NanoCruising

 Some adventures begin with a chart, some with a dream — and some with a 13-foot dinghy and a willingness to face the wild edges of the world. In this episode, I sit down with Geoff Macqueen , the author of the newly released book Cruising Wild , to talk about his remarkable small-boat journeys, including his piecemeal but determined circumnavigation of Tasmania in his home-built Welsford Houdini . If you've ever wondered what it’s like to cross the Bass Strait in a tiny dinghy, capsize mid-crossing, or pick a weather window on one of the most rugged coasts on earth, this is an interview you won’t want to miss. Building the Boat: The Houdini That Started It All Geoff begins by sharing the origins of his Houdini — why he chose the design, what drew him to an open dinghy as his cruising platform, and what it was actually like to build a boat capable of taking on conditions that many sailors wouldn’t approach in much larger craft. His Houdini wasn’t just a boat; it became the ...

For many of us, sailing around the world feels like a distant dream — something for those with large yachts, deep pockets, and endless time. But Serge Testa proved otherwise. In the 1980s, this unassuming Australian sailor built a tiny aluminum yacht just 11 feet, 10 inches long , and quietly set out to circumnavigate the globe. His boat, the Acrohc Australis , was a marvel of minimalist design. Every control could be operated from inside, allowing Serge to batten down the hatches when the seas turned rough — and rough they often were. Over 500 days , he completed his voyage and entered the record books for the smallest boat to ever sail around the world . In this episode, Serge shares the story behind his legendary voyage: how he built his boat, prepared for life at sea, and what he learned about himself along the way. We talk about the kindness of people he met, the challenges of solitude, and the joy of simplicity. We also hear from his wife, Robin , who offers her own take on S...