April 1, 2023
The How Not To Sail podcast, long respected for its keen insights into the boating and cruising community, as well as its superb advice on sailing techniques, announced today that it had reached well under 1,000,000 downloads in the U.S. alone, as measured by Chartable.com—and well under 2,000,000 downloads worldwide.
“It’s pretty heady stuff,” creator and host Bradford Rogers remarked. “I had no idea my little idea would take off like this.”
Launched in 2019, with a blistering production schedule of one episode per month, How Not To Sail has found a grudgingly receptive audience, despite what many would think is a niche market.
“People who buy boats are obviously prone to lapses in judgement,” said Rogers. “They’re also prone to drinking a lot. And I think that’s exactly why this podcast has found success.”
Another factor in the success of the podcast is undoubtedly the audio production. (Rogers has also helmed several über-successful music albums.)
“Yeah, when the first record went aluminum, I was really stoked,” he recalls. “But after three copper albums, you kinda get used to it. I mean, there’s nothing special about me. I put on my bedazzled sea britches one leg at a time, just like you do.”
Not content to rest on his laurels, however, Rogers still has goals to keep him motivated.
“There are still a few countries where we’re not performing as well as I’d like,” he says. “Botswana and North Korea come to mind. And, of course, France.”
“People who buy boats are obviously prone to lapses in judgement. They’re also prone to drinking a lot. And I think that’s exactly why this podcast has found success.”
Rogers has somehow also found time to release a book (How Not To Sail) and maintains the website HowNotToSail.com, providing invaluable advice to boaters and would-be boaters around the globe.
Meanwhile, the inexorable podcast campaign continues. This week the How Not To Sail podcast reached #63 in Belarus in the Places & Travel category.
You can hear the How Not To Sail podcast at HowNotToSail.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or wherever you listen to your pods.
