Stripping and Varnishing 40-Year-Old Teak
Why proper varnish work matters for an ocean crossing, and how I restored the Baba 35's original teak trim.
● Coming soonSolo across the Pacific and Indian Ocean on a 35-foot sailboat. Every mile documented. Every lesson shared.
In Fall 2027, Gaurav Shinde departs Toronto solo — westward through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific, through Southeast Asia, and into the Indian Ocean. Destination: Mumbai. 15,000+ nautical miles on a 35-foot sailboat built in the 1980s.
Two decades on the ocean. Over 40,000 nautical miles of racing experience. Gaurav has competed in the Clipper Round the World Race, entered the 2022 Golden Globe Race — a solo, non-stop circumnavigation — and is the only civilian ever to receive India's Admiral Ramdas Trophy, one of the Indian Navy's most respected honours.
Now based in Toronto, he's preparing for his most ambitious voyage: sailing solo to Mumbai aboard his Baba 35. The channel documents every step — the boat work, the planning, the education, and the human story of heading home.
Content in English and Marathi — for the global sailing community and the Indian audience.
Watch the full story on YouTube →Designed by Bob Perry and built in the early 1980s, the Baba 35 is a bluewater legend — heavy displacement, full keel, and a hull built to handle anything the Pacific and Indian Ocean can deliver. Currently undergoing a full refit in Toronto for the 15,000+ mile voyage.
Written companions to the videos. Deep dives on boat work, gear decisions, and sailing knowledge.
Why proper varnish work matters for an ocean crossing, and how I restored the Baba 35's original teak trim.
● Coming soonWhy I'm going west through Panama instead of east through Suez.
● Coming soonEvery measurement, every product, every dollar.
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