Sailing in the Mediterranean and Beyond

Sailing with Norman Jewison: A Memorable Adventure I want to share some memories I have about my time sailing with Norman Jewison. Norman Jewison was a remarkable man whose life and achievements left an indelible mark on me and those around him. Though my interactions with Norman Jewison, and his at the time girlfriend, Lynn St David were primarily through our shared pleasures of skiing and sailing, I always held great admiration for Norman’s illustrious career. His contributions to the film industry were unparalleled, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. The news of his passing on January 22, 2024 at the age of 97 has caused me to reflect and reminisce about the time we spent together. The first time, in the year 2000, after he received the DeBeers Diamond award at the Taormina Film Festival for his Film Jesus Christ Superstar. When Lynn and he arrived at the boat In Puerto Rosa in Northern Sicily, I can only imagine what Lynn thought she saw my boat. I don’t think it is what Lynn was expecting. However, Lynn was a trooper and made the best of what I’m sure she thought was a terrible situation. We proceeded to have the worst weather of any one week that I’ve spent in the Mediterranean with guests. It could not have been worse. That first night on the island of Volcano, it was flat calm when we anchored then after the sun went down the wind came up, and up, and up, and that quiet safe anchorage became a dangerous lee shore. I decided it would be more dangerous to try and move the boat in the night, so I decided I had better keep an anchor watch. The boat was rocking and bucking all night long, I couldn’t imagine that Lynn and Norman Jewison were able to sleep up in the forward berth. The boat next to us dragged its anchor, and I watched it slowly move downwind and ended up on shore. The next morning the wind died to nothing again, and then we went and enjoyed the mud baths. My skin stank for weeks, smelling of the sulfur mud after that no matter how much I went swimming. Then we sailed around the island of Lipari and tied up on the uncomfortable, surging concrete quay in the city of Lipari that next night. Then the weather started to deteriorate again, and we were stuck there for several days. We were bored just sitting around the harbor, so on July 12th, 2000, we rented scooters to drive around the island, that was my birthday and we stopped at that little restaurant in the middle of the island. Lynn and Norman bought me lunch as a celebration, and then we decided to turn around and go see some caves. In turning around the scooter, the clutch grabbed and accelerated into the rock wall lining the road. I was so worried about Lynn two, but Norman Jewison was just sitting there on the pavement with a bloody arm laughing. What a great sense of humor! To top off the evening after supper, Lynn fell into the water when it was dark while trying to get on the boat in that surging harbor. Lynn could have easily been seriously hurt, but fortunately, Lynn just got wet, and a bit pissed off. Finally, the weather broke, and I thought I had a weather window to go enjoy some of the other islands, so we sailed on up to the island of Panarea. Again, in the middle of the night, the weather came up, and we were in a dangerous lee shore situation, again… Norman took the helm well I brought up the anchor, in the process we were swinging back and forth coming very close to bumping into another boat at anchor who was also dealing with the same wind and trying to get out of there. So back to Lipari we go. This time it was very difficult to find an anchorage because it was so deep and so many other boats had run for shelter, we finally tucked back into a corner with a lot of chain out in order to hold the boat in the strong winds. I think we were there for two or three nights and one day we all got off the boat, Lynn and Norman went one way, and I went exploring in another direction, I think we needed some space. When I got back to the boat, the boat was no longer where I left it, and I found it tied up next to a fisherman’s boat. While we were gone, the wind died and when the wind died the boat started drifting because we had so much anchor line out. A Frenchman on a catamaran saw what was happening and went over with his dinghy and moved my boat over to the fishing boat to tie against to prevent it from damaging other boats. Norman and Lynn were flying out on the 20th so we needed to get somewhere on the mainland so I think the next day we motored all the way to the town of Cefalu we tied up in the Marina and explored the delightful little town. After that they caught the flight out of Palermo. I’m sure Lynn was glad to get off the boat at that point in time. After Norman and Lynn left Jack and Louise Mahoney from Park City UT joined me to sail the boat around to Catania. I don’t know if Lynn knew but Jack passed away a few years ago after battling Parkinson’s disease for quite a while. Jack was another of my favorite sailing companions on both his boat “Desperado” and mine. After that experience we continued to see each other up Deer Valley when Norman Jewison and Lynn two came up to go skiing. I had assumed that Lynn would never want to go sailing with me again after that first experience. Imagine my surprise when it turns out that that first miserable sail with me turned out to be one of the stories Norman and Lynn told friends about. Lynn confirmed my theory that the most uncomfortable experiences turn into the best memories and stories. I invited Norman Jewison and Lynn again to go sailing in 2010, Norman told me that this was the first time he had been back to Croatia since he had filmed Fiddler on the Roof when it was Yugoslavia, I felt honored. In August 2010 Norman and Lynn two joined me in the Marina at Dubrovnik after spending one night in the picture perfect harbor of Cavtat. We proceeded to sail north in comfortable conditions, spending a couple of nights in the National Park on the island of Mijet. We were tied up to a dock at a restaurant in the National Park when Nigel who I had met the previous year in Brindisi Italy before I crossed over to Croatia. The first time I met Nigel was in in Brindisi, Italy, he knew who the designer of my boat and he was admiring her. I didn’t know who Nigel was, I just knew he was a nice guy that liked my boat, and he had a very nice boat himself. He belonged to the Royal Yacht squadron which flies the white British sailing flag that some of the elites fly on their boat he told me about the flag, but I didn’t know what that really meant until he joined us on the boat. I remember the conversation in my crowded cockpit with some drinks, it went something like this: Norman: what do Lynn do for a living? Nigel: I’m retired now but I worked as a physician. Me: Lynn fly that white flag what does that mean Nigel: that means you are a member of the Royal Yacht squadron. Me: How do I get into that yacht squadron? Nigel: ….. ah …you must be invited. Norman: How did you get invited? Nigel: I was the Queen’s physician and she knighted me when I retired and then they invited me to join. Me: what’s your full name? Nigel: Nigel Southward Me: So, Sir Nigel Southward Nigel: Yes. Norman what do Lynn do? Norman: I make movies. Nigel: Anything I would know? Norman: Fiddler on The Roof, ……………… And then it goes on from there I remember Norman talking about when he met the Queen, I imagine Nigel was looking at me, my little boat, looking at Lynn, and Norman and thinking, what the hell are they doing on this little boat. Nigel invited us over to his much larger boat the next night and we had a delightful evening of conversation. I remember his beautiful wife had lost an arm in an accident, yet she was still sailing. A dedicated podcast about my experiences sailing withe Norman Jewison will be coming soon. Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me! If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 Sailing! Learn To Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam Exam over 7 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to take the written exam. If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me. ©2024 Franz Amussen all rights reserved

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 281 Andrew Vic 2023 pt 2 and crew positions for the Spring sailing season in the Caribbean In this episode, I kick things off by discussing my upcoming spring sailing season in the Caribbean and the available crew positions. If you’re interested in joining me, please send an email to franz1 at the provided website domain (I can’t provide the full email address to avoid spam bots). This is an interview with Andrew Vic where we talk about his 2023 summer sail from Sicily to Tunisia and back Links to Vic’s Google Earth kmz files are below http://www.sailgeja.com/geja2023.kmz Vic’s Photos are here: http://www.sailgeja.com/lat38-2023/     Folks are also welcome to have the entire library:   Lots of information here! Andrews Website http://www.sailgeja.com Andrew Vic: A Journey on the High Seas Andrew, a San Francisco native of Scandinavian descent, has always had a deep connection to the water. Born and raised in a city surrounded by the stunning expanse of the Pacific Ocean, it was only natural that he would find himself drawn to a life at sea. His maritime adventures began in the early 2000s, when he embarked on a sailing journey that would shape the course of his life. In the year 2000, Andrew took his first steps into the world of sailing on the iconic San Francisco Bay. With its gusty winds and challenging currents, the bay provided the perfect training ground for a budding sailor. Andrew quickly became adept at navigating the often turbulent waters of this picturesque location, honing his skills and fostering a love for the open sea. As the years passed, Andrew’s passion for sailing grew, and he sought to explore new horizons. During recent summers, he took command of the Geja, a vessel that would become his trusted companion on a remarkable journey. Setting sail from the Bay Area, he embarked on a maritime odyssey that covered over 12,000 nautical miles of Mediterranean waters. His voyage took him along the coasts of some of Europe’s most enchanting countries, including Italy, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, and Greece. Each destination offered its own unique blend of culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes, making the journey an unforgettable experience. While the Mediterranean served as Andrew’s primary playground, he didn’t limit his adventures to this region alone. He expanded his horizons and explored the waters of Mexico, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and even ventured to the exotic paradise of French Polynesia. His thirst for adventure knew no bounds. In late 2018, Andrew achieved a significant milestone in his sailing career. He joined the crew of an Amel 54 and set sail from the Canary Islands, embarking on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean. This transatlantic journey marked a pivotal moment in his maritime endeavors, proving that he had the skill and courage to navigate the ocean. Andrew’s dedication to sailing and his commitment to safety are evident in his achievement of a United States Coast Guard Mariners License. This certification is a testament to his expertise and his ability to operate vessels with the utmost responsibility. Andrew’s journey from a San Francisco native with Scandinavian roots to an experienced sailor with thousands of nautical miles under his belt is a testament to the enduring allure of the sea. His adventures across the world’s oceans have not only shaped his life but have also allowed him to forge a deep connection with the maritime world. As he continues to explore new waters and embark on fresh adventures, one thing remains certain: Andrew’s love for the sea is unwavering, and the call of the open ocean will always beckon him to new horizons. Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me! If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 Sailing! Learn To Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam Exam over 7 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to take the written exam. If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me. ©2019 Franz Amussen all rights reserved

Jack Andrys 2023 As usual when I start talking to Jack Andrys the time just slips away. Here is a link to some of Jack’s photos. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QqBZESKH9B6ZUPZ66 Noforeignland link https://www.noforeignland.com/boat/vesna?sid=5145363304415232&tc=1593473376635 If you have suggestions for future episodes please write me a note Please Consider supporting the podcast in Patreon Want me to go sailing with you? Then contact me! If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam Exam over 8 hours of Audio Instruction to help you get ready to go sailing and also to prepare you for the written portion of the ASA 104 written exam. https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me.   ©2020 Franz Amussen all rights reserved

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 277 Karen Jewell “Inside the Nautical Minds Eye” Karen Jewell reached out to me to see if I would be interested in interviewing her for this podcast. here is her background… “My writing background also includes three other published books: • A History of the Rowayton Waterfront (The History Press) • A Maritime History of the Stamford Waterfront (The History Press) • A History of the Greenwich Waterfront (The History Press) As well as… ● The weekly column Water Views that appeared in The Hour newspaper for twelve years (2001-2012) ● The Stamford Sailing Scene column that appeared in The Hour newspaper for two years ● A variety of boating/sailing correspondent articles ● A story published in Aquarium Fish magazine ● Received three Certificates of Merit for Outstanding Submissions in the Sailing Columns Category for the John Southam Awards, one in 2005 and two in 2006” Here book is: Inside the Nautical Mind’s Eye here is a link to the book: https://seaworthy.com/product/i-t-n-m/   and here is a review of the book: https://www.windcheckmagazine.com/article/inside-the-nautical-minds-eye/     Please Consider supporting the podcast in Patreon   My Boat is for sale here are the details!   See Dream at anchor in Turkey near Gocek If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 https://www.medsailor.com/ If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me. ©2020 Franz Amussen all rights reserved medsailor.com

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 275 Steve Payne pt. 2 England to Malta on a motorboat Quick bio: I was born on the south coast of England, but moved to London as soon as I could. After a few silly jobs, I decided to become a photographer. I had cards printed up before I even owned a camera. Started out working for the music press and ended up working for The Evening Standard, London’s newspaper, but I slowly slipped back into the music industry and ended up directing a bunch of live concert videos. Then I got invited to do a couple of jobs in Los Angeles and fell in love with the place ….. so I stayed ….. for 27 years. I returned to the UK to look after my elderly mother, after she had floated off into the ether, I had some choices to make. To be honest, I didn’t see a great future in the slowly declining United Kingdom, so I bought a boat and headed south. I wasn’t even sure where I was aiming for, but Malta kept creeping into the conversation. After two wonderful years travelling on the rivers and canals of France, then around the coast of France, Italy and Sicily, I ended up in Malta. It’s been quite an adventure. You might enjoy looking at a couple of my videos for background. https://youtu.be/p6wYIuzic5I https://youtu.be/Nbsc4DLozCw https://youtu.be/7xW7FlIkuCE     Please Consider supporting the podcast in Patreon If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 https://www.medsailor.com/ If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me. ©2020 Franz Amussen all rights reserved medsailor.com

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 273 Franz Diary of 2023 Atlantic Crossing The first and only audio diary I made for the 2023 Atlantic crossing note we had not really solved the engine air bubble problem. When I got to Trinidad I had a mechanic look at the engine he had me run the electric pump for about 5 min and found the leak at the banjo bolts on the engine fuel filter. After researching this it appears to be a common problem YOU CANNOT INSTALL THE COPPER SEALING WASHERS ON THE BANJO BOLTS CORRECTLY GRAVITY PREVENTS THE COPPER WASHERS FROM SEATING INTO THE MACHINED GROVES, THE SOLUTION FOR THIS IS TO GET SPECIAL WASHERS THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF RUBBER COATING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SEAT WITHOUT BEING ALIGNED INTO THE GROVES!!! I HAVE ORDERED THESE FOR INSTALLATION when I return     Please Consider supporting the podcast in Patreon If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 https://www.medsailor.com/ If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me. ©2020 Franz Amussen all rights reserved medsailor.com

Dylan Magaster In person meeting in Cape Verde part 2   I met in person Dylan Magaster in Cape Verde. About half way thorough the interview we both realized that we had talked before in 2020 Below are the show notes for that interview!……   —————— I received this email from Dylan, so how could I resist the interview invitation! Hello, My name is Dylan Magaster and I am the creator of the successful YouTube channel FLORB with 600k subscribers and over 100M views (www.youtube.com/dylanmagaster). I believe if you were to bring me as a guest to your podcast we could create an episode that would provide a lot of value and entertainment to your listeners. I started a career in YouTube at the age of 21 years old with a backpack and $1,000. After 6 months in South America I converted a van in order to begin my travels in North America. About 2 years ago I moved to the Mediterranean and bought a sailboat with only 7 days of sailing experience. I have since sailed from Spain to Croatia, all the way into the Black Sea and all the way down to Tunisia, where I am currently living aboard on my 1939 Morgan 382 sailing boat, The Arianrhod, until the borders reopen. My life choices and professional journey have been called anything from risky to unconventional but FLORB is now a full-fledged, reputable film production company based in Los Angeles, California. I look forward to hearing from you. Cheers! Dylan Dylan Magaster flew to South America at the age of 21 with only $1,000 in the bank and his camera gear. He backpacked for 6 months, converted a van, and began creating influential short documentaries showcasing Alternative Living. After nearly two years in a van, Dylan decided to move to the Mediterranean in pursuit of adventure. With only 7 days of sailing experience, he bought a 1979 Morgan 382 sailing boat and has since been living aboard The Arianrhod. Currently, he has sailed over 6,000 nautical miles to 3 different continents. He has traveled to 27 countries thus far while sharing countless inspiring stories of Alternative Living. Dylan’s main passions are Adventure, Storytelling, and Sustainable Living. Now, he is the CEO of FLORB, a successful film production company based in Los Angeles, California, USA. Media: www.youtube.com/dylanmagaster www.youtube.com/dylanmagaster2 www.instagram.com/dylanmagaster https://www.facebook.com/FloatingOrbProductions https://www.facebook.com/florbespanol https://www.facebook.com/dylanmagaster     Please Consider supporting the podcast in Patreon If you have ideas for future podcasts or comments please drop me a note! and PLEASE rate my podcast in iTunes and perhaps write a note. link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sailing-in-the-mediterranean/id566678892?mt=2 https://www.medsailor.com/ If you’re interested in my sailing instructional audio series here are the links: Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Keelboat Certification Lessons for the ASA 101 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/Eiig Sailing! Learn to Sail: Basic Coastal Cruising; Lessons for the ASA 103 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/PvOYK Sailing! Learn To Sail: Bareboat Cruising Certification Lessons for the ASA 104 Exam https://gumroad.com/l/bwXh Sailing in the Mediterranean Website https://www.medsailor.com If you would like to be a guest or have suggestions for future episodes or if you would like Franz to be a speaker at your Sailing Club or fundraiser please feel free to contact me. ©2020 Franz Amussen all rights reserved medsailor.com