Off Watch - The Ocean Race Podcast

Round-the-world sailing Legend Franck Cammas brings us lessons on team building, tales of adventure and serious injury, the future of the IMOCA Class and offshore foiling, and why winning The Ocean Race is his favourite achievement. Niall finds out what drives Cammas to continue to redefine versatility in sailing. Cammas conquered The Ocean Race first time out, has set a round-the-world record, and now he has his sights focused on a new IMOCA campaign for The Ocean Race and the Vendée Globe.

Rosalin Kuiper is one of the sport of sailing's rising stars. In a fun and open chat she tells Niall Myant-Best about her incredible adventure racing around the world with Team Malizia in the last edition of The Ocean Race, and how it feels to step up as Co-Skipper of Team Holcim-PRB in The Ocean Race Europe in 2025 🇪🇺

World-renowned yacht designer Juan Kouyoumdjian explains just how much work and detail goes into the design of the IMOCA 60, where The Ocean Race Europe IMOCA class was lost and won and where the future lies for foiling offshore boats. This special edition of Off Watch was recorded during The Ocean Race Europe, and a new series of Off Watch will be coming this September.

In this last episode of Season 2 of Off Watch we welcome back Ken Read - Ocean Racer, America's Cup commentator and President of North Sails. Ken gives Niall the inside track on The Ocean Race Europe which combines VO65 and IMOCA fleets for the first time at the end of May, starting in Lorient, France. Ken also gives us his optimistic take on how the sport of sailing is adapting to a new world ⛵️🌍

The Ocean Race Europe is only weeks away so in this double episode we catch up with Yoann Richomme, skipper of Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, and The Ocean Race veteran and crewmember on CORUM L'Épargne Sébastien Josse. Yoann tells us about the formidable crew he's assembled onboard Mirpuri Foundation Racing team's VO65, and Seb shares some learnings from his illustrious sailing career and gives a preview of foiling IMOCA 60 sailing in The Ocean Race Europe.

Behind every unforgettable story and each iconic image from our race is an Onboard Reporter and Amory Ross is one of the most experienced practitioners of this unique art form. In this episode we get a deep insight into storytelling in some of the most remote places on earth - from the impact of technology and drones, maintaining creativity at sea and capturing rare wildlife encounters. Plus at the end after the interview Niall and Amory hang out and chat about the vibrant French sailing scene. Amory is currently part of 11th Hour Racing Team's crew for The Ocean Race and The Ocean Race Europe.

Bruno Dubois is one of sailing's most influential and successful team builders. In this fascinating episode Bruno gives us candid lessons from failure, analyses the success of French sailing heroes Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier and explains his formula for a winning team. Bruno managed The Ocean Race winners Dongfeng Race Team in 2017-18 and has an extensive background in The America's Cup and SailGP. He's currently lending his knowledge and experience to the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team for their VO65 entry in The Ocean Race Europe, and the next edition of The Ocean Race.

Tracy Edwards is one of The Ocean Race's true pioneers and rule breakers with an unbelievable and inspiring story. In this episode we hear the full story - including the bits she didn't include in the award-winning documentary 'Maiden' about her iconic 1989 Whitbread Round the World Race campaign. Tracy also explains why she never wanted to be a skipper and reveals the sexism that women have faced in the sport of sailing.

Abby Ehler has sailed in The Ocean Race three-times and is a seasoned boat captain dealing with repairs in less than ideal circumstances. As a woman working at the top of the sport of sailing both on and off the water Abby also dedicates her energy to The Magenta Project, developing pathways and generating opportunities for women in performance sailing. In this chat Abby and Niall get into some of her experiences keeping boats together in the Southern Ocean, the secrets of successful team building, and the challenges of women in sport.

This week we take a wonderful journey back to the Whitbread years, and also to some extremely cold climates with legend of The Ocean Race Skip Novak. Skip competed in four editions of the Whitbread Round the World Race before deciding to follow his passion for exploration and adventure at high latitudes with his company Pelagic Expeditions. We relive Skip's near-death experience aboard Drum with rock star Simon Le Bon, learn how sailing can bring people together across political and social divides, and hear about exploring polar environments affected by climate change.