Introduction to ocean nomad life

Waiting for the winds to relax a bit.

Yes. I live by the wind, waves and weather. So far they have treated me nicely. There were some hard times but there's also mercy. You need a lot of that when living on a sailboat.

I've been sailing or on anchor for 19 months now. Just 6 docking days throughout this period. It means constant movement. Constant alertness and some anxious moments too. It means carrying your water, food, diesel for long distances by foot and then rowing them another kilometer or so from shore to the boat in an inflatable dinghy. It means not standing on firm ground for days, weeks sometimes.

I do everything possible myself. That includes all maintenance, cooking, cleaning, and lately sailing solo too. If I'm careful, living costs are very low. In my life there are no restaurants, hotels, rental cars, museum entrance fees, no bars or clubs, no alcohol. Yes, you don't have to spend money to live, to immerse yourself in places you visit. There are so many ways to learn, experience and know the islands I anchor by.

I buy food in bulk. Rice, flour, oats, lentils, beans, pasta, eggs, potatoes and whatever fresh produce is available. No fancy, pricey processed foods in beautiful, saliva-inducing packaging, no snacks or sugar drinks. No coffee. I brew herbal teas from local plants. Sometimes I'll get a fish, or buy some meat for immediate consumption.I eat well, freshly made, lean meals. Indeed, it takes a lot of time and effort when you can't just go over to the corner and order a sandwich.

It is amazing how little we need to live comfortably. 150 liters of water for 3 people over 3 weeks is more than enough. A single shower you take at home is 40 liters. On the boat I keep clean with seawater. Here and there a splash of collected rainwater to wash the salt, in case it was raining. Saltwater is excellent for the skin. But keep your skin out of the sun, covered. Sun on salty skin is bad.

When the winds are fair, I sail. In general the direction is west, 270 degrees. I've been sailing west for 2-3 years now. Moving around this globe in slow speeds, the speed of a bicycle rider, seems to be the right pace. Arriving at a destination from the sea, when first a nightly glow is visible 2-3 days prior, then a scent of wet rock or earth arrives, then the faint silhouette of a mountain. I've sailed to amazing islands. Each different and unique.

Living aboard a sailboat, sailing the islands, moving by the wind - it may sound very romantic, like a dream come true. In fact it is far from it. It is a lot of hard work, nearly constant. Non-stop learning, trying and failing. Many surprises, usually at the most inconvenient location and timing. You need to be prepared. Anything can happen at any time. And there is an enormous responsibility. There's no one else. Just you. You are responsible 24-7 for everything. No one to blame or complain to. Sometimes there will be a helping hand to pull on something heavy or provide another arm.

Yet it is all worth it. There are moments of exceptional clarity and focus, especially during night shifts. There are moments of incredible satisfaction, when a journey ends peacefully on a beautiful tranquil shore, or when a repair goes well. And then there are the unique people I meet along the way, anchored in bays. Most of them belong to a nation of cruisers. They come from all around the world, have a true passion for sailing and boats, have interesting life stories and think differently. If there’s one single element that makes sailing so exciting it is the people.

On the boat there is only now. Nothing can be done later or in 10 minutes. It better be done now. In 10 minutes the conditions will change, something else would pop up, and you cannot accomplish the delayed task any longer. The sense of now is very explicit.

Now the winds are howling. Just the deep roar of high wind running through the rigging, masts and ropes, is enough to trigger an evolutionary embedded alert reaction. I'll wait. It will get worse but then it will get better. Good things come to those who wait.

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