Welcome to a very special, two-part edition of The Sailing Podcast with host Theo Stocker. In Episode 19 (Part 1), we are on board the beautiful Oyster 485 Escapade of Reim in Gosport with her owner, Commodore (Retd) Richard Farrington CBE.

Over a distinguished 36-year career in the Royal Navy, Richard commanded everything from wooden mine hunters to massive fleet flotillas. In this gripping first instalment, Richard takes us behind the scenes of precision ship handling, the evolution of maritime technology, and his fascinating time on exchange with the Royal Australian Navy.

But the heart of this episode centres on one fateful night in the middle of the Tasman Sea — the terrifying grounding of the Type 42 destroyer HMS Nottingham.

Richard vividly recounts the exact moment the ship struck rock at 25 knots, the absolute bedlam of the bridge alarms, and what he calls the "spin-dryer effect" as the ocean threatened to tear his ship apart. Learn how a tight-knit crew, manual steering overrides, and a helicopter's compass kept 260 souls from sinking into the dark.

🔔 This is Part 1 of a truly unmissable two-part story. Hit Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss Part 2 next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 18 of The Sailing Podcast, host Theo Stocker sits down aboard the iconic Suhaili with a man who needs no introduction: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston CBE. He is arguably the greatest sailor of all time.

As the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world (1968 Golden Globe Race), Sir Robin changed offshore racing forever. In this exclusive chat, he reflects on his legendary master mariner background, shares harrowing stories of surviving the Southern Ocean, and explains why he donated his prize money to Donald Crowhurst’s family.

We also dive into his fiery defence against the myth that sailing is an 'elite' sport, the creation of Clipper Ventures, and an insider look at the brand-new Clipper fleet being built.

⚓ Subscribe for more sailing stories, and don't forget to like and share!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Picture this: It's a dark, wet evening in Salcombe. A massive 40-foot cruising yacht pulls up to the pontoon, and the skipper is screaming at his terrified teenage kids because they cleated a line wrong. The holiday is ruined, the crew is miserable, and the skipper is utterly disappointed in himself. How do we avoid becoming that grumpy, overwhelmed dad?

Welcome to The Sailing Podcast, sponsored by Sunsail. This week host, Theo Stocker and his guest. Justin Morton talk about what it actually takes to be a great skipper.

The pair dive deep into 'unequal sailing partnerships,' the psychological difference between real danger and perceived fear, and why cutting a long-planned cruise short might be the ultimate sign of a successful voyage. If you've ever worried about stretching your family's tolerance on the water, this episode is an absolute must-listen.

Timestamps

00:45 – The Snakes and Ladders of Sailing

02:45 – A Sailor’s Confession

06:00 – Justin's first command: Surviving spinnaker carnage on a Hunter Horizon

11:45 – The Grumpy Skipper Trap

16:30 – Event Management at Sea

19:35 – The cautionary tale of an 8-meter catamaran and forced cross-channel runs

24:35 – When Fear Meets Reality

34:10 – Knowing when to cut your holiday short

41:00 – Why the small, rubbish boats have more fun

43:00 – How to build boat-handling skills

47:25 – The Lost Art of Heaving-To

53:50 – Why couples should do shore-based courses together but practical courses apart

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.