Pilot moves onto Sailboat After Stroke and Starts Youtube Channel
Disclosure: At no additional cost to you, you can support FLORB by using the affiliate links below
Bobbie always wanted to go sailing. It's been his dream to retire early and go sailing. It was one of those things in the back of his mind wondering, is it ever gonna happen? He was a corporate pilot and had a really good job flying private jets for wealthy families and then he woke up one morning with about the worst headache you can have, and it was because he was having a stroke. This meant that he was no longer fit to fly. He could probably reapply for it now, it's been long enough, but frankly he’s having too much fun doing this. He literally sold everything he owned and bought a boat, and the rest is history.
Laura fell in love with sailing about eight years ago when she jumped on a boat for just a 12 day sail from one island to the next. That experience sold her on the lifestyle. Her and Bobbie met in the Caribbean, she was a traveling nurse and he convinced her to pretty much just keep putting it off, you can always take a travel assignment. She was originally just coming for a couple months, but now she's aboard full time.
The boat is named the White Squall. She's a 1996 Beneteau Oceanis 50. They've been on her now for about three months. She sat on a mooring for a long time, kind of rotting away, but just in the last year she was refitted. Their dinghy acts as their car when they’re on anchor, so having a good dinghy and motor is really important. They do wish they had a slightly bigger motor theirs, but it works well. This is the head sail also known as a Genoa. Of course they have their anchor which is on an electric Windlass. They have 250 feet of three-eighths inch chain that weighs about eight pounds a foot, so being able to bring it in at the touch of a button is fantastic.
They have a big storage hold on the bow that used to be the Charter captain's crew quarters. It’s pretty small, so they don’t really use it for that anymore. Instead they store their bicycles, extra sails and provisions and anything else that they don’t use on a regular basis. They also store their fenders and dock lines there when they aren’t in use. On deck they keep some of their toys like inflatable paddle boards and their beanbag chair, which is their favorite place to hang out when they’re sailing.
The rigging for the mainsail is accessible from the base of the mast. A lot of newer boats will have all the lines run back to the cockpit, but since this is an almost twenty year old boat, it’s not set up that way. They have extra 10 gallon fuel cans on deck in addition to the 130 gallon tanks on board. The cockpit has a bimini top and a dodger, which is great for staying protected from the elements, especially on rough sails. When they roll down everything, the cockpit can be fully enclosed so in inclement weather, they’re still warm and dry. They have the rod holders on each side so they can fish while underway. The boat has dual helms, which improves mobility in the wide cockpit over the traditional large wheel in the center. You can sit on either side and control the boat and still have a lot of space.
A new addition to the boat is their freezer. This is super nice especially on longer sales where food would normally go bad before you can restock. For the Pacific crossing they’ll be able to freeze meat and not rely solely on canned options. The swim platform on the back makes it really easy for getting off and on the boat. If they’re in the water out swimming they can put this ladder down and this is actually where they can keep the dinghy on davits. Their main navigation station is a Simrad Evo 3, and it does everything. It's got their charts, so they got their own position, as well all the other boats around them. They can also check out the sonar and wind speed.
Off the stern they have their grill, so they do a lot of cooking out there. It's kind of hard to do when they’re under way, but on anchor it works perfectly. All the lines for the headsails run to the cockpit, making adjustments super easy.
Underneath the stairs is where their engine hides. It's the Perkins 90 horsepower diesel, and it’s easily accessible for maintenance. In the center island of the galley they have access to all the valves for their water tanks. They have four water tanks, so approximately 240 gallons of water on board. On a boat you have to be very aware of how much you're using for showers, washing dishes, the whole shebang because even 240 gallons can go away quickly if you aren’t careful.
There’s plenty of storage for all the kitchen essentials, but it can still be easy for things to get crowded. They cook on a gimballed stove which moves with the swaying of the boat. That way when they’re under way and keeling over to one side, they can still cook without pots and pans sliding off. They also have a microwave, but they don’t use it too often as it requires a lot of electricity. If they’re in a marina it’s a nice thing to have though.
In the galley they have storage for pantry items that they use every day, while the rest of their food is stored in the bench that makes up the salon. The storage in the table acts as they’re liquor cabinet, and they have a nonstick on all of their tables so plates and cups don’t slide around while underway.
They have two front cabins, one of which is primarily used as storage. Each have their own bathrooms with electric heads that flush with fresh water. The aft cabins also have their own heads, but they are operated with a hand pump and use saltwater. The aft cabins are pretty spacious. The beds are bigger in there, and they're supposed to be more stable compared to the front cabins when sailing.
Everyone's journey to a nomadic lifestyle is a bit different, but for Luara the first step is paying off your debt and getting ready to sell your assets. For her, she had to graduate college and then once that happened she had to be a nurse for a year and then a nurse in a hospital and then set up her specialty and then be a traveling nurse. There were a few hoops to jump through before she could do a three-month assignment and then take off for as long as she wanted. It took a few years, but tackling each step one at a time has allowed her to get to this point. Bobbie suggests setting a date and making it happen because you will never be ready. There will always be an excuse. It could be work, personal, or financial reasons. If you set a deadline for yourself it’s much easier to hold yourself accountable and make your dreams a reality.
Watch the Full Video Here:
