Øyvind Nilssen // Lofoten Raftup Rerun
On the Wind Sailing
Back in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, August and Øyvind Nilssen were both out sailing on two very different boats. He was sailing in Lofoten, and August was passing through on a brand-new Bavaria he was delivering along the Norwegian coast. They rafted up together in a beautiful little cove, and had a hell of a party that night. The next morning, they found some peace and quiet to record this podcast. -- Support the podcast & become a member of , where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only forum and talk boats, gear,...
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Will Sofrin // The Nazi Origins of the USCG EAGLE
On the Wind Sailing
Will Sofrin returns to the podcast to talk about his new book on the USCG EAGLE tall ship. Will, a former "yachtie" turned tallship sailor, first came on the show back in 2023 to talk about delivering the ship used in the film Master & Commander, which became the subject of his first book, "All Hands on Deck," which I LOVE and which has a place in FALKEN's onboard library. This time we talked about his budding career as a writer since the success of that first book, the incredible Nazi history of the EAGLE and about leadership in the wider context. -- Support the podcast & become a...
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Jimmy Cornell // The Godfather of Offshore Cruising
On the Wind Sailing
The one and only Jimmy Cornell joins the podcast for the first time to talk about his legendary career as the godfather of offshore cruising. Jimmy, now 86, has led an extraordinary life - he escaped communist Romania to go on to become one of the icons of cruising under sail. He's circumnavigated three times, sailed to the far north and the far south, and recently published the 10th edition of his cruising bible "World Cruising Routes." Jimmy and I discuss his remarkable career on this wide-ranging and wild podcast conversation. -- Support the podcast & become a member of , where...
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Gunnar Christensen // From Yacht Captain to Golden Globe Sailor
On the Wind Sailing
Gunnar Christensen is a career yacht captain and racing sailor who is in the midst of pivoting to sail solo, nonstop around the world in the upcoming Golden Globe Race. Gunnar and I talked about his origins as a sailor in New England, his varied career on yachts and racing boats and about the prep on his Bob Perry-designed boat for the round-the-world voyage. Gunnar is the first guest we've had on the show who came to record in-person at the new Mission Control in Sweden! Follow his progress in the GGR at -- Support the podcast & become a member of , where Andy, August & Mia...
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Conrad Humphreys // Captain Bligh & Rounding Cape Horn
On the Wind Sailing
Conrad Humphries is a career sailor and his adventures have truly run the gamut. He's done everything from Whitbread round-the-world racing to re-enacting the famous voyage of Captain Bligh for a BBC television series. I was connected to him through a mutual friend while Conrad was skippering the racing yacht HOUND, one of my all-time favorite boats (look it up!). Despite his love for sailing fast, Conrad actually bought the replica BOUNTY launch after the filming and sails it on the southwest coast of the UK. Check out his latest adventures on -- Support the podcast & become a member...
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Ben Doerr // "Hose it or Lose it!"
On the Wind Sailing
Ben Doerr, friend of the pod, of Sail Bainbridge out in Seattle, returns to the show to talk about a near-miss he and his friends had recently in Alaska. On what should have been Day 1 of their latest Sail 2 Ski adventure, a mile or so outside the harbor the boat caught fire in the engine room. Thanks to some quick-thinking and a lot of good luck, they managed to save the boat, did no harm to the crew, and even managed to get in some skiing later in the week. This is the story. -- Support the podcast & become a member of , where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of...
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Andy Schell ARCHIVE // Mentally Preparing to go Offshore (2014)
On the Wind Sailing
Most sailors obsess over boat gear and weather routing — but Andy Schell argues the single most important factor in a successful offshore passage is something almost nobody talks about: your mental state. Drawing on marathon training philosophy, solo circumnavigation stories, and his own mid-Atlantic spiritual awakening, this seminar reframes ocean sailing as an emotional journey with predictable stages — and teaches you how to navigate each one. This episode was originally recorded as a live seminar back in 2014, before 59º North was even a thing. You can read the full transcript and...
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Matt Rutherford // Around the Arctic (in a Valiant This Time!)
On the Wind Sailing
When Matt first went around the America's in his Albin Vega in 2011 (becoming the first and only person, still to this day, to do it solo and nonstop), he didn't have a radar despite all the icebergs. "I'd also rather have a Valiant 42"! he'd joke when people asked about it. Well, now he does! Matt is about to set forth on another epic adventure, aiming to circumnavigate the Arctic, above the Northwest & NorthEAST passages, on a Valiant 42 on loan from a friend (and 59º North crew I should add). I talked to Matt, with our mutual friend Ryan Finstad in attendance, in Annapolis two weeks...
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Mia & Andy // 2025 Year-In-Review (Only 3 Months Late!)
On the Wind Sailing
Mia and Andy sit down in the new Mission Control to review the year that was 2025! And we're only 3 months late in doing it! Each year Mia & Andy like to record a podcast in which we reflect on the past year and share some stories. So much happens over the course a year with us and 59º North that it's tough to keep track of it all in the moment! You'll be shocked at some of the stats we come up with in this episode. So grab a coffee or a beer depending on what timezone you're listening to this in, and join Mia & Andy on reflecting on last year! -- Support the podcast & become a...
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Ben Soofer // Making a career in sailing
On the Wind Sailing
Ben Soofer joined 59 North back in 2018, working with media and on the backend of this very podcast. He then started sailing as a mate, including joining August on his first offshore passage on Isbjørn. He’s then gone on to start his own business, and working with many others. August caught up with him to reminisce about the past, share some old sea stories, and talk about how Ben’s made a unique career out of his passion. -- Support the podcast & become a member of , where Andy, August & Mia dive deep on the art of seam'nship. Nerd out with us on our members-only...
info_outline#292. Gunnar Krantz has competed in 4 of the iconic Whitbread/Volvo Round-the-World races, skippering two of them and sailing hundreds of thousands of offshore miles in the process. He was also recently the skipper of the Swedish TV show 'Over Atlanten', where he shepherded 6 non-sailing Swedish celebrities across the Pond in a Swan 80. Gunnar visited Andy & Mia on their farm to record a fascinating interview about his career.
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Signup for our VIRTUAL celestial nav workshop, starting May 16, on 59-north.com/celestial.
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Join 59º North LIVE! During the coronavirus lockdown we're hosting FREE Live Sessions, 1-2 hour topical discussions on all things ocean sailing. From Offshore Weather Fundamentals to Dyneema Splicing, Live Interviews & more. It's highly interactive - audience members can come on screen to ask questions, chat, etc. It's a blast! Check out 59-north.com/live to learn more and see the LIVE Session schedule!
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ON THE WIND is presented by Sailing Yacht Power Solutions - makers of the revolutionary power generation solution that eliminates the need for a separate generator and uses your current engine installation. Contact S/Y Power Solutions at Info@sypowers.com
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ON THE WIND is also supported by Weems & Plath, makers of fine nautical & weather instruments since 1928, And Chesapeake Sailmakers, Local Annapolis based sailmaker, and distributer of Elvstrom Sails.