Oceans Unplugged
This is a podcast about the sea and the people who answer its call.
Hosted by a mariner with over 30 years of experience across search and rescue, yacht racing, coastguard, and maritime enforcement, this show dives deep into the real stories of life at sea.
These are not polished tales or manufactured drama. They’re honest, human conversations with sailors, lifeboat crews, adventurers, and everyday people who’ve lived extraordinary moments on the water.
Stories of resilience, humour, loss, camaraderie, and the quiet truths the ocean teaches, told by someone who understands the weight of it.
Each episode is a slow-burn conversation, less interview, more shared watch.
Alongside these deep dives, you’ll hear personal reflections, listener stories, and glimpses into the bond between people and the vessels they trust with their lives.
Whether you’ve spent your life at sea or never left shore, this is a place to listen, reflect, and connect.
Real stories. Told with heart. The kind you carry with you.
Oceans Unplugged
Episode 02 - Ella Hibbert
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In this episode, Lee interviews Ella Hibbert...a British sailor, adventurer, and sailing instructor known for her Arctic expeditions.
- She’s a qualified Yachtmaster instructor and PADI divemaster, based in Portsmouth, England.
Born in Germany and raised between England and France, she grew up around travel and the outdoors.
- She’s passionate about ocean conservation and climate awareness, often linking her expeditions to environmental causes.
What she’s known for
- In 2025, she became the first British woman to sail solo through the Northwest Passage, a notoriously difficult Arctic route.
- That journey was part of a larger goal: attempting to circumnavigate the Arctic Circle alone in a small sailing yacht.
Her project
In short, Ella Hibbert is a modern explorer-type figure—combining sailing skill, endurance, and environmental advocacy—who’s gained attention for pushing into some of the harshest waters on Earth alone.
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