In this episode we sit down with Rhode Island State Representative Lauren Carson of Newport. Representative Carson is the lead sponsor of a house bill that would allow cities and towns to regulate houseboats as they feel best works for their municipalities. Central to this enabling legislation, they would be bound by one standard definition of a ho…

In this episode, we hear about a rather different kind of Christmas story from which we in the Northern Hemisphere are used to. Aussie Joe Cooper, who’s been on this podcast before, shares his version of a Christmas tale he grew up with during the 1960’s in Australia. It’s a story of Santa & the Reindeer, a bit of navigation, seafaring references, …

My guest for this episode is no stranger to the podcast. Photographer Matthew Cohen has been on before and he’s back this time to report about a unique project he conceived, researched and executed with stunning results. Most people only ever look at a lighthouse from the outside. Sure, some may take a rare tour or visit where they get a glimpse of…

Christina is the Senior Vice President of Mystic Seaport Museum. Christina shares with us here earliest sailing experiences growing up sailing on Geronimo which belonged to the St. Georges School in Rhode Island. The Geronimo program was one her father developed and those early adventures set Christina up for an educational and life path on and aro…

Get full access to Standing Before The Mast at chrisheaton.substack.com/subscribeBy Chris Heaton and Jocelyn Emory

Meet Matthew Cohen, professional marine photographer, racing sailor, seasoned offshore sailor and sometimes glider pilot. In our conversation, Matt walks us through his early sailing experiences and his introduction to photography which began with a course at school that quickly became his chosen career path. Matt describes some early opportunities…

Kim Kavin began her journalism career at a newspaper nearly 25 years ago. While many local newspapers have either been bought out, consolidated or shut-down, Kim Kavin made a move to yachting journalism before many of those changes began to proliferate. Her initial move to yachting was well, to Yachting Magazine. Kim walks us through those early da…

Dave Lussier is our guest for this episode. Dave is one of the founding members of the organization Better Bay Alliance. Dave walks us through how it came to be, what they’ve done so far, and their ambitions plans for the future. Here’s the mission statement from their website: “The Better Bay Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhan…

I’m joined by Capt. Eric Pfirrmann from Save the Bay, and Ted Romanosky, owner of the 1940 classic wooden schooner ‘Good Fortune’. It's our seasonal laid-back gathering over beer and provisions.We recap our collective summer experiences and observations in an informal setting with an even less formal outcome. Occasionally, one of us expresses an op…

The Schurmann family set sail in 1984 and became the first Brazilian family to circumnavigate the world. The design and build of Kat is the culmination of that initial voyage and others on previous boats the family has owned. Our talk begins with a tour of the boat and Wilhelm highlighting many of the unique design features. Kat serves as a floatin…

In this episode we get to know Ian Ridgeway. Ian, along with Casey Blum are co-founders of the FUEL Program. FUEL stands for: Foundation for Underway Experiential Learning. The topsail schooner Shenandoah is at the center of the FUEL program. Shenandoah was conceived, designed and built by Captain Robert Douglas and she has a long history of provid…

In this episode I sit down with Newport International Boat Show Director Lisa Knowles and Marketing Director Jocelyn Emory. The show - the 51st - will take place September 15th through the 18th, 2022 located at the Newport Yachting Center Marina in downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Among this year's expanded offerings, Lisa and Jocelyn tell us about …

In this episode we hear from Mike Patterson, Whitney Curtin, Aaron 'Ike' Isaacson and Steve Baskis about Sail To Win. They formed Sail To Win "to honor and empower wounded veterans, first responders, and people that have served their community with disabilities by training, educating, and competing in sailing competitions around the globe. We bring…

Christopher Pastore is Associate Professor of History at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Focusing on early American environmental history, his most recent book, titled Between Land and Sea: The Atlantic Coast and the Transformation of New England (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2014), examines the Narragansett Bay …

Meet Nautical Author and Historian Eric Wiberg. Born in New York in 1970, Eric Wiberg is a citizen of Sweden and the US. He is the author of over 20 books on maritime history - particularly in the Bahamas where he grew up. He left the Bahamas at 13 for boarding schools in New England and enrolled at Boston College in 1989. He was hired to race to B…

Sarah is a commercial fisherman with a BS in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island; and a MSc in Nature, Society, and Environmental Policy from University of Oxford in England. Her interest in fishing really began when she was teaching in Valparasio, Chile. Sarah explains how this interest came about and its connection to certain types…

Our guest for this one is Capt. Eric Pfirrmann, Lead Captain for Save the Bay here in Rhode Island. As some of you more astute listeners may recall, Eric was my first ever guest when I embarked upon this experimental journey. We begin with an update on the Save The Bay fleet, and Eric brings us up to speed on their latest addition, as well as some …

Ryan Rossi – Menemsha Harbormaster Meet Ryan Rossi. Ryan is the Menemsha Harbormaster. Menemsha is an historic fishing village in the town of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. Ryan gives us all the crucial information you need to know as a recreational boater interested in visiting the port. He explains how to go about reserving your spot - don’t just…

What do you do following retirement from a successful career of 26 years in the Navy which began at the US Naval Academy? You enroll at the International Yacht Restoration School - otherwise known as IYRS School of Technology & Trades - in Newport, Rhode Island where you acquire a whole new set of skills in marine systems. You and your wife then bu…

Meet writer Wendy Mitman Clarke. Wendy is a veteran writer and editor of sailing publications with a career that spans over 30 years. If you've ever picked up a copy of Soundings Magazine, Cruising World or Good Old Boat, it's likely you've either read her work, or something she's had a hand in editing. She's a Recipient of many awards from the Boa…

In this episode we hear from John Taft about rum running along the coast of Rhode Island during prohibition. Like me, John is a bit of a history enthusiast and when he discovered that the boat that he and his partners had purchased to run mansion tours turned out to be an actual former rum runner, he went down many rabbit holes researching not only…

My guest for this episode is professional sailor, Erica Lush. Erica began sailing at a young age with positive influence from her parents, and followed her passion sailing competitively for her high school and university teams. Erica is also involved in the Maiden Factor. Maiden carried the first all-female crew to sail around the world when Tracey…

Meet Kelsy Patnaude. Kelsy is a Visual-Artist with an M.F.A. in Visual Art from Lesley University of Art and Design, Cambridge, MA. which she earned in 2019. Kelsy also has a B.A. in Studio Art and a Minor in Art History from Salve Regina University here in Newport which she earned in 2012. A professional sailor, Kelsy came to sailing a bit later t…

Meet Kate Wilson Somers, Sailor, Sailing Instructor and Entrepreneur. A life-long sailor, and sailing instructor, Kate has also been involved with the Volvo Ocean Race as support crew for Team Vestas 11th Hour Racing, the America's Cup with Oracle Team USA in 2012-2013, and The Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco. At the 24th Annual Providence B…

Our guest for this episode is Charlie Doane. Charlie is a sailor and sailing journalist. He’s currently the cruising editor for SAIL magazine. Charlie has been writing professionally since 1986 for many publications including New England Off Shore and Cruising World. He’s written two books: The Modern Cruising Sailboat, and The Sea Is Not Full. Cha…

Our guest for this episode is Sailor, Author and Broadcaster Tom Cunliffe. Tom has written for many major sailing publications and currently works with Sailing Today and Classic Boat in the UK. He is the author of over two dozen books - notably the Shell Channel Pilot, Celestial Navigation, and Topsail & Battleaxe. Topsail & Battleaxe tells the tal…

My guest for this episode is Marcello of La Gondola Providence, Inc. Marcello is the second owner of the business who came to the job during his college years. He’s very well traveled and extremely knowledgeable about the culture, history and construction of the Venetian Gondola. Marcello gives us his history with the company, how he met the origin…

This is a bit of a diversion from the normal podcast episodes I do. Given all that’s going on right now, I thought we’d check in with Capt. Tim Mills, Harbormaster for the City of Newport, and find out what to expect when we take to the water this summer. Tim gives us the latest information on quarantine rules for boaters, restrictions on use of fa…

Latest podcast available now. Meet Kate Masury, Program Director for the non-profit Eating With The Ecosystem. If you love seafood or just want to expand your knowledge of what’s available to us, this podcast is for you. Eating With The Ecosystem was founded in 2014 with a mission to “promote a place-based approach to sustaining New England’s wild …

Daniel Forster is a world renowned marine photographer who has had his work appear in every major yachting magazine in Europe, the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Two of his images have appeared on the cover of Time magazine - once in 1987 featuring Dennis Conner; then again in 1995 featuring Team New Zealand. Born in Switzerland, photography was i…

Nat Benjamin, along with his partner Ross Gannon, and a talented crew have built over 70 boats - mostly of his design - and repaired and rebuilt many others. A visit to the Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway is a step back in time. It’s a place where classic wood boats are restored, repaired and built new using nothing but traditional materials and m…

This one’s for the adrenaline junkies out there, present company included. My guest is Dave Lussier. Dave is a long-time competitive multi-hull sailor of catamarans and trimarans who has recently found a new passion: Blokarting or land yacht racing. Blokarts come from New Zealand and haven’t caught on in the US as they have in other countries. A Bl…

My guest for this episode is Capt. Breezy Grenier. Capt. Breezy served in the US Coast Guard, has degrees in Geology and Geological Oceanography, and minors in Marine Biology and Marine Archeology. In addition to being a licensed captain, she’s a scuba instructor, snowboard instructor, sailor, cook, surfer, teacher, lecturer and world traveler. She…

This is a special excerpt from a much longer episode which will be published at a later date. In this conversation, Joe shares a bit about his involvement with the 12 Metre Worlds currently taking place in Newport, Rhode Island. Joe talks about his involvement, the impact of the Warrior Sailing Project, and the overall atmosphere of the event. Joe …

Learn about the person in charge of the crew that keeps the City of Newport's harbor assets in top form. Capt. Tim Mills has spent his life on the water which has included, sailing and racing with family and friends, working on a NOAA ship and owning and operating his own boat and mooring business - where he also wound up getting involved in marine…

My guest for this episode is Andy Green. Some of you may recognize Andy’s voice - particularly if you followed the Volvo Ocean Race visit in Newport - as he was the commentator for that event. Andy has also been a commentator for the America’s Cup World Series and the London 2012 Olympics. In addition to his role as commentator, Andy is an active l…

My guest for this episode is former New York Times columnist Barbara Lloyd. Barbara covered Sailing, Skiing and other sports, as well as writing a gear column for the New York Times. But Barbara has humble roots here at home with the Newport Daily News. It was at the Newport Daily News where she began as a cub reporter. Barbara honed her skills cov…

My guests for this episode are Denis and Allie of Mr. Badger & Co. Mr. Badger is their 41’ Concordia yawl. We recently got together and cracked open a few beers while they shared their tale of how they came to own Mr. Badger. But that wasn’t the only tale. Denis boasts an impressive sailing résumé and both are well traveled. It’s a wide-ranging cha…

My guest in this episode is Anne Vandromme-Hood. Anne is a partner and leading force behind the publication, Yacht Insider’s Guide. Originally from Paris, she spent much of her time sailing out of Brittney with her family on a variety of boats. Anne is also an avid windsurfer who brought her gear along with her as she pursued crew positions on char…

My guest for episode 15 is Joe Cooper of Joe Cooper Sailing. Joe arrived to the podcast straight from coaching a high school sailing team - still half decked out in his drysuit. Joe was born in Sydney, Australia, and learned to sail just to the north in an estuary with similar characteristics to that of our Narragansett Bay. Joe has over 60,000 mil…

My guest for this episode is John Fulweiler. John is an attorney who specializes in Maritime and Admiralty law, but he is also a licensed US Coast Guard Captain; a former towing and salvage captain; a sailor and an author. John has written about the Jones Act as well as a book about a harrowing tale of survival when a local man falls off his boat. …

In this episode I speak with Hank Kniskern, former Chairman of the Newport Waterfront Commission, about the proposed changes to the mooring regulations in Newport Harbor. There have been two public meetings, and a first reading by the Newport City Council addressing the changes. There are passionate positions held by both current mooring holders, a…

Episode 12 features a talk with Fair Leads owner Jess. Jess produces custom hand made dog leashes and collars out of all marine grade materials. She's made and shipped over 3000 of them around the world. Jess is a marine scientist who also boasts an impressive sailing history covering over 40,000 miles in nearly every ocean, and she's the former Ex…

I had a blast talking with Greg and Alana of the Antique Yacht Collection in Newport, RI and Mystic, CT. They are a young, energetic, fun and ambitious couple who have a really cool vibe. They are entrepreneurs in the yacht charter and yacht management scene in southern New England. Their business has been featured in The Wall Street Journal's trav…

My guest for this episode is Onne van der Wal. Onne is a world renowned marine photographer based in Newport, Rhode Island where he also has a gallery that features his work. His photography has appeared in most of the top sailing magazines, boat brochures and the patagonia catalog. Onne is a member of the exclusive Canon Explorers of Light program…

In this episode I speak with Patrick Abrecht who, along with his wife Monika, own and operate the classic Alden yawl 'Hope San'. You can charter Hope San for a sailing adventure on Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Patrick's story begins in his native Switzerland and takes us to Newport, Rhode Island through the International Yacht Restoration Scho…

In this episode I talk with Fred Roy, owner and sailor of a 1930 Herreshoff S Boat. We learn about the restoration of his boat named Surprise, and what it's like to own and race an old wood boat. Fred goes into detail about what makes the S Boat unique and how some of Herreshoff's design features continue to stand the test of time. We learn about t…

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In this episode I talk with John Hirschler, owner and entrepreneur behind Sightsailing of Newport. John gives us a great look into how he first got started taking people on sailing tours of Newport Harbor and Narragansett bay, his vision for his company and how he grew the business over the years. See his fleet at www.sightsailing.com Hosted on Aca…

In this episode, I talk with Stefan Nassaney. Stefan is the Dock Steward at the Newport Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island. He gives us a glimpse into his world of juggling boats, members and the boating public at an active waterfront club. We also talk about his large Siberian Husky, his favorite Magma Grill and a unique skiff he’s in the process…