Send us a text Emerald waters, secluded beaches, and tropical breezes await in the Florida Keys—America's own Caribbean paradise. But how can you experience this boater's dream without draining your cruising kitty on expensive marinas? Our expert local guests John and Vanessa Lindsley, seasoned Key West sailors, reveal the secrets to finding gorgeous, protected anchorages throughout these island chains. This knowledge-packed episode delivers essential wisdom for anyone planning to cruise Flo...
Send us a text Have you ever found yourself desperately checking multiple weather apps before casting off, still uncertain if you're making the right call? In this episode, we dive deep into the technology that's revolutionizing how sailors make weather-based decisions with Karen McMaster from PredictWind. Karen brings extraordinary credentials to this conversation – she's not just a support team member at PredictWind, but a third-generation sailor who has raced around the world twice and re...
Send us a text What does it take to completely transform your life? For Brian of Sailing Delos, it was a moment of clarity in his manager's office, staring at a corporate org chart and realizing he wanted something entirely different. After walking away from his software career, selling everything he owned, and buying a sailboat, Brian embarked on what was supposed to be an 18-month adventure that has now stretched into 14 extraordinary years. This conversation takes us through the remarkabl...
Send us a text The transformative journey from land to sea captures the imagination of many adventurers, but few make the leap quite like Billy and Lizzie of Two Brits, One Box. In this captivating conversation, they reveal how they traded their RV lifestyle for life aboard their 1980 Pearson 365 sailboat, Stephney Thames—with absolutely no sailing experience. Their story begins on the highways of Canada and the United States, where their RV adventures took them through the stunning landscap...
Send us a text What drives someone to leave everything behind and race solo across an ocean? Five years ago, Amber Hassan didn't know how to sail. Today, she's preparing to cross the Atlantic alone in one of sailing's most challenging races. Her journey from New York professional to offshore racer began during the pandemic when she escaped to the Florida Keys and discovered an unexpected passion that would completely transform her life. Amber shares the pivotal moment when watching the Vendé...
Send us a text Some audio issues with one of my guests, Christian Parker. He was on his boat in the Florida Keys and was using his phone for the Livestream. What does true sailing freedom look like? For Christian (better known as @ShipwreckedSurvivor) and his fiancée Pippa, it's about stripping away the unnecessary, embracing simplicity, and making this ancient art accessible to everyone—not just the wealthy elite. Their sailing journey defies conventional wisdom at every turn. C...
Send us a text 📅 Wed, 6pm CT 8/20/25 📍 Live on @SaltyAbandon (FB, IG, X) + @SVSaltyAbandon (YouTube) ▶️ Playlist & past episodes: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist Dive into the fascinating world of luxury yachting with Hugo Ortega, a 500-ton Superyacht captain, mentor, and the new bosun on Below Deck Season 12. In this candid conversation, Hugo reveals his unlikely journey from dissatisfied engineer to commanding multi-million dollar vessels, offering a rare glimpse behind the cur...
Send us a text The truth about yacht insurance isn't what most boat owners expect to hear. As insurance veteran Keri Gonzalez reveals in this candid conversation, "Insurance is not your friend, we're not a good neighbor, you're not in good hands." With 36 years of experience as an insurance broker, Keri strips away the marketing slogans to expose what boat owners need to understand about their coverage—especially for older vessels. For owners of boats over 26 years old, the insurance landsca...
Send us a text Austin embodies what he calls the "tropical freedom mindset" – a philosophy that's taken him from the digital nomad scenes of Costa Rica and Colombia to his current life aboard Cha-Cha, a lovingly restored 1965 Choilee Bermuda 30 catch rig sailboat. With refreshing candor, he admits he's still learning to sail, yet his plans to navigate south to Florida and the Bahamas reflect a courage that comes from calculated risk assessment rather than reckless abandonment. What makes Aus...
Send us a text What does it look like when you refuse to choose between career and adventure? Casey and Steve have found that sweet spot—spending half the year aboard their 50-foot aluminum sailboat and the other half working as expedition leaders on ships traveling to Antarctica and the Arctic. Their story begins at a whale research station in British Columbia, where marine biologist Casey met Steve, who was leading paddleboard expeditions through the Great Bear Rainforest. Their shared pas...
Send us a text Watch Full Episode https://youtube.com/live/Pf-pWDAL048 When Maya and Aladino first laid eyes on their Cape George 36, most sailors would have walked away. What appeared decent from the outside concealed extensive rot and deterioration beneath. But this creative couple—whose backgrounds seemed destined for a nomadic seafaring life—saw potential where others saw a hopeless project. Five years of intensive rebuilding later, they've transformed a near-derelict vessel into a stunn...
Send us a text The allure of crystal-clear Bahamian waters calls countless sailors each year, but planning that perfect island-hopping adventure requires insider knowledge and careful preparation. In this special bonus episode of the Salty Podcast, I'm sharing my upcoming journey from Orange Beach to Georgetown, Exumas—a voyage that represents both adventure and healing after the loss of my husband nine months ago. Joined by experienced sailors Key West John and surprise guest Hayden, we div...
Send us a text Have you ever dreamed of escaping to paradise without emptying your savings account? Meet Stan Loveday, a sailor, author, and retired firefighter who traded his landlocked existence for the gentle rocking of his sailboat "Southeast Up Disorder" in Key West's mooring field. Stan reveals the remarkable economics of his lifestyle choice – paying just $450 monthly for a mooring ball versus the staggering $3,000+ that marina slips command. But this isn't a story about sacrifi...
Send us a text Buying a boat isn't just a transaction—it's the gateway to freedom, adventure, and a lifestyle that many dream about but aren't always prepared for. Sisters Melanie and Carolyn Neale from Sunshine Cruising Yachts bring their extraordinary background as lifelong sailors and yacht brokers to this enlightening conversation about what it really takes to find your perfect vessel. Check out Melanie's Books: Boat Buying Basics: https://amzn.to/4ez2vUP Boat Girl: https://am...
Send us a text What happens when a 60-year-old retired teacher decides to sail solo from New England to the Bahamas? Deborah Hammett's remarkable journey proves that our boldest chapters can begin exactly when society expects us to slow down. After three decades teaching on Martha's Vineyard, Deborah traded lesson plans for navigation charts and sailed her 36-foot Jeanneau "Mavia" over 1,500 miles - mostly alone. Her transition wasn't without challenges. From anchoring alone near Harlem at n...
Send us a text The moment Jerome Rand set sail from the United States in his 1975 Westsail 32, he entered a world few modern sailors will ever experience. For 271 consecutive days, battling the planet's most treacherous waters completely alone, Rand wasn't just testing his sailing abilities – he was discovering the very edges of human resilience. What makes Rand's journey uniquely compelling is his deliberate choice to forego modern sailing advantages. Selecting a heavy, full-keeled vessel o...
Send us a text What drives someone with zero ocean experience to sail 2,500 miles across the Pacific alone with just a cat as crew? Oliver's remarkable journey from Oregon to Hawaii captivated millions, transforming him from an unknown sailor with a few thousand followers into a viral sensation greeted as a hero upon his arrival in Waikiki. The raw authenticity of his story resonates deeply with people seeking inspiration in their own lives. "I think everybody's kind of at this breaking poin...
Send us a text What does it take to transform from a military officer into a global sailor chasing the horizon? Captain James Canning's journey aboard his Regina 43 sailboat Archila reveals the realities behind the sailing dream – equal parts adventure, challenge, and unexpected wildlife encounters. From his early days learning on small dinghies in central England to navigating the treacherous waters near Gibraltar where orcas systematically attack sailboats, James shares candid insights abo...
Send us a text Rich Whitlock (@rich_whitlock9603) shares the smart upgrades he’s made to his 2018 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419—from ☀️ solar and 📡 Starlink to 🧭 chartplotters & more. Whether you're refitting your cruiser or dreaming of the liveaboard life, this episode is packed with tips and gear talk you don’t want to miss. Ever wondered what happens when submarine engineering meets modern sailing? Rich Whitlock, a former nuclear submarine officer with a mechanical engineering backgro...
Send us a text What if you could walk away from everything? The bills, the commute, the endless cycle of working to pay for things you barely have time to enjoy? Captain Mark J. Reinhardt didn't just dream about it—he did it. Speaking from his sailboat in the Solomon Islands, Mark takes us deep into the realities of living completely off-grid on the open water. With candid honesty rarely found in sailing narratives, he reveals both the breathtaking freedom and sobering challenges of his unco...