In this episode, I’m joined by Kaye Christina Coyne, a marine engineer, to talk about marine diesel engines.

For many sailors, the engine can be one of the more intimidating parts of a boat. But understanding how it works, knowing what to check and recognising when something isn’t quite right are all important parts of becoming a confident skipper.

Kaye brings her engineering knowledge and practical experience to our conversation, helping to make the world of marine engines a little less mysterious.

So whether you’re new to sailing or have been skippering for years, I hope you’ll find something useful in this conversation.

Welcome aboard!

About SheHelms Sailing

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a free, women-only sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, monthly Zooms, Book Club, learning resources and our online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing and life at sea.

⚓ Join the SheHelms Community — it’s free

❤️ Support the Podcast & Help Keep SheHelms Free

⛵ Sailing Training, Mentoring & Professional Skippering with JoJo

You can also help SheHelms grow by following the podcast and sharing it with another woman who sail or would like to.

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Kaye Christina Coyne | Marine Engineer

Kaye Christina Coyne is a freelance marine engineer with over a decade of experience in the marine industry.

Having first learned engineering from her father, Kaye went on to study marine engineering in Southampton before specialising in the restoration and maintenance of classic boats on the River Thames.

Her career has included working with Peter Freebody & Co, restoring traditional vessels including slipper launches, day launches and classic Riva boats.

Today, Kaye works independently across both modern and traditional marine engineering, bringing together practical experience, technical knowledge and a passion for keeping boats running.

Kaye is also involved with Women in Boatbuilding, an organisation dedicated to connecting, supporting and celebrating women working across the boatbuilding and marine industries. The organisation helps raise the visibility of women in traditionally male-dominated trades and encourages more women to pursue careers in the sector.

In this episode of the SheHelms Sailing Podcast, Kaye joins JoJo Pickering to explore marine diesel engines, sharing practical knowledge and helping sailors develop the confidence to understand and maintain their engines.

In this special episode, the tables are turned as my good friend Fi Read interviews me about why I started SheHelms Sailing.

We talk about my own experiences as a woman in sailing, the culture I’ve encountered along the way, and why I felt there was a need for a space where women sailors could connect, learn from one another and build confidence. We also talk about my plans and hopes for the future of SheHelms.

It’s a personal conversation about where SheHelms came from, why it matters to me, and what I hope it can become.

⛵ Find out more about JoJo Pickering - Professional skipper, sailing instructor and mentor: https://islandswiftsailing.co.uk

About SheHelms Sailing

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a free, women-only sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, monthly Zooms, Book Club, learning resources and our online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing and life at sea.

⚓ Join the SheHelms Community, it’s free: https://shehelms.com/

❤️ Support SheHelms & help keep it free: https://www.patreon.com/SheHelms

⛵ Sailing training, mentoring & professional skippering with JoJo: https://islandswiftsailing.co.uk

You can also help SheHelms grow by following the podcast and sharing it with another woman who sails or would like to.

Follow SheHelmsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SheHelmsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/shehelmsailing/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shehelmsailing/

What does it take to stand on the start line of one of the toughest solo sailing race in the world?

With just one month before the start of the Golden Globe Race, I caught up with Mara aboard Showgirl in Les Sables d’Olonne. Yet again there is only one woman in the race!

This conversation goes far beyond race preparation. We talk about the reality of getting to the start line after months of setbacks and problem-solving, from major rig repairs in Jersey to the last-minute loss of a solar panel sponsor and the incredible generosity of the sailing community that stepped in to help.

Mara shares the importance of her support team, why she chooses to embrace colour and femininity in a sport that often celebrates a different image, and why visibility matters if we want more women to believe that adventures like this are possible for them.

We also dive into the practical realities of racing alone around the world. We discuss provisioning, the food that keeps both body and morale going, celestial navigation, self-steering systems, barnacles, heavy weather tactics, and the mindset needed to face months alone at sea. Throughout it all, Mara speaks openly about the pressure of being the race’s only female competitor while remaining determined simply to sail her own race and finish it.

I hope you enjoy meeting Mara as much as I did.

Mara's Website

Golden Globe Race 2026

About SheHelms Sailing

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a free, women-only sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, monthly Zooms, Book Club, learning resources and our online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing and life at sea.

⚓ Join the SheHelms Community — it’s free

❤️ Support the Podcast & Help Keep SheHelms Free

⛵ Sailing Training, Mentoring & Professional Skippering with JoJo

You can also help SheHelms grow by following the podcast and sharing it with another woman who sail or would like to.

YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

Today I’m delighted to be talking with Rachael Sprot, sailor, writer, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner, and the new editor of the Shell Channel Pilot.

Rachael shares how sailing shaped her childhood, why she chose an unconventional career on the water, and how she balances life as a professional sailor, writer and new mother.

Together we explore what really makes a good skipper, why leadership matters more than authority, and how the culture of sailing is changing.

In this episode we talk about:

* growing up in a sailing family

* building a career as a professional sailor

* taking on the Shell Channel Pilot

* what makes an effective and inclusive skipper

* why confidence grows through experience and mentoring

* making sailing more welcoming and accessible

* practical advice for new skippers taking command for the first time

Yachting Monthly author page – probably the best place to find her latest articles, biography and regular “Question of Seamanship” pieces.

Shell Channel Pilothttps://store.imray.com/products/the-shell-channel-pilot

About SheHelms

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a women-centred sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcasts, articles, monthly Zooms and our free online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing life.

Enjoying the podcast?

Please like, follow or subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with another sailor. Every like, review and share helps more people discover SheHelms and helps us raise the visibility of women in sailing.

Support SheHelms

If you value what SheHelms is doing, you can support the podcast and help me keep the podcast and wider SheHelms community free through Patreon.

Patreon supporters can also have their say, suggesting future guests and questions and helping shape topics for the podcast, Zooms and other SheHelms resources.

Support the podcast. Have your say. Help change sailing culture.

For professional sailing, own-boat tuition and courses with me, visit Island Swift Sailing.

Join the SheHelms community: shehelms.comSupport SheHelms on Patreon: PatreonNewsletter: SubstackWatch & subscribe: YouTubeFollow: Instagram | FacebookSail & learn with JoJo: Island Swift Sailing

Very welcome aboard.

Welcome to the first SheHelms Sailing Podcast.

Today I’m delighted to be talking with Sadie Johnson, a sailor from California who shares the honest reality of buying her first boat and learning to skipper it along the way.

Sadie tells the story of how a sailing club opened the door to a life on the water, why she eventually bought a 1976 Cal 34, and the steep learning curve that followed.

We talk about:

* buying your first boat

* overcoming the anxiety of boat ownership

* manoeuvring in marinas and learning from mistakes

* the value of supportive sailing communities

* women in sailing and the allies helping to create change

* solo sailing, Catalina Island, and future adventures

* why engineering, curiosity and asking questions make better sailors

It’s an honest conversation about confidence, resilience and discovering that every sailor, no matter how experienced, has something new to learn.

Whether you’re dreaming of owning your first boat or already navigating the challenges of life afloat, I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation.

About SheHelms Sailing

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a free, women-only sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, monthly Zooms, Book Club, learning resources and our online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing and life at sea.

⚓ Join the SheHelms Community — it’s free

❤️ Support the Podcast & Help Keep SheHelms Free

⛵ Sailing Training, Mentoring & Professional Skippering with JoJo

You can also help SheHelms grow by following the podcast and sharing it with another woman who sail or would like to.

YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

Welcome to the SheHelms Sailing Podcast hosted by JoJo Pickering.

In this short introduction, I share the idea behind SheHelms Sailing, a women-centred sailing community exploring seamanship, confidence, culture and life at sea, along with plans for the upcoming summer sailing season.

About SheHelms Sailing

I’m JoJo Pickering, a professional freelance skipper, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and founder of SheHelms Sailing.

SheHelms is a free, women-only sailing community bringing women together to build skills, confidence and connections on the water. Through the podcast, monthly Zooms, Book Club, learning resources and our online community, we share practical knowledge, inspiring stories and honest conversations about sailing and life at sea.

⚓ Join the SheHelms Community — it’s free

❤️ Support the Podcast & Help Keep SheHelms Free

⛵ Sailing Training, Mentoring & Professional Skippering with JoJo

You can also help SheHelms grow by following the podcast and sharing it with another woman who sail or would like to.

YouTube | Instagram | Facebook