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The docklines aren’t off yet, but the journey’s already begun. From a quiet slip in Orange Beach, we walk through the exact work it takes to ready a 1998 Island Packet 320 for a run down Florida’s Gulf Coast, across the Keys, and over to Georgetown in the Exumas—repairs, routing, weather calls, and the steady courage to go. We start at the masthead with a rigorous rigging inspection: a too‑long Genoa luff corrected with a new head Kringle, a migrating swivel brought back into spec, aging sheaves flagged, traveler cam cleats replaced with Harken 150s, and a fresh VHF cable run down the spar. It’s the kind of preventative detail that keeps a furler smooth and a solo sailor safe when the wind pipes up.

Belowdecks, a routine engine check turns serious: a leaking fuel pump leads to a cracked exhaust manifold diagnosis and a race to source the new part before departure. We talk through why manifolds matter, what a cleaned exhaust elbow buys you, and how to choose a no‑go line that honors both the calendar and the sea. On the electronics side, a Garmin Reactor 40 gets fully calibrated, chartplotter data and Auto Guidance charts are restored, and a remote finally brings the autopilot to the helm—a small shift that pays off across Florida’s Big Bend on a long night to Tarpon Springs.

Routes and weather get specific. We lay out a realistic hop plan—Destin, Panama City, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola—then the jump across, with alternatives based on 15–20 knots on the nose and bridge clearances too close to flirt with. In the Keys, Key Biscayne becomes both staging ground and vet stop for two boat‑curious cats with their Bahamas permit, lifeline netting, and tiny PFDs. Then it’s Bimini, Northwest Channel, and south through the Exumas, with community‑sourced tips like Norman’s Pond in a cream forecast and sensible cuts to reach Georgetown.

Threaded through the checklists is the reason for going. We talk openly about loss, faith, and choosing a busy anchorage over a lonely one; about how a rigging report, a diesel part, and a handful of spares can become a way to rebuild confidence; and about the generosity of the cruising network when you need it most. If you’ve been sketching your own passage to the Bahamas—or you just love the craft of making a boat ready—this is your map, your nudge, and your weather window.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a sailor who’s planning their crossing, and leave a review with your best Big Bend or Bimini tip—we’ll read our favorites on a future episode.

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SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

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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 recently took her 17-year-old daughter on her first offshore passage. "I wanted to make sure my daughter had a good experience," Karen explains, "so understanding the weather, routing it, and letting her know what to expect was key."

We explore why using multiple forecast models creates more confidence than relying on a single source. "It's like having six meteorologists sitting around the table," Karen notes, demonstrating how consensus between models helps sailors make better decisions. The discussion covers everything from high-resolution forecasting that reveals wind funneling between islands to detailed comfort parameters like roll and vertical acceleration that can predict seasickness before you leave the dock.

Perhaps most fascinating is how modern technology can learn your boat's actual performance over time, building custom polar diagrams that make routing increasingly accurate. We also discover how over-the-horizon AIS integration allows sailors to plan around fishing fleets or shipping lanes up to 300 nautical miles away – potentially avoiding those nerve-wracking 2AM encounters.

Whether you're planning your first offshore passage or your fiftieth, this episode offers practical insights into using weather technology to sail smarter, safer, and more comfortably. Try these tools on your next passage and experience the confidence that comes from truly understanding what lies ahead.

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7

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 remarkable evolution of Sailing Delos—from a single man's escape plan to a global sailing phenomenon that has hosted over 70 crew members, crossed multiple oceans, and weathered storms with 50+ knot winds in the Indian Ocean. Brian shares his philosophy during those harrowing moments: "Let the boat take care of you, she will. It's the crew you got to worry about."

The journey transformed dramatically when Brian met Karin (Kaz) in New Zealand. What started as an invitation for a weekend sail blossomed into a lifelong partnership, marriage, and eventually the birth of their daughter Sierra, who at six years old has already sailed 15,000 miles and visited 13 countries by boat. Her unique upbringing offers powerful lessons in resource conservation, global citizenship, and adaptability that traditional education simply can't provide.

Now, Sailing Delos is undergoing its most ambitious evolution yet—the creation of Delos 2.0, a custom aluminum diesel-electric catamaran being built in Brisbane, Australia. This revolutionary vessel will feature 5,000-6,000 watts of solar power, 54 kilowatt-hours of batteries, and a hybrid propulsion system designed to showcase what sustainable cruising could look like in the future. The rugged, expedition-ready design reflects their desire to explore higher latitudes while incorporating all the lessons learned from years at sea.

Whether you're dreaming of your own escape or simply curious about alternative lifestyles, this conversation offers a window into what's possible when you're willing to chart your own course—literally and figuratively. As Brian reminds us: "If you're not doing something that you love, make time to go out and do it... whatever your life holds, make the most of it."

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist
Wanna create a Livestream?: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608

GEAR FEATURED IN MY UPCOMING VIDEOS:
🛟 Boat Fenders → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S1PXKKR
⚓ Dock Lines → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BNYR9
🧽 Exterior Cleaning Kit → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL533KR7