NanoCruising

Featuring: Howard Rice (Part 2) In this second part of our conversation with Howard Rice , we follow him from the windswept reaches of Tierra del Fuego to the quiet harbors of Japan , where he’s begun a new chapter centered around craftsmanship and small-boat life. Howard recounts sailing through an area known as the Milky Way — a maze of channels and capes so remote that even Joshua Slocum struggled to find his way through. His story includes moments of danger, rescue, and reflection — and a surprising tale about footage from that voyage that was never turned into a film. Now based in Japan, Howard has traded ocean crossings for the artistry of boatbuilding. From SCAMPs to traditional Japanese fishing boats , he shares how he continues to live by the same principles that carried him safely through the southern seas: self-reliance, respect for nature, and a deep love for small boats that can take you anywhere. This episode is full of the insight and humility that only a lifetim...

Training, Purpose, and the Beginning of a Cape Horn Adventure Few names resonate in the world of small-boat voyaging like Howard Rice . Known for his legendary solo expeditions in tiny sailboats, Howard embodies what NanoCruising is all about — courage, preparation, and a deep connection to the natural world. In this first of two episodes, Howard takes us back to the roots of his adventures — what compels someone to sail to the farthest and most unforgiving corners of the planet. He talks about his early expeditions in a Klepper kayak , his decision to return to Chile  years later, and why he chose a SCAMP dinghy for the challenge. We also explore the meticulous process of preparing and shipping a small boat across the world, the philosophy that fuels his journeys, and what it feels like to finally push off from shore toward Tierra del Fuego — one of the wildest places on Earth. This episode is more than a story of adventure; it’s about why we venture at all — the call to t...

When it comes to small boat cruising, few people embody the spirit of creativity and practicality like Roy Schreyer . Having spent a lifetime exploring the maze of islands that make up Georgian Bay , Roy knows firsthand the joys and challenges of life afloat. But it wasn’t just his own passion for sailing that shaped his path — it was also the perspective of his wife. Traditional sailboats didn’t quite fit her comfort level, so Roy did what many of us only dream of: he designed a boat that solved the problem. The result was the Dianne Rose , a 17’ x 8’ towable houseboat that manages to be small, functional, and incredibly comfortable for extended exploration. It’s a design that proves comfort and adventure don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In this episode, Roy shares: How his wife’s perspective influenced his designs. Why a composting toilet can be a surprisingly practical — and even well-loved — addition. His principles for designing and building strong, efficient small...

 What if your paddleboard wasn’t just a way to explore — but a way to transform your life? That’s exactly what journalist and author Dan Rubinstein set out to discover in his inspiring book Water Borne . Armed with a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), he launched from Ottawa and paddled south all the way to New York, then west toward Lake Erie. Along the way, he found not just adventure, but lessons in resilience, kindness, and the deep connection between people and water. In our latest podcast episode, Dan joins us to talk about his journey, his book, and what he calls the incredible benefits of blue space — the idea that being on the water is even more restorative for our physical and mental health than any other natural environment. What We Cover in This Conversation: 📖 Water Borne : how the book came together and the adventures behind it. 🏄‍♂️ Getting started with paddleboarding — and why it’s more accessible than many people think. 🌎 Local action for global change: h...

Some sailors stumble into a community, and others create one. Eric Miller did the latter when he launched Raid Erie 2025 , a brand-new small boat event on the waters of Lake Erie in northern Ohio. Eric describes his local region as a “desert of small sailboats.” There weren’t many dinghy sailors around, but instead of giving up, he decided to build an oasis—a gathering that could draw out the hidden sailors and attract newcomers to the joys of small boat cruising. In this episode of the podcast, Eric shares: How he fell in love with sailing and why it has stuck with him. What sparked the idea to organize Raid Erie in a place not known for dinghy sailing. Behind-the-scenes of organizing the event —from planning to outreach to making it welcoming for all. The results of Raid Erie 2025 : who showed up, how it unfolded, and the sense of community it created. Attracting new generations of sailors , and why this matters for the future of small boat cruising. His future...

When you head out on a small-boat adventure, preparation can be the difference between smooth sailing and an unexpected headache. In this episode, Kelly Trafford shares his personal cruising checklist—a well-tested, real-world guide that covers everything from trailering your boat to anchoring for the night. We go through each section in detail—navigation, mooring, safety, galley, motor, dinghy, and more—sprinkled with stories, best practices, and a few hard-learned lessons from Kelly’s time on the water. This is a fun, practical conversation that’s perfect for sailors who want to cruise with confidence. And the best part? >>>   You can download Kelly’s checklist to use for your own trips right here  <<<

If you've ever sailed a Wayfarer—or even just admired one from shore—you’ll appreciate this episode’s guest: Matt Sharman . A lifelong devotee of this classic dinghy, Matt’s story begins with a family hand-me-down Wayfarer and turns into decades of cruising, teaching, and supporting the Wayfarer sailing community. Matt isn’t just a sailor—he’s also the force behind Aero Luff Spars , a company that produces one of the lightest and most compact foresail furling and reefing systems out there. It's a favorite among small boat sailors who want reliability without excess weight or complexity. We talk about how this innovation came to be and how it fits perfectly into the world of dinghy cruising. But it’s not all about gear. Matt shares: His early Wayfarer sailing experiences Memorable cruises and the joy of camping aboard How he introduces newcomers to the sport through lessons and outreach His support of the active Wayfarer Facebook community His reflections on mee...