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"The least advertised tragedy is the fear or dislike of sailing that can be instilled in your prospective sailing partners when your lack of skill leads to a few incidents that could have been avoided if you'd spent a little more time practicing sailing skills."
Lin & Larry Pardey
The Self-Sufficient Sailor
"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've got it in you, alright, everyone's got it in them, it isn't a special dispensation from a selective Providence. It is just a question of whether you have the guts to apply it. It struck me that I must be pretty dumb, for most people come by it naturally, but I had to sail across thousands of miles of ocean to find out that courage is the key to living."
Ann Davison
My Ship is So Small
"That's how you succeed doing crazy stuff, right? You gotta be conservative in your day-to-day, even though the overall plan is not conservative, it's kind of crazy. But stay in the middle, man."
Matt Rutherford
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #506
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"I live by a couple of rules concerning reefing when on long voyages. The first is that if the thought crosses my mind that I should reef, then I do it without debate. It's a great way for me not to push the boat too hard. The second is my 'cup of tea' rule. Wind, by its very nature, is unpredictable, so if the winds have eased to the point that I could easily sail with one less reef in the mainsail, I wait the time it takes me to make and drink a cup of tea before doing anything. The process normally takes around thirty minutes, so if the winds are still light when I'm done then I will shake out the reef and hoist more sail. More often than not, a gust will have come through that means I need to keep the reef in place to ensure I'm not overpowered in the gusts."
Lisa Blair
FACING FEAR
"A lot of risk comes from trying to speed things up. A lack of patience changes the outcome."
Shane Parrish
Farnam Street
"In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away, when a body has been stripped down to its nakedness."
Antoine de Saint Exupery
WIND, SAND & STARS
"It must be remembered that on long offshore passages a well-built and well-equipped boat will stand up to much more rough weather than will the crew."
Don Street
The Ocean Sailing Yacht, Vol. 1
"The gratification that I get from coaching and teaching these guys and then finishing a Bermuda race is just knowing that I facilitated getting these guys from sort of point A to point Z... look at what these guys have accomplished, and I've helped facilitate that."
Jahn Tihansky
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #489
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"The 3 most important things are attitude, attitude, and attitude. Because if the attitude is right, you survive and you learn everything you don't need to learn."
Tapio Lehtinen
Andy Schell's ON THE WIND Podcast, #398
Listen
"Cause without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet."
Cameron Crowe
Vanilla Sky (Movie)
"You'll be bothered from time to time by storms, fog, snow. When you are, think of those who went through it before you, and say to yourself, 'What they can do, I can do.'"
Antoine de Saint Exupery
WIND, SAND & STARS
"The more technology we add, the more likely we are to get ourselves into a situation where that stuff absolutely must work, and the less likely it is that we will be able to manage safely without it."
John Harries
ATTAINABLE ADVENTURE CRUISING
"It's called wayfinding, princess. It's not just sails and knots. It's seeing where you're going in your mind. Knowing where you are, by knowing where you've been."
Maui
Moana
"The tough part is making departures, shedding the shackles of society's expectations, kicking the addiction of electronic connections, subverting the guilt of our own obligations, and pushing off the dock physically and metaphorically."
John Kretschmer
Sailing a Serious Ocean
"There was no hurry now, Joshua was to spend the winter in Casablanca, where the local yacht club had provided us with a safe mooring in extremely pleasant and gay company. The club members are really keen sailors who go out every weekend even if a howling gale whistles through the rigging, and many of them perform quite admirable feats of seamanship in leaving their moorings under sail alone, without a hitch and as though it were the most natural thing in the world. A real pleasure to watch."
Bernard Moitessier
Cape Horn: The Logical Route
"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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"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
"What did we do all the time on this uneventful passage? Nothing, absolutely nothing, except live in communion with our boat, which was sailing happily towards the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, Tahiti, with plenty of wind, wind, wind. One must have sailed far away from any land to know how full and rewarding a day at sea can be without anything happening. It is so different from coastal sailing where one is always a little apprehensive, tense, prepared for anything. Out there, in the open sea, we were prepared simply to live."
Bernard Moitessier
The First Voyage of the Joshua
"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

"I have been on two 59º North voyages—Antigua to Cartagena on FALKEN and Sail Training Camp on ISBJØRN in Norway last May 19-26. What I love about sailing is the absolute focus and concentration required for those fleeting moments of joy when it all comes together perfectly. Fair winds, good sails, a sturdy boat are all I want—the rest is a distraction."

Kathy
|
2025
|
FALKEN
|
Falmouth-Cartegena
United States
|
🇺🇸
1,285
Miles sailed
2
Passages sailed

"I’ve sailed with 59º North four times—each has been a unique and gratifying experience. Sailing with like-minded folks, captained by the best in the biz, in well-maintained vessels has been the highlight of my 40-year sailing career. I’ve learned so much about sailing and myself on my 59º North adventures."

Karl
|
2023
|
FALKEN
|
Portsmouth-Portsmouth
United States
|
🇺🇸
3,931
Miles sailed
4
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

"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

"Having sailed on ISBJØRN in 2019 from Puerto Rico to Key West, I was excited to join another 59º North passage. Meeting the crew in Las Palmas for the trans-Atlantic passage on FALKEN was a fantastic experience, sharing cultural perspectives and sailing knowledge with people from six different countries. I learned so much, from safety procedures to specialized sail trimming, and made great friends on that journey."

Kevin
|
2025
|
FALKEN
|
Las Palmas-Falmouth
United States
|
🇺🇸
4,139
Miles sailed
2
Passages sailed

"59º North runs the most professional offshore training program you can find, and it shows in their professionalism, leadership, skill, and service. I felt honored to be part of the maiden voyage of FALKEN—she's a beauty, and the 59º North refit crew did an amazing job! Shout out to Nikki Henderson (Captain) and Alex Laline (Mate) for inspiring, knowledgeable, and caring leadership. I can't imagine having a better experience with any other."

Alex
|
2023
|
FALKEN
|
Portsmouth-Portsmouth
United States
|
🇺🇸
1,253
Miles sailed
1
Passages sailed

"I had an unbelievable sailing experience aboard ISBJØRN with Naxo as skipper and David as apprentice. They took special care to accommodate everyone's wants and needs, and we sailed every point of sail, practiced MOB drills, docking, navigating, trip planning, and weather forecasting. The food was hot, plentiful, and varied, even during our cold offshore passage. I plan on doing this trip again and recommend that you do too. Thanks to 59º North, Naxo, and David."

Daniel
|
2026
|
ISBJØRN
|
Bergen-Bergen
United States
|
🇺🇸
1,285
Miles sailed
2
Passages sailed