In this podcast episode, Bela Musits engages in a conversation with Conor Smith, a fascinating individual who holds a PhD in Applied Marine Physics, is a USGC Master Captain, an ABYC Electrical Technician, and is actively involved with Warrior Sailing.

The discussion revolves around the significance of a "healthy boat checkup," emphasizing that just as humans undergo regular physical examinations, boats should receive similar attention to ensure their well-being. Conor highlights the crucial role of electrical systems and wiring in boats, emphasizing their susceptibility to aging and the potential risks associated with neglecting their maintenance.

Moreover, the conversation explores Conor's involvement with Warrior Sailing, an organization dedicated to providing sailing opportunities for wounded, ill, or injured military service members and veterans. The podcast delves into the transformative impact of sailing on these individuals, promoting healing, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose.

The sponsor for this episode is NauticEd. which is short for Nautical Education, an established company with a really cool online platform for learning the knowledge elements of sailing at your convenience, along with a network of experienced sailing instructors for the hands-on skill development elements on the boat. To check out NauticEd, click on the link below and as a bonus you will receive your first two lessons for free.

https://www.nauticed.org/?school=bela-l-musits&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits engages in a conversation with Chris Curtis, an experienced sailor who has extensive sailing experience on the East Coast and is currently based in Seattle. Chris recently undertook an impressive journey, sailing from Seattle to Mexico over the past few months.

The discussion delves into the intricacies of planning a long-distance cruise, addressing crucial factors such as weather analysis and strategic route selection. Emphasis is placed on the significance of establishing organized processes and routines to ensure a smooth and efficient sailing experience.

Furthermore, the episode explores the art of balancing long-term strategic goals with the day-to-day tactical decisions that arise during such an endeavor. This approach is presented as a key ingredient for a successful and enjoyable voyage.

The sponsor for this episode is NauticEd. which is short for Nautical Education, an established company with a really cool online platform for learning the knowledge elements of sailing at your convenience, along with a network of experienced sailing instructors for the hands-on skill development elements on the boat. To check out NauticEd, click on the link below and as a bonus you will receive your first two lessons for free.

https://www.nauticed.org/?school=bela-l-musits&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela Musits interviews Mark Darling, an avid sailor from Massachusetts. Mark's sailing journey began on a small lake, where he first developed his passion for the sport. Now, he enjoys exploring the beautiful coastline of New England, navigating its waters and seeking out some of the best sailing destinations in the region. Our conversation delves into the world of sailing, with Mark sharing his experiences and insights, as well as some of the must-visit sailing spots in New England.

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela and Mike thank our first podcast supporter, Andrew.  If you are also interested in supporting the show, there is a link at the bottom of these show notes to support the podcast.

Bela and Mike also discuss chartering a sailboat.  What you need to know to charter, the credentials you may need, and how it all works.  They also highlight charter locations around the world and how Bela chartered various boats to get a better idea of the type of boat he wanted to purchase.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Bela and Mike discuss the destination of Shelburne, Nova Scotia.  Bela spent several days there during a passage from Halifax, NS to Baltimore, Maryland.  Shelburne is a beautiful small town in the Southwest part of NS.  It has a population of less than 2,000 with a rich history.  After the American Revolution, over 17,000 Loyalists to the UK left the Colonies and settled in Shelburne.  This rich history is still visible in much of the architecture of the town.

Some links about Sheiburne, NS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelburne,_Nova_Scotia

https://www.novascotia.com/places-to-go/regions/south-shore/shelburne

https://www.town.shelburne.ns.ca

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Bela and Mike discuss buying a sailboat and how Bela ended up buying a 2009 Hunter 45 DS in the Summer of 2020.  Discussing sailboat brands and models is one topic that will get sailors all riled up, as everyone has an opinion.  The sailing forums are full of statements on why a specific sailboat model is the best.

Bela goes through his process for determining his requirements and then mapping those requirements onto the various sailboats models.  Reducing the long list of sailboats to the ones that match how and where they will be used and taking into account the sailor’s ability and experience is also key.  And the most important factor, make sure you are being realistic on how you will actually use the boat.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Mike and Bela reply to an email from a listener.

Mike and Bela,

Thank you so much for the podcast.  I am new to boating and I have found it to be very informative.  I have been thinking about buying a small sailboat for several years and I am happy to say I am the proud new owner of a 1979 Catalina 22.  As a matter of fact, the day after I purchased the boat, I listened to your episode #13 all about buying a trailerable sailboat.  And in the episode, Bela mentioned he had a Catalina 22 for many years.  So, I feel good about my decision.

Now, I must confess, I know nothing about sailing or boating.  I know even less than Mike!  I want to take the next several months, while the weather is cold, to learn as much as I can about boating and sailing.  I just do not know where to start.  Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks again for the great podcast.

George

We discuss the various sources for learning about boating and sailing.  Both formal courses from ASA, US Sailing, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, some great reference books, and of course YouTube.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we have a special guest, Sam Holmes.  Sam is an accomplished sailor, having sailed from Los Angeles to Hawaii, solo, in a 23 ft boat.  This past Summer, Same sailed from the Gulf Coast of Florida to Maine and then back South to North Carolina.  Most of this adventure was solo as well.  Sam also has a great YouTube channel where you can follow his adventures.

We discussed the challenges of solo sailing as well as the inspiration and feeling of accomplishment that comes from solo passage making

Check out Sam’s YouTube videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/SamoPajamo

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Mike and I discuss a recent stopover I made in Cape May NJ.  It’s a great little sea-side town that has easy access, good marinas, excellent restaurants, places to provision, and a nice beach.  I also talk about an important lesson I learned about anchoring.

You can check out Cape May here:

https://www.capemay.com/

Here is a link to the South Jersey Marina where we stayed for 2 nights.

https://www.southjerseymarina.com/

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Mike continues his curiosity about buying a sailboat.  He asks a bunch of questions about boats that can be trailered.  We discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of a trailerable sailboat. Bela talks about his first sailboat, a Catalina 22 that is one of the best know trailerable sailboats.  Stand by for future episodes about buying a sailboat.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Today’s episode is a bit different than our usual as we have a guest and Mike will not be joining us for this podcast.  Our guest today is Joe Hagan.  Joe is a long-time sailor and after retiring from corporate life several years ago, he started Offshore Adventure Sailing.  At Offshore Adventure Sailing, Joe takes folks out on multiple day ocean passages.  As Joe and I discuss, this is a great way to broaden a sailor’s experience base, and a great way to increase your seamanship skills.  These skills are valuable even if you have no intention of sailing offshore again.

You can check out OffShore Adventure Sailing here:

https://www.offshoreadventuresailing.com/

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Mike gets curious about buying a sailboat.  He asks a bunch of questions covering type, size, various uses, and the process for narrowing down your criteria. Bela does his best to respond to Mike’s question.  This is part one of a multi-part series about buying a boat.  Stand by for future episodes on this topic.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we explore the sailing from Sandy Hook NJ to Cape May NJ. Sandy Hook is just south of NY harbor and as the name suggests, it’s a hooked-shaped spit of land that projects out into Raritan Harbor.  Cape May is at the Southernmost tip of NJ which makes this an approximately 120 NM trip.  This is one section of the East Coast, from Maine to Key West, where there are not a lot of stopover points, especially for a sailboat.  Many of the inlets along the New Jersey shore and not sailboat friendly.  They have either strong currents or low bridges.  If you want to do the trip non-stop, it is about a 24-hour passage and a great first overnight passage for any sailors desiring to get such an experience.  It is a relatively easy passage and if you are heading South, any wind direction is fine, except directly from the South.  All you need is a good weather forecast for the next 24 hours.  I find these short term forecasts are typically very accurate.  In the summer, just be on the lookout for thunderstorms.  Lightning on a boat with a 62-foot aluminum mast is not fun. This far north and close to shore, you do not need to worry about the Gulf Stream.  Once you are out of the inlet, any currents are minor and are not an issue with the wind.  There is a fair amount of commercial traffic.  Tugs with barges, fishing boats, and some large ships.  Most of the commercial traffic stays at least 10 miles offshore, so if you keep about 5 miles offshore, you will not encounter too much traffic.  The entrance to Cape May is well marked and there is a large Coast Guard station there.  This Coast Guard station is the primary training center for new recruits.  There is an anchorage just off of the Coast Guard station, which is where we anchored.  It’s a great place to stop and get some rest on your way south or north.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas. 

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela Musits interviews Liam Kennedy. Liam recently purchased and moved aboard a sailboat. He learned to sail with his grandfather, who is now 92 and still sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.

We discussed Liam's many years of sailing experience, his motivation for buying a cruising sailboat, moving aboard, and the sailing adventures he is planning.

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we explore the sailing destination of Sandy Hook NJ. Sandy Hook is just south of NY harbor and as the name suggests, it’s a hooked shaped spit of land that projects out into Raritan Harbor.  The spit stretches about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the northern end of the New Jersey shore toward New York Harbor. It’s covered with coastal woodlands, sand dunes, beaches, and salt marshes.

Sandy Hook has the oldest surviving lighthouse in what is now the United States. It was built-in 1764, and is still in use today. In 1895, the U.S. Army renamed the "Fortifications at Sandy Hook" as Fort Hancock. The installation would protect New York Harbor from invasion by sea. Its yellow brick buildings were constructed largely between 1898-1910, with the fort reaching its peak population in World War II. Concrete bunkers and rail-mounted guns were buried in the beach dunes so that they could disappear from sight after firing on enemy ships. In later years, Nike missiles stood ready to shoot down nuclear weapons.  Many of these structures are still visible today.

It’s a great place to anchor when you are heading South and need to wait for a weather window or if you are heading North via NYC and need to get the weather or tidal currents in your favor. There are also several ferries that run between Sandy Hook and NYC.  So, it’s actually a good place to use as a base of operation to get to NYC.

It is a nice anchorage and as the name implies, it’s a nice sandy bottom, so it is easy to set the anchor and the holding is good.  Guide books and Navionics charts list several anchoring spots.  We set our anchor near the Coast Guard Station.  Just be aware of the ferries, as they run into the night and can kick up a wake.  The anchorage is well protected from all directions except the West.  Since the fetch to the West is not that large, anything under 30 Knots should be fine. There are also a couple of marinas on the “main land” at the base of Sandy Hook if you need protection for a big blow.  Atlantic Highlands Marina is one where I have stayed, in addition to docks with power, water, etc, they also have several moorings behind a breakwater, so it is well protected.

Over all, it’s a great place to stop and visit and an excellent staging area for heading North or South.

Check out the links below.

National Park Service - Sandy Hook NJ

Atlantic Highlands Marina

Ferry to NYC

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we discuss why sailing on the East Coast of the United States ranked as one of the best and most diverse sailing, (and boating) destinations in the world.  It’s approximately 1,800 nm from Maine to Key West.  You can make the trip in 4-10 hour day hops or you can sail the whole thing non-stop.  You can see large cities, historic small towns, and enjoy very diverse cuisine.  So, listen in and set some time aside to explore this great sailing and boating region of the world.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we explore the passage from Port Washington NY to Sandy Hook NJ via the East River and NYC. It’s a spectacular trip of approximately 35 nautical miles with beautiful views of NYC, the Statue of Liberty, and NY Harbor.  We also discuss passage planning and dealing with tidal currents, commercial traffic, and daylight hours.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we discuss putting your boat on the hard for the Winter.  If you live where it gets below freezing during the year, you need to winterize your boat.

Winterizing day is always a sad day that sailors and boaters who live in colder climates face.  You either sail to warmer climates or you put the boat away for the winter. This Winter, with COVID in full swing and borders closing, I will not be sailing to warmer climates.  So, in this episode Mike and I discuss:

• The process of putting the boat away for winter.
  
• The amount of work that goes into winterizing your boat.
  
• And thirdly, and this is the silver lining in all of this - you get to go over most of the systems on the boat and check their condition.   I like to perform a thorough check during the winterizing process because it gives me several months to get the parts and fix the problem before Spring.  If I wait until spring to check things over, then it’s a mad rush as I have the itch to go sailing.
  

Hope you found this episode interesting.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we explore the destination of Port Washington NY.  Port Washington is in Manhasset Bay, on the north side of long island, it’s near NYC, so it is a great stopover when transiting the East River and heading South or North via NYC. Manhasset Bay is mostly private homes, or more accurately, private mansions.  It is well worth hoping in the dinghy and riding around.  What a beautiful bay with huge mansions all along the shore.  Some are old, classical looking mansions and others are newer, very modern looking.  Part of The Great Gatsby movie was filmed in some of these mansions.

There is a great mooring field run by the town of Port Washington.  You can get a mooring for $25/night and it includes the water taxi.

Check out the links below.

Port Washington Moorings

Manhasset Bay Marina

Great Gatsby Boat Tour

Narinatto - Korean Restaurant

DiMaggio's Trattoria

We also have another podcast, with over 100 episodes titled, The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovations Stories with Bela and Mike.  Feel free to check it out.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, Mike and I discuss an overnight passage from Marion, Massachusetts to Port Washington, NY.  That’s a distance of approximately 150 nautical miles.  Marion is located in Sippican Harbor which is off of Buzzards Bay and Port Washington is in Manhasset Bay, which is on the north side of long island, very close to NYC.  It makes Port Washington a great stopover when transiting through NYC via the East River.

We discuss the challenges of sailing at night and how to plan your passage so you arrive at your destination during daylight hours.

We also have another podcast, with over 100 episodes titled, The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovations Stories with Bela and Mike.  Feel free to check it out.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we will explore the destination of Marion, Massachusetts. Marion is located in Sippican Harbor which is off of Buzzards Bay.

If you haven’t sailed Buzzards Bay, put it on your bucket list.

Marion and the Beverly Yacht Club are located a short sail off of Buzzards Bay in Sippican Harbor.  If you are transiting through the Cape Cod Canal, it’s a very convenient stopover.

If you’re a sailor, you may have heard of Marion, as it is the start of the Marion to Bermuda race.  The Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race is held in odd-numbered years, from Marion, Massachusetts to the island of Bermuda, a distance of 645 nautical miles

One of the highlights of this trip was getting a mooring right next to Tabor Boy, a ninety-two foot, gaff-rigged, two-masted schooner.  Check out the links below.

Beverly Yacht Club

Marion to Bermuda Race

Tabor Boy

Marion MA

We also have another podcast, with over 100 episodes titled, The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovations Stories with Bela and Mike.  Feel free to check it out.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In today’s episode, we will explore the destination of Wickford RI.  It’s located on the Western shore of Narragansett Bay.  It’s a great harbor and a wonderful, quaint, New England town. It has several excellent marinas, some wonderful restaurants downtown, and a fabulous old historic Main Street with houses dating back to the 1700’s  It is a must-stop if you are sailing on Narragansett Bay.

Additional Information on Wickford:

https://wickfordvillage.org/

Links to marinas:

Wickford Marina

Safe Harbor Wickford Cove

Wickford Shipyard

Pleasant Street Wharf

We also have another podcast, with over 100 episodes titled, The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovations Stories with Bela and Mike.  Feel free to check it out.

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening.  

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

This is the inaugural episode of a new podcast called Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the USA.  The hosts for the show are Bela Musits, who has many years of sailing experience, and Mike Wasserman who knows almost nothing about sailing. Not only that, Mike is actually located in Germany, not near any water that you could sail anything more than a Sunfish on. But, Mike is interested in learning more about sailing. So, here we go! But why this podcast? Bela and Mike met when they were both business professors at Clarkson University, in Potsdam NY.  Then three years ago, Mike moved to Germany and is now a professor at Münster School of Business in Munster Germany. Bela retired last year from Clarkson and started doing some more sailing. So, really, this is just an interesting way for Mike and Bela to stay connected, learn from each other, and hopefully share some of our curiosity with like-minded others.

We also have another podcast, with over 100 episodes titled, The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovations Stories with Bela and Mike.  Feel free to check it out here: https://anchor.fm/bela-musits

We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening.  

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits interviews returning guest Mike Malekoff.  In previous episodes, we followed Mike's journey from Lake Champlain to the Bahamas and his return to the USA. While he meticulously planned his trip to the Bahamas, he hadn't quite figured out what he would do upon his return to the United States. Since Mike doesn't live on his boat full-time, he needed to find a place to store it during hurricane season. As it turns out, this task is not as simple as it sounds. It's crucial to thoroughly read your boat insurance policy, as certain requirements may need to be met to maintain coverage. Additionally, it's important to avoid the rush of other boaters who are also seeking storage for their vessels during hurricane season.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Mike Wasserman and Bela Musits interview Chris Kubisiak. Chrisd is a repeat guest, as he was in EP-101. He is an organizational psychologist by training, but is a passionate sailor who actually got his start in racing, and has done a lot of chartering throughout the Gulf, in the Caribbean and a few more exotic destinations.

Given his background in sailing and training as a psychologist, Mike and I thought it would be good to have a conversation about the psychology of sailing.  From Racing to Cruising to how the community is so supportive.

You can contact Chris at CKYachting@gmail.com

Hope you find our conversation as interesting as we did.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela Musits interviews Mark Teizen. He is a repeat guest, having been on the podcast in episodes 79 and 80.  This episode is the conclusion of the grounding of his Catalina 445 onto the beach and the subsequent refloating of the boat and repairs. Mark discusses the lessons he learned from the experience, including the repair process and tips for working with the repair facility.

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela Musits interviews Carter Yepsen.  He recently purchased a sailboat and spent the Summer of 2023 sailing Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and up to Marblehead.  He did much of the trip solo and finished up the Summer sailing his boat through NYC and up the Hudson River to Lake Champlain.   A remarkable summer for even the most savvy sailor, but other than a few charters, this is Carter's first Summer cruising. Let’s dive right into the interview with Carter.

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Mike Wasserman interviews Chris Kubisiak.  Chris is from Tampa Florida, one of the great sailing destinations in the United States.  Chris is an organizational psychologist by training, but is a passionate sailor who actually got his start in racing, and has done a lot of chartering throughout the Gulf, in the Caribbean and a few more exotic destinations.  He is also a broker that helps others buy and sell sailboats.

You can contact Chris at CKYachting@gmail.com

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, co-hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman reflect on the 100 episodes they have produced and look ahead to future adventures.

One of the things they reflect on is the diversity of ways people sail. They have interviewed people who sail casually on weekends, people who are taking their first long passage, serious and casual racers, and people who live aboard their sailboats. There is an extensive range of ways people experience sailing.

The episodes also discuss destinations like Wickford, Rhode Island; Marion, Massachusetts; Shelburne, Nova Scotia; and Cape May, New Jersey.  Bela and Mike also interview individuals who have made long passages to the Azores,  Coastal Spain, across the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

In addition, there are episodes about the boat-buying process, working with brokers, and the pre-purchase survey.

There is a wealth of information, wonderful stories, and adventures contained in these 100 episodes. So be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Bela Musits interviews Doug Milburn.  Doug lives in Nova Scotia and is a lifelong sailor.  He has sailed monohulls and more recently has been focusing on performance catamarans.  We talked about sailing, sailboats, and the many wonderful places for a sailor to visit in Nova Scotia.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Bela Musits interviews Larry Friedman in this episode of the podcast. Bela met Larry three summers ago at the Shafe Harbor Cove Haven marina. Larry retired several years ago and, along with his wife, lives full-time on a cruising power catamaran. They spend summers in New England and winters in Florida. Larry shares what they have learned traveling down the East Coast of the United States twice a year. He also discusses why they purchased their power catamaran and the process of moving onto the boat full-time.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast episode, Ethan Maass, a seasoned Sea Tow Captain with over 15 years of experience in assisting mariners, engages in a conversation with Bela Musits. Throughout the discussion, Ethan shares invaluable tips and insights aimed at helping mariners avoid the need for a tow back to their home port. This informative and engaging episode offers practical advice and guidance for mariners of all levels, making it a must-listen for anyone who enjoys navigating the open waters.

The sponsor for this episode is NauticEd. which is short for Nautical Education, an established company with a really cool online platform for learning the knowledge elements of sailing at your convenience, along with a network of experienced sailing instructors for the hands-on skill development elements on the boat. To check out NauticEd, click on the link below and as a bonus you will receive your first two lessons for free.

https://www.nauticed.org/?school=bela-l-musits&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Chris D’Amelio.  Chris is a retired United States Coast Guard Surfman.  We discussed the many responsibilities a USCG Surfman has and several of the rescues Chris participated in.  Chris also wrote a book about his USCG experience titled, Life and Death at Cape Disappointment.  It is a great read and I highly recommend it. This is a really inspiring episode, so please give it a listen. 

You can find Chris’ book on any of the online book sellers.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Merrill Charette - who co-founded an online marketplace for marine-related services called Shipshape.pro and is also the host of a podcast called SHIPSHAPE - International Ocean Insights.  Merrill also lives on his boat in Boston for 12 months of the year.  So he has a good understanding of live-aboard life in the cold weather.  We had a great conversation.

You can learn more about Shipshape.pro here:

https://shipshape.pro/

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Anni DiMonti.  She is a volunteer with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation organization.  We had a great conversation about whales and dolphins and what recreational mariners can do to protect these wonderful mammals.  Anni had great tips on what to do when you see a whale, how to report your sightings, and how to avoid causing any harm to them.

You can find out more about Whale and Dolphin Conservation here:

https://us.whales.org/

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed the final leg of their first Atlantic crossing.  In this leg, we discuss sailing from Spain to the UK with a stop in France.  They experienced weather delays, massive tides, traffic separation zones, and crossed the notorious Bay of Biscay.  As Simon said, “This was the most difficult part of our trip.”

If you would like to listen to all of the episodes that chronicle their journey, here is the sequence,

Ep 84 and 85 Preperatioins for sailing across the Atlantic

EP 88 and 89 Newport to Horta parts 1 and 2.

EP 93 Horta to Spain

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed their sail from Horta to Spain.  We are chronicling their first Atlantic crossing and this is leg two.  Leg one was sailing from Newport, Rhode Island, to Horta in the Azores.  In this episode, we discuss seas crowded with cargo ships, getting meds for sea sickness, and making meals.

Ep 84 and 85 Preperatioins for sailing across the Atlantic

EP 88 and 89 Newport to Horta parts 1 and 2.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast, Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman discuss the Summer of 2023 past sailing season on Narragansett Bay.  We review the trips taken and places visited.  We also discussed some of the new experiences, sights seen, and what we learned.  We also review the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance projects that were performed.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast, Bela Musits interviews Angela, who co-authored the book Wonder Year: A Guide to Long-Term Family Travel and Worldschooling. The book is about Heisten's experience traveling the world with her family in an RV.  I found the book to be perfect for those who want to embark on extended family travel. Wonder Year is part inspiration and part how-to, and it demystifies the seemingly outrageous prospect of taking a long-term family trip and using the world as a classroom for your kids.

You can find Angela’s book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Year-Long-Term-Family-Worldschooling/dp/1637560249

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast, Bela Musits interviews Jeff Wettig, a long-time sailing podcaster. Jeff started his podcast, Shooting the Breeze, in 2014 and has released over 170 episodes. It was one of the first sailing podcasts that I discovered and started listening to, so meeting Jeff was like meeting a rock star. Jeff is also an avid sailor on the Chesapeake Bay. We had a great conversation about sailing, podcasting, and life in general.

You can find Jeff’s podcast here:

https://theescapepods.com/shootin-the-breeze/

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, which is part 2, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed their first sail from Newport, Rhode Island, to Horta in the Azores. They were joined by Simon's father for the trip, making it a three-generation crossing of the Atlantic. Now that they have arrived in Horta, which is approximately two-thirds of the way across the Atlantic, we talk to them about their trip and how they are preparing to finish the final leg to the UK via Spain and France.

This is a long episode, so we will split this interview into two parts. This is part 2, so be sure to listen to EP-88, which is part 1. Also, listen to EP-84 and EP-85, where we talk to Simon and Sawyer about their preparations for the trip.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed their first sail from Newport, Rhode Island, to Horta in the Azores. They were joined by Simon's father for the trip, making it a three-generation crossing of the Atlantic. In previous episodes (EP-84 and EP-85), we talked to Simon and Sawyer about their preparations for their first Atlantic Ocean crossing in their Passport 40 sailboat. Now that they have arrived in Horta, which is approximately two-thirds of the way across the Atlantic, we talk to them about their trip and how they are preparing to finish the final leg to the UK via Spain and France.

This is a longer episode, so we will break this interview into two parts, this one - Episode 88, and Part 2, which you will be able to find as Episode 89.  

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits engages in a captivating conversation with David Gendell, a lifelong sailor from Annapolis, Maryland, and an accomplished author. Gendell's latest book, "The Last Days of the Schooner America," delves into the remarkable story of the winner of the inaugural America's Cup sailboat race and its subsequent journey after claiming victory. Gendell's profound expertise and unwavering passion for sailing are evident throughout the discussion as he expertly navigates the historical significance of the Schooner America and its enduring legacy within competitive sailing. Additionally, the podcast delves into the boat's remarkable journey after its competitive days came to an end, shedding light on the challenges of preserving historical artifacts in the world of sailing.

To get 2 free NauticEd Sailing courses, click on

https://www.nauticed.org/two-free-sailing-courses?school=bela-l-musits&utm_source=website&utm_medium=myhomepage" target="_blank"

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

This is the second part of a podcast in which Bela Musits interviews Mike Malekoff. Mike is a frequent guest on the show, and we have followed his journey from Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain south to the Bahamas. We now get an update on his return trip to the United States. If you missed part 1, check out episode 86.

In this episode, Bela and Mike discuss Mike's experiences on his return trip, including the challenges he faced and the things he learned. They also talk about Mike's plans for the future.

This is a fascinating episode that will appeal to anyone interested in travel, adventure, or self-discovery.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

This is the first part of a podcast in which Bela Musits interviews Mike Malekoff. Mike is a recurring guest on the show, and we have followed his journey from Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain south to the Bahamas. We now get an update on his return trip to the United States. 

In this episode, Bela and Mike discuss Mike's experiences on his return trip, including the challenges he faced and the things he learned. They also talk about Mike's plans for the future.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Welcome to part 2 of the podcast where Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son duo embarking on their first sail across the Atlantic. Simon's dad will also be joining, making it three generations on board. They are currently preparing their Passport 40 sailboat for the voyage and in this episode, we discuss the various elements of planning such a trip. In part 1, we covered in detail the preparation of the boat, and in this episode, we delve into ensuring the crew is ready for the journey and the weather routing service and communication systems they will be utilizing.

Since this is a longer episode, so we broke the interview into two parts, this is Part 2 - Episode 85.  If you missed Part 1 you will be able to find as Episode 84.  

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

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 preparing the boat, which we covered in detail.  We also discussed making sure the crew is ready for such a trip.

This is a longer episode, so we will break this interview into two parts, this one - Episode 84, and Part 2, which you will be able to find as Episode 85.  

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

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 supportive and understanding Veteran communities, ready to help veterans navigate the hardships of transition, rehabilitation after injury, and the complex life challenges associated with combat deployments. 

We had a great conversation about how Peter is preparing for this solo sailboat race across the Atlantic.  He’s been preparing for this adventure for several years.  The start of the race is on 24, September 2023.

To learn more about Peter, the Mini-Transat, and how you can support his efforts, click here:

https://www.pgnoceanracing.com/

Check out US Patriot Sailing here:

https://www.uspatriotsailing.org/

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

On today’s podcast, Bela Musits interviews 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, so make sure you listen to EP-81 which is part 1.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews 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, so make sure you listen to EP-82 which is part 2.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike