Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond

Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond — Neil Fletcher’s Summer Sailing Adventures

In this episode of Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond, my good friend and longtime podcast contributor Neil Fletcher returns to share stories from another summer on the water in Europe.

Neil has been contributing to the podcast for many years, and he has a wonderful ability to tell the stories of his adventures in a way that brings the experience of cruising to life. This time, he recounts his recent travels in France and Norway, but focusing mainly on 11 days on a riverboat in the canals and rivers of Burgundy. He shares practical details of how to do it, the experiences and people he encountered, and some of the memorable moments from his summer afloat.

Neil is one of my favorite sailors to sail with. We’ve shared some great adventures over the years, including sailing together aboard his boat in Sweden, and I’ve always enjoyed hearing about his continued explorations around Europe.

I really appreciate Neil taking the time to record this episode and share his stories with us. He tells these adventures much better than I ever could, and I think you’ll enjoy listening to him recount another summer on the water.

Thanks, Neil, for being such a longtime contributor to Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond – and for sharing another great sailing story with us.

 

Upcoming Sailing Opportunities

Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond isn’t going anywhere! I’m currently organizing a sailing sub-club at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City, and we’re planning a charter in Greece or Turkey next August.

If you’re interested in learning more—or if you’d like to explore the possibility of joining a separate charter with fellow listeners—I’d love to hear from you.

As always, thank you for listening.

Fair winds and following seas,

Franz Amussen

Special Announcement: Introducing Markets Without Spin

This is a short update for listeners of Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond.

Many of you know me as a sailor, but before retirement I spent more than 40 years in the investment business as a financial advisor and portfolio manager. I’ve recently launched a new educational podcast called Markets Without Spin.

Unlike most financial podcasts, this isn’t about stock tips or predicting the market. Instead, it explores the incentives that drive financial markets and the hidden forces shaping the economy.

Some recent topics include:

Executive compensation and shareholder incentives

Stock buybacks and who really benefits

How passive investing is changing today’s markets

Why market liquidity matters

Lessons from financial history that still apply today

If these topics interest you, I’d be honored if you’d subscribe.

🎙 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:[Apple Podcasts URL]

🌐 Visit the website:[Markets Without Spin Website URL]

Upcoming Sailing Opportunities

Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond isn’t going anywhere! I’m currently organizing a sailing sub-club at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City, and we’re planning a charter in Greece or Turkey next August.

If you’re interested in learning more—or if you’d like to explore the possibility of joining a separate charter with fellow listeners—I’d love to hear from you.

As always, thank you for listening.

Fair winds and following seas,

Franz Amussen

Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond

Episode 295 – From Charleston to Hampton: Groundings, Close Calls, and Coastal Gems

Every cruising sailor has those passages that test both skill and resolve. This is one of them.

In Episode 295, we depart historic Charleston and head north toward Hampton, Virginia, navigating the ever-changing waters of the U.S. East Coast. Along the way, we recount several unexpected groundings that serve as reminders that even experienced sailors can be humbled by shifting shoals and narrow channels.

But it isn’t all adversity.

We visit some of the most charming ports on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, including beautiful Beaufort, North Carolina, where Southern hospitality, waterfront scenery, and maritime history make it one of our favorite stops. Charleston, too, remains one of America’s great sailing destinations, rich in history, architecture, and unforgettable harbor views.

Then comes the moment every cruiser dreads.

Far from help, the engine suddenly dies. With little room for error and danger closing in, quick thinking and a bit of good fortune help us narrowly avoid what could have become a very serious situation. It’s a vivid reminder that on the water, things can change in an instant—and preparation, experience, and calm decision-making matter.

Whether you’re planning your own voyage, dreaming about casting off the dock lines, or simply enjoy great sea stories, this episode is packed with practical lessons, memorable destinations, and the unpredictable adventure that makes cruising under sail so rewarding.

Fair winds!

Enjoy the show?

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond with your fellow sailors and cruising friends.

And if you enjoy thoughtful discussions about investing, economics, incentives, and the forces that really drive markets, be sure to subscribe to my new podcast:

Markets Without Spin – Follow the Incentives

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/markets-without-spin/id6783024308

Join me as we cut through the headlines, ignore the noise, and focus on the incentives shaping markets, corporations, governments, and investors.

Also, for those who have followed this journey over the years, I mention in the episode that I have officially put the boat up for sale. She is currently located at Belle Isle Marina in Hampton, Virginia. If you are interested and would like additional information, contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the broker.

https://www.medsailor.com/bristol-channel-cutter-for-sale/

Fair winds,

Franz

 

 

Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me!

If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note.

link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2

Sailing! Learn To Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam Exam over 7 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to take the written exam.

If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links:

Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig

Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK

Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh

Sailing in the Mediterranean Website

https://www.medsailor.com

If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me.

©2019 Franz Amussen all rights reserved

Every sailor has a vision for how a voyage is supposed to begin. Mine involved launching in Indiantown, pointing the bow toward the Bahamas, and slipping into warm trade winds and turquoise water.

Instead, 2026 had other ideas.

In this episode of Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond, I tell the story of the first leg of this year’s sailing adventure — a trip defined less by tropical anchorages and more by stubborn weather forecasts, cold nights, and constant recalculating.

After launching the boat in Indiantown, I waited for a weather window that never really arrived. Rather than bash east into uncomfortable conditions, I made the difficult decision to abandon the Bahamas plan entirely and head north up the Intracoastal Waterway instead.

What followed was a voyage full of the kinds of moments every cruiser knows well:

Grumpy lock keepers who seemed personally offended that we existed

Barnacles multiplying underneath the boat and slowing us down

Long cold passages where “Florida” felt a lot more like winter than paradise

The challenge of adapting plans when nature simply refuses to cooperate

Eventually, I brought the boat to Cape Marina at Cape Canaveral, where I tucked her away for two months before returning later with my family to continue the trip north toward St. Augustine.

This episode is about flexibility, frustration, and the reality that cruising rarely looks like the glossy version we imagine beforehand. Sometimes the adventure is not the one you planned — but the one you end up with anyway.

If you’ve ever had to scrap the “perfect plan” and make the best of changing conditions, this story will probably feel very familiar.

Also, for those who have followed this journey over the years, I mention in the episode that I have officially put the boat up for sale. She is currently located at Belle Isle Marina in Hampton, Virginia. If you are interested and would like additional information, contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the broker.

https://www.medsailor.com/bristol-channel-cutter-for-sale/

Fair winds,

Franz

 

Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me!

If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note.

link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2

Sailing! Learn To Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam Exam over 7 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to take the written exam.

If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links:

Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig

Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK

Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh

Sailing in the Mediterranean Website

https://www.medsailor.com

If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me.

©2019 Franz Amussen all rights reserved

In this second episode with Brad Atkins, who calls Charleston, South Carolina home. Brad has spent years sailing back and forth between Charleston and the Abacos, and he brings a wealth of local knowledge to this conversation. Here he goes into more details on sailing in the Bahamas

We dive into:

Clearing Customs in the Abacos – what to expect and the best ports of entry.

Recommended Sailing Routes from Charleston to the islands.

Must-See Places of Interest once you arrive, including anchorages and hidden gems.

Tips for navigating the Abacos safely and making the most of your time there.

This is part one of a two-part conversation with Brad. We got cut off by Zoom at the end of this session, but we’ll continue in the next episode with even more details on where to go, what to do, and insider advice for sailors exploring this incredible cruising ground.

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking your boat to the Bahamas or are planning your own trip to the Abacos, you won’t want to miss this one.

 

 

Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me!

If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note.

link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2

Sailing! Learn To Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam Exam over 7 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to take the written exam.

If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links:

Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig

Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK

Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam

https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh

Sailing in the Mediterranean Website

https://www.medsailor.com

If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me.

©2019 Franz Amussen all rights reserved