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Sailing into the Unexpected: From Melilla to Morocco

Changing the Plan Mid-Course When I first mapped out the journey west, Morocco wasn’t even on the list.In my mind, the route was straightforward: stop in Gibraltar or maybe La Línea, the Spanish town next to it, then find a good anchorage somewhere along the Spanish coast before crossing to the Canary Islands. I had been to Morocco before—several times. And from a sailor’s perspective, it had never felt like an easy place. Regulations, unclear… Read More »Sailing into the Unexpected: From Melilla to Morocco

We Actually Sailed to Africa

Africa has been a dream destination for as long as I can remember.And for those of you who’ve known me a while, you know… it’s been a bit of a love-hate relationship. That’s why I’m especially glad that Nike convinced me to take the southern route this time—to sail along the African coast instead of hugging the Spanish mainland.Especially after seeing Gibraltar and Barbate on my last trip to the Canaries, this felt like the… Read More »We Actually Sailed to Africa

What We Like (and Don’t) About the Hallberg-Rassy 35

After sharing Part One of our full boat tour, here comes Part Two—this time, with a more honest take on what it’s reallylike to live aboard Santana, our Hallberg-Rassy Rasmus 35. As with anything in life, every decision comes with trade-offs. And boats are no exception. While Santana is a solid, beautiful, and capable sailing home, there are of course some downsides that come with the package. In this episode, Nike and I each share… Read More »What We Like (and Don’t) About the Hallberg-Rassy 35

Ibiza Road Trip: More Than Just a Tourist Stop

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One of the ideas that has always shaped the way I travel is this:I don’t want to be just a tourist.I want to stay long enough to really get a feel for the land and the people. Long enough that I can find my way around without a map or having to ask for directions.That, for me, feels like a good sign that I’ve truly arrived somewhere. But on this trip… that didn’t quite happen… Read More »Ibiza Road Trip: More Than Just a Tourist Stop

What Did I Say About Fixing Boats in Beautiful Places?

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I thought I had sorted out the boom issue during the crossing. But after taking a closer look, I found a few more loose screws—and when I finally removed the boom while anchored, I realized it was actually broken. Luckily, I managed to find another screw with the same thread and almost the same length. While Nike went off to explore the tiny island we were anchored near, I stayed on board, removed the damaged… Read More »What Did I Say About Fixing Boats in Beautiful Places?

Boat Tour: Welcome Aboard Santana

Finally, we took the time to record a proper walkthrough of Santana. Even though I’ve been living on board since April 2022 and have shared plenty of photos along the way, I never managed to film a full tour—until now. Well, Nike did. 😉 The video was shot in February in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and we decided to include it a bit earlier in the Untie The Lines series. A lot of Nike’s longtime… Read More »Boat Tour: Welcome Aboard Santana

McGyver Mode Activated: Life on the Water, One Fix at a Time

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Life aboard a sailboat has a funny way of flipping the script. One moment you’re sipping coffee while dolphins dance alongside your bow, and the next you’re elbow-deep in the guts of your Autopilot, channeling your inner McGyver. When you live on a boat, it’s never a question of if something will break. It’s when. This time, it was the Autohelm 2000 throwing a fit—again. I’d already shared in the last episode how it failed us mid-sail, and… Read More »McGyver Mode Activated: Life on the Water, One Fix at a Time

Anchored in Costa Brava: The Last Days of Summer

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Anchored in Costa Brava, Spain, we soaked in what felt like the final days of summer. It was mid-November when we recorded this video, having just left Port Saint Louis du Rhône, escaping the heavy winds that were now approaching our side of the Bay of Lyon. We hurried to sail further southwest, eventually finding a beautiful little bay—calm, secluded, and the perfect spot to stay for a few days. The water was crystal clear… Read More »Anchored in Costa Brava: The Last Days of Summer

A Rough Start: Of course, it didn’t go as planned

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Isn’t it always a brilliant idea to kick off your first departure in months with an overnight passage? As I mentioned in my last article, I was eager to leave the Camargue and the Mistral region as quickly as possible. Getting stuck there for weeks—or worse, facing brutal weather—wasn’t exactly part of my plan. We set off in light winds, which soon faded to nothing, leaving us drifting. And then, just before sunset, the wind… Read More »A Rough Start: Of course, it didn’t go as planned

Leaving Bouches du Rhône: The Calm Before the Storm

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There are two types of wind in Bouches du Rhône: none or too much. The week I spent working on Santana in Port St. Louis du Rhône in early November 2024 was the former—no wind at all. The days were sunny, warm, and felt like a wonderful late summer. Simply perfect weather to get everything ready. It was the calm before the storms that would soon roll through. Memories of Stagnation in the South of… Read More »Leaving Bouches du Rhône: The Calm Before the Storm

Turning the Ocean into Drinking Water

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Here we go—still on the hard in Port Saint Louis du Rhône. Just in time, the package from Germany arrived with the watermaker, a reverse osmosis desalinator. This is my first project with Nike, and I want to have it installed before we splash so we can produce our own drinking water whenever we need it. Choosing the Right Watermaker Over the years, I did quite a bit of research and explored the available options.… Read More »Turning the Ocean into Drinking Water

A New Season of Untie The Lines Begins

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Hey there, The new season of Untie The Lines just started last week, and I couldn’t be happier that Nike captured so much of our journey. Watching these episodes brings back countless memories—some vivid, others I had almost forgotten. It’s fascinating how many moments slip through the cracks when you’re constantly taking in new experiences. Preparing Santana for the Journey Back in November, we kicked off our journey in Port Saint Louis du Rhône, where… Read More »A New Season of Untie The Lines Begins

15th August 2024 – Elba, Corsica, Marseille

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Hello there,I hope this message finds you well.I wanted to update you a bit sooner, but unexpected travel got in the way. Let me take you back to about a month ago. After successfully fixing the chainplates on Santana, I enjoyed some time in the south of Elba, where the crystal-clear waters were breathtaking. Up until early July, things were a bit cooler, thanks to the weekly Scirocco winds. For those unfamiliar, the Scirocco is… Read More »15th August 2024 – Elba, Corsica, Marseille

26th June 2024 – back in the Mediterranean

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Hey my friend,What a trip it has been! Mexico City, Frankfurt, Engelskirchen, Workum, Bonn, La Spezia, Elba, Capraia, and back to Elba.These were the destinations since my last post. It’s been a whirlwind of time shifts, sleepless nights, hours and hours in the car, and finally, sailing again.I haven’t started the refit of Santana’s chainplates and knees yet but plan to do that within the next 14 days. I’ll post a couple of photos or… Read More »26th June 2024 – back in the Mediterranean

connection & community

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Hello, and a warm welcome to all the new subscribers here! I’m currently in a marina on Elba with lots of office work. I plan to leave for Mexico in about one month, where I will meet a friend of mine to go sailing on her boat, and I’d like to take as little work to Mexico as possible. The last week was perfect weather to ride my bike around the island and I include… Read More »connection & community

patreon update – 26th january 2024

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Hey wonderful people, warm greetings from Elba. That means I am back at the same place I used to be 7 months ago. Only this time, it’s different because I know that I will leave again this summer, not knowing if I will ever return. So, I am making this a farewell tour, finishing up some stuff. I had the most beautiful sail from Corsica to Elba and included a short video about that sail… Read More »patreon update – 26th january 2024

patreon update – 15th january 2024

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Hey there, I not only launched my boat on my birthday last week but also took advantage of a nice weather window, making my way to Bastia in Corsica. I thought it would be a good way to celebrate completing another full circle around the sun. Over the last two years, I’ve dedicated a lot of effort to expanding my capability of sailing longer distances on my own. However, I’ve never sailed alone for longer… Read More »patreon update – 15th january 2024

7. September 2023 – Santana in Bandol and me in the mountains

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Hey, I wanted to drop you a quick update. The rest of August I stayed in Bandol, Provence, including heavy rain and strong winds at the end of the month. On September 1st, I decided to seek shelter in the harbor and extended my stay for the entire month, to be able to travel to Switzerland. When I left my house in Switzerland back in May, we had chilly and damp weather, which prevented me… Read More »7. September 2023 – Santana in Bandol and me in the mountains

24. August 2023 – Sailing To Provence Update

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Hey there, Hope you’re enjoying the summer vibes. Since my last update, summer hit Elba with a blast. It’s super hot, and it is much busier with everyone on vacation. And not just Elba, also Tanzania is in vacation mode. Funny how summertime turns into the high season, not so much because of the local weather, but because the rich countries are on holiday. Like the whole world has to celebrate the summer vacation. At… Read More »24. August 2023 – Sailing To Provence Update

13. July 2023 – Setting Sail

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Hey there! I’m back in the sailing mood and loving every minute of it. I’ve been anchored for over a month, cruising around the island twice, having friends on board, sailing through some crazy winds, and even getting into a running and cycling routine. Plus, I’ve started writing again, hosted an awesome masterclass, signed up new clients, and got the new Django Tours website up and running. Man, it feels so good when I put… Read More »13. July 2023 – Setting Sail

October Update 2022 and 2023 preview

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In contrast to September, October has blessed us with beautiful weather, and I’m still out here anchored, enjoying every bit of it. I’m sharing some photos and impressions from the past month, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I’ve enjoyed capturing them. Later this week, I may head into the port at Marciana Marina, where I’ve spent the last few winters. During November, a friend of mine will be staying on the… Read More »October Update 2022 and 2023 preview

summer of sailing

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Hey Patron, I‘m back on Elba and Santana for a bit over a month now and I enjoyed late summer sailing and 🥾 hiking as it not that hot anymore. I often enjoy late summer/early fall and remember that I had a couple of wonderful late summers in Berlin over the years. The last years I was mainly in the Swiss mountains for October and often the summer thunderstorms had already passed through. The nights… Read More »summer of sailing