Issue #4: 🏠 Relocating from Singapore to a 42ft catamaran in the Mediterranean
Meet the family who are sailing around the world whilst working remotely
The interview: All aboard The Long Summer
Expats Ben and Emily had been living in Singapore for seven years before they decided to swap terra firma for sailing the world’s oceans on their very own boat.
“Whilst Singapore gave us the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Asia and beyond, when our eldest was born we started to think about what was next, as we knew we didn’t want to stay there indefinitely. We liked the idea of taking a “gap year” as a family, but the more we spoke about it, the more the idea snowballed and soon we were looking into a permanent adventure.”
The idea of caravaning or camping and having to repack our bags every week wasn’t for us. One day we just looked at each other and, without saying a word, knew that the answer would be a boat! It ticked all the boxes for us in regards to long-term slow travel, whilst also being able to work remotely. There was just one problem….we had never sailed before!”
Let’s talk about the process of actually buying a boat. What do people need to consider?
Buying a boat is a pretty unique experience. Budget plays a big factor in what type, and probably more specifically, the age of the most suitable boat. As slow-moving live-aboard cruisers with young kids aboard, we wanted something comfortable that we could grow into, with plenty of space and light.It needed to be something that sails, but didn’t have to be a performance boat. A catamaran seemed like the logical option for us. Additionally, we decided to opt for a new boat since we had zero experience living on a sailboat, let alone bringing a used boat up to scratch in order to be cruise-ready.
We attended a few boat shows and spent a lot of time talking to dealers, other owners and cruisers, and doing our own research. The boat you select is, of course, a highly subjective and personal experience. But there are a few things which worked for us:
◉ Buying a new boat can entail a 1-3 year waiting list, depending on the brand and number of hulls they make per year. We had initially decided on the brand with our broker, but had not committed to a specific model right away. So, when they launched a new model we jumped at the chance to get our hands on one. Our boat is an Astréa 42 built by Fountaine Pajot. It’s a production catamaran, which allows for some customisations (much like buying a car from a factory, rather than having one custom built). Selecting options a year ahead of time is pretty hard to do, but again, a lot of research on forums and speaking to others can really help.
◉ Starting from scratch can mean there are a lot of extras to add in (that would typically already be onboard a second-hand boat). So, allow extra money in your budget to kit out the boat as you need. Almost everything that you already own on land is usually unnecessary or unsuitable for a boat, so it’s like starting afresh.
◉ It is possible to finance a boat with a loan, but it usually requires a heavier down payment than a house. And unlike with a mortgage, your boat will start to depreciate immediately (much like a car).
◉ The process from laying the hull to leaving the factory took about 3-4 months. It then requires testing, commissioning, and after-market add-ons. Once we received the boat in La Rochelle, France (pictured below) we had a few days of training with a skipper before they threw us the keys!
◉ As this was our first time purchasing a boat, we don’t have much to compare it to. But overall we thoroughly enjoyed the process and have zero regrets with the decisions we made along the way. The biggest tip that we can give anyone entering this lifestyle is that you can never do too much research!
What’s your ‘plan’ as regards to where you sail to - what countries are on the hit list ?
So far we have sailed along the East Atlantic from France, through Spain and along the Portuguese coast to Morocco. We spent 8 months in Tangier during winter and lockdown before finally being able to set sail into the Mediterranean in August.
Although this summer was short and unusual, we were still able to safely explore quite a bit of southern Spain and the Balearic Islands. From here we plan to head east and spend a few years exploring Italy, the Adriatic Sea, Greece, Turkey and more. The long-term goal is to then cross the Atlantic and travel through the Americas for a few more years, then cross the Pacific to Australia and NZ. And perhaps one day we will return all the way back to Singapore!
Let’s talk about the logistics of being a ‘live aboard’...
In the Mediterranean, people tend to sail between April-September. For the rest of the year, live-aboards will then either go land-based for 6 months (storing the boat in a marina or up on a hard stand), or if they live-aboard all year round like us, will find a sheltered place to sit out the winter. Some popular live-aboard marinas for this include Cartegena in Spain, and Licata or Ragusa in Sicily. We will be in Cagliari, Sardinia (pictured below) for winter this year. For us more than others, having good local school options for our children is paramount. We worldschool the kids for most of the year and then in the winter it’s nice for them to have the social interaction and cultural immersion of a school setting, which also gives us some time to really dig into work and fill the funnel.
Living aboard a boat has a number of similar expenses to land. Groceries and essentials are fairly predictable, although some places are obviously cheaper / more expensive than others. You need to pay for fuel (usually diesel for the boat and petrol for your dinghy). Mooring is a bit like paying rent (but spending time on anchor is almost always free). As a guide, for a typical boat like ours in the Mediterranean it is very rare to find a berth for less than 80EUR per night in the summer. Some places (like in the South of France or Palma de Mallorca) can charge over 200EUR per night. Conversely, in winter you can pay less than 20EUR per night for a long-term commitment.
We have just completed 2 months of anchoring exclusively (plus the occasional paid mooring ball), which means we have spent almost no money on “rent” this summer. Marinas are probably the biggest ongoing expense outside of boat maintenance, and a major factor in maintaining the budget you wish to stick to.
In terms of business practicalities, Ben is currently doing a lot of work for US firms targeting business expansion in Asia. So this means that most calls and work are done before midday, plus some catchup calls with the US in the evening. This leaves the afternoon for flexible family time, boat maintenance, exploring new cities, etc. The balance can be a juggle, but given that everything we own and do is all within a few metres, we are able to manage well.
Emily ran a 100% remote business for over six years whilst we were in Singapore, so we are very familiar with the tools required to make a virtual business productive. Ben has been known to take calls whilst sailing, but typically we try to move on days with low volume or on the weekend, weather permitting. Running your own schedule is key to making this work. Whilst our lifestyle could be doable for somebody in a remote 9-5 position, some elements would certainly clash. Weather and safety come first on a boat, so the rest of life has to slot in around that.
What are your insider's tips for people sailing around the Med?
Although we still have a lot more to explore in the Med, we already have a lot of recommendations!
◉ We absolutely loved our time in Tangier (pictured below) and would whole-heartedly recommend visiting this beautiful city (and wider Morocco too). Be sure to visit Café Hafa on the clifftop above the Bay of Tangier and sip on a traditional mint tea where The Beatles and The Rolling Stones once did - this place is an institution!
◉ Summer in Formentera (pictured below) `totally captured our hearts; turquoise waters, pristine beaches, boutique shops, and amazing local restaurants.
◉ Anchor at Talamanca Beach for easy access to the magic of Ibiza Old Town, without the multimillion-dollar price tag.
◉ Take yourself to the remote island of Cabrera National Park, sit outside the lone cantina of the ancient harbour and sip on Mallorcan gin under the stars.
◉ When in northern Mallorca, ride the charming tourist tram from Port de Sóller (pictured below) up to the weekend craft markets in the village nestled amongst the mountains. A must!
◉ Wander the narrow medieval streets of Ciutadella in Menorca on a sunny day and soak up the long history of this lovely little city.
What do you miss the most?
Our friends and family, of course. But we also miss the convenience of pre-boat life. Schlepping groceries in a dinghy in the rain, cycling 6km to get gas for the oven, or making desalinated water for your tanks before being able to do a load of washing are just some of the adjustments we have had to make. And we probably miss the food from every country we have ever visited! Plus not having a permanent address can make things tricky, along with having to check the weather multiple times a day in order to find out where you will end up sleeping next… But we wouldn’t change it for the world! We love the daily variety and no longer being chained to a desk or stuck in the rat race.
If you had to pick another place in Europe to relocate to, where would you go?
Hard to say, as we have not been everywhere yet! However, for us it would have to be somewhere warm and near the coast, with a healthy dose of cafe culture and a good work/life balance. We tend to gravitate towards bigger cities with international connections and a constant theme of change. Somewhere like Barcelona seems like it would hit the right notes for us. But ask us again in a month and we will probably have a different answer!
If you could give any advice to somebody reading this now who might be considering selling up and buying a boat what would it be?
Do it! Set a date and work out a detailed plan based on that date. Things start to fall into place naturally when you have a concrete goal to work towards. Whilst it may feel like a massive undertaking, breaking it down into achievable parts helps to see progress and keeps you motivated along the way. It took us 4 years of planning and saving from the day we conceptualised the idea to packing up and moving onboard. The good thing about buying a boat is that it can be done to suit nearly every budget, and is a lot more accessible than people tend to think.
Thanks so much for featuring us! We love sharing our experiences and are happy to answer any questions!