On the Wind Sailing John Kretschmer // Seam'nship, Racing, Life & NOT Retiring!
Feb 10, 2026
John Kretschmer, seasoned blue-water sailor and author of Sailing a Serious Ocean, shares stories and philosophy from decades at sea. He talks tech on passage, why he prefers passagemaking over racing, how narrative shapes seamanship, and plans for future voyages and a new Atlantic book. Conversation mixes practical sailing choices with life, travel, and the joys of staying engaged rather than retiring.
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Starlink Changes The Onboard Experience
- Starlink transforms life aboard but erodes some ocean magic by making constant connection easy.
- John treats it as a convenience for business and communication while valuing limits to preserve watch integrity.
Let Crew Choose And Protect Watch Duty
- Ask crew to decide whether they truly want to use onboard internet rather than impose blanket bans.
- Enforce watch standards: allow devices off-watch but require focus and no screen use while on watch.
Writing As Final Draft Sculpting
- John writes slowly, crafting near-final sentences rather than dumping drafts for later revision.
- He treats each sentence as functional, following Peter Nichols' rule to move the story forward.
