Episode 54 of The Sailing Podcast has more information at www.thesailingpodcast.com/54. The interview is with Peter Heiberg who shares his stories about a life at sea in his book Lee Shore Blues: Sex, Drugs and Bluewater Sailing. Peter restored a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter and owned it for 35 years. After years spent working as a commercial skipper he entered the world of single-handed yacht racing.
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Peter competed in the a race he describes as ‘the bug light for weirdos’. He is referring to the Transpac race from San Francisco to Hawaii and Peter was first to finish in 2014, despite reading a dozen books while underway. This voyage was in an 50’ aluminium yacht called Scaramouch, which sits outside his home near Vancouver, BC.
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In this episode we hear about:
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-What a real Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter is
-Sailing Carlotta from England to Canada via Panama
-Meeting the Hiscocks and Jimmy Buffet

Lee Shore Blues: Sex Drugs and Bluewater Sailing

I was sent a copy of Peter Heiberg’s book to read before I interviewed Peter. I found it was a delight to read with a great mix of stories, which always looked at life with a ‘glass half full’ drop of humour. The chapters read like short stories, letting the reader fit in a couple chapters whenever it suits.

Peter Helberg explained during the interview how his book started as a collection of stories to share with his children. I am really glad he decided to self-publish Lee Shore Blues so that we could all enjoy a few stories about a lifetime spent at sea. We chatted mainly about the sailing side of things

The early part of the story begins with stories that lead to finding Carlotta, a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter. Peter said he always looked back as he rowed away and thought it was a beautiful boat. The relationship between Peter and Carlotta lasted over 35 years and included travelling from England to St Barths. The trip across the Atlantic had 2 false starts, as the ocean quickly taught a young Peter how much respect was required. For the full story visit www.thesailingpodcast.com/54