NanoCruising

If you spend any time in the world of small-boat adventuring, one name comes up again and again: Graham Byrnes of B & B Yacht Designs . His Core Sound 17 has become a legend—fast, capable, and surprisingly comfortable for its size. It’s a go-to boat for expedition sailors tackling everything from the Everglades Challenge to long coastal passages and inland explorations. In this episode of the NanoCruising Podcast , I sit down with Graham himself for a deep, fascinating look at where his designs come from and how they earned their reputation. 🌏 From Australia to the US: A Life Shaped by Boats Graham shares stories from his upbringing in Australia and the formative sailing experiences that shaped his thinking. We talk about the unlikely chain of events—starting with meeting his wife—that brought him to the United States and, eventually, to creating one of the most respected small-boat design shops around. His early projects, including the Bay River Skiffs, planted seeds that wo...

  …and here’s why we decided to do it. If you’ve been following NanoCruising for a while, you know this whole project has been a labour of love from day one. It started as a simple idea: create a space where dinghy cruisers, trailer sailors, micro-cruisers, and all the small-boat dreamers out there could connect, learn from one another, and hear stories from the adventurous (and occasionally eccentric) folks who make this community special. The podcast has grown— way more than I expected—and that’s entirely because of you. Your listens, comments, shared stories, and encouragement are the reason I keep chasing down new guests, editing late into the night, and trying to keep this whole NanoCruising thing afloat. So… after a lot of reflection (and more encouragement from listeners than I expected), NanoCruising is now on Patreon. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/c/NanoCruising Why Patreon? Running a podcast—even a tiny one about tiny boats—comes with real monthly costs: Hosting th...

 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...

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...