The QUARTERDECK Sailing Podcast

Deep dives on the art of seam'nship. Technical discussions and lessons learned from all aspects of sailing, from leadership & preparation to sail trim, navigation and more. Hosted by professional skippers Andy Schell, Nikki Henderson & August Sandberg. Produced by 59º North Sailing. A podcast about leadership, sailing & seam'nship.

Crew & Captain Matchmaking

There are sailors out there without boats and there are boats without crew, and it is a common thing to use crewseekers and similar websites and forums to bring the two together. But, it can be a risky thing to set sail across an ocean with a person or a boat that you don't know, so in this episode, we'll help you with some tips on how to stay safe, and how to set yourself up for the best experience possible. We're also sharing a few horror stories along the way!  This podcast is brought to you by The Quarterdeck, our online sailing community! Join at quarterdeck.59-north.com for videos, articles, live sessions, and more! First two weeks free!

11-18
53:43

Sextants

In this episode, August and Andy dive deep into the timeless tool of celestial navigation- the trusty sextant. We'll give you everything from histrical perspective to practical tips on how to actually use one at sea. We hope this episode will get your mind off Starlink, Iridium and MFDs, and inspire you to look up from your GPS and connect with the stars. This podcast is brought to you by The Quarterdeck, our online sailing community! Join at quarterdeck.59-north.com for videos, articles, live sessions, and more! First two weeks free!

11-11
57:14

Satellite Communications in 2025

Iridium Mail has just shut down its service, prompting Andy Schell and August Sandberg to look for new solutions and take stock of the current world of satellite communications. Things are changing quickly, and smart, cost-effective solutions require not only a solid understanding of existing technology but also insight into the innovations that lies just over the horizon. --- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform! First two weeks free!

11-04
01:05:47

Electronic Navigation in 2025

Andy, August, and the Quarterdeck Sailing Podcast are back! A lot has happened in the world of electronic navigation since we last discussed this topic on the air. How do FALKEN and ISBJØRN navigate? What systems do we use? And what would we recommend for new setups? Thanks for tuning in! --- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform! First two weeks free!

10-28
48:41

Andy & Mia are buying another boat?

Andy and Mia joins August to give him the latest news on their boat hunt! Will there be another boat in the family?  For links to the listings as well as hi-res photos, join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform! First two weeks free!

09-24
01:01:50

Andy's boat shopping!

Andy is indeed shopping for a new boat, and we get to peek over his shoulder! Checking out the boats he is considering, the things he is looking for, as well as learning about his overall strategy and thought process. Man, this is fun! For a video recording, links to all the listings as well as hi-res photos, join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform! First two weeks free!

09-17
01:54:54

Shetland Race

The Shetland Race is a historic, 200 mile race across the notorious North Sea from Bergen to Lerwick. August recently completed the 2024 Shetland Race on ISBJØRN, and he's is eager to tell the story and to share the numerous lessons he learned.  -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

09-10
56:24

Radar Boat Rescue

Hear Andy's salty sea story of the time FALKEN and her trusty radar was called upon to rescue a boat that dragged her anchor and drifted out to sea without lights, AIS or any crew aboard. Last episode of the season! Please rate us and subscibe to catch us when the next season comes along! -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

06-18
49:32

Radar

Andy and August are back, this week talking about radar! What is it, and is it a necessary tool for the modern sailor? Plenty of sea stories in this one that might help you decide!  -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

06-11
49:16

Night Sailing

How different is it to sail in the dark, and what can you do to make it a safe, fun and even spiritual experience? Turn on your navlights, spin up your radar and join Andy Schell and August Sandberg in the cocpit for a dark night watch. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

06-04
56:34

Watch Systems

Andy Schell and August Sandberg answers questions from Quarterdeck members! This time tackling the popular topic of Watch Schedules. How do you manage rest, handover and crew pairing to make you passage as safe and enjoyable as possible? -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

05-28
47:40

New Sails for ISBJØRN!

ISBJØRN's white sails have 60 000 miles on them, and we are making new ones! Andy and August takes this opportunity to discuss how the sails have worked for them, and consider if they would want to change anything. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

05-21
46:01

Tool Inventory for Cruising

Self-sufficiency is one of the most important and attractive aspects of long-distance sailing, and a proper toolkit is arguably the most important step towards achieving it. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!

03-05
01:17:06

Catamaran Sail Plans

Quarterdeck Member Morgan Hunter reached out to ask us about sail plans for Catamarans, and we invited him on the podcast for a conversation on the topic with sail plan pundit Andy Schell! Check out Morgan and his many projects on skylarksailing.com. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free! 

02-27
34:22

ISBJØRN project update

Our amazing bosun Adam Browne returns to the podcast to talk to August about the latest and greatest upgrades and modifications that he recently worked on aboard ISBJØRN! Many new and exciting things happening on the boat! -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free! 

02-20
01:07:46

Rig Tuning

The Quarterdeck Sailing Podcast is back! ISBJØRN is about to have her mast stepped after having spent the winter in a cozy warm shed, and Andy and August takes a moment to remind themselves about best practises when you go to tune your rig up for the season.  -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free! 

02-13
54:02

Weather Routing

Andy and August talk offshore weather routing, with FALKEN's recent trip to Greenland as a case study. They discuss how to think about forecasts, considering alternatives, implications on comfort and crew morale, what to prioritize, and how it's different for racers and cruisers. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free! 

11-28
55:44

Orca Attacks

Andy Schell and his crew just returned to port after Falken's last sail of the year. They sailed through the Gulf of Cadiz - A stretch of water that offers a new and unique challenge to mariners in the form of attacking orcas! August and Andy talks about how to to deal with the attacks, as well as the moral implications of it all. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free! 

11-21
50:07

MFD Mounting Options

The Quarterdeck Podcast is back! It will feature conversations about projects and issues from the top of the 59 North agenda, providing some insight into our work and our decision making process. Going forward, we'll release weekly episodes any time "On the Wind" is between seasons. So we'll be there in your ears every Tuesday every week all the time! This week, Andy and August discusses MFD's and where to mount them. Enjoy! -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free! 

11-14
56:35

Debate: Coastal vs. Offshore

For the last debate of this season, we take a big step back and ask the big question: The sights, sounds and cultural input of coastal cruising? Or the freedom, desolation and peace of offshore sailing? Nikki Henderson and August Sandberg randomly pick a side in this heated discussion, and tries to convince the other, and the audience, of which is the best version of sailing. Will they succeed? Will they stay on topic? Will the debate devolve into crying and name-calling? Click play to find out!

09-06
49:53

Joe Johnson

Yes you can see 2.6 NM to the horizon if you're looking for a stick floating flat in the ocean. But that is largely irrelevant as no one has ever looked for that. If conversely, your feet are 3' above the water (typical sailboat deck) and you're looking for a 60' mast or building or hill, you can see 11.4 NM or very close to August and the other responses you've had. So they had the relevant answer to the typical situation and Andy had the technically precise, irrelevant answer.

02-17 Reply

Chris Eggert

Hey guys. Great topic. Andy and August are spot on on this topic. A couple points. Garmin purchased and have integrated Navionics about 4 years ago. Navionics is now a Garmin product. Also a common mistake. it's not pronounced "NeeMa". it's "N Mea". Because it's acronym is NMEA - National Marine Electronics Association, setting the marine standards ie. NMEA200. Not NEMA which is National Electrical Manufactures Asso. for home and business electric components. Thanks for all you guys do.

01-03 Reply

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