What We’re Watching
Global Voyagers
Ben Brehmer and Ashley Stobbart have been living full-time on their Lagoon 410 catamaran since 2016, voyaging across oceans and documenting life as long-term cruisers. Over the years they have visited some 35 countries and covered roughly 40,000 nautical miles, sharing their experiences through video storytelling on their YouTube channel, Sailing Nahoa. Their films cover the practicalities of bluewater passage-making, life aboard a catamaran with family, and the cultural encounters that come with slow travel by sea.
The couple’s story took an unexpected turn in late 2019 when they returned to Canada for the birth of their child and left their boat in Thailand. Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from retrieving the vessel, so they adapted by exploring the coast of British Columbia in a small 1974 Westerly Cirrus monohull while caring for their newborn. After a year apart, they were reunited with their Lagoon catamaran and are now planning a long tropical itinerary that includes stops in the Maldives, Chagos, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Africa. Their ongoing videos provide a candid look at preparation, route planning, provisioning, and family life aboard, valuable for anyone interested in long-term cruising or world voyaging.
More salty reads
Far Offshore
Richard Gibson has spent decades photographing big-game fishing and offshore life, and his new photography collection, Back “R” Down, compiles many of those striking images. The book presents scenes from open-ocean sportfishing: boats cutting through heavy seas, anglers locked in battle with tuna and billfish, leaping and flashing at the surface, and the unique moments of camaraderie and quiet between strikes. For readers interested in sportfishing, marine photography, or the visual drama of offshore boating, this book offers an immersive gallery that celebrates the skill and spectacle of life at sea.
Songs of the Bay
Janie Meneely brings together a lifetime of observation and musical tradition in Sing the Bay Fantastic!, a songbook rooted in the Chesapeake Bay’s working waters. A native of Annapolis, Meneely has long performed traditional Chesapeake folk music and sea shanties while keeping close ties to the people and vessels of the bay. This collection presents lyrics and sheet music alongside illustrations and short descriptive notes that illuminate the characters, trades, and places that define the region. The book is a resource for musicians, historians, and anyone who wants to connect with the maritime culture and oral traditions of the Chesapeake.
Skippering Skills
Skipper Tips for Every Day, compiled by Fridtjof Gunkel, delivers a practical seamanship tip for each day of the year, drawn from a wide range of sailors. The book covers foundational topics—anchoring and mooring, line handling and stowage, watchkeeping, living aboard and vessel maintenance—presented in concise, actionable entries. Whether you’re a novice preparing for your first passagemaking or an experienced skipper seeking reminders and fresh perspectives, this collection functions as a compact, easy-to-consult manual to improve safety, efficiency and confidence on deck.
Podcasts
Fierce Competitors
Off Watch is a weekly sailing podcast that profiles elite professional sailors from events such as the America’s Cup, Vendée Globe and around-the-world races. Host Niall Myant-Best talks with these competitors about the technical and human challenges of high-performance ocean racing—training, strategy, teamwork, risk management and the innovations that push the sport forward. Episodes explore personal stories of resilience and competitive spirit, making the series worthwhile for fans of professional sailing, aspiring racers, and anyone who enjoys behind-the-scenes accounts of demanding offshore competitions.
The podcast also frequently touches on the gear, navigation systems, race preparation and safety practices that matter when sailing at speed. For listeners interested in the cutting edge of seamanship, race tactics or the psychology of competition, Off Watch offers in-depth interviews and practical insights delivered by seasoned professionals.