NanoCruising

The West Wight Potter 15 has earned a reputation as one of the most capable small cruising boats out there. Simple, tough, and surprisingly seaworthy for its size—it’s built a loyal following over the years. In this episode of the NanoCruising podcast, I sat down with Larry Rumbol, the UK builder of the Potter 15, to dig into the story behind the boat—and what makes it work so well. The Story Behind the West Wight Potter 15 We start with the origins of the design and its creator, Stanley Smith . Larry shares some great historical context around how the boat came to be, and the thinking behind its design. It wasn’t about speed or flash—it was about creating a small boat that could handle real conditions and still be accessible. That philosophy still defines the Potter today. What Makes the Potter 15 So Capable? One of the big themes in the conversation is how well the boat punches above its weight. We talk about: Stability and seaworthiness Simplicity in design Why it w...

Not all sailing has to be fast, technical, or full of adrenaline. Some of it is quiet. Unhurried. Just being out there. In this episode of the NanoCruising podcast, I sat down with Brian Clauson, the voice behind the Ruddy Duck Sailing Adventures YouTube channel. If you’ve seen his videos, you know the feeling—calm, simple, and easy to settle into. Starting with the Boat We started at the beginning—how Brian found his boat and what got him out on the water in the first place. Like a lot of us, it wasn’t some grand plan. It was a step-by-step process. Finding something that worked, getting out there, and figuring things out as he went. That thread runs through the whole conversation. Why Start Filming? At some point, Brian decided to bring a camera along. Not to build a channel. Not to chase views. Just to document the experience. That’s part of what makes Ruddy Duck Sailing feel different. It’s not trying too hard. It’s not overproduced. It’s just a record of time on the...

Learning to sail can feel overwhelming at first. Where do you start? What actually matters? And how do you know if you’re doing it right? In this episode of the NanoCruising podcast, I sat down with a sailor who’s spent over 60 years on the water to talk about how people really learn to sail—not the textbook version, but what actually works. How Do You Actually Learn to Sail? Peter didn’t describe learning as a straight path. He talked about it as a series of moments—small breakthroughs mixed in with plenty of confusion. One day the boat feels right. The next day, it doesn’t. That pattern never fully goes away. You just get more comfortable with it. Why Mistakes Matter We spent a good chunk of time on mistakes—because that’s where most of the learning happens. Pete shared stories from his early days: missed tacks, poor sail trim, things not going to plan. Not as regrets, but as the moments that taught him the most. His take was simple—if you’re not making mistakes, you’re probab...

The Race to Alaska has built a reputation as one of the most unusual endurance races in the sailing world. Roughly 700 miles long, the race runs from Washington State to Alaska — and comes with one simple rule: no engines allowed . Boats can sail, paddle, pedal, or improvise their way north, but mechanical propulsion is off the table. That constraint changes everything. A 20-Foot Catamaran and a Big Challenge In this episode of the NanoCruising Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Williams , who, along with teammate Mike VanHoy, will be competing in the race as Team Snowflakes . Their vessel is a Marstrom Tornado , a high-performance 20-foot catamaran designed for speed rather than comfort. There’s no cabin. No heater. Very little between the sailors and the water. It’s a minimalist platform for a very serious challenge. When Speed Meets Endurance A boat like a Tornado can fly when conditions are right, but the Race to Alaska is rarely straightforward. The course demands adaptability as much...

 At first glance, packrafting doesn’t seem like it belongs on a sailing podcast. There’s no mast. No sail trim. No tacking angles to debate. Just a lightweight inflatable boat that rolls up into a backpack. But after sitting down with Luc Mehl , author of The Packraft Handbook , it became clear that packrafting shares far more DNA with NanoCruising than you might expect. What Is Packrafting? A packraft is a small, durable inflatable boat designed to be carried over land and launched into remote water. You hike in. Inflate. Paddle. Deflate. Walk again. It’s a craft built for transitions — land to water and back again. That alone changes how you think about routes. Small Craft, Big Thinking The parallels to small-boat sailing are hard to ignore. Packrafters talk about: Reading water carefully Managing exposure and weather Keeping gear minimal and functional Planning exits and contingencies Respecting cold water Sound familiar? Like dinghy cruising or expe...

  Designing Safety, Building Sailors, and Why Small Boats Still Matter In Part 1 of this conversation, we introduced three Great Lakes RAIDs and explored why they exist. In Part 2, we go deeper — into how sailors grow into events like these, and how adventure can be challenging without being reckless. One theme keeps resurfacing: designing safety into difficulty . These events aren’t about bravado. They’re structured in ways that encourage progression. Routes, checkpoints, community oversight, and shared experience all create a framework where sailors can stretch their abilities without stepping blindly into risk. Building Up to Big Water No one wakes up ready for a multi-day expedition-style event. Growth happens gradually. We talk about: Starting small — short trips, familiar waters Learning through repetition Building confidence in incremental steps Understanding weather, fatigue, and self-awareness The message is clear: adventure is something you build towa...

When people think about adventure sailing, they often picture salt water, tides, and distant horizons. The Great Lakes , somehow, get dismissed as “easy” or “inland.” That myth doesn’t last long once you start talking to people who actually sail them. In this new NanoCruising episode — Part 1 of a two-part series — we dig into three Great Lakes small-boat events , often described as RAIDs : multi-day, expedition-style gatherings that combine sailing, seamanship, community, and self-reliance. Rather than comparing boats or routes, this episode focuses on why these events exist in the first place. - Eric Miller for the   Erie Expedition Challenge   and   Raid Erie   ( Facebook  )  - Jeff McPheeters for the  GLEC  and  RB950  ( RB950 Instagram ,  GLEC Instagram ) - Kelly Trafford with  CanAm on facebook What we cover in this episode We start with an introduction to each event — their origins, their spirit, and what makes th...