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"...we were to discover that happiness has no frontiers, that it's a state of mind and not a possession, not a set route through life, not a goal to gained but something that steals in gently like an evening mist or the morning sunlight - something beyond our control."
Robin Lee Graham
Dove
"The single most important thing you can do, by far and bar none, to become a safe and happy offshore cruiser is to go to sea as crew with an experienced skipper on a good boat. No amount of inshore sailing or reading replaces this vital step on the road to becoming a competent offshore sailor."
John Harries
Morganscloud.com
"Sail training continues to become more valuable because it is an opportunity to help people unplug from society and experience nature, the environment, and each other in a way that is irreplaceable."
Will Sofrin
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #503
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"Decision is the hardest part — execution is easy." Robin's consistent philosophy across every venture, from the Golden Globe to the Clipper Race, is that once the decision is made, the obstacles largely dissolve. He doesn't agonize; he acts. "The thinking about it is the hard part. It's much easier to make the decision and get on with it."
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #163
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"I'm in the Northwest Passage, I'm cold, I'm wet a lot, I'm hungry, I'm sleep deprived, like properly sleep deprivation at times. I had every right and reason to be miserable, right? Cold, wet, tired, hungry, and miserable. But being miserable was not going to give me sleep. It's not going to give me a warm meal. It wasn't gonna give me a hot shower. It wasn't gonna give me any of those things. So you might as well enjoy the moment, you know?"
Matt Rutherford
ON THE WIND Podcast, #487
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"I don't think there is one answer to heavy weather. I think every tactic that there is has got a very good argument for why it should be used and a very good argument for why it shouldn't be used. And there's success and disaster stories of I would say all of them. And every storm is different, every skipper is different, every crew is different, every boat."
Susie Goodall
ON THE WIND Podcast, #305
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"The more you know, the less you need."
Yvon Chouinard
Patagonia
"To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. Otherwise, you are doomed to a routine traverse, the kind known to yachtsmen who play with their boats at sea… 'cruising' it is called. Voyaging belongs to seamen, and to the wanderers of the world who cannot, or will not, fit in. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about. I've always wanted to sail to the south seas, but I can't afford it." What these men can't afford is not to go. They are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of "security." And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine – and before we know it our lives are gone. What does a man need – really need? A few pounds of food each day, heat and shelter, six feet to lie down in – and some form of working activity that will yield a sense of accomplishment. That's all – in the material sense, and we know it. But we are brainwashed by our economic system until we end up in a tomb beneath a pyramid of time payments, mortgages, preposterous gadgetry, playthings that divert our attention for the sheer idiocy of the charade. The years thunder by, The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed. Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?"
Sterling Hayden
Wanderer
"A lot of risk comes from trying to speed things up. A lack of patience changes the outcome."
Shane Parrish
Farnam Street
"I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas and land on barbarous coasts."
Herman Melville
MOBY DICK
"Cause without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet."
Cameron Crowe
Vanilla Sky (Movie)
"To me, seamanship is what we do. It's like breathing... It's not just a checklist of knowing how to tie a bowline... it's an attitude."
John Rousmaniere
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #36
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"While I supposed myself to be looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a landsman by everyone onboard as soon as I give in sight. A sailor has a peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a green hand can never get."
Richard Henry Dana
TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST
"The word 'experienced' often refers to someone who's gotten away with doing the wrong thing more frequently than you have."
Laurence Gonzales
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
"If you want to sail around the world to say that you've done it, well, don't do it because you have the wrong attitude. If you really, really want to do something because you love the ocean, you want to see the world as it is still now before it is too late, then do it."
Jimmy Cornell
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #502
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"People really don't truly understand what real life is until you experience being that far offshore away from land. And it is unbelievably the best feeling on the planet. And I would do anything to be back every day."
Cole Brauer
ON THE WIND Podcast, #482
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"I rarely remember my dreams ashore but almost always do at sea. Something about sleeping in a washing machine allows better access to the subconscious."
John Kretschmer
Sailing a Serious Ocean
"You can just look at the globe and just see you can cross oceans from where you are now, and that's like a mind-blowing thought for me."
Øyvind Nilssen
ON THE WIND Podcast, #504
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"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth, a nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present. In this limitless nation, this nation of wind, light, and peace, there is no other ruler besides the sea."
Bernard Moitessier
The Long Way
"If you're going to build anything that endures, it's got to have a really clear purpose, a really great sense of belonging, and a sense of belief as well."
Conrad Humphreys
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #500
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"The experience was more than I hoped for in every way. I felt completely at home on the open water in our mighty vessel and with a wonderful crew that quickly became family. All of the staff at 59º North were kind, professional, fun, knowledgeable, and friendly. I will be back!"

Lucinda
|
2025
|
ISBJØRN
|
Bergen-Torshavn
United States
|
🇺🇸
540
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"When I think back to my trip across the North Sea on ICEBEAR, the memories uplift me and fill me with warmth and gratitude. Unplugging from the corporate world and embracing the beauty the ocean has to offer with 59º North molded me into a slightly different version of myself, in the most magical ways. I went home after 11 days with a more courageous yet humbled energy, realizing how capable and excited I am to take on new challenges."

Katelyn
|
2022
|
ICEBEAR
|
Marstrand-Portsmouth
United States
|
🇺🇸
1,336
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"What an incredible experience! I am so grateful to have been on the leg from Reykjavik to Stornoway over the solar eclipse. ISBJØRN is an incredible ship—sturdy, safe, comfortable (not to mention her amazing and somewhat scandalous history!). Feeling ever grateful to 59º North for this journey."

Molly
|
2026
|
ISBJØRN
|
Reykjavik-Stornoway
United States
|
🇺🇸
884
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"Some of us seek out more meaning through travel rather than escaping from life. We want to be stronger tomorrow than we are today."

Corey
|
2026
|
FALKEN
|
Hawaii-Prince Rupert
United States
|
🇺🇸
2,627
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"It was such an experience! Meeting all the people and being part of the crew is something very special. We were so lucky to spend the passage on FALKEN; the nature and weather gave us the best, and I really wish it could have lasted longer."

Charlotte
|
2025
|
FALKEN
|
Panama City-San Cristobal
Sweden
|
🇸🇪
980
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"Great time sailing on FALKEN with Alex, Adam, and Zoe from Hawaii to B.C.! The passage took about 2 weeks, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, dolphins, whales, fast speeds, and big waves. FALKEN handles rough weather with ease, and the experienced staff made this passage a piece of cake. By the end of the trip, I was already looking at next year’s openings to sign up for!"

Nikolay
|
2026
|
FALKEN
|
Hawaii-Prince Rupert
United States
|
🇺🇸
4,354
Miles sailed
3
Passages sailed

"Sailing from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas with 59º North Sailing was an outstanding experience that I would recommend to anyone seeking offshore sailing combined with exceptional instruction and seamanship. The lead crew, Andy, Mary, and Ryan, created a professional and welcoming environment focused on safety, preparation, and teamwork. I came away with much more confidence in offshore sailing and a deeper understanding of ocean passagemaking. 59º North delivers an authentic offshore experience, expert leadership, and an adventure that builds both skills and confidence."

Kirk
|
2026
|
FALKEN
|
San Diego-La Paz
United States
|
🇺🇸
846
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed