Our Journey
2024Sailing Caribbean
2024Atlantic Crossing
2024Cape Verde
2023Sailing The Gambia
2023Sailing Madeira
2023Sailing Madeira
2023Sailing Madeira
Sailing the Caribbean
t’s that very special spirit that permeates everything, no matter which Caribbean island you’re on. The people are calm, relaxed, community-oriented, and happy.
This affects us.
It’s contagious, lifting our spirits.
Stress seems to vanish, and the little things are much more appreciated again. We learn to greet Caribbean-style, with a mumbled “Alright.” We discover paradisiacal bays. We jump into water that doesn’t send shivers down our spines. We snorkel over coral reefs, learn wingfoiling, and go surfing. We become calmer and more relaxed.
Atlantic crossing
It’s time, we are facing another challenge. 2300 nautical miles lie ahead of us. The longest leg for us so far. 2 weeks on the Atlantic. Completely on our own. No way out, no break, no shortcut.
But neither weather, waves, seasickness, nor the night shifts worry us. It’s more about our mental state. Being restricted in movement. No big workouts, no quick stretch of the legs, no swimming around the boat, or burning off energy on a playground.
The only thing that helps is perseverance.
Cape Verde
It took us a while to warm up to Cape Verde. A rapid crossing, too much sand in the air, overpriced items, enterprising Senegalese, and always this crime that many talk about made our start a bit difficult. We take our time. Here, we discover a completely new underwater world. Manta rays visit us at the anchorage. Lonely and uninhabited islands make our hearts beat faster. We eat more fish than ever before in our lives. As soon as the fishing rod is out, it hits. The people are relaxed, content, and full of warmth.
Sailing The Gambia
Gambia, “the smiling coast of Africa,” lives up to its name. A smile, no matter where we go. In recent years of travel, we have rarely become as familiar with the people of the countries we have visited as we have here in Gambia. We were warmly welcomed, fed, and cared for. We were allowed to see their homes, learn about their culture and history, with the latter revealing a very dark chapter to us.
The local people give us so much, even though many live on the minimum. Gambia is the smallest and one of the poorest countries on the African mainland. About 70% of the population live below the poverty line. Gambia touches us deeply.
Sailing Madeira
It doesn’t always have to be a long-haul flight to the other side of the world. Madeira is a green natural paradise with a mild climate year-round. It is called the Hawaii of Europe. However, Madeira is not necessarily a popular sailing area. Most anchor bays are a challenge. We are rocked quite a bit. But we gladly accept this because the nature is also impressive. Madeira has a lot to offer.
Blog Post Madeira
Sailing in the Canary Islands
No more cold winters, we are sailing to the Canary Islands.
But the Canary Islands are a challenge. Few anchorages, and these are quite bumpy at times. We get seasick for the first time. Many sleepless nights. Landing is often difficult due to high surf. Too much wind, no wind, engine failure, and water ingress are just a few things that make life difficult for us here. Nevertheless, we stay on the Canary Islands for a total of 1 year, learn to deal with the conditions, and ultimately have a pretty good time.
Moving to the sailing boat
We have been working on this dream for many years, and in 2022, it becomes a reality. We are moving. From 8 sqm to 70 sqm. Wow, so much space! A new chapter of life begins. We have to learn a lot and once again surpass ourselves. Step out of our comfort zone and dive into plenty of adventures. With a good dose of nervousness, we are now setting sail. Suddenly, completely new goals emerge for us, and sailing becomes the most beautiful way of traveling for us.
On the road with the campervan
For nearly 3 years, we have been traveling with our 20-year-old motorhome. From Germany to Portugal, Greece, and Turkey. In total, we visit 15 countries in 8 square meters. Initially faster, but eventually slower and slower. We learn that life doesn’t always have to be hard and exhausting. We can do without many things we once thought we needed. We live much more in the here and now instead of the past or future. We get to know ourselves better, grow beyond our limits. We float on clouds, climb very high, and fall deep. But that is exactly what makes life so worthwhile. Without the valleys, the peak moments would not be so meaningful. “Less frills, less work, but more family time and much more life” becomes our motto.
Sell everything and embark on an adventure
Do you have dreams? Do you dream of adventures, freedom, and distant lands? Would you trade security and routine for challenges? Even if it gets exhausting and uncomfortable, and you reach your limits? Then you know exactly why we set out.
