Avoiding Disaster: The Truth About Hurricane Season for Sailors

In this episode, I dive into how sailors and cruisers deal with one of the biggest threats on the ocean — hurricanes. Fifty years ago, crossing an ocean meant hoping you didn’t run into a storm. There was no internet, no satellite tracking, and little warning. Today, we carry a weather computer in our pocket, with live hurricane data, Starlink connectivity, and routing tools that can literally save lives. We’ll talk about: How hurricane forecasting has changed in just a few decades The role of Starlink and modern weather apps at sea What the “hurricane box” is — and why insurance won’t cover you inside it How cruisers migrate north and south each year to stay safe Where sailors ride out storms (the famous “hurricane holes”) The truth about insurance loopholes and “named storm” clauses Real stories, lessons learned, and what it’s like to live with hurricane season as a full-time cruiser If you’ve ever wondered how modern sailors dodge hurricanes — or how it was done before the digital age — this episode will blow your mind. Leave a comment: Where do you go during hurricane season? Subscribe for more real-life sailing stories, tech talk, and behind-the-scenes of the cruising lifestyle. #SailingDoodles #HurricaneSeason #SailingPodcast #CruisingLife #StarlinkAtSea #SailingTips

A Queensland superyacht agent was offered $300,000 for a “simple” job — help two divers enter Australia. Days later, one diver was dead, another had vanished, and 100 kilos of cocaine were floating in Newcastle Harbor. In this episode, Captain Bobby White of The Sailing Doodles Podcast breaks down the true story of James Blake Blee — how financial desperation led to a deadly smuggling plot, what “parasite smuggling” really is, and why this growing underwater drug tactic is spreading around the world. All details sourced from court reports, News.com.au, ABC Australia, and VICE News investigations. Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/ To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected] Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

A U.S.-flagged motor yacht was raided by Bahamian authorities in Bimini after a tip-off — and what they found shocked everyone. Ten people were arrested, including the crew, and officers seized a cache of weapons, ammunition, and cash. In this episode, Captain Bobby White of Sailing Doodles breaks down the facts, shows footage from the local news, takes a look at the yacht’s charter listing, and shares his honest opinions about carrying weapons onboard and the risks every cruiser faces when crossing borders. I’m not a lawyer — this is my perspective as a captain who’s checked in at Bimini many times. Always verify local laws before you travel. Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/ To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected] Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

This week’s Sailing Doodles Podcast gets personal. Viewers submitted hundreds of questions — and of course, the most common one was about Laura. Are Laura and I getting back together? What really happened behind the scenes at the Annapolis Boat Show? And how does Miss Lone Star fit into all this? I also answer your questions about the new catamaran, future flotillas, the boat raffle, and what’s next for Sailing Doodles in 2026. Drop your next questions in the comments for the next Q&A episode! Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/ To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected] Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles

This might be the biggest announcement I’ve ever made. I’m looking for two people — ideally a couple — to come sail with me in Thailand this February for four months. You don’t need sailing or editing experience. I’ll teach you how to sail, how to film, and how to create a YouTube channel like Sailing Doodles. The goal? To train the next generation of creators and help them launch their own sailing channel when the journey’s done. In this episode, I explain what I’m looking for, what the experience will be like, and how to apply. To apply: Send a short introduction video uploaded to YouTube (public or unlisted) and email me the link. Tell me who you are, why you want to join, and what makes you the perfect fit. [email protected] Patreon members will get to watch the submissions and help me decide who joins the crew. If you want to be part of the process, join here: https://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles This is your chance to change your life — to learn, explore, and start your own adventure.

At the Annapolis Boat Show, Bobby sits down with Amanda and Maryline from Current Yachts, a new brokerage that’s shaking up the traditional 10% commission model. Instead of sky-high broker fees, they’re offering a flat-fee, transparent system — just $1,500 to list your boat and à-la-carte options for everything else. We dive into why they believe the old system is broken, how they’re making boat buying and selling fairer, and what this means for the future of yacht sales. If you’ve ever thought about selling your boat — or buying one — you won’t want to miss this conversation. Check out Current Yachts https://www.currentyachts.com This channel is funded by viewers like you. Please help us keep this channel creating great content by Joining the Sailing Doodles Navy https://sailingdoodles.podia.com/sailing-doodles-course-community or become a channel member https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkDwexrF43p_1QurfKFBCBA/join or join our Patreon http://www.patreon.com/sailingdoodles Donate Via Paypal to help http://www.paypal.me/sailingdoodles

Fan-favorite Laura from Sailing Doodles Seasons 2 & 3 is back! She joined me at the Annapolis Boat Show with her two young kids, and things got a little… chaotic. We catch up on what Laura’s been up to since her sailing days, talk about motherhood, life after the show, and the possibility of getting back on the water. This one’s totally “wheels off” — her 14-month-old demanded plenty of attention (and snacks), interrupted mid-sentence, and even forced an unexpected break for feeding time. It’s messy, real, and absolutely hilarious. If you’ve missed Laura’s energy, laughter, and down-to-earth honesty — this episode’s for you! Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/

What started as one man’s dream to sail the world has grown into one of the most ambitious and inspiring sailing projects on YouTube. In this episode of The Sailing Doodles Podcast, I sit down with Nate and Amy from Expedition Drenched to uncover how it all began — from filming underwater expeditions to building a worldwide nonprofit that protects the oceans. We talk about: How Nate left everything behind to chase a life at sea The early struggles of creating a sailing show with a bigger purpose What makes Expedition Drenched so different from other sailing channels How their team balances adventure, filmmaking, and marine conservation If you love sailing, filmmaking, or stories of people chasing meaning over money — this is a must-watch. #SailingDoodles #ExpeditionDrenched #SailingPodcast #OceanConservation Check out Expedition Drenched on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionDrenched

Sailing the Caribbean has always been a dream — but is it getting riskier? Between rising fees in the Bahamas, U.S. drug-interdiction ops near Venezuela, and shifting maritime laws, we dive into whether the Caribbean is still the paradise sailors imagine. In this Q&A episode, I answer fan questions on: Safety in the Caribbean today Rising costs in the Bahamas & alternatives like Cuba and the BVIs Planning & paperwork for international cruising Boat ownership, chartering, and insurance lessons Life aboard with crew, pets, and future sailing plans Drop your thoughts in the comments — would YOU still sail the Caribbean right now? Enter the contest here: https://raffall.com/398138/enter-raffle-to-win-sailing-doodles-sailboat-hosted-by-sailing-doodles Want more info in the Island Spirit 525e? Be sure to say you saw it on Sailing Doodles. https://inspiredyachting.com/sailing-doodles-and-inspired-yachting-island-spirit-525e-referral/ get tickets for the Annapolis Show: https://annapolisboatshows.ticketspice.com/annapolis-sailboat-show?t=SailingDoodles

In this special episode, I’m sharing my full life story — from my childhood sailing a Sunfish on my grandparents’ lake, to my aviation career flying Gulfstreams for celebrities, to the stroke that ended my flying days, and how that ultimately led to creating Sailing Doodles. It’s been a wild ride: flying rockstars around the world, living in Nigeria and Dubai, surviving a medical crisis, and then finally selling everything to chase the dream of sailing full time. I’ll take you through the twists, setbacks, and adventures that brought me here today. If you’ve ever wondered how Sailing Doodles started — this is the story behind it all.