Brent bought Stargazer, an Endurance 35 six years ago in Vancouver and has since been restoring and rebuilding her. She has been almost completely rebuilt and now looks like a work of art. She can be seen on Instagram @storyofstargazer.

We talk about the restoration process and get into the details of wood, joints, fiberglass, sanding, varnish, paint, woodworking, the decision to buy an old boat that needs work or a boat ready to go, electronics, chainplates, balancing living the experience with recording the moment, where to go, wilderness anchorages, dealing with internet offshore, and more.

Links and photos are on the podcast shownotes page

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Melanie Neale grew up on sailboats and has always lived the sailing and cruising life. She's been a yachtbroker for ten years and now owns Sunshine Cruising Yachts based in St. Augustine, Florida. I met Melanie years ago when I was looking for my first boat, and we've stayed in touch.

We talk about boats Melanie likes, the Caliber 40 LRC, Island Packets, the Nicholson 31, the right size boat to singlehand, bolt-on keels, water intrusion around keel bolts, the steps involved in buying a boat, boat shows, common mistakes in boat buying, marinas, insurance, financing boats, maintenance, affects of Covid on the market, the market today, looking at boats, Melanie's dream boat, the benefits of a forgiving boat, moorings, The Bahamas, sharks, and more.

Photos and links are on the shownotes page

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Istvan Kopar took 4th place in the 2018 Golden Globe Race - and was one of only five finishers. Next year on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, he will be attempting to be the first person to sail from the USA solo nonstop westbound around the world via the three great capes and he will be doing it at the same time as the GGR 2026 boats will be going the other way around the world.

We talk about his ambitions, his new boat - a Valiant 42, preparing for the westbound circumnavigation, his book Kihivas, his first circumnavigation with one stop on his boat Salammbô, the 2018 GGR, emergency tillers, navigation, heavy weather sailing techniques - heaving to, solo sailing, drogues, favorite land sightings, sharks, orcas, other wildlife, and more.

Photos and links are on the shownotes page

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