Wendy Hinman at the 2026 Seattle Boat Show

Posted on January 27, 2026 by admin

Once again I look forward to participating in the Seattle Boat Show and selling/signing my books at Captain’s Nautical Supply booth up on the concourse.

Seattle Boat Show January 30-February 7, 2025.

Besides presenting, I will be selling and signing my books at Captain’s Nautical Supply booth on Fridays and weekend days, as well as women’s day on Monday 2/2/26 when women can get into the show for free.

I will be presenting on these dates, times, and topics:

Friday January 30 1pm Cruising Gems in BC: Learn more about some of the great places to visit in BC that you may not already know about.

Monday February 2, 1-3pm Moderator, Becoming a Better Sailor Women’s Panel: Featuring a panel of women sailors with various levels of experience revealing how they evolved into the confident sailors they’ve become. Featuring Laurie Anna Kaplan, Karin Stevens, JJ Hoag and Elise Sivilay.

Friday February 6, 12pm Cruising the Inside Passage through BC and Alaska: Get a taste for the possibilities and how to make the most of the time you have to enjoy the glaciers, waterfalls, and hot springs; as well as wildlife including whales, bears, otters and more; and a native culture like no other place offers. This talk will include favorite spots, tips for trip planning, an overview of resources available, and potential pitfalls to help you prepare.

Friday February 6, 2:15pm Preserving Your Relationship/s Afloat: Venturing off in a boat puts new pressures on even well-established relationships. Learn techniques for addressing the diverse needs of a crew and dissipating tension aboard so you enjoy the places you visit and an unusual way of traveling there. She discusses how to find balance in a small, sometimes violently rocking environment, while facing the new challenges that cruising can present.

Speaker Bio:

Wendy Hinman has published articles in a variety of publications and is the award-winning author of two hit books: Tightwads on the Loose and Sea Trials. She is a regular speaker at yacht clubs and boat shows around the country and her presentations are filled with examples and infused with humor. She grew up sailing and has cruised and raced in venues around the globe in all sorts of boats as skipper and crew, sometimes winning. She spent seven years at sea, sailing 34,000 miles aboard a small, simple boat and learned the most essential ingredient aboard is a good sense of humor. She and her husband Garth Wilcox are currently building a boat for more cruising adventures. www.wendyhinman.com

For more seminar details, visit:
https://seattleboatshow.com/seminars/

To buy tickets: https://seattleboatshow.com/buy-tickets/

When she’s not presenting, you can find her autographing and signing books at the Captain’s Nautical Booth up on the concourse. Come pick up your guidebooks, tide books and take home some great sea stories.

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Wendy Hinman Video Interview with Seattle PI reporter Jack Olmstead

Posted on August 1, 2025 by admin
Wendy Hinman Video Interview with Seattle PI reporter Jack Olmstead at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival.
Reposted after the footage accidentally was deleted here. Here’s a link to a follow up interview in Sept 2013 with roving Seattle PI reporter Jack Olmstead.
Learn about Wendy Hinman epic journey around the Pacific, her award-winning sea stories, and her inspiring plans for more adventures.
Posted in Boating, Books, Uncategorized | Comments Off

New Person in an Old Place: Wendy Hinman interview on KUOW

Posted on July 10, 2025 by admin

A radio interview with award-winning journalist Jeannie Yandel on NPR station KUOW about the difficulty of returning after years cruising around the Pacific Ocean.

For seven years, Wendy Hinman and her husband Garth Wilcox sailed where they pleased on an open schedule, letting serendipity and the weather dictate their travels. Coming home after such freedom was a challenge, but the voyage opened their eyes to the possibilities of living differently. Learn more about their adventures and the lessons they offered in this thoughtful interview: A new person in an old place

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KPTZ Interview with Wendy Hinman at the 40th Annual Wooden Boat Festival

Posted on April 1, 2025 by admin

During the 40th Annual Wooden Boat Festival, KPTZ’s radio hosts Phil Andrus and Steve Evans conducted a live interview with Wendy Hinman, author of the award winning book, Tightwads on the Loose about her voyage around the Pacific. With signature humor, she makes light of the 31-foot sailor that carried her 34,000 miles, noting that while she may have lived without what most would consider “necessities,” what she found most essential was a sense of humor.

Listen to the segment here. Wendy Hinman with KPTZ at Wooden Boat Festival.

KPTZ Logo

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KPTZ Compass News Magazine Interview with Wendy Hinman

Posted on March 12, 2025 by admin

Velella underway in New ZealandA small wooden sailboat leaves Port Townsend on a pleasant summer morning heading south and then west. Wendy Hinman and Garth Wilcox set off having no idea how long they will be gone. Seven years later, after sailing 34,000 miles and setting foot in 19 different countries, Wendy and Garth finally returned.

A radio interview with David Cunningham of KPTZ Compass news magazine in Port Townsend.

Their highs and lows and misadventures are preserved in the hit book Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven-Year Pacific Odyssey.

“Some of the most satisfying things in life are that because they were hard to do.”

Listen to the radio interview with David Cunningham of KPTZ Compass news magazine in Port Townsend here.

KPTZ Logo

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Now is the Moment to Follow Your Dreams

Posted on February 20, 2025 by admin

Listen to the inspiring interview with adventurer Wendy Hinman and life coach and author Lyssa DeHart on her Story Jacking podcast. Their discussion encompasses what makes life worth living.

In their discussion, Wendy notes: “Change is constant in life. If you don’t choose change, it is imposed on you anyway. If you actively choose change, you are in more command of your life. There’s comfort in the predictable but it’s an illusion of safety. Comfort is what we seek as consolation for feeling a little bored. Expanding our comfort zone and leaping into the unknown is what make life exciting. If I’m afraid of something and take some step, those fears seem smaller. Gradually upping the ante to get more comfortable doing bigger things results in significant accomplishments over time. Once you’ve done something you’re not afraid of it anymore. It develops trust in your ability to be aware and react and read the world in new ways and to make conscious choices.

With my husband we bought a 31-foot boat that fit our budget better than it fit my husband’s large frame and set sail for an open-ended voyage, never imagining we’d be gone seven years, or cover 34,000 miles at the pace of a fast walk.

Velella

Velella Sailing in New Zealand

Sailing offshore offered me time to reflect and offered me many insights on living for becoming a “human being” rather than just a “human doing.” Stopping and taking stock lets you develop awareness to reflect on your own story in a way that can help you learn and grow. It lets us figure out who we are not just in relation to others. We can then take ownership of our story so we can consciously write our own desired ending.

Being in the moment, actively engaged with all your heart, in pursuit of a goal is what makes us feel alive. Empowerment comes through the process of doing something hard. Lifelong learning is what makes me feel alive. Expanding oneself in myriad ways through a broad range of experiences is thrilling. Sometimes, the only thing I may have control over is my attitude. I’ve realized that failure is not making a mistake but giving up and when I’m struggling, I need to find a way to shift gears to find a more positive way to look at things and take steps to make my situation better.

You never know what you’re capable of accomplishing until you do it, one step at a time. That’s how we can all manifest what we want.”

Get inspired to rewrite your own story. Listen to the interview here.

https://soundcloud.com/lyssadehart/tightwads-on-the-loose-sj-5

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Wendy Hinman to be Keynote Speaker at SYC Women’s Skills Weekend “Taking the Helm”

Posted on February 13, 2025 by admin
SYC Women’s Group’s – Women’s Boating Skills Weekend

The 7th Annual Women’s Boating Skills Weekend is scheduled to take place at the Portage Bay Mainstation April 4– 6, 2025. This weekend-long educational and social event is one you won’t want to miss! Registration opens on February 1, 2025, online: SYC WBSW 2025.

150 ATTENDEES | 3 KEYNOTES | 50 WORKSHOPS

Register early to signup for your preferred workshops!

_____________

HIGHLIGHTS

Amazing keynotes, a wide variety of educational workshops, dedicated volunteers, a vendor marketplace and dock crawl Friday evening, a jam-packed Saturday beginning with breakfast and continuing until a plated dinner, a Sunday afternoon cruising couples event where you can bring your partner, and so much more. This event is appropriate for new and experienced boaters, and both power and sailboaters. Here’s what you can expect.

Friday Evening

On Friday evening, we will start check in, and have a Vendor Marketplace. Buy fun items for your boat, art, books on boating and provisioning and more! We will have a reception including appetizers and no-host bar, then join us in a dock crawl aboard some participants’ boats.

Workshops

Boating for Life, Marine Sanitation, Knots and Lines, Marine Electrical, Yacht Financing, Redecorating, Hiring a Captain, VHF Radios, All about Sails

On the Docks

Boat Systems Familiarization, Anchoring, Docking Boats and Dinghies, Crew Overboard, Boat Cleaning and Detailing, Care & Feeding of your Diesel Engine, Fishing & Crabbing

Enjoy SYC Catered Meals

We will provide appetizers Friday night, breakfast Saturday and Sunday, a sandwich and salad bar Saturday afternoon and a plated dinner Saturday evening.

Sunday Afternoon – Partners Invited

Cruising Club of America will teach Safety for Cruising Couples. You are strongly encouraged to invite your partner to this event. Limit 40 people, charge of $15 for supplies. *Skipper and Crew Partnership *Controlling the Boat and Knowing Your Position *Getting Help *Dealing With Emergencies

Keynote Speakers

Capt. Tuuli Messer-Bookman

Capt. Tuuli Messer-Bookman spent her childhood (from 0-18) aboard wooden sailboats in Sausalito, California. In 1986, Tuuli graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy. After several years as a ship’s officer, she earned her Unlimited Tonnage Oceans Master’s license. She has over 300,000 miles at sea. She then earned her law degree at the University of San Francisco, School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar. She then spent 23 years as a professor at California Maritime Academy, where she taught all aspects of navigation, USCG license preparation, and was a certified assessor for shipboard watchstanding before retiring in 2018.

Wendy Hinman

Wendy Hinman grew up sailing, learning to sail as a child with her family in the Hawaiian Islands, and discovered a love of exploring places by boat that has taken her aboard boats around the globe, both racing and cruising. Her hit book Tightwads on the Loose shares some of her adventures afloat and in this session she’ll share what she’s learned about developing confidence as a boater with her signature humor, examples, and insight.

Sandy Lam

In the past 11 years, Sandy has raced with some of the top large and small boats around the Pacific Northwest, crewing on tall ships locally and abroad, all while shifting a career from corporate communications to community development for maritime nonprofits. Her most recent journey took her 7,000 nautical miles transiting the Northwest Passage on S/V Dogbark, an Open 60 in 2024 from Sitka, AK to St. John’s, Newfoundland.

2025 Schedule of Events

Friday, April 4th, 2025

3:30 pm – 6:30 pm Registration & Vendor Marketplace

4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Reception (Appetizers & No-Host Bar)

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Dock Crawl

Saturday, April 5th, 2025

7:30 am – 8:00 am Registration Continued

8:00 am – 8:30 am Breakfast

8:30 am – 9:30 am Welcome & Morning Program Keynote: Captain Tuuli Messer-Bookman

9:45 am – 12:00 pm Workshops 1 & 2 (Identical)

Docking 201 - Pam Lowry

Anchoring Skills - Joe Peterson

Learning about the Systems on your Boat - Lynne Thompson

Boating for Life - Beth Featherstone

VHF Basics - Capt. Tuuli Messer-Bookman

Go Pump Yourself – Katie Wixom

Safety Equipment 101 - Jenna Miller

No Impact Docking - Ace Spragg

12:00 pm – 1:45 pm Lunch & Afternoon Program Keynote: Wendy Hinman

2:00 pm – 5:30 pm Workshops 3, 4, & 5

Workshops 3

Docking Practice in a Dinghy - Peter Keckemet

Docking 201 - Pam Lowry

Crossing US/Canadian borders on a boat  – Jenna Miller

Hands On Rope Splicing  - Dee Bayley

Care & Feeding of your Diesel Engine - Meredith Anderson

Why Should I Hire a Captain? - Mary De Friel

Provisioning and Entertaining Onboard like a Pro - Diane Lander

Marine Electrical - Sarah Scott

Workshops 4

Docking Practice in a Dinghy - Peter Keckemet

Crossing US/Canadian borders on a boat  – Jenna Miller

Care & Feeding of your Diesel Engine - Meredith Anderson

Why Should I Hire a Captain? - Mary De Friel

Provisioning and Entertaining Onboard like a Pro - Diane Lander

Marine Electrical - Sarah Scott

Workshops 5

Docking Practice in a Dinghy - Peter Keckemet

Trial by Fire – A Test at the Helm - Schelleen Rathkopf

All About Sails - Jenna Miller

Under Water Construction: Tales from a Commercial Diver - Leah Fiecke

Hands On Rope Maintenance - Dee Bayley

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Celebration, Group Photo & Champagne Toast

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Dinner

Sunday, April 6th, 2025

8:00 am – 8:30 am Breakfast

8:30 am – 9:45 am Morning Program Keynote: Sandy Lam

9:45 am – 12:00 pm Workshops 6 & 7 (Identical)

Sailing Without Owning a Boat - Elise Sivilay

Seattle Police Harbor Patrol - Lieutenant Garth Green, Marc

In It for the Long Haul: Planning your Boat’s Future - Andy Stewart, Zach Simonson-Bond, Alex Jones

Glossy, Shiny, Happy Boats: Professional Exterior Boat Maintenance Tips - Natalie Yuse

Intro to Sailboat Racing and How to Get Started - Shauna Walgren and Urvashi Chowdhari

Interior Boat Refresh - Carla Hubbard

Person Overboard Prevention and Response - Alden Rohrer (Salish Rescue)

Crabbing & Fishing - Monica Dodd

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Optional Pizza Lunch

1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Cruising Club of America Partners Workshop: Safety at Sea (We strongly encourage partner participation!)

Space is limited to 150 attendees. To find out more or to register, visit:

https://2025sycwomensboatingskill.rsvpify.com/

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Wendy Hinman Interview with KSER about her Voyage around the Pacific

Posted on February 12, 2025 by admin

KSER Logo

Here’s an interview with author Wendy Hinman about her amusing, award-winning book Tightwads on the Loose on KSER FM Sound Living.

This interview shares her signature humor that helped her navigate over 34,000 miles around the Pacific Ocean with her husband over their seven-year voyage. Hear the stories behind the person who wrote the best-selling book.

Tightwads on the Loose tells the story of Wendy and Garth, lured to sea by the promise of adventure. They buy a 31-foot boat that fits their budget better than it fits Garth’s large frame and set sail for an open-ended voyage, never imagining they’d be gone seven years, or cover 34,000 miles at the pace of a fast walk. They live without most “necessities” and learn that teamwork and a sense of humor matter most as they face endless “character-building opportunities.” They make a long-anticipated visit to the island where Garth had been shipwrecked as a teenager, only to find it had become a penal colony. An electronic catastrophe in the Solomon Islands leaves them without navigation equipment, which forces them to trade their free-wheeling lifestyle for one that seems straight out of a ’60s sitcom: jobs at a U.S. Army base in the Marshall Islands. In Asia, they dodge typhoons and ships that threaten to turn their home into kindling. Finally they endure a grueling 49-day nonstop ocean crossing. None of this prepares them for their arrival “home” to a post-9/11 America which leaves them wondering what had changed more, them or the world. Tightwads on the Loose offers a fun read to the armchair adventurer — or anyone afflicted with wanderlust.

Photo of Wendy and Garth with Kastam villagers in Vanuatu

Wendy and Garth with Kastam villagers in Vanuatu

Listen to this lighthearted interview with thoughtful questions about living differently by host Ed Bremer.

Interview with KSER’s Ed Bremer on Sound Living about the adventurous woman behind the book Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven-year Pacific Odyssey.

Read Tightwads on the Loose: A Seven-year Pacific Odyssey today.

Posted in Audiobooks, Awards, Boating, Books, Follow your Dreams, Inspiration, Interview, Media Coverage, Profiles | Comments Off

Sea Trials Interview with KSER’s Ed Bremer on Sound Living

Posted on February 12, 2025 by admin

KSER Logo

Here’s an interview with author Wendy Hinman about her award-winning book Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire, along with Garth Wilcox (one of the heroes of the story) on KSER FM Sound Living.

Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire highlights major events from the around-the-world journey the Wilcox family took aboard Vela, their 40-foot Maine Pinky, from 1973-1978. Their voyage occurred during the relative dark ages of sailing when people navigated using a sextant, and long before the days of instant communication. Few undertook such a journey, and limited information was available about outfitting a boat for ocean voyaging or ports along the way. Yet, despite unbelievable obstacles, this pioneering family survived a shipwreck and made it all the way around the world. No small feat.

This interview discusses the dramatic story of the shipwreck a year into their voyage. Despite tremendous odds, they rebuilt their wrecked boat and finished their goal to sail around the globe. Along the way they face storms, typhoons, traveling through hostile waters patrolled by warring nations, scurvy, and more.

Vela on the reef

Listen to this in depth interview with thoughtful questions by host Ed Bremer.

Interview with KSER’s Ed Bremer on Sound Living about the true story behind the book Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire.

Read Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire today.

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Wendy Hinman, Keynote Speaker at SYC Take the Helm April 5, 2025

Posted on January 31, 2025 by admin

SYC Women’s Group’s – Women’s Boating Skills Weekend

The 7th Annual Women’s Boating Skills Weekend is scheduled to take place at the Portage Bay Main station April 4– 6, 2025. This weekend-long educational and social event features 50 workshops for up to 150 attendees. Click the link for the full 2025 WBSW Agenda_Final schedule. This event is sold out and registration is now closed.

Wendy Hinman will be the keynote luncheon speaker on Saturday April 5 at the Seattle Yacht Club Skills Weekend Taking the Helm.

Wendy Hinman grew up sailing, learning to sail as a child with her family in the Hawaiian Islands, and discovered a love of exploring places by boat that has taken her aboard boats around the globe, both racing and cruising. Her hit book Tightwads on the Loose shares some of her adventures afloat and in this session she’ll share what she’s learned about developing confidence as a boater with her signature humor, examples, and insight.

Posted in Announcements, Boating, Events | Comments Off