Podcast Maré Sonora ® · video

What this video covers

Skip Novak, Southern Ocean expedition skipper and four-time Whitbread Race veteran, describes his career arc from Chicago yacht-club teenager to high-latitude charter operator aboard the 77-foot Vinson of Antarctica.1:53 He sold his previous vessel, Pelagic Australis, to Greenpeace around the end of the COVID period and stepped onto Vinson, sailing immediately to Svalbard.13:58 A sister ship to Vinson was under construction in Holland at the time of the conversation, due to launch in June.13:43 Novak discusses two camping expeditions to Zavadovski Island in the South Sandwich Islands — a logistically demanding operation requiring hauled water and generator fuel for drone operations — and a subsequent South Georgia trip with researchers from the British Antarctic Survey investigating avian flu.55:28 He contrasts Whitbread-era Morse-code weather routing with Starlink-equipped modern boats, and argues against electric winches on vessels Vinson's size, preferring manual sail handling as physical conditioning.34:32 He reflects on skepticism toward technology and social media, drawing on experiences with his children aboard.38:43 He also announces a forthcoming book, Skip Novak on Sailing, collecting 101 articles from his Yachting World monthly column, with postscripts revisiting or revising earlier positions.1:00:33

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From Podcast Maré Sonora ® — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

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