Pyrate Radio
And so began a year-long sojourn at Pyrate Radio. Which was very cool and informative: I did a four-hour show most Saturdays from May 2018 to May 2019, and learned a lot about radio production and hosting.
But there was one problem. It wasn’t How Not To Sail.
My book and my audio podcast languished while I focused on the radio gig. But finally, time was up.
The A-HA Moment
The Miami Boat Show was scheduled for February 2018, and I was due to make an appearance for Pyrate Radio.
I decided it was time to go for it. I would get going with the (audio) podcast How Not To Sail…and, hey, I could sail around from St. Pete to the boat show in Miami to promote the podcast. And HEY…I could even make the trip part of the podcast.
The Spring issue of Cruising Outpost would be coming out right after the boat show, and I worked out a sponsorship with Bob and an ad in the magazine. I couldn’t wait!
And soon after the launch, I’d finally get the book out, just like I’d dreamed for the last several years.
(And in case you’re wondering, I wrote off the idea of doing a video series. But now that’s come full circle, too, and you can enjoy exclusive video fun on the How Not To Sail YouTube channel.)
The Trip
As you can hear in the podcast, I sailed from St. Pete on February 2, 2018, toward Miami. Tanya (“The Admiral”) would fly in on February 13th, in time for Valentine’s day…and if everything went well, I’d even be there to meet her.
I booked a slip at the Miamarina, smack in the middle of downtown Miami, for the three(?) days of the boat show. A little pricey, but this kinda thing didn’t happen every day. And besides, we’d be just a short walk from free transportation to the boat show. (Which, if you’ve been, can be something of a, uh…”cluster.”)
As it turns out, there was a big surprise in store for us at the boat show. You’ll have to listen to the podcast for that part.
But here’s the thing…
At Last!
I finally have a How Not To Sail podcast and book! I’ve been thinking about this for years, since shortly after I bought Jacie Sails, and it’s finally a reality.
It’s been a ton of work, but it’s been totally worth it.
And you know what? I wouldn’t be able to do it without you.
(Well, maybe you haven’t even heard the podcast or read the book yet. But if you’ve gotten this far, you might as well, eh? I know I can count on you.)
It’s been so gratifying to hear from people who’ve enjoyed the trip, and a not-small number who’ve either finally decided to take the plunge and buy a boat and go cruising…or who’ve finally got up the gumption to wander a little farther afield from the marina.
That’s what I do this for.
The CTA
I’ll say this, though. Piloting this ship (metaphorically speaking) is a ton of work. Producing the audio show. Adding stuff to the website. Writing the books. (Yes, I said “books”…plural. Stay tuned.) And I don’t get paid by anybody in particular.
But you can help a fella out, #HowNotToSailer.
If you like this craziness, if you’ve been entertained a little by the podcast or the book or one of the videos, maybe you can tell a friend.
(I’ll make it easy if you’re on Twitter…just click the Click To Tweet link here.)
Your word of mouth is what’s grown this monster so far. You can tell a friend about the podcast. (If they don’t know about podcasts yet, just tell ‘em it’s like their own radio station, on whatever subject, whenever they want it…for free.)
And if your friend is thinking about buying a boat—or if they’ve just pissed you off lately—you can direct them to this wonderful new book: How Not To Sail.
(And just a tip: If you subscribe to the email list (free, of course, and I never share your info with anyone), you’ll get a heads up on free book giveaways, exclusive content, and members-only events and stuff.)
I really, really appreciate ya reading this, and going on this journey with me. Your feedback on the podcast and the book (and now the YouTube channel) is what keeps me going.
Talk to you soon, and thanks again,
Bradford