Episode #129: Stephen Wolf on Close Calls Sailing the World

This week’s host John Arndt is joined by returning guest Stephen Wolf to hear more tales from his 10-year, 40,000-mile circumnavigation on the 24-ft trimaran No Name back in the 1970s. His adventure started in Gashouse Cove and hit every part of the world — without officially planning for a circumnavigation.

Hear the scariest places and encounters he experienced on the water, how he and his wife Margo stayed safe on a boat’s “beach toy,” stories of battling wind, waves, lightning, fireballs, and killer whales, how they kept their entire cargo to less than 1,000 lbs, and how they managed to navigate without the tools at our fingertips today.

Read more about Stephen’s incredible adventure in the April 2023 issue  and March 2024 issue of Latitude 38 and you can listen to our first episode with him here. 

This episode covers everything from whales to customs. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear:

• Was Stephen ever threatened by locals on his journey?
• How long were they at Rose Island?
• What safety equipment did they have?
• How do you sail around the world without a motor?
• What did they do for food on the water?
• How did Stephen & Margo stay on good terms?
• What did they do when water came aboard?
• How did No Name get its name?

Read more about the incredible adventure at https://www.latitude38.com/issues/april-2023/#76.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

Show Notes

• • • [0:22] Welcome to Good Jibes with Latitude 38
    • [0:26] John Arndt
    • [0:29] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
    • [0:55] Read more about the incredible adventure at https://www.latitude38.com/issues/april-2023/#76
    • [0:59] Episode #127: “Stephen Wolf on an Unplanned Circumnavigation”
    • [1:38] A Man for All Oceans by Stan Grayson
    • [2:31] Was Stephen ever threatened by locals on his journey?
    • [3:42] Red Sea
    • [10:07] How big was their anchor?
    • [12:32] How long were they at Rose Island?
    • [14:12] Check out the Latitude 38 Crew List at Latitude38.com
    • Sailing Stories
    • [15:32] How much sailing did Stephen do before his circumnavigation?
    • [16:15] How much sailing had Margo done?
    • [20:48] What safety equipment did they have?
    • [22:48] How did they navigate?
    • [23:35] Sextant
    • [23:50] How did they keep everything dry?
    • [24:50] How do you sail around the world without a motor?
    • [26:25] Mutiny On the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff & James Norman Hall
    • [26:43] St. Elmo’s Fire
    • [27:05] What did they do for food on the water?
    • [27:45] How did Stephen and Margo stay on good terms?
    • [28:52] Did they have an oar?
    • [30:18] Episode #18: “Lin Pardey on Staying Simple and Just Getting Out There”, Episode #77: “Lin Pardey on Storytelling for Sailors”
    • [35:10] C-130
    • [36:22] How long did they stay in the Mediterranean?
    • [37:52] Subscribe to Latitude 38 Sailing Magazine at Latitude38.com/Subscriptions
    • Sailing Gear
    • [3842] How did No Name get its name?
    • [43:24] Napoleonfish
    • [45:32] What did they do when water came aboard?
    • [46:32] Did they have sunscreen?
    • [47:32] What weather gear did they have?
    • [48:45] How many miles was their circumnavigation?
    • [54:28] West Coast Circumnavigators’ List
    • [54:32] If you find No Name, email [email protected]
    • [54:35] Check out the Latitude 38 Bookstore here for books recommended by Good Jibes guests
    • [54:47] Read more about the incredible adventure at https://www.latitude38.com/issues/april-2023/#76
    • [54:54] Make sure to follow Good Jibes with Latitude 38 on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
    • [54:59] Got a great sailing story to submit? Do so at [email protected]
    • [55:01] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
    • [55:05] Email [email protected] to advertise on this podcast or in Latitude 38 sailing magazine
    • [55:08] Check out the February 2024 issue of Latitude 38
    • Theme Song: Pineapple Dream by SOLXIS