Sailing SV CUBA

BOAT LIFE - An Off Grid LIFESTYLE on the OCEAN (Crew Explore Hidden Beach) [Ep.43] Sailing SV CUBA

In this week of our boat life we show you how an off grid lifestyle allows us to explore beautiful beaches by simply anchoring our home in a different place every day. 

But it doesn't come that easy. On a sailboat on the ocean, everything breaks!

In this sailing episode we anchor in the Blue Lagoon of Malta but soon realize there is a better place near by that holds a hidden beach!

So we decide to move our sailboat there. But because there is not much room, we drop our ...

It's Getting Serious!

We are knee-deep in preparation! Only days left until we make the biggest jump yet 😱.
Until it's been a lot of preparation but nothing hits home like getting staples to past for half a lifetime!
Luckily we found a stash of beans, chickpeas and lentils hidden in the bilde that we had carried for the past few years. Its been there since we first left Gibraltar. 🤣
Brilliant news because these things can be pricey here in Cape Verde.

Tbh until now it all felt pretty surreal ...

Celebrating the little things in Cape Verde

Today was a great day! Not because anything special happened. It was a great day because a few things worked out a little better than most other days.

It can be tricky to shuffle around all the daily things, especially so when you don't have a steady address or even know where you might be in a few days to come. The weather dictates where we will spend the night or if we even make it to the next safe anchorage on time.

There are just so many more things that are out of our control...

REAL LIFE Aboard Our 46ft Sailboat [Ep.42] Girls Swim in Blue Hole & Hidden Beach ⛵ Sailing SV CUBA

We are in a remote area in Gozo! Today we are going to explore the mesmerizing and unique Inland Sea that local fisherman access through a narrow tunnel below the massive cliffs. It is an experience that we could just not miss during our visit on the little sister island of Malta. But it is not the only place we discover today. Just a stone’s throw away and hidden in the rugged coastline is the Blue Hole. A very popular dive spot and great for snorkeling. This is where we spend the afternoo...

We Made it to Cape Verde!

The Med lies far behind us and we just completed the longest sail for us yet. It still feels absolutely surreal that we made it here.

It was challenging and even a little scary at times. After all, this is not the Mediterranean anymore. For the first time, we sailed on the big open ocean passing within 350NM of Mauritania, one of the most remote places on earth!

And now, just like that, we arrive to a country that feels completely different from any destination we have ever visite...

Keeping It Together in The Cape Verde Islands - Patreon's Only Update - 24-11-2022

Our constant battle not to lose our Dinghy in the Cape Verde Islands. before we cross the Atlantic.

REAL LIFE Sailing ADVENTURE ⛵ Anchoring Our 46ft SAILBOAT in Remote Places [Ep.41] SV CUBA

Wonder how ANCHORING our 46ft Sailboat in remote places feels like? Here is a day in our REAL LIFE Sailing Adventure.

Join us this week as we sail from Malta to a remote anchorage on the island of Gozo.

Just after we left Valletta, we hear the coastguard call our boat name on the VHF radio but since we have not violated any maritime laws (and this time we even provision for our trip off the beaten path), we were free to continue our sail north.

As we pass the spectacular cli...

Wow - We have come so far!

This one is a more recent shot, from the day after we arrived to the Maddalena archipelago. A long 6 day sail dodging thunderstorms and water spouts lay behind us. 

In the Mediterranean the weather can change within moments and we had to be alert throughout the whole sail of unexpected gusts and squalls. Many times at night we spent hours evaluating how to change our course, so not to sail directly into a lightening storm. 

That meant very little sleep for us and by the ...

REAL LIFE Aboard Our 46ft Sailboat ⛵ How We Live & Travel - Sailing SV CUBA

Wonder how real life on our 46ft sailboat feels like? Here is how we live and travel and an insight into our daily life aboard.

This week we are in Malta and after check in and a quick visit by the maritime police we take our tiny home for a sail. But before that we almost collide with another boat at anchor.  this scary moment we lift anchor and go out for a coastal sail with our new crew.

Our sailing excursion turns into a sail into the sunset and we drop anchor on the nort...

Follow Your Own Path!

It was one of these very calm days on the water and we had only just left Gibraltar on our first long sail to Malta. There was absolutely no wind in sight, but the forecast predicted it would pick up soon.

So, we decided to just drift along and wait, taking in the scenery and enjoying the silence.

There, drifting on the water, I thought about my time growing up in Germany – far away from the coast. If someone would have told me back then, that one day I would be living a nomadic...

A Must Stop for Sailors [Ep.39] Cruising Malta ⛵ Our Favorite Sailing Destination Ever - SV CUBA

This week we made it to the tiny island of Malta: An absolute must for sailors! Malta may be a haven for charter boats, but no cruiser should miss the absolutely stunning entrance of grand harbour Valletta. It is the most fortified city of all Europe and there are many sailing events held here.

Though we didn’t do the check in process correctly, the Maltese authorities have been incredibly friendly and helped us every step of the way. The next day we were ready to explore the island b...

05/11/2022 Update and Great Sailing Advice!

Hey lovely people! 

We finally made it to our current destination but not without a few hiccups. After some strange conditions at sea our mainsail now needs some TLC (spoiler alert: again we somehow tackled it ourselves...). But being at anchor without a furled mainsail turned out to be a challenge for our ears. So Enrique tweaked a few things to make life aboard bearable again. 

And a tip from one of our long time friends and patreons Magriet and Vintox has saved us a b...

Patreon Live Update 02-11-22 - We Made it! 1600 NM To The Caribbean Of Africa

We finally made it!

1600 Nautical Miles lay behind us. We sailed all the way from Morocco to the west African islands of Cape Verde. It will be our last stop before crossing the Atlantic. 

We are just so excited. But now we need to dash out to check in and explore the island of Sal for you guys. 

Lotsa love from Kiki and Salsa❤⛵😍

It’s not all about the sailing….

We were only just thinking about creating videos of our travels when Enrique took this shot of me. It was one of the first times we sailed past the 12-nautical mile limit, all by ourselves. The coast of Spain slowly faded into the horizon.

12 Nautical Miles is the official limit of any country’s border and in a nutshell that means no one can tell you anymore to turn that music down or, well in this case to cover up haha.

Growing up in Germany, I always felt that enjoy...

Hey lovely peeps!

It's been our longest stretch so far but after over a week we finally see land again! We are met by a gloomy morning over the canaries.

The weather forces us to press on, however. Another 1000 nautical miles until we reach the Cape Verde islands.

But we managed to grab just enough Internet while brushing the Spanish islands to send out a message to you!

Enrique has been working on the next video but with the two of us sailing short handed and without any Internet we wil...

PASSAGE TO MALTA WITH NEW CREW [Ep.38] SAILING SV CUBA

It’s our new crew’s first sail and first overnight passage. This week on SV CUBA we have left Tunisia and are en route to Malta. There is no wind to sail but we are making the best of it and enjoy some lovely passage food. At night we have a scare with a fishing boat almost crashing into us. 

Fortunately, our sailboat is spared, only our nerves are a little stretched. 

The next day we sail into Valletta, arguably the most iconic sailing destination in the Mediterrane...

Those long days at sea

It's been more than three days since we've last seen land. Three days, they say, is usually what it takes to become adjusted to the sea.

There is not much wind, and we are moving along almost without a sound.

I couldn’t really think of a more perfect way to travel. And especially on days like these, it is easy to forget all the stress and noises of land-life.

Some may feel uncomfortable to be surrounded by nothing but water, but to us it gives a feeling of calm. It will be...

NO LONGER A SAILING COUPLE! [Ep.37] NEW Boat Life ADVENTURES Ahead - SV CUBA

Yeay we are about to sail to Malta with new crew! But before we cast off the lines and start the new sailing season; our tiny home on the water is becoming very lively!

Our winter in the marina has been quiet for us, apart from a small detail… But within for a short few days SV CUBA is becoming a little packed. Because not only Michaela arrives from Czech Republic, but also Sarah’s parents are also joining our boatlife for a bit.

They were so kind to bring us a lot of boat par...

Life on a sailboat must be confining

When you live and travel full-time on a sailboat you meet many people along the way. Usually, we get asked a lot of questions as this kind of life, after all, is still a little out of the ordinary.

When this picture was taken, we had only just moved onto CUBA and one of these questions kept me occupied while I gazed out into the distance. “How do you cope, being so confined on a sailboat?”

Yes, we travel sometimes for days, without ever going on land. During this time, our e...

Off Grid & Simple Living at Sea Means Storage Is Key In Our Sailboat ⛵ [Ep.36] Sailing SV CUBA

On our sailboat, naturally, we have to live minimalistic. Any item has to be stored in a specific place. Living off grid or rather simple living at sea is therefore not always that easy and well, simple at all!

This week on SV CUBA we continue to immerse ourselves in a foreign culture, spend time with the locals, try more of the delicious Tunisian food and deal with an unexpected emergency.

On our trips to the streets of Monastir, we discover that in this part of the world some of...

I Might Quit Diving & Start Selling Fruits in Africa!

Enrique’s got a new job!

He may be a sailor and diver but who would have seen this one coming?

When I met Enrique 17 years ago, he was a professional diving instructor with a passion for travel. But it looks like even after knowing him for such a long time, this man is still full of surprises.

Though it could have been the long, exhausting days at sea or the attention I got from the fish vendors, but I only left him out of sight for a few minutes, and shwooop here he is se...

Are You Afraid To Sail To Africa? Here's Why You Shouldn't Be [Ep.35] Boatlife Adventures - SV CUBA

In this sailing episode our boatlife takes us to Africa! What did we expect? We are on our last stretch and sail from the Egadi Islands to Monastir, Tunisia. It has been one heck of a trip, sailing non-stop for 11 days in the winter.

After a bumpy arrival, we get to do the check-in and do the clearance process (formalities) with the authorities, bring our papers to customs and inform the port police. Fortunately, all this can be done right within the marina and the process as a sailor a...

Surrounded by Giants!! 😲

Hey guys!

We wanted to give you a quick update, since we were able to upload a new episode yet.

Recently the winds have not been in our favour so we could only move very slowly. For the past 11 days we have been sailing down the coast of Spain towards Morocco, but because we had already checked out of the EU, were no longer allowed to step on land. We anchored for a few hours in Cabo de Gata, very briefly to evade some high winds but apart from that we have been sailing non-stop.<...

When Things Are Just Right…

We started sailing our home, SV CUBA, over three years ago. From day one it has been a steep learning curve for us since we set off with minimal experience. Some days were more difficult than others. But we were also gifted a few moments of plain sailing, like this one.

During our time sailing the Med there haven’t been all too many times, where it was even possible to comfortably access the deck.

Oftentimes the wind and sea state change in a matter of minutes, making it necessa...

THE HOTTEST THING IN OUR BOATLIFE ⛵ [Ep.34] SAILING WITHOUT WEATHER WINDOW TO AFRICA - SAILING SV CUBA

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! Boatlife has never been so SEXY! But does that make the captain obsolete? We will find out as we get ready for our sail to AFRICA!

Joing us this week as we get ready for our longest sail yet: 11 days non-stop sailing in the winter. The weather does not allow us to take a direct route, so we have to sail through the Messina Strait on our way to Tunisia. We edge through the notorious Strait of Messina in the middle of the night after a cold sail from Kalamata in G...

Life Taught Us To Follow Our Passions 🥰

We have been sharing our sailing adventures with you since we left Malta. However, our journey had already started leaving Gibraltar for an 18-day sail some 18 months earlier. We were complete novices, and SV CUBA was not yet prepared for long passages. But that did not hold us back!

Life taught us to follow our passions, whenever we can. And with hardly any experience we planned the 1100 nautical mile-long sail towards an island, we knew only little about.

Most people told us we ...

BOAT LIFE SCARIEST MOMENT 😱 [Ep.33] - EXPLOSION ON BOARD OUR SAILBOAT 🧯 Sailing SV CUBA

Our BIGGEST SCARE living on a boat yet: Explosions on our boat??!(...and the captains’ suffering continues 😱😅)

After battling strong winds in Crete we sail to Pylos and manage to hide in an abandoned marina. Here we also meet Kostas again. A friend we made in the short time, we visited Pylos last summer. He has been so kind to find a safe space for us and SV CUBA. So we celebrate our reunion with some Greek specialities!

But during our stay we have no time to spare and soo...

Live update 08/09/22 Arrival to Spain - No Power

We arrived to Spain and have no fuel left, our batteries are dead and we are running out of time in the EU.... we are doing great 😅

Hopefully tomorrow will be a brighter day. 😁

Exploring an abandoned Hotel on deserted Black Island - Turkey

Living a nomad lifestyle is full of surprises and every now and then we stumble into some strange and interesting places. One of them was a hotel that laid in ruins on the deserted Black Island in Turkey. Situated right in front of the beautiful dark blue sea, I could not help but wonder what this place was once like. 

Between the grovel and debris one could still make out the interior design, the style and concept of the different rooms. There was a large terrace where I'd imagine...

SAILING HORRORS CONTINUE [Ep.32] 45 KNOTS - LOSE ANCHOR, LINES & CAPSIZE DINGHY - SV CUBA

The SAILING HORROR continues & we get BLOWN AWAY this week. Sailing in the winter in the Med is not always fun! In this episode we make it to Elounda Bay, Crete after a chilly and grey few days sailing from Turkey. We are so happy to arrive to what we thought was a safe sailing paradise for the winter. With 365 degrees protection what could go wrong?

Oh boy, did we not expect what was about to come! 45 knots gusts from every angle, no sleep again and our dinghy ends up tipped over. ...