Preparing for an Ocean Voyage

Preparing for an Ocean Voyage

Where Do You Start?
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American Sailing

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Crossing an ocean might be the dream, but preparing to cross one is an adventure of its own.

In the American Sailing online course Ocean Voyage Prep, Gio and Julie Capelli of Pelagic Blue draw on more than 60,000 miles of Pacific sailing experience to walk sailors through 20 essential steps for preparing a boat and crew for extended offshore voyaging.

More Than Preparing the Boat

Ocean voyage preparation goes far beyond choosing a route and waiting for the right weather window.

Gio and Julie explore the many pieces that need to come together before departure, from understanding your boat and its systems to safety equipment, maintenance, navigation, anchoring, crew preparation, and life aboard.

Rather than simply providing an equipment checklist, the course focuses on becoming familiar with your boat, practicing essential skills, and identifying potential problems while you still have time to address them.

Is the Crew Ready, Too?

The boat isn’t the only thing that needs preparation.

Long passages require sailors to think about watchkeeping, navigation, safety procedures, provisioning, fitness, and the realities of living aboard for extended periods.

One of Gio and Julie’s recommendations is to put both the boat and crew to the test with a shorter offshore passage before setting off on a major voyage.

Watch the Replay

Whether an ocean crossing is part of your immediate plans or still a future goal, Ocean Voyage Prep offers a practical look at what it takes to get ready.

Watch the On Demand replay to explore all 20 steps and learn from Gio and Julie’s decades of offshore experience.

Join The Discussion

  • Ocean Voyage Prep

    Posted by Diona on September 22, 2026 at 3:53 pm

    Preparing for an ocean passage can feel like an endless list of boat projects, safety checks, provisioning, weather planning, and crew preparation. Ocean Voyage Prep with Gio & Julie Cappelli helps break the process into practical, manageable steps so you can feel more prepared before leaving the dock.

    One sailor who attended the class shared:

    ⭐ “I thought this provided a great outline for cruising preparation and I can’t wait to look at the additional material that was also provided. The topic itself is pretty close to infinite so great job making it manageable!”

    The course is now available On Demand, so you can watch on your own schedule, revisit sections as you prepare, and take advantage of the additional course resources.

    🎥 Watch Ocean Voyage Prep On Demand

    • This discussion was modified 3 weeks, 6 days ago by  Diona.
    Diona replied 4 weeks ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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