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What if you could walk away from everything? The bills, the commute, the endless cycle of working to pay for things you barely have time to enjoy?

Captain Mark J. Reinhardt didn't just dream about it—he did it. Speaking from his sailboat in the Solomon Islands, Mark takes us deep into the realities of living completely off-grid on the open water. With candid honesty rarely found in sailing narratives, he reveals both the breathtaking freedom and sobering challenges of his unconventional life.

Mark shares the unlikely path that led from growing up on an Orlando lake to sailing 10,000 miles across the world's most challenging waters. After financial collapse following the 2008 recession and a humbling stint as a dishwasher, Mark found himself walking down the Florida coast with nothing but a backpack and tent. In that moment of rock bottom, he recognized his calling to return to the sea.

The heart of this conversation explores Mark's harrowing experience crossing the South Pacific alone—a journey that nearly cost him everything. With unflinching detail, he recounts how equipment failures, a devastating hand injury, and overwhelming seas pushed him to his absolute breaking point. His raw account of battling not just the elements but his own mind reveals the psychological resilience necessary for true self-reliance.

Beyond survival tales, Mark offers practical wisdom about the everyday realities of boat life. From conserving water and managing resources to finding innovative solutions for everything from flies to laundry, he demystifies the sailing lifestyle. His colorful stories of encounters with indigenous communities and the colorful characters he's met along the way paint a vivid picture of a life rich in experience if not luxury.

Whether you're an aspiring sailor, a freedom-seeker, or simply curious about alternative living, Mark's journey demonstrates what happens when you have the courage to choose adventure over security. His book "Off the Grid" and upcoming sequel document this remarkable path—proving that sometimes the most meaningful life isn't about what you acquire, but what you're brave enough to leave behind.

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SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist

PODCAST TOOLS:
Livestream: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608
Create AI Clips: https://klap.app/?via=SaltyAbandon

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Oliver from Sailing Phoenix returns for a live update before he sets sail on one of the biggest adventures of his life—a solo(ish) crossing from Oregon to Hawaii with his trusty crewmate, Phoenix the cat.

Since our last chat in November 2024, Oliver has been hard at work making critical repairs and upgrades to his sailboat to get it ocean-ready for the journey ahead. In this episode, we dive into:

• What’s been fixed, changed, and overhauled since November
  
  
• The reality of preparing a boat for offshore sailing
  
  
• His route planning and timeline
  
  
• How he’s balancing preparation with anticipation
  
  
• What it’s like having a cat aboard for such a big crossing
  
  
• The emotional and mental prep involved in solo passagemaking

This is a raw and honest conversation about what it really takes to make a Pacific crossing—from one sailor to another.

*🎙️ LIVE at 6pm Central – April 16, 2025*
*Podlink:* [https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist](https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist)

Subscribe for more weekly sailing stories, offshore prep tips, and interviews with cruisers around the world. It’s always a great day to talk about sailing.

#SaltyAbandon #SaltyPodcast #Sailing #PacificCrossing #SailingPhoenix

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist

PODCAST TOOLS:
Livestream: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608
Create AI Clips: https://klap.app/?via=SaltyAbandon

Send us a text

Hayden & Radeen of S/V Island Spirit are back, streaming 🎙️ LIVE from Saint-Martin in the Caribbean (but the ended up being in Antigua) 🌬️ Wind patterns (with graphs), ⚓️ Best anchorages 🌀 Pro tips for maneuvering & anchoring around Sint Maarten

YouTube Link: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcast57

#SaltyPodcast #SaltyAbandon #SailingTips #IslandSpirit #SintMaarten

Support the show

SALTY ABANDON: Cap'n Tinsley, Orange Beach, AL:
Oct 2020 to Present - 1998 Island Packet 320;
Nov 2015-Oct 2020; 1988 Island Packet 27
Feb-Oct 2015 - 1982 Catalina 25

SALTY PODCAST is LIVE every Wed at 6pm Central and is all about the love of sailing!
YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://tinyurl.com/SaltyPodcastPlaylist

PODCAST TOOLS:
Livestream: Https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5430067749060608
Create AI Clips: https://klap.app/?via=SaltyAbandon