Living aboard a sailing yacht is a pretty special way of life - it doesn't get any closer to nature while being as comfortable as in a house. Yet it comes with it's unique challenges.
If you are really curious, feel free to read the complete crew handbook here. It covers anything you need to know but is pretty long. The most important questions are covered below.
Life aboard is simple, close to nature, and community-driven. Expect sun, wind, saltwater, and plenty of teamwork. The catamaran is both comfortable and practical, but space is shared, so mutual respect makes everything smoother. We don't have a fixed schedule and a lot depends on the people on board. We do things together all the time - but we also each appreciate our time away from others just having a little me-time on land or on the sun deck.
Not necessarily. I’ll explain everything you need to know and make sure you feel confident. If you already have experience, you’ll get to practice navigation, sail handling, and watchkeeping. Of course, a general interest in sailing and learning the ropes should be there. It's always a team effort and everyone is going to have to contribute when we make a passage.
Felix is a licensed skipper and instructor though and used to teaching green horns how to handle a boat. If you are planning on becoming a skipper yourself and are collecting miles, we will happily sign your logbook!
Cabins are private, but most of life happens in shared spaces like the cockpit, galley, and deck. Think of it like a small, floating home where consideration is key. You can always close your door and go to your cabin. You have a private bathroom that you share with your bunk buddy. And although the walls are thin, the layout of a catamaran means that you usually don't hear the others in their cabins. Since we will spend a lot of time anchored, you will also usually be able to go to shore for a bit, for example if you want to have a private phone call.
We cook together, rotating responsibilities. The galley is well-equipped, with a gas stove and oven. There are two fridges on the boat. We talk about what we would like to eat and then go shopping together, probably once a week. Every once in a while we will go to a restaurant or beach bar and hopefully, we'll catch a fish or two that we can roast over the bonfire. Many of the islands have coconuts and tropical fruit too.
Everyone helps. A tidy boat is a safe boat. We keep things stowed, wash dishes right after meals, and do daily quick clean-ups. Thursdays is cleaning day - we take the morning, deep clean the boat for two or three hours while blasting loud music and reward ourselves with a cold beer (or coke) afterwards!
At sea, we run a watch system—usually 2–4 hours per shift. At anchor or in port there won't be fixed schedule. It's up to us how and with whom we'd like to spend the day (and night).
We have a Starlink antenna onboard and an unlimited subscription. So if you like, you can facetime family or work a little. At sea or during the night the antenna will switched off sometimes, to preserve power. But if you have an important call, we can always turn it back on.
Each double cabin has it's own head (bathroom) with a little shower, although they are pretty narrow and warm during the day. The amount of fresh water onboard is limited and the more we use, the more often we need to head to a marina to refill. So we like to preserve as much as possible. We wash our dishes with salt water and we shower with salt water at the back of the boat, followed by a quick fresh water rinse. This way, we don't use a lot of water at all! And before you know it, you will miss the freedom of a shower in the sun at the back of the boat.
Less is more has never been more true than on a sailing boat. Bring less than you intend to bring. We will visit laundromats regularly, but it’s going to be nice and warm day and night. You’ll be wearing nothing but swimwear on the boat for the most part and famously, you never need to wash it if you go swimming every day!
Whatever you bring, you will have to find space for it in your own cabin. The space is very limited, especially when you are sharing a cabin. You must bring a soft bag, not a hard suitcase, because you will have a very bad time stowing your hard suitcase in your cabin.
Also:
Your personal medicine
Bed linen (we have pillows and blankets)
Towels (two is best)
Sunglasses Mineral Sunscreen
UV-Protection Clothing (Rashguard) for hiking and swimming
Summer cloths (Sun light and salt will damage a lot of cloths over time, so maybe don’t bring a cashmere shirt)
Swimwear
One warm sweater and one pair of long pants (sometimes airports or night watches are chilly)
Light rain coat
One pair of sneakers
One pair of flip flops
Wetsuit, Diving Mask, Snorkel, Fins (if you want to)
Powerbank (sometimes the boats power is turned off when the battery is low)
Head Lamp with red light for night sailing.
The freedom, the people, the nature—sunrises at sea, dolphins on the bow, new harbors every week, and the feeling of moving under wind power.
Adapting to limited space and resources, and being flexible when plans change with the weather. Sailing teaches patience and teamwork like nothing else.