Living on a boat changes everything — including the way we relate to the people around us. When your home moves, rocks, creaks, and sometimes throws you around, relationships take on a whole new dimension. There’s less space, more closeness, fewer doors to close, and absolutely no room for festering resentment or unspoken frustrations.
Life on a boat is magical — the sunsets, the freedom, the dolphins that pop by just when you need a lift. The whales (that still scare the crap out of me if they venture too close). But it also comes with its own unique challenges. The weather, the constant motion, the never-ending list of “little jobs,” the limited space… and let’s not forget the occasional bout of chaos when something breaks at the exact wrong moment!
Living afloat is a beautiful adventure, but it’s also a lifestyle that asks a lot from us. Your home moves, your power varies, and your weather dictates your plans. And through all of that, it’s easy to slip into survival mode rather than truly thrive.
Short and sweet, here is a list of ten things you can buy for friends and family (or yourself) who are boating mad! (Some are on Black Friday specials, so be quick!)
If you’ve been following along on Sailing & Sunshine, you’ll know that Captain Mike (64) and I (a very youthful 63!) have been full-time liveaboards long enough to admit… things don’t work quite the way they used to. The knees? Questionable. The memory? Patchy. The sense of adventure? Still absolutely firing.
Best marinas in Europe in 2025 and preparing for hurricane season in the Caribbean.
JUNE 2024 - SOUTH AFRICA. Dear friends, We have had a particularly wet week in the Western Cape, 4 days of non-stop rain. Unfortunately, water flooded into SV Knowind through a partially open hatch, so this weekend will be spent doing a big mopping-up operation, in between watching the tennis finals being played at Roland … Continue reading No Fun when there’s No Sun (or Sailing).
I unashamedly admit to being an atheist even though I had a fairly strong Christian upbringing, forced to attend Sunday school week after week, year after year until I rebelled sometime in my high school years. So it felt fairly hypocritical to want to suddenly start pleading with a higher power when being battered with … Continue reading 3 Days of Hell in 60 plus (up to 81.2) knots of wind.
Final part of our "yacht repairs in Rio de Janero" experience!
Final part of our "yacht repairs in Rio de Janero" experience!
www.sailingandsunshine.com 