Episode #81: Marga Pretorius on Cruising Solo

This week’s host, Nicki Bennett, is joined by Marga Pretorius to chat singlehanded cruising on her Kelly Peterson 44 Dogfish. Marga is a Shipwright and Marine Surveyor currently based in Mexico.

Hear how to cruise solo while running your business, how it compares to cruising with a partner, how learning sailing skills can help you conquer other obstacles in life, what the cruising community has meant for Marga, and her love for the next generation of sailors.

This episode covers everything singlehanding to marine surveying. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• How did Marga get to where she is today?
• What did she do at BMC?
• How has it been cruising solo?
• What’s next for Marga?
• How is her marine surveying business going?
• What is her degree in?
• How has Starlink impacted cruising?
• Short Tacks: What’s Marga’s favorite upgrade to Dogfish so far?

Learn more about Marga at DogfishBoatworks.com.

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

This episode is brought to you by Svendsen’s Spring Fling. Don’t miss Svendsen’s Spring Fling Boat Show on April 15 & 16. For more information, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com. We hope to see you there!

Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• Marga Pretorius on Cruising Solo
  • [0:22] Welcome to Good Jibes with Latitude 38
  • [0:27] Nicki Bennett
  • [0:30] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
  • [0:34] Learn more about Marga at DogfishBoatworks.com
  • [0:40] What’s a story that shaped her as a sailor?
  • [3:12] OCSC
  • [3:28] How did Marga get to where she is today?
  • [5:50] What is her degree in?
  • [6:42] What kind of boat is Dogfish?
  • [10:42] COVID-19
  • [11:26] How is Marga’s marine surveying business going?
  • [12:36] What did she do at BMC (Berkeley Marine Center)?
  • [15:47] Podcasts
  • [16:27] How has it been cruising solo?
  • [20:15] Pandemic
  • [25:30] This episode of Good Jibes is brought to you by Svendsen’s Spring Fling. Come down to Svendsen’s on April 15 & 16 for the annual Spring Fling Boat Show. This event is free and open to the public. Meet top sailing brand representatives and receive the best deals of the year on your boating and sailing gear. There will be raffle giveaways all weekend long, open boats to tour at Marina Village, seminars, food trucks, and more. For more information about Spring Fling and to pick up your free tickets, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com
  • Cruising Community
  • [26:06] What advice does Marga have for women who want to cruise solo?
  • [29:42] YouTube
  • [32:17] Episode #77: “Lin Pardey on Storytelling for Sailors”
  • [35:23] Screen Time
  • [36:12] What’s next for Marga?
  • [37:48] Social Media
  • [38:50] Starlink
  • [41:04] What has the cruising community meant for Marga?
  • [44:04] Come down to Svendsen’s Spring Fling and meet the crew from Latitude 38. On Saturday, April 15, we will be hosting a crew party at our booth from 4-6pm. Meet other sailors and get out and do more sailing. We will be pouring beer donated by our friends at Almanac Brewing and celebrating all things sailing. We hope to see you there!
  • Short Tacks
  • [44:42] What is Marga’s favorite tool?
  • [44:54] What’s her top safety item?
  • [45:19] What’s the one thing she can’t live without?
  • [46:03] What’s her favorite upgrade to Dogfish so far?
  • [47:12] North to the Night by Alvah Simon, The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float by Farley Mowat 
  • [47:52] What’s Marga’s bucket list cruising destination?
  • [48:32] What would she say to a racer to get them to go cruising?
  • [49:52] Learn more about Marga at DogfishBoatworks.com
  • [50:32] What final thoughts does she have?
  • [56:27] Make sure to follow Good Jibes with Latitude 38 on your favorite podcast spot and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts
  • [56:35] Got a great sailing story to submit? Do so at [email protected]
  • [56:43] Subscribe to Latitude 38 at Latitude38.com
  • [56:52] Email [email protected] to advertise on this podcast or in Latitude 38 sailing magazine
  • [57:03] Check out the March 2023 issue of Latitude 38
  • [57:14] Don’t miss Svendsen’s Spring Fling Boat Show on April 15 & 16. For more information, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com. We hope to see you there!
  • Theme Song: Pineapple Dream by SOLXIS

Thanks for listening to Marga Pretorius & Nicki Bennett on Good Jibes with Latitude 38. Subscribe here to receive Latitude 38 to your home each month.

This episode is brought to you by Svendsen’s Spring Fling. Don’t miss Svendsen’s Spring Fling Boat Show on April 15 & 16. For more information, visit SpringFlingBoatShow.com. We hope to see you there!