and his wife on their journey from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.   They are now in the Bahamas and exploring many of the great destinations there.  Mike also talks about all of the things you need to know to be a cruiser, that they do not teach you in sailing school.  This is a two-part episode,...

Our guest on today’s podcast is Mark Tieszen.  Mark is an experienced sailor who has one sailboat on the Great Lakes and another in Florida.  He shares with us how a coastal sail in Florida turned into a minor disaster as they hit bottom on the way into the harbor.  The momentary grounding resulted in a jammed rudder and loss of steerage.  They soon ended up washed ashore on the beach.  What happened next was the really interesting part of the story.  This is part two of our conversation,...

Our guest on today’s podcast is Mark Tieszen.  Mark is an experienced sailor who has one sailboat on the Great Lakes and another in Florida.  He shares with us how a coastal sail in Florida turned into a minor disaster as they hit bottom on the way into the harbor.  The momentary grounding resulted in a jammed rudder and loss of steerage.  What happened next was the really interesting part of the story.  This is part one of our conversation, make sure you listen to part two and the ensuing...

On today’s podcast, we are welcoming back a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72 & 73.  When we first met Mike, the goal for him and his wife was to sail from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.  In each episode, we have followed their progress. Back in EP-66, Mike was in the “dreaming and planning” stages for the trip.  In EP-72,  Mike shared with us the casting off of the lines in Burlington VT, and heading South via the...

On today’s podcast, we are welcoming back a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72 & 73.  When we first met Mike, the goal for him and his wife was to sail from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.  In each episode, we have followed their progress. Back in EP-66, Mike was in the “dreaming and planning” stages for the trip.  In EP-72,  Mike shared with us the casting off of the lines in Burlington VT, and heading South via the...

Today's guest on the podcast is Tim Geisler from Nautilus Sailing.   Tim founded the company and has taken a different approach to teaching sailing.  He employs the top-rated ASA sailing instructors that are typically former teachers.  So they not only know sailing, but they also know how to teach.  Nautilus Sailing runs week-long sailing instruction at destinations around the world.  It’s a great way to get your ASA certification in some of the most beautiful places.     You can check out...

This is the third time Joe Hagen has been on the podcast.  We always have a great conversation and I certainly learn a few things.  He is a long-time sailor and after retiring from corporate life several years ago, he started Offshore Adventure Sailing.  Joe’s first appearance on the podcast was on EP-11, then again on EP-46 and EP-47. In this episode, we discussed Joe’s adventures this past summer, including his trip up the Tom Tom waterway so he could have his boat close to his home in...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast. This is my interview with Shay Love.  Shay is a live-aboard sailor and a singer/songwriter.  We had a wonderful conversation about how she got into sailing and then the steps she took to make it a reality.  She also just recently released a new set of songs. You can find all of her social info via this link: Linktr.ee/shay.love If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page....

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast. This is part 2 of my interview with Mike Malekoff.  This is Mike’s second time on the podcast.  He was a guest in EP-66 where we discussed his plans for sailing from Lake Champlain to the Bahamas.  Well, the adventure has begun and in this episode, we continue our conversation with Mike on the trip so far. We talked about marinas, their first overnight passage, and buddy boating.  We had a long chat, so...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast. This is part 1 of my interview with Mike Malekoff.  This is Mike’s second time on the podcast.  He was a guest in EP-66 where we discussed his plans for sailing from Lake Champlain to the Bahamas.  Well, the adventure has begun and in this episode, we get an update from Mike on the trip so far. We had a long chat, so our conversation is in two parts. We talked about marinas, their first overnight...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast. This is part 2 of my interview with Bob Forman.  He is an avid sailor who has raced in many Newport to Bermuda races, a Fastnet race, and two Transat races.  Bob and I met many years ago when I was the Technology Business Incubator Director at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (RPI) and he was working with several start-up companies.  Our paths drifted apart after RPI, but we reconnected recently.  Will...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast. In this episode, we interview Bob Forman.  He is an avid sailor who has raced in many Newport to Bermuda races, a Fastnet race, and two Transat races.  Bob and I met many years ago when I was the Technology Business Incubator Director at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (RPI) and he was working with several start-up companies.  Our paths drifted apart after RPI, but we reconnected recently.  Will all...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast. In this episode, Mike and I discuss the highlights of season #3 on Paradox, my Hunter 45DS.  We review some of the trips and guests we have on the boat.  We also talked about the minor equipment failures we experienced during this past sailing season. Mike and I also discuss some of the challenges of winterizing the boat. If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  This is part 3 of a 3 part series on solo sailing. In this episode, Mike and I talk about managing your sails solo.  We talk about tacking, gybing, reducing sail, and deploying your sails.  For each of these, there is a key “discovery” that makes it go smoothly. Make sure you listen to the complete episode for some other important tips as well.  Also, be on the lookout for parts 1 and 2 of this solo...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  This is part 2 of a 3 part series on solo sailing. In this episode, Mike and I talk about anchoring and mooring the boat solo.  It’s taken me over 2 seasons to figure out how to drop and retrieve the anchor solo with confidence.  The same holds true for picking up a mooring.  For each of these, there is a key “discovery” that makes it go smoothly. Make sure you listen to the episode for some other...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this special bonus episode, Mike and I chat about what is going on in our lives and some current events.  This is another one of those pre-podcast recordings that we decided to upload for those of you who are interested.  We talk about sailing, family, life in general, the economy, politics, the Jan 6th hearings, and energy prices in both the USA and Germany. If you like this episode, let us know,...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  For this episode, we have a guest, Mike Malekoff.  Two years ago he purchased a Hunter 44 DS in Maine, had it shipped via a truck to Burlington VT, and for the last 2 years has been sailing on Lake Champlain.  This Fall he is taking down the mast and along with his wife will transit the Lake Champlain canal to the Hudson River.  Then it’s down the East Coast to Florida and then heading East to the...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  This is part 1 of a 3 part series on solo sailing. In this episode, Mike and I talk about docking the boat solo.  It’s taken me over 2 seasons to figure out how to dock the boat solo in most conditions with confidence.  The key “discovery” was using 2 large round ball fenders at the stern of the boat.  This allows me to come into the slip stern first and nuzzle up to the dock.  I then leave the boat in...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, I am solo as Mike is busy with final exams. I am trying something different in this episode, it’s a narrative of my 4 days on the boat solo.  It includes my experience in taking the boat out, solo for a day-long sail in 15 - 20 knots of wind.  I also share what I did each of the four days, including my non-boating activities. I hope you enjoy the episode. We love to hear from you, our...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, Mike and I discuss my experience with having kids on the boat.  I have 3 granddaughters, ages 8 and 6 years, and 14 months.  The 6 and 8-year-olds are sisters and keeping them occupied, while we are out sailing, takes some planning.  My younger son and his wife have a 14-month-old.  She is a challenge in a very different way, as her schedule revolves around eating and taking her naps....

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, Mike and I discuss selecting, buying, and installing an AIS unit. I hope you enjoy the episode. The AIS Unit I purchased: Si-Tex MDA-5 Class B AIS Transceiver https://www.si-tex.com/product/mda-5classbsoais The company I purchased the AIS unit from: The GPS Store  https://www.thegpsstore.com/ We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and...

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, which I recorded solo while on Paradox, I talk about some spring projects, including fixing a leaking galley sink drain, sending my son up the mast to run a spinnaker halyard and replace a burned out deck light, and I disclose a big screw-up on my part.  I hope you enjoy the episode. We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at...