What I Learned Rowing Across the Pacific Ocean

with Tom Robinson

Tom’s Replay is Now Available Below, and…

This presentation was so remarkable, we want you to be able to share the love.
We’ve opened this page up so that you can share it with your friends and family.

Description:

There’s big news awaiting us this year with Tom Robinson, and the final recap of his solo row across the Pacific Ocean. If you’ve been following along with the dozen-plus videos we’ve created on Off Center Harbor, you know there was a capsize and rescue, but that’s not the end of the story. Tom will take us through the final stretch of the voyage, the discovery of his boat in Papua New Guinea, and most importantly what he’s learned (so far) from his voyage. And that “big news,” well, we’ll let Tom break it during his presentation. Q&A follows.

Speakers:

• Tom Robinson – Boatbuilder & Adventurer
• Moderator: Steve Stone – Co-Founder of Off Center Harbor and the Worldwide Classic Boat Show

Links:

• Tom Robinson’s Website

Leave your questions and comments for Tom below!

Open Boat Camp Cruising

with Geoff Kerr, hosted by Steve Stone

This presentation is now available as a replay

Leave your questions and comments below!

Steve and Geoff will continue answering questions there.

Description:

Geoff Kerr teaches an Open Boat Camp Cruising course at the WoodenBoat School, and he’s among the most experienced camp-cruisers in this part of the world. Geoff will walk us through the most important topics, answering the top questions of those who are keen to explore far-off places in small boats. Off Center Harbor co-founder Steve Stone has camp-cruised the entire coast of Maine and will host Geoff and lead the Q&A that follows Geoff’s presentation.

Live Q&A to follow.

Speakers:

Geoff Kerr – Teacher, Camp Cruiser

Although I grew up in a boatless North Carolina family, I was graciously innoculated by a family friend with a motor cruiser and an infinite stack of back issues of all the magazines. As a 16 year old casting about for a summer adventure I responded to a magazine ad for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. That cold and foggy June in Penobscot Bay introduced me to a lifetime love of sailing and open boat adventuring. College back in North Carolina gave me lots of opportunity for marine science studies and for sailing other people’s boats. An ad in the campus newspaper lead me to a commission as a U.S. Coast Guard officer and 3 years at sea aboard a 180‘ research vessel with pre-GPS cruises ranging from the Grand Banks to Columbia. Our homeport was just down the road from Mystic Seaport which afforded me weekend musing time and an introductory course in wooden boat building. Those years and the next decade or so were once again spent in other people’s boats. Time, money and growing children finally aligned in the early ‘90’s, and armed with Celtic/Norman DNA, a stack of WoodenBoat magazines and a wealth of optimism I built my first boat, a Caledonia Yawl. That experience lead to a now 30 year career as a boatbuilder (5 years with Joe Youcha and the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, and 25 years on my own as Two Daughters Boatworks). I’ve also spent those 30 years sailing and adventuring in “Ned Ludd”, my original Caledonia, wearing out two trailers, 4 tow vehicles and two suits of sails. Over those years I’ve built over 30 of Iain Oughtred’s designs and some 40 other adventure cruising boats ranging from Chesapeake Light Craft prototypes, Francois Vivier pocket cruisers, Graham Byrnes speedsters, a one-off Gartside motor cruiser and a pair of Doug Hylan outboard garveys. To get me out of my cave in the hills I’ve been very fortunate enjoy teaching at The Wooden Boat School for the last 20+ years. That summer gig has afforded me an annual opportunity to cruise and camp the coast of Maine, and to develop the curriculum for the Open Boat Cruising course we’ve been offering at WBS for the last five or so seasons. That summer time in Brooklin also introduced me to the OCH crew and lead to our past collaborations. These 50 years of sailing, thirty years sporting about in Ned Ludd, and the twenty teaching boatbuilding, sailing and adventuring in Maine have contributed to the thoughts and principles I’ll offer in our Worldwide Classic Boat Show presentation.

Leave your questions and comments below!

Was I Scared?! Finding Peace in Whitewater Rowing

with Peter Fox

This presentation is now available for replay

Description:

From the Stanislaus River in California to the high rivers of Patagonia, Peter Fox has paddled/rowed his way around the world across four different continents. With a lifetime of rowing, teaching, and traveling, Peter believes that anyone can find a level that is right for them to have a life-changing relationship with running rivers.

Hear the stories of adventure, life lessons, and experiences on the water from one of the best whitewater rafting guides in the world. Live Q&A follows.

Speakers:

Peter Fox – River Raft Guide, Author

Peter Fox fell in love with rowing boats on rivers in 1980, the first time he ever picked up a pair of oars on the Stanislaus River. He started teaching rowing in 1982. In 1983 he was hired by Sobek Expeditions to guide on his first world class river, the Bio Bio in Chile. In 1985 he helped lead first raft descents of two world renowned rivers, the Futaleufú in Patagonia, and the Grand Canyon of the Stikine in northern British Columbia. He has rowed rivers on four continents, and since retiring from guiding has pursued a personal rowing practice of deepening his connection with rivers, and enjoying a lifetime of feeling like a kid on a playground. In 2014 Peter went back to leading down river rowing schools for the Northwest Rafting Company. He is currently writing a memoir and history of whitewater rowing. At age 70, he still rows, teaches, and believes that anyone can find a level that is right for them to have a life changing relationship with running rivers.

Links:

• Learn more about Northwest Rafting Company.

Leave your questions and comments for Peter below!

From Kit to Coastal Cruiser, Building an Electric AROHA

with John Pratt

This presentation is now available for replay

Description:

Professional boatbuilder Eric Blake will interview amateur boatbuilder John Pratt about his single-handed build of a beautiful AROHA Coastal Cruiser. John has an inspiring background and so many good insights about a project of this magnitude as an amateur. And she’s the first ELECTRIC AROHA! So we’re as interested as everyone else to see (and not hear) the results. Live Q&A at the end.

Speakers:

John Pratt – Amateur boatbuilder

I was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in South Carolina, finished high school in Ohio, attended law school in Massachusetts and practiced patent law in Atlanta, Georgia before retiring to southwestern North Carolina. I started woodworking as a child but, except for two summers during law school, I did not get to do woodworking full time until I retired from the law about nine years ago. I have built about six boats, including the William Garden cat boat Tom Cat, a Haven 12 1/2 and a skin-on-frame Adirondack guide boat. I also build furniture and classical and archtop guitars.

Links:

• Learn more about the AROHA plans & kit available.

Circumnavigating New Guinea in a Traditional Sailing Canoe 

with Thor Jensen

This presentation is now available as a replay

Description:

Danish adventurer Thor. F. Jensen recounts his 13-month expedition undertaken in collaboration with three Papuan master sailors from Milne Bay Province. The crew sets out to circumnavigate the Island of New Guinea in a traditional sailing canoe called Tawali Pasana. A 6300km voyage of high adventure, danger and friendship that sailed them straight into the history books. Live Q&A at the end.

Speakers:

Thor Jensen – Danish Adventurer, Filmmaker and Author

Thor is a world record holding explorer who has produced award-winning adventure documentaries, and written articles about traveling and adventure filmmaking. Thor is a member of the Adventurers’ Club of Denmark. Live Q&A to follow.

Moderator: Tom Robinson – Boatbuilder & Adventurer

Links:

• Thor Jensen’s Website
• Books and merchandise can be found at the Thor Store.

Women in Boatbuilding Panel 

A conversation with women in maritime trades around Europe.

This presentation is now available for replay

Description:

Women In Boatbuilding is a thriving community created to support and inspire women working in boatbuilding and related trades. Join us as we learn about these inspiring women covering several aspects of maritime trades across Europe. From boatbuilding, to teaching, to systems, and rigging, we’ll learn how these women have navigated their careers.

Speakers:

Belinda Joslin – Boatbuilder, Founder of Women in Boatbuilding

In 2021, Belinda created Women in Boatbuilding as a personal Instagram page while working as a finisher at Spirit Yachts. It has since grown into world-wide community of women who are working hands-on, seeks to inspire, support each other in celebrating their achievements.

Women in Boatbuilding is an online social group that meets monthly and is quickly expanding into other parts of the world.

Etta de Boer – Rigger, Boatbuilder (Germany)

Since 2017 I have worked in the maritime business, including a 3 and a half year long apprenticeship as a wooden boatbuilder. (In Germany we have a dual system, that means that you are working in a company and every three months you go to boatbuilding school for one month. So you get a lot of practical experience as well as theoretical input)

Even though in my free time I spend time on traditional sailing ships, my professional experience was mainly in restoration of smaller wooden boats, up to 10 meters.

2021 I decided that I would like to dedicate my work to bigger sailing vessels, so I joined the team of Sailcargo Inc. in Costa Rica and stayed there for 18 months.

Currently, I am working as a rigger on the rebuild of the rig of a bark, including all steps from preparation, mounting and finishing of the standing and running rigging.

Amy Stringfellow – Boatbuilding Teacher (England)

My name is Amy, I’m a boatbuilder, maker and teacher. I’ve been a boatbuilder for little over 12 years and moved into teaching in that time, teaching adults of all ages to develop wood working skills and both traditional and modern techniques of boat building construction. I am one of the directors of Women in Boatbuilding CIC and continue to support women in industry.

Clémentine Mollier – Shipwright (France)

My name is Clementine, I’m a French shipwright.

My boatbuilding journey started 6 years ago. After many years of traveling and trying out various eclectic jobs, I was looking at ways to translate my affinity for building into a profession and came across a marine carpentry course in Marseille. I was always drawn by the maritime world and thought it was a perfect fit for me so I enrolled. 

After a successful placement at the Elephant Boatyard in Hampshire I was offered a full time job where I worked for 4 and a half years on new wooden builds as well as restorations of iconic British classic boats.

I have since joined the building team of Sail Cargo in Costa Rica and more recently started an exciting job working on the restoration of the HMS Victory in Portsmouth.

Sydney Fassam – Systems Apprentice (England)

My names Sydney fassam I’m 19 one of 3 children and the middle child. Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to do something in engineering (just like my dad), who’s been a massive inspiration to me. When I finally finished school I found my love for electrics, so I applied for an apprenticeship with Sunseeker to learn what I can to become a marine electrical engineer.

Links:

• Learn more about Women in Boatbuilding
• Take an Intro to Woodworking Class with Amy!

Golden Globe Race Winner 

A Conversation with Kirsten Neuschäfer, Golden Globe Race Winner

Hosted by Jeanne Goussev, Race to Alaska Winner

This presentation is now available for replay

Description:

What makes a sailor decide to embark on a solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation using only tools and technology available in 1968 in a 36′ boat? What strategies and reflections does it take to win the most grueling retro race? Kirsten Neuschäfer won the recent 2022 Golden Globe Race, setting several speed records. She sits down with, two time Race to Alaska winner, Jeanne Goussev, to discuss what it takes to compete in high-adventure races and the human experiences behind it.

• Speakers:

Kirsten Neuschäfer – Adventure Sailor, 2022 Golden Globe Race Winner

Kirsten has been sailing dinghies since her childhood, but sailing since 2006 as a profession. From sail-training to sailboat deliveries, she built a diverse set of skills and experience. Kirsten’s longest single-handing was a delivery from Portugal to South Africa with only a wind-vane as self-steering, on an old and maintenance-intensive 32 foot ferro-cement sloop. In 2015, she started working on Pelagic, a high latitude expedition boat, making trips to South Georgia, The Antarctic Peninsula, Patagonia and the Falklands.

Kirsten has sailed several film crews down to capture the beauty of the Antarctic. She was featured in National Geographic series “Wild_Life Resurrection Island with Bertie Gregory” as she sailed his crew throughout South Georgia to shed light on the beautiful ecosystems and hardships they’ve faced. She also sailed and was a support vessel for several crews from the newest BBC series “Seven Worlds, One Planet” to film animal habitats and behavior.

Along with sailing, she also enjoys other solitary adventures. She cycled from Europe back home to South Africa (15000 km over approximately one year) on her own when she was just 22. She traveled throughout the Northwest and Central Africa into Southern Africa and eventually ending in Cape Agulhas. The trip brought trials and tribulations but was life-enriching in every sense, giving her the deepest appreciation of Africa and her people.

Jeanne Goussev – Adventure Sailor, 2018/2023 Race to Alaska Winner

Jeanne started sailing competitively 25 years ago in Boston Harbor when she met her husband. They bought their cold molded cedar boat Gray Wolf 10 years ago and they enjoy double hand and fully crewed racing in the Puget Sound. In 2018, Jeanne founded Team Sail Like a Girl to compete in the Race to Alaska. Her all women crew became the first monohull to win the race. In 2023, she competed on Gray Wolf with her husband and a team of 8 and came in first again, this time with a 2 year diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

• ---

  Links:

  • Kirsten Neuschäfer’s Website
  • Golden Globe Race Website
  • Race to Alaska Website

Watch the replay of this presentation below…

Mix your favorite cocktail, or brew a good cuppa joe, and join the crew as we celebrate the opening of the 2024 Worldwide Classic Boat Show.  We’ll have our traditional opening margarita in-hand to kick-off the Show, and we’ll give you a quick insider’s tour of what not to miss on the website and what’s happening at the Show.

Off Center Harborita Recipe*:

• Place four ice cubes into a Bonne Maman jam jar (or other jar with a lid).
• Pour tequila up to the top of the curved decor on the glass and then fill to the top with limeaide (a 40/60 ratio of tequila/limeade):
  • Hornitos Reposado or Sauza Conmemorativo tequila (NOT Jose Cuervo!)
  • Simply Limeade (Newman’s Own Limeade is a good substitute)
• Close sealed lid and shake wildly 40 times (shaking is the key to smoothness)
• Sit back, open, sip and enjoy the Show (stronger than they taste so drink with care – 1.5 drinks is our max)
• Save more Bonne Maman jam jars to build a set of eight for guests (blend can be made in pitcher)

*  We have Texas margarita-snob roots and this mix is as good as any complex, fussy, high-maintenance blend

Have something to say or ask?  Post your comments or questions below: