Sailing Documentaries
Well, since things are still slow right now. I thought I’d send all of you off to watch some exciting films on sailing. They’re all documentaries because I haven’t found any compelling, non-documentary movies about sailing. Are these particular documentaries in the realm of more extreme sailing than we want to do? Yes! Cruising down the coast is a bit more mild than what you’ll see in these films. Although, I won’t lie, some of the sailing we will be doing might be a little on the scary side. That’s why we will be spending the following months preparing as much as we can for different kind of scenarios.
So while I wait to get this annoying cold off my chest. -I am determined to kick it this week, I will introduce you to these 7 engaging films. Have fun watching them!
Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World
Icebergs & temperatures below freezing aren’t really something I’m interested in pursuing while sailing. So we’ll let other sailors do things like that instead. In case I get some kind of inkling to sail down to Patagonia, I’ll make myself watch this movie again. On the other hand, these guys make this almost look like fun!
Release date 2016. -Watch on Roku Channel or Apple TV, as of Jan. 31st, 2023.
Maiden
Tracy Edwards is just so inspiring to watch! She broke boundaries in a male dominated sailing world. Persevering amongst the most discouraging encounters, she doesn’t let anything stop her from following her heart. Actually, all the women on her crew are pretty amazing. Showing that as much as a team needs their leader, a leader needs their team.
Released 2019. -Watch on Apple TV, Amazon Prime or Google Play, as of Jan. 31st, 2023.
Coyote: The Mike Plant Story
This guy’s sailing life is not only interesting but so is the story of his life before sailing. It’s definitely a reminder that you probably don’t know everything you think there is to know. And maybe listen to the experts sometimes.
Released 2017. -Watch on Roku Channel, Apple TV or Amazon Prime, as of Jan. 31st, 2023.
Deep Water
One thing to note is that if you are searching for this movie, be sure to add the word documentary. There is another movie called Deep Water & that one is a completely different story & fictional. This one might leave you a little on edge. It is about a man’s journey on a solo race around the world in 1968. Being along can affect different people in different ways.
Released 2006. -Watch on Amazon Prime as of Jan. 31st, 2023.
Following Seas
Another film that actually takes place back in the 1960s & 1970s. This family was the original SV Delos. -In terms of filming your family sailing around the world. It definitely shows the less glamorous life of cruising on a sailboat than what you might see today. This might be one we watch again before our autumn trip. -Just to make sure we got our safety-ness at sea all in order.
Released in 2016 -Watch on Vimeo, Amazon Prime or Apple TV, as of today, Jan. 31st, 2023.
Maidentrip
All I have to say is 14 years old! Sailed around the world by herself! Wow!
Released in 2013. -Watch on Roku Channel as of Jan. 31st, 2023.
Kon Tiki
This is the “actual” documentary that came out in 1950. -Not the re-created movie that was made more recently. I suggest this movie because you can really get a feel of the hardships these guys go through with the original footage. All I can say is this raft is more primitive than the sailboats of the day, just not having a modern day auto-pilot & a chart plotter is enough to put me off, let alone not having what I think of as a true sea-worthy vessel. It is fun though, to go back in time with this one & realize how much we modern day sailors have to be thankful for!
Released in 1950. -Watch on the Roku Channel, Amazon Prime or Apple TV, as of today, Jan. 31st, 2023.
The Weekend Sailor
This film is about a Mexican sailor who gathered a crew together for the 1st crewed sailing race around the world in 1974. These guys have ongoing issues that make you wonder if they’ll even be able to begin the race. That’s all I’ll give away. But one additional plus about this movie is for anyone that grew up in the 80s & is a Duran Duran fan, this is narrated by Simon Le Bon!
Released in 2016 -Watch on Vimeo, as of today, Jan. 31st, 2023.
So your homework for the week is to pick one of these films & watch it! 😁 If you do end up watching one or all of them, let everyone know what you thought.
Zephyr says, “Happy February, Everyone!”.
Thanks for reading! If you have any sailing movies that you want to recommend, let us all know in the comments below. See you next week!
