James and I have always shared a deep love for the ocean. It's what brought us together in the first place. But little did we know that our shared passion for the sea would lead us down a path of living onboard a yacht.
The idea had always lingered in the back of our minds, inspired by those intrepid souls who sailed the world's oceans. We admired them, but we never truly believed it could be OUR reality.
I found myself feeling stagnant in my corporate job in Cairns. The longing for adventure was palpable, and COVID had only added to the feeling of being stuck. I yearned to break free, to immerse myself in new destinations, to truly live and work in the places I visited. I was sending James links to couples' jobs as deckhands and skippers on remote islands, hoping to ignite a spark of wanderlust in him too. While he shared my love for travel, he was more rooted in his career and the idea of settling down. However, we both craved an adventure before starting a family, and the decision was made: it was time for a change.
The options were laid out before us: a camper trip around Australia or living onboard a yacht. Despite the allure of the open road, the call of the sea was too strong to resist. So, we dove headfirst into the world of boat hunting.
The decision-making process was not without its challenges. For 6 months we oscillated between motorboats and sailboats, unsure of what would suit us best. James was initially drawn to grand, expensive yachts, while I was suggesting boats James describes as "floating bathtubs" as our ideal vessel. In December 2023 we road tripped from Cairns to Sydney looking at boats along the way.
A failed attempt to secure a dream yacht (way out of our price range) in the Gold Coast left us deflated, but not defeated. It was during a stay on James's dad's old wooden trawler in Sydney that we questioned our decision. Was boat life really for us? I had crashed a fibreglass tender into a wharf, living on the leaky trawler was getting to me, and I wasn't sure if I was really a boat girl after all.
Then, amidst the uncertainty, James asked me to marry him, igniting a newfound eagerness to pursue our boat life dream before starting a family. As we journeyed back up the coast, we stumbled upon the perfect vessel - a 40ft Adams in Cairns. And just like that, our fate was sealed.
Resigning from my corporate job and officially becoming boat owners felt surreal. The challenges of learning to sail, the financial strain of preparations, and the inevitable bumps of our heads on the low ceilings were all part of the adventure. But the rewards have been immeasurable.
Living onboard has shifted our perspective on possessions, sustainability, and mental health. We've learned to cherish experiences over belongings, to be mindful of our impact on the environment, and to prioritize our well-being above all else.
For those considering a similar journey, my advice is simple: just do it. But do your homework, prepare for the unexpected, and join your local sailing community for support. And above all, embrace the adventure with an open heart and a spirit of resilience.
As for our hopes and dreams for the future, they're as vast as the ocean itself. I am excited to create memories together as a newly engaged couple, and have stories to tell our future children. I am also excited we have the opportunity to learn the skill of sailing together. And with our blog and social media platforms, we hope to  inspire others to embark on their own adventures.
So here's to the journey ahead, filled with endless possibilities and boundless seas. May our sails be full, our spirits high, and our hearts forever anchored to the ocean.
