[S04E15] We need YOUR HELP! Liz is not well, and nobody needs to hear someone sniffing and coughing their way through a podcast, so this week we’re postponing the episode and asking for your help instead… What would YOU like us to talk about in a future podcast? Do you have any burning questions? We’re happy to tackle any subject, whether it’s to do with boats, sailing, cruising or the meaning of life. Let us know what interests you in the comments, or join the conversation on Discord… 💬...

[S04E14] Our followers ask about the sailboat galley more than any other topic, and it generated the biggest response in our DISCORD group when we asked what we should talk about in the next podcast. In this podcast, we break down your galley questions into three broad topics: * Provisioning * Storing * Set-up & Equipment And throw in some notes on pests, water, foraging, local food, food prep and waste disposal. Here are some time codes… 00:00 All about boat galleys. 02:49...

[S04E13]Did you know that heatstroke causes the body’s cells to melt from the inside out? It’s not just heat we need to think about, if the humidity is high we can reach crisis levels very quickly. In this video podcast, we look at how our bodies keep us cool in extreme heat on a sailboat. And we learn how to help these incredible natural regulating systems work in the high temperatures we are now experiencing around the world. Signs of heatstroke: * Excessive sweating * Muscle...

[S04E12] In “How to Buy Your First Boat: PART 2” we walk you through how to make a boat purchase. Support our work with a cuppa tea or a little rum! 🫖🥃 We show you where to start your search, how to inspect each boat you view, the pitfalls you’ll encounter along the way, and how to negotiate the right price. * Do you know the three methods of pricing? * Do you think brokers are important? * Should you have a boat survey? We explain why compromise will get you the PERFECT...

[S04E11] In “How to Buy Your First Boat: PART 1” we arm you with the knowledge you need BEFORE you start shopping for your first sailboat. Did you know that you MUST answer two questions in order to make the right decision? Support our work with a cuppa tea or a little rum! 🫖🥃 We walk you through the differences between coastal and blue-water sailboats, explain precisely what you must know, and what you need to do, before you even start to go shopping. Follow our simple guide and you will...

[S04E10] Did you know that tourists insulting a country’s customs on social media or in YouTube videos are likely to get thrown in jail? It’s certainly true in south-east Asia. And it’s not just tourists, cruisers are increasingly making travel difficult for ALL of us. Don’t mistake the tendency of people in south-east Asia to tolerate our weird, foreign behaviour. We know through spending time with locals that behind their smiles is a healthy disdain for the way some of us behave… SUPPORT...

[S04E09] There are many YouTube channels dedicated to showing you what a beautiful and fantastical life it is to live on a sailboat. It’s the dream, right? But is that true? Sure, some of the time there are rainbows (and even the occasional unicorn), but believe us when we tell you after 17 years of doing this, it will break you unless you are strong. In this follow-up, five years after our ORIGINAL video “5 Reasons NOT to Buy a Boat“, we look at what we said and the reaction we’ve had...

[S04E08] Does shining a light on remote communities and pristine islands around the world bring “the wrong kind of tourism”? Is it better to keep these places secret? Perhaps filming undisturbed locations is ruining travel for the rest of us. So do sailing YouTubers need to think twice before alerting the rest of the world to their existence by filming the remote and secluded locations they visit? And what about local communities? Do they want tourism or not? We answer these questions and...

[S04E07] Yes, we’ve spent the last 17 years on a sailboat! Travelling and sailing the world for such a long time has opened our eyes and changed our attitudes in many ways. In this podcast we talk about how the cruising life has changed us, covering subjects like ego, control-freakery, patience, tolerance, materialism, forgiveness and fatalism. Thanks to our supporters, followers and subscribers for their contributions. So what do you want us to waffle on about as we commence the next 17...

[S04E07] We ALL make mistakes on a sailboat, so don’t believe anyone who says they don’t! This is our Top 10 Cruising Cock-Ups, and it comes with a little help from our viewers and supporters. If you’re feeling stupid or embarrassed about what you did and want to feel less of a fool, this is the place for you. Add your moment in the comments and get it off your chest. We’ve nailed big, small, funny and dangerous mistakes plus a whole load more that are even worse than yours. Probably. Are...

[S04E06] Can you guess the worst job on a sailboat? In last week’s episode Liz revealed her least favourite job. As long-term cruisers, we can affirm that life on a sailboat is an adventure. It can be a peaceful getaway, a thrilling ride, or a challenging experience that tests your limits. However, not all jobs on a sailboat are as exciting as others. Some are downright unpleasant, tedious, or even dangerous. Here are a few jobs that might have made the list: * Deck scrubbing *...

[S04E05] Sailing in Southeast Asia is as easy or as difficult as you make it. Like any part of the world, it is planning and preparation that keep you safe and happy on a sailboat. We believe it is no more dangerous or difficult than any other area, in fact we think it’s often safer! In our latest podcast, we talk about our experiences over the last 10 years of sailing in Southeast Asia through Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Although it is an incredible sailing ground that should be on...

[S04E04] Living 24/7 with a partner in a tiny home can be a challenge; make that tiny home a sailboat and you have added hurdles. Get it right and you’ll have a fulfilling and rewarding experience. In our latest podcast, we answer this question and many others. In the meantime, here are some tips to make living with your partner in any tiny home as comfortable as possible. 1 Declutter In a tiny home, space is at a premium, so it’s essential to keep only items that you need or use. This...

[S04E03] Is there any truth to the long-standing stereotype that sailors drink more than the rest of the population? In this podcast, we talk about why Jamie gave up the booze, how this has affected our lives, and reveal the negative side to not drinking. Do you enjoy a tipple, and would you ever consider giving it up? What do you think, do sailors drink too much? In our video podcast this week, we talk about Jamie’s decision to give up alcohol during lockdown. He discusses why he did this...

[S04E02] What happens if you’re gripped by fear and anxiety on a small boat in the middle of nowhere, and there is no help coming? In this frank discussion, we cover what set off Jamie’s anxiety, how we are coming to terms with it, and what it means for followtheboat. We talk through your comments and we try to work out if it’s worse being on a boat if you’re feeling anxious. Next week the topic is “drinking and sailing”, so let’s have your thoughts on that topic either here in the...

[S04E01] Since we last spoke to you, we’ve sailed hundreds of miles to Lombok in Indonesia. It’s been incredible, incomparable and, at times, impossible. The podcasts are BACK! And we want your questions, answers and comments. Click here for ways to support us – become a Patreon – join FTBMates – bung a quid in our Rum Fund Find us on youtube to see the full weekly episodes of our travels – https://www.youtube.com/@followtheboat

[S03E20] This is the last podcast for a while because we have a lot of miles ahead of us. We are sailing to a deadline (our visas will run out end July) so we will have few opportunities to relax or get on with editing over the next two months. So, to ease our workload, we are putting the podcasts on hold. We hope to get the weekly vlogs out and published, but it will depend on our progress and connectivity as we travel these remote parts of Sulawesi. Click here for ways to support us –...

[S03E19] “The happiness and highs of boat ownership and cruising do outweigh the unpleasant lows. But do the highs happen often enough to offset what feels like the many more lows, and do they make up for being away from friends, family and all life on land has to offer?” Shamus, followtheboat viewer Can you guess what was almost everyone’s low? “The sea calls to you or it doesn’t. Sailing beckons you. If you don’t love it, you’ll be miserable. If you do, you won’t trade it for anything.”...

[SE03E19a] Do you know where we are right now? Clue: Search for SY Esper or use our MMSI number 235026188 with either of these websites: Marine Traffic Vessel Tracker Comment with ONE of your sailing highs, and ONE of your lows for a chance to be in with a name check in the next podcast. We’re looking for comments from sailors, cruisers, wanna-be cruisers, old cruisers, new sailors… anyone with an opinion! Send us a tweet to @followtheboat on Twitter to get our attention. Click here for...

[S03E18] “Life is about the journey, not the destination” is what we are always being told. But is it? Is the destination just as important? We chat about the idea that we should all be thinking about “the now” and stop focusing on goals. Maybe we should stop being so dogmatic, so binary about our choices. Isn’t life a little more blurred than that? And what about travelers and cruisers? Do we have a different, more practical approach to journeys and destinations? Here are (rough) timecodes...

[S03E17] What is the best thing about travel? What are your best travel moments, and what are your favourite travel memories? We are asked these questions often, and we always come up with the same answer: People. Go straight to the bit you fancy hearing most using these time codes: 00:00 Our current anchorage 01:35 Send your comments on next week’s topic 02:34 Meeting new people is the best thing about travel 04:42 Life is grey, good people can lift you up 07:52 Some of the most...

[S03E16] We have had some scary moments over the years, but are they the same as our biggest fears? We go through the top 5 worst things that have happened to us and take a look at what scares you most… Go straight to the bit you fancy hearing most using these time codes: 00:00 Intro 01:25 Our most recent anchoring nightmare 03:38 Biggest Sailing Fears (poll results) 04:48 Our top 5 worst experiences + lessons learned 05:20 5-Dragging anchors! 13:31 4-Being rundown! 21:38 3-Hitting...

[S03E15] In this week’s chat, we take a look at your suggestions, are surprised how low down the list some items appear, but not at all surprised by the #1 item. Can you guess what came out top? What’s the worst thing that can happen at sea? Send us a tweet… Go straight to the bit you fancy hearing most using these time codes: 00:00 Intro 01:34 What’s essential and what’s a luxury? 03:55 Results of the poll 05:37 Do we agree with your top items? 35:44 What items would enhance life on...

[S03E14] We put our cards on the table in this episode and talk about the friends we have lost over the years because of our decision to live on a boat and travel. And we are not the only ones this has happened to… Don’t forget to tweet us what you wouldn’t be able to live without on a boat! Go straight to the bit you fancy hearing most using these time codes: 00:00 What are YOUR Top 15 objects for boat life? 01:30 We are chatting in REAL-TIME 04:27 Where are we? 06:25 What is ‘Home’?...

[S03E13] “Why not sail back to the UK to see family?” Lots of people ask us this question, so we explain the reason why we don’t do it here. And we discuss what home means to us. Go straight to the bit you fancy most using these time codes: 00:00 Can we sail back “home” to the UK? 05:35 How to find out where we are 09:11 Extending visas has been stressful 12:51 Malaysia has lost the faith of many cruisers 16:57 Nowhere to go was the cause of high anxiety in Tawau 19:16 YOUR COMMENTS:...