Be The Captain

The ocean doesn’t care about theory, it cares about execution. I am James Evenson, a professional delivery captain, educator, and Navy Submarine Veteran (former Navigator, USS Nebraska SSBN 739). With 85,000 nautical miles logged, I teach the practical skills required for serious offshore passages. Be The Captain is an education platform for blue water sailors that focuses on the technical and ps…

Medellín, Colombia· Jul 2026

106 videos· 76 deeply analysed

Filter & sort

Video

Published

Duration

Views

Location

4 Men Sent to Die in 60-Foot Seas | The Finest Hours True Story11 Oct 2026

Published11 Oct 2026

Duration1:07:41

Views284K

25 People Abandoned an Unsinkable Ship. None Survived | The Joyita MysteryThe Joyita carried 25 people from Apia in 1955; none survived after abandoning an unsinkable hull.9 Sept 2026

Published9 Sept 2026

Duration48:33

Views321K

31 Crew Sailed Into Hurricane Mitch. None Were Ever Found | The Tragic Story of SV FantomeHurricane Mitch's stalled, wandering track trapped SV Fantome's 31 crew with no navigable escape in 1998.21 Aug 2026

Published21 Aug 2026

Duration46:11

Views560K

Declared Dead at Sea — Then They Came Back | The Rose-Noëlle StoryRose-Noëlle's 119-day survival drift began when a sea anchor trip line collapsed the parachute and left the trimaran beam-on.25 Jul 2026

Published25 Jul 2026

Duration37:47

Views1.3M

My Final Video as Sailing ZingaroJames Evenson rebrands his channel to Be the Captain to focus on maritime disaster and survival analysis.16 Jul 2026 · Medellín, Colombia

Published16 Jul 2026

Duration8:23

Views73K

LocationMedellín, Colombia

The Brutal Truth About Cruising on a Budget & Surviving Storms at SeaJames Evenson's 25%-first-year budget rule and storm tactics for heavy monohulls vs. catamarans.9 Jul 2026

Published9 Jul 2026

Duration41:24

Views88K

🚩 RED FLAGS: How I Spot the Lemon Boats on Yacht World 🚩James Evenson flags a non-reefable Manta boom and praises the Hallberg-Rassy 53's split aft cabin as the offshore benchmark.6 Jul 2026

Published6 Jul 2026

Duration39:19

Views137K

How He Survived a Tropical Storm at SeaAttempting to motor upwind against a tropical storm in a poorly maintained vessel risks catastrophic failure.30 Jun 2026

Published30 Jun 2026

Duration21:12

Views201K

He Did Everything Right. His Captain Still Blamed Him.A guide for aspiring crew on preparing for emergencies and vetting captains to avoid poor seamanship.20 Jun 2026

Published20 Jun 2026

Duration7:03

Views20K

He's Built 400 Boats. The Cheap Used Sailboats He'd Buy in 2026Kyle Jackney names Morgans, Bristols, Gulfstars, and early Tayanas as his top affordable cruising buys for 2026.17 Jun 2026

Published17 Jun 2026

Duration47:34

Views73K

The Factory Forgot a Part on This $2M Yacht (Blue Water 56, Part 2)A missing 24-volt windlass solenoid left hull nine of the Bluewater 56 unable to deploy its anchor at commissioning.12 Jun 2026

Published12 Jun 2026

Duration25:04

Views34K

The "Hidden" Problems of a New $2M Yacht (Blue Water 56 Commissioning)Adjusting inverter absorption voltage prevents lithium battery system overloads during high-load generator charging on new yachts.8 Jun 2026

Published8 Jun 2026

Duration24:27

Views174K

Sailing in SEVENTY FOUR KnotsA prop shaft machined from a junkyard ingot in Bermuda, installed in under 48 hours before a storm.1 Jun 2026 · Prickly Bay, Grenada

Published1 Jun 2026

Duration2:35:38

Views64K

LocationPrickly Bay, Grenada

This sailing technique saved my butt (Why does nobody teach this?)Bungee cords rigged to a steering wheel kept a catamaran on course for 18 days after the autopilot failed mid-Pacific.24 May 2026 · South Pacific Ocean

Published24 May 2026

Duration24:23

Views158K

LocationSouth Pacific Ocean

How to Price a Sailboat: The Step-By-Step Audit YOU Can DoA lifespan-based audit method prices every boat system and adds a 15–20% hassle tax for deferred maintenance.8 May 2026

Published8 May 2026

Duration12:56

Views48K

30 Seconds. That's What a Lithium Fire Gives You.A lithium battery fire aboard Theros killed two sailors who had no EPIRB, no float plan, and no satellite communicator.10 Apr 2026

Published10 Apr 2026

Duration19:50

Views142K

Be The Captain — Chapter One: Think Like a Captain (Audiobook)Offshore command requires decisive leadership, constant vessel maintenance, and a mindset of adaptability during equipment failure.2 Apr 2026

Published2 Apr 2026

Duration11:07

Views11K

The Night I Almost Lost the Keel (and Why I Quit Deliveries)Grid-to-hull bond failure on a Beneteau First 47.7 nearly caused keel loss 90 miles offshore at night.29 Mar 2026 · Caribbean Sea, south of Haiti

Published29 Mar 2026

Duration22:18

Views1.3M

LocationCaribbean Sea, south of Haiti

Mastering the Offshore App (PredictWind Masterclass 5/5)Manage offshore bandwidth by downloading selective, high-resolution GRIBs and prioritizing GMDSS and AIS data for efficiency.10 Mar 2026

Published10 Mar 2026

Duration7:08

Views6K

Using AIS offshore (PredictWind Masterclass 4/5)Satellite AIS provides long-range strategic traffic awareness to supplement short-range VHF collision avoidance systems offshore.4 Mar 2026

Published4 Mar 2026

Duration7:50

Views5K

Power Routing for Comfort (PredictWind Masterclass 3/5)Analyze wave period and vertical acceleration in PredictWind to minimize structural loading and fatigue while motoring offshore.4 Mar 2026

Published4 Mar 2026

Duration6:40

Views6K

Weather Routing for Offshore Sailors (PredictWind Masterclass 2/5)Use PredictWind graphs and comfort metrics to manage crew fatigue rather than just optimizing for speed.4 Mar 2026

Published4 Mar 2026

Duration10:29

Views7K

Deciphering Weather Apps (PredictWind Masterclass 1/5)Configure PredictWind with accurate polars and a Data Hub to transform weather forecasts into actionable decision support.2 Mar 2026

Published2 Mar 2026

Duration12:43

Views18K

Nigel Calder: The Truth About Philosophy, Gunboats, and Marine EngineeringNigel Calder explains why a Cuban gunboat arrest led to the 1995 Cuba cruising guide.25 Feb 2026

Published25 Feb 2026

Duration1:21:53

Views15K

The Hidden Reason This Sunken Schooner Is Priced at $100,000A sunken 1910 Herreshoff schooner in Osaka lists for $100,000 — the price is a filter, not a valuation.13 Feb 2026

Published13 Feb 2026

Duration8:35

Views65K

Pegasus 50: A Modern Offshore Sailboat Done RightThe Pegasus 50 features a 13-ton displacement and a gimbaling salon table designed for long-term offshore cruising.8 Feb 2026 · Cannes Yachting Festival, France

Published8 Feb 2026

Duration29:38

Views128K

LocationCannes Yachting Festival, France

They Built This Boat Too WellThe Little Harbor 59 uses integrated, low-center-of-gravity ballast to provide superior motion dampening for offshore cruising.1 Feb 2026

Published1 Feb 2026

Duration9:59

Views765K

My Honest Advice for New Sailors (It’s Not What You Think)A water-damaged Kalik 33 on a tight budget risks killing a young sailor's circumnavigation dream before it starts.26 Jan 2026

Published26 Jan 2026

Duration12:10

Views178K

I Didn’t Expect This… Sirius Might Be the Smartest Sailboat I’ve TouredThe Sirius 35 features a dedicated walk-in workshop and a raised interior helm station for offshore cruising.7 Jan 2026

Published7 Jan 2026

Duration33:31

Views269K

The Preventer Mistake That Killed Two SailorsA CNB 66's in-boom furling system forced a head-to-wind reef in Gulf Stream storm seas, killing two sailors.22 Dec 2025

Published22 Dec 2025

Duration15:08

Views634K

Become a Better Offshore SailorUse the physiological sigh and manual navigation drills to maintain calm and control during offshore emergencies.28 Nov 2025

Published28 Nov 2025

Duration13:24

Views560K

Every Boat Has a Story… You’re Not Gonna Believe This OneA new MCP 68 sailed 6,000 miles upwind from Brazil to France on its maiden voyage.21 Nov 2025

Published21 Nov 2025

Duration14:59

Views90K

I crashed my boat into the rocks. Here's the story.James Evenson grounded his Oyster Marine 485 near Nassau and kedged off using 250 feet of chain, no engine.5 Nov 2025

Published5 Nov 2025

Duration21:56

Views167K

I Never Thought I’d Be Signing 4,000 Books…James Evenson manages the fulfillment and shipping of 4,000 hand-numbered, leather-bound books for his sailing audience.28 Sept 2025

Published28 Sept 2025

Duration11:00

Views10K

Full Tour of the Bluewater 56 | Kevlar Offshore YachtThe Blue Water 56 hull alternates aramid fiber (Kevlar) every other layer through 16–24 total plies.16 Sept 2025 · Mallorca

Published16 Sept 2025

Duration1:21:08

Views171K

LocationMallorca

Captain's Log: Atlantic Crossing (Day 1) (Patron-only)James Evenson departs Bermuda for the Azores aboard Equus, adding a new crew member mid-departure.3 Sept 2025

Published3 Sept 2025

Duration8:25

Views9K

My Pick for the BEST Offshore Boat at $80KThe Valiant 40 and Corbin 39 are robust offshore options for sailors with an $80,000 budget.27 Jun 2025

Published27 Jun 2025

Duration27:09

Views192K

Which Rig Is BEST for Bluewater Sailing?Masthead rigs offer superior offshore reliability and downwind versatility compared to the performance-oriented, tunable fractional rig.20 Jun 2025

Published20 Jun 2025

Duration17:26

Views149K

Good boats. Bad boats. Offshore nightmares.Evaluating used sailboats for offshore capability requires inspecting for structural red flags and verifying the age of critical systems.14 Jun 2025

Published14 Jun 2025

Duration19:02

Views61K

The Problem With Dual Rudders Nobody Talks AboutWide-transom sailboats with dual rudders suffer from dynamic weather helm caused by shifting centers of lateral resistance.7 Jun 2025

Published7 Jun 2025

Duration12:29

Views189K

Sneak Preview "Be The Captain"James Evenson details offshore sailing skills, emergency preparedness, and captaincy in his book, Be The Captain.3 Jun 2025

Published3 Jun 2025

Duration13:45

Views82K

Near-Death At Sea: What I LearnedA catamaran’s structural failure during a Pacific storm highlights the importance of proper sea anchor sizing.30 May 2025

Published30 May 2025

Duration17:22

Views153K

My Catamaran Split in Half 100 Miles Offshore. Here’s How We Survived.A catamaran crew used Dyneema and plastic tubing to lash a failing hull together 100 miles offshore.23 May 2025

Published23 May 2025

Duration21:59

Views1.4M

The SECRET to DEALS on BOATSUse AI tools to perform comparative analysis and deep research on specific sailboat models like the Valiant 42.17 May 2025

Published17 May 2025

Duration17:59

Views76K

The ONE Question That Changes Everything About Buying a BoatMatch your boat choice to your specific cruising archetype, whether you are a voyager, islander, or nailer.11 May 2025

Published11 May 2025

Duration13:06

Views78K

Atlantic Crossing Guide: Offshore Weather Routing 102Use PredictWind to analyze swell patterns and avoid the Azorian High when planning an Atlantic crossing.7 May 2025

Published7 May 2025

Duration40:28

Views205K

My Book Launch Sold Out in 24 Hours!James Evenson's 500-copy signed sailing book sold out its founding edition in 24 hours.28 Apr 2025

Published28 Apr 2025

Duration3:12

Views12K

Offshore Weather Routing 101: The Skills That Save LivesPredictWind and Windy provide AI-driven weather routing to help sailors plan safer passages and avoid hazardous waves.27 Apr 2025

Published27 Apr 2025

Duration28:36

Views1.4M

The Worst Advice for Offshore Sailors — And What I Wish I KnewPrioritize structural integrity and seamanship over lifestyle features when selecting a boat for offshore passages.19 Apr 2025

Published19 Apr 2025

Duration15:27

Views137K

12 KILLER Deals on Offshore Sailboats (The Boat Market Is CRAZY Right Now!)The list features 12 offshore sailboats including a 1999 Outremer 38-43 catamaran priced at $120,000.10 Apr 2025

Published10 Apr 2025

Duration15:38

Views193K

The WORST Listings I’ve Ever Seen (15 MASSIVE Sailboat Red Flags)Inspect chain plates and deck hardware for leaks to avoid costly structural repairs on older sailboats.26 Mar 2025

Published26 Mar 2025

Duration29:40

Views433K

Best Bluewater Sailboat (& Catamaran!) Under $300KThe Allures 44, Oyster 485, and Catana 43 Ocean offer proven offshore performance for under $300,000.22 Feb 2025

Published22 Feb 2025

Duration34:28

Views200K

Do You REALLY Need a Captain’s License? (The Truth)U.S. Coast Guard licenses are mandatory for commercial work, while RYA certifications offer international recognition for sailors.16 Feb 2025

Published16 Feb 2025

Duration14:08

Views168K

The TRUTH About Bluewater Boats (You Might Not Like This…)A keel-stepped mast and skeg-hung rudder are essential structural requirements for safe, long-distance bluewater ocean passages.5 Feb 2025

Published5 Feb 2025

Duration31:21

Views189K

PERFECT Bluewater Cruising SailboatThe Najad 441 features a cutter rig, cable steering, and a Divinycell-cored hull for offshore reliability.1 Feb 2025

Published1 Feb 2025

Duration9:48

Views256K

BEST Bluewater Sailboats Under $125KFifteen heavy-displacement bluewater cruisers under $125,000 are evaluated for their offshore durability and ocean-crossing capabilities.18 Jan 2025

Published18 Jan 2025

Duration13:52

Views76K

How to Heave To on a SailboatHeaving to on a Beneteau 47.7 requires balancing the mainsail and jib to maintain a stable heading.12 Jan 2025

Published12 Jan 2025

Duration13:12

Views184K

BEST Bluewater Boats Under $50kTen bluewater sailboats under $50,000 include the Cal 40, Valiant 40, Tayana 37, and Hallberg-Rassy 35.5 Jan 2025

Published5 Jan 2025

Duration13:39

Views326K

WORST Sailboats to Buy in 2025Avoid offshore cruising in models like the Morgan Out Island 41 or the Hunter 37 Legend.1 Jan 2025

Published1 Jan 2025

Duration11:47

Views249K

FULL TOUR: Farr 56 Bluewater SailboatA 2004 Farr 56 pilot house sailboat features extensive hydraulic systems, dual watertight bulkheads, and a workshop conversion.1 Dec 2024

Published1 Dec 2024

Duration27:35

Views149K

Filter & sortDone

Sort

VideoPublished ↓DurationViewsLocation

Video

Published

20262920253020247202372022152021520206201932018120163

Duration

Under 10 min1610–20 min4120–40 min35Over 40 min14

Views

1M+ views9100K–1M views5310K–100K views38Under 10K views6

Location

Cannes Yachting Festival, France1Caribbean Sea, south of Haiti1Mallorca1Medellín, Colombia1mid-Atlantic1Monroe County, United States1Prickly Bay, Grenada1South Pacific Ocean1