Few sailors embody the spirit of NanoCruising like Sven Yrvind. At 85 years old, he continues to design and sail tiny boats across vast oceans, proving that adventure isn’t about the size of your vessel, but the strength of your vision. In the first of two episodes with Sven, we dive into his remarkable journey—from growing up on a small island in Sweden to becoming a world-renowned small-boat sailor and designer. A Childhood Shaped by the Sea Sven’s love for the ocean started early. Growing up on a small island, he developed a deep appreciation for self-sufficiency and resilience. His first major voyage—a daring trip to Denmark in a tiny homemade boat—set the stage for a lifetime of innovative and ambitious adventures. Designing Bris and Challenging the Norm Sven’s first famous boat, Bris, challenged traditional ideas of offshore sailing. Built with simplicity and efficiency in mind, it showcased his philosophy: a well-designed small boat can be safer, more practical, and more efficie...
If you enjoyed Part 1 of our conversation with legendary boat designer John Welsford , you’re going to love what’s in store for Part 2. In this episode, John takes us further into his world of small boat innovation and adventure. We kick things off with a look at the new 7-meter ocean-going boat he’s currently designing—something he hasn’t talked much about publicly until now. It’s a boat meant to cross oceans with confidence, while still staying true to Welsford’s core design philosophy: safety, practicality, simplicity, and real-world performance. From there, we dig into the story behind his new design “Scallywag,” which was born out of a desire for a microcruiser like the SCAMP—but with accommodations for longer journeys and sleep-aboard comfort. It’s a design many have been waiting for, and it reflects the continued evolution of small cruising sailboats. John also shares some fantastic anecdotes about his designs out in the wild. We hear about a SCAMP in Tierra del Fuego , and...