Welcome to another episode of Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States! In this episode, host Bela Musits sits down with Charlie Kirchofer. He recently purchased a 2022 Beneteau Oceanis 38.1. We discussed his criteria for selecting the Oceanis 38.1. We also covered how he plans on getting the sailboat from its location in Annapolis MD and Charlies home port of Boston MA.

We took a deep dive on hiring a captain and here are some tips:

Ask Around: Word of mouth or referrals from local marinas or sailing friends can be your best source.

Have a Conversation: Get on the phone with the captain beforehand to make sure your sailing styles and goals align.

Set Expectations: Clarify responsibilities—will you be hands-on or just observing? Are you looking to learn or just get the boat moved?

Be Prepared: Make sure your boat is ready—fuel, systems checked, provisions in place. The captain isn’t there to do maintenance.

Watch and Learn: Use the opportunity to soak up knowledge. Experienced captains can show you how to manage conditions and make better decisions on the water.

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Happy Sailing!

Bela and Mike