Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the USA

In this podcast episode, Bela Musits interviews returning guest Mike Malekoff.  In previous episodes, we followed Mike's journey from Lake Champlain to the Bahamas and his return to the USA. While he meticulously planned his trip to the Bahamas, he hadn't quite figured out what he would do upon his return to the United States. Since Mike doesn't live on his boat full-time, he needed to find a place to store it during hurricane season. As it turns out, this task is not as simple as it sounds. It's crucial to thoroughly read your boat insurance policy, as certain requirements may need to be met to maintain coverage. Additionally, it's important to avoid the rush of other boaters who are also seeking storage for their vessels during hurricane season.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela Musits interviews Mark Teizen. He is a repeat guest, having been on the podcast in episodes 79 and 80.  This episode is the conclusion of the grounding of his Catalina 445 onto the beach and the subsequent refloating of the boat and repairs. Mark discusses the lessons he learned from the experience, including the repair process and tips for working with the repair facility.

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, Bela Musits interviews Carter Yepsen.  He recently purchased a sailboat and spent the Summer of 2023 sailing Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and up to Marblehead.  He did much of the trip solo and finished up the Summer sailing his boat through NYC and up the Hudson River to Lake Champlain.   A remarkable summer for even the most savvy sailor, but other than a few charters, this is Carter's first Summer cruising. Let’s dive right into the interview with Carter.

It’s a great episode, so be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode, co-hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman reflect on the 100 episodes they have produced and look ahead to future adventures.

One of the things they reflect on is the diversity of ways people sail. They have interviewed people who sail casually on weekends, people who are taking their first long passage, serious and casual racers, and people who live aboard their sailboats. There is an extensive range of ways people experience sailing.

The episodes also discuss destinations like Wickford, Rhode Island; Marion, Massachusetts; Shelburne, Nova Scotia; and Cape May, New Jersey.  Bela and Mike also interview individuals who have made long passages to the Azores,  Coastal Spain, across the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

In addition, there are episodes about the boat-buying process, working with brokers, and the pre-purchase survey.

There is a wealth of information, wonderful stories, and adventures contained in these 100 episodes. So be sure to subscribe and listen.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Bela Musits interviews Doug Milburn.  Doug lives in Nova Scotia and is a lifelong sailor.  He has sailed monohulls and more recently has been focusing on performance catamarans.  We talked about sailing, sailboats, and the many wonderful places for a sailor to visit in Nova Scotia.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Bela Musits interviews Larry Friedman in this episode of the podcast. Bela met Larry three summers ago at the Shafe Harbor Cove Haven marina. Larry retired several years ago and, along with his wife, lives full-time on a cruising power catamaran. They spend summers in New England and winters in Florida. Larry shares what they have learned traveling down the East Coast of the United States twice a year. He also discusses why they purchased their power catamaran and the process of moving onto the boat full-time.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Chris D’Amelio.  Chris is a retired United States Coast Guard Surfman.  We discussed the many responsibilities a USCG Surfman has and several of the rescues Chris participated in.  Chris also wrote a book about his USCG experience titled, Life and Death at Cape Disappointment.  It is a great read and I highly recommend it. This is a really inspiring episode, so please give it a listen. 

You can find Chris’ book on any of the online book sellers.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed the final leg of their first Atlantic crossing.  In this leg, we discuss sailing from Spain to the UK with a stop in France.  They experienced weather delays, massive tides, traffic separation zones, and crossed the notorious Bay of Biscay.  As Simon said, “This was the most difficult part of our trip.”

If you would like to listen to all of the episodes that chronicle their journey, here is the sequence,

Ep 84 and 85 Preperatioins for sailing across the Atlantic

EP 88 and 89 Newport to Horta parts 1 and 2.

EP 93 Horta to Spain

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed their sail from Horta to Spain.  We are chronicling their first Atlantic crossing and this is leg two.  Leg one was sailing from Newport, Rhode Island, to Horta in the Azores.  In this episode, we discuss seas crowded with cargo ships, getting meds for sea sickness, and making meals.

Ep 84 and 85 Preperatioins for sailing across the Atlantic

EP 88 and 89 Newport to Horta parts 1 and 2.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this podcast, Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman discuss the Summer of 2023 past sailing season on Narragansett Bay.  We review the trips taken and places visited.  We also discussed some of the new experiences, sights seen, and what we learned.  We also review the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance projects that were performed.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, which is part 2, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed their first sail from Newport, Rhode Island, to Horta in the Azores. They were joined by Simon's father for the trip, making it a three-generation crossing of the Atlantic. Now that they have arrived in Horta, which is approximately two-thirds of the way across the Atlantic, we talk to them about their trip and how they are preparing to finish the final leg to the UK via Spain and France.

This is a long episode, so we will split this interview into two parts. This is part 2, so be sure to listen to EP-88, which is part 1. Also, listen to EP-84 and EP-85, where we talk to Simon and Sawyer about their preparations for the trip.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team who have just completed their first sail from Newport, Rhode Island, to Horta in the Azores. They were joined by Simon's father for the trip, making it a three-generation crossing of the Atlantic. In previous episodes (EP-84 and EP-85), we talked to Simon and Sawyer about their preparations for their first Atlantic Ocean crossing in their Passport 40 sailboat. Now that they have arrived in Horta, which is approximately two-thirds of the way across the Atlantic, we talk to them about their trip and how they are preparing to finish the final leg to the UK via Spain and France.

This is a longer episode, so we will break this interview into two parts, this one - Episode 88, and Part 2, which you will be able to find as Episode 89.  

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

This is the second part of a podcast in which Bela Musits interviews Mike Malekoff. Mike is a frequent guest on the show, and we have followed his journey from Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain south to the Bahamas. We now get an update on his return trip to the United States. If you missed part 1, check out episode 86.

In this episode, Bela and Mike discuss Mike's experiences on his return trip, including the challenges he faced and the things he learned. They also talk about Mike's plans for the future.

This is a fascinating episode that will appeal to anyone interested in travel, adventure, or self-discovery.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

This is the first part of a podcast in which Bela Musits interviews Mike Malekoff. Mike is a recurring guest on the show, and we have followed his journey from Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain south to the Bahamas. We now get an update on his return trip to the United States. 

In this episode, Bela and Mike discuss Mike's experiences on his return trip, including the challenges he faced and the things he learned. They also talk about Mike's plans for the future.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Welcome to part 2 of the podcast where Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son duo embarking on their first sail across the Atlantic. Simon's dad will also be joining, making it three generations on board. They are currently preparing their Passport 40 sailboat for the voyage and in this episode, we discuss the various elements of planning such a trip. In part 1, we covered in detail the preparation of the boat, and in this episode, we delve into ensuring the crew is ready for the journey and the weather routing service and communication systems they will be utilizing.

Since this is a longer episode, so we broke the interview into two parts, this is Part 2 - Episode 85.  If you missed Part 1 you will be able to find as Episode 84.  

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews Simon and Sawyer, a father and son team, who will be sailing across the Atlantic for the first time.  They will also be joined by Simon’s dad for the trip, so it will be three generations crossing the Atlantic.  Simon and Sawyer were on the podcast back in EP-29.  Now they are prepping to cross the Atlantic in their Passport 40 sailboat.  We discussed all of the various elements of planning such a trip.  Most people tend to focus on preparing the boat, which we covered in detail.  We also discussed making sure the crew is ready for such a trip.

This is a longer episode, so we will break this interview into two parts, this one - Episode 84, and Part 2, which you will be able to find as Episode 85.  

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

On today’s podcast, Bela Musits interviews a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72, 73, 77 & 78.  We have been following Mike and his wife on their journey from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.   They are now in the Bahamas and exploring many of the great destinations there.  Mike also talks about all of the things you need to know to be a cruiser, that they do not teach you in sailing school.  This is a two-part episode, so make sure you listen to EP-81 which is part 1.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, Bela Musits interviews a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72, 73, 77 & 78.  We have been following Mike and his wife on their journey from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.   They are now in the Bahamas and exploring many of the great destinations there.  Mike also talks about all of the things you need to know to be a cruiser, that they do not teach you in sailing school.  This is a two-part episode, so make sure you listen to EP-82 which is part 2.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Our guest on today’s podcast is Mark Tieszen.  Mark is an experienced sailor who has one sailboat on the Great Lakes and another in Florida.  He shares with us how a coastal sail in Florida turned into a minor disaster as they hit bottom on the way into the harbor.  The momentary grounding resulted in a jammed rudder and loss of steerage.  They soon ended up washed ashore on the beach.  What happened next was the really interesting part of the story.  This is part two of our conversation, make sure you listen to part one and the beginning of this adventure.   

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Our guest on today’s podcast is Mark Tieszen.  Mark is an experienced sailor who has one sailboat on the Great Lakes and another in Florida.  He shares with us how a coastal sail in Florida turned into a minor disaster as they hit bottom on the way into the harbor.  The momentary grounding resulted in a jammed rudder and loss of steerage.  What happened next was the really interesting part of the story.  This is part one of our conversation, make sure you listen to part two and the ensuing adventure.   

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.  

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

On today’s podcast, we are welcoming back a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72 & 73.  When we first met Mike, the goal for him and his wife was to sail from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.  In each episode, we have followed their progress. Back in EP-66, Mike was in the “dreaming and planning” stages for the trip.  In EP-72,  Mike shared with us the casting off of the lines in Burlington VT, and heading South via the Champlain canal to the Hudson River.  In EP-73 Mike talked about the trip down the East coast to Beaufort, NC.  Our most recent discussion is broken into 2 episodes. During our conversation, Mike was in the cockpit of his boat at a marina in the Bahamas.  They had some challenges in this leg of the journey so make sure you listen to both EP-77 and EP-78.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

On today’s podcast, we are welcoming back a familiar face to our regular listeners. Mike Malekoff. Mike was a guest back in episodes 66, 72 & 73.  When we first met Mike, the goal for him and his wife was to sail from Lake Champlain in Vermont to the Bahamas.  In each episode, we have followed their progress. Back in EP-66, Mike was in the “dreaming and planning” stages for the trip.  In EP-72,  Mike shared with us the casting off of the lines in Burlington VT, and heading South via the Champlain canal to the Hudson River.  In EP-73 Mike talked about the trip down the East coast to Beaufort, NC.  Our most recent discussion is broken into 2 episodes. During our conversation, Mike was in the cockpit of his boat at a marina in the Bahamas.  They had some challenges in this leg of the journey so make sure you listen to both EP-77 and EP-78.

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East”

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Today's guest on the podcast is Tim Geisler from Nautilus Sailing.   Tim founded the company and has taken a different approach to teaching sailing.  He employs the top-rated ASA sailing instructors that are typically former teachers.  So they not only know sailing, but they also know how to teach.  Nautilus Sailing runs week-long sailing instruction at destinations around the world.  It’s a great way to get your ASA certification in some of the most beautiful places.    

You can check out Nautilus Sailing here:

https://www.nautilussailing.com/

If you would like to support the podcast, we now have a Patreon page.  Just go to Patreon.com/sailingtheeast.   

Our podcast is now also available on YouTube, just search for “Sailing the East” (https://www.youtube.com/@sailingandcruisingtheeast)

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know.

Wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Bela and Mike

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, I am solo as Mike is busy with final exams. I am trying something different in this episode, it’s a narrative of my 4 days on the boat solo.  It includes my experience in taking the boat out, solo for a day-long sail in 15 - 20 knots of wind.  I also share what I did each of the four days, including my non-boating activities. I hope you enjoy the episode.

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, Mike and I discuss my experience with having kids on the boat.  I have 3 granddaughters, ages 8 and 6 years, and 14 months.  The 6 and 8-year-olds are sisters and keeping them occupied, while we are out sailing, takes some planning.  My younger son and his wife have a 14-month-old.  She is a challenge in a very different way, as her schedule revolves around eating and taking her naps.  I share some things we have learned in having them on the boat.  I hope you enjoy the episode.

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike

Hello and welcome to the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast.  In this episode, which I recorded solo while on Paradox, I talk about some spring projects, including fixing a leaking galley sink drain, sending my son up the mast to run a spinnaker halyard and replace a burned out deck light, and I disclose a big screw-up on my part.  I hope you enjoy the episode.

We love to hear from you, our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at sailingtheeast@gmail.com.  If you know someone that would be an interesting guest on the show, please reach out to us and let us know—wishing you fair winds, and calm seas.

Bela and Mike