SAILING ZINGARO
Offshore sailing, real miles, and practical education—the stuff that actually matters when the weather turns.
Looking for the book, the Locker, press, or consulting? It all lives on BeTheCaptain.com.
About James & Zingaro
Sailing Zingaro is the long-term offshore sailing project of James Evenson—professional offshore sailor, former U.S. Navy navigator, and author of Be The Captain. This isn’t a charter business. It’s a real offshore platform focused on judgment, preparation, and the hard-earned lessons that only come from time at sea.
The Three Questions Most People Ask
1) Can I consult with you?
Yes—limited one-on-one sessions for offshore decisions, boat purchases, refit strategy, passage planning, and “am I crazy for thinking this will work?” conversations.
2) Can I sail with you?
Sometimes—but only when crew opportunities align with the mission. Zingaro isn’t a charter boat. When we take crew, it’s for real passages and real seamanship.
2026: no crew positions.
2027: planning underway for a major Pacific expedition.
3) Can I buy your book?
Be The Captain is the offshore sailing field manual—judgment, systems, leadership, and the practical tactics that keep crews safe.
Already own it? Grab the extra tools and downloads in the Captain’s Locker.
2026–2027 Project Update
Ahoy, Crew
Hope this finds you well and still dreaming of blue horizons.
A lot of you have been asking about upcoming passages and crew opportunities, so here’s the latest:
For 2026, we’re focusing entirely on a brand-new project that’s going to take most of the year to complete. It’s ambitious, creative, and something I’ve wanted to tackle for a long time—and it’ll set the stage for the next chapter of Zingaro.
Because of that, we won’t be offering any crew positions in 2026.
But our wake will stretch across the Pacific again soon. The plan is already forming for a fifth Pacific crossing in early 2027, including stops at:
- Easter Island (for the third time)
- Pitcairn Island (second visit)
- The Gambier Islands
- The Tuamotus
It’s going to be a serious expedition—remote, raw, and unforgettable. Stay tuned for that announcement when we open applications.
In the meantime, if your sea legs are itching and you want to log real offshore miles, here are a few trusted programs I can personally vouch for. Each offers genuine bluewater experience, great leadership, and a chance to learn the right way:
- Sail Libra – Ryan is a great captain and friend, with Atlantic passages running this season.
- Ocean Passages – Nate and Vivian (with John Kretschmer) are offering sail-training adventures in French Polynesia this summer.
- 59° North Sailing – Expedition-style voyages blending seamanship and storytelling.
- Morse Alpha Expeditions – Teresa and Ben run hands-on training passages in the Northeast U.S.
- John Kretschmer Sailing – Often full far in advance, but worth jumping on if space opens up.
- Koru Expeditions – Immersive expeditions focused on seamanship, sustainability, and deep connection to the ocean.
Each of these programs will help you become a more confident offshore sailor—the kind of person who doesn’t just dream about the horizon but actually sails toward it.
Fair winds and following seas,
James Evenson
Sailing Zingaro
“It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me, but life at sea is better.”
– Sir Francis Drake, English Explorer