Why did you decide to start sailing?

We were on a hunt for a new lifestyle and needed a home that could work as an office and take us around the world including islands. So a boat was just the perfect fit for us.

We booked a 3 days trip on a catamaran in Antigua followed by a 1-week competent crew RYA course and bought Malaika 6 months later.

For us, it was the right thing to do and we actually never questioned our choice. We went head first into the unknown and haven’t looked back since. We learned all the basics in books, Youtube videos, and by practising on our own boat.

From April 2021 to October 2021, we travelled over 2,000 nautical miles from Brittany to Ibiza while working full time and we had the best time of our lives. We felt alive and fulfilled and cannot wait to explore more of the Mediterranean.

How were you able to buy your boat?

We actually partially financed our boat (a Lagoon 42 catamaran) with a French bank. To buy Malaika, we paid 30% upfront with our own savings and we now have a monthly payout which roughly equals to what we were paying in London.

We went for a new boat to reduce the time we would spend on repairs (as we are already busy working) and we think we made the right decision. Essentially we bought a boat instead of buying a house and have the equivalent of a mortgage. 

Essentially we bought a boat instead of buying a house and having a mortgage, this is how we see it

Yes, a boat depreciates over time but the amount of joy we get from this adventure is priceless and we don’t see this money as ‘wasted’.

How do you afford to travel and live on a boat?

We work! Simple 🙂

We both have a full-time job and therefore a monthly income. But we are very disciplined and rigorous with our finances. We save a large proportion of our earnings (around 40%) and buy only what we need and what is essential to our day-to-day life

What’s an average day like for you?

That’s a difficult question as we kind of live two lives in one.

On a regular working day, we would mostly be on our laptops working and take breaks to swim or sunbathe on the roof of the boat. We try to start early and take the dinghy to shore after working hours to walk and explore. When the days are longer, we also move to a different anchorage, sometimes before or sometimes after work.

During weekends, we either cover long distances (10h+ sails) or go explore the surroundings (a hike, a cave, a town etc.). And if we have a really long passage ahead (from one country to another for example) then we either wait for a bank holiday or take annual leaves.

Capture from Anas & Noellie’s Instagram ‘Sailing Malaika’

How much does living on a boat and sailing cost you?

We don’t really track our expenses so it’s hard to give you an exact number, but we are definitely spending more than what we were used to on land and on things that don’t even make a difference to our day to day comfort on board (such as new lines, cleaning products, engine oils, filters, etc.).

We are definitely spending more than what we were used to on land

Every month is different and we do most of the big maintenance and upgrades in the winter when we are in a marina. With a new boat like ours, I’d say we average €1k a month in repairs/maintenance/upgrades during low season (so winter). During the summer months, I’d say this cost is pretty down to 0 unless something breaks of course. In addition, we also pay €300 a month on insurance (covering us in Europe) and €500 a month in marina fees 6 months a year.

Travelling at a relatively slow pace allows us to reduce our sailing costs as we probably use our boat less than other sailors would. Sailing is definitely not cheap and when you don’t pay for repairs, you spend money on products to avoid the repairs. So all in all, you will spend that money either way!

What do you spend the most money on?

Back in the days (prior to the boat), we used to spend a lot on holidays, weekend getaways, restaurants, takeaways, pubs, concerts, taxis, etc.

Now we spend our money either on toys and gear (paddle, fins, kiteboarding gear) or on our boat. Malaika is our priority over anything else and I now spend more time in marine shops than in Sephora for sure!

Do you see yourself as savers or as spenders?

We are very much both. We save a lot of our income every month but at the same time, we treat ourselves a lot.

However, we buy things we need or things that genuinely make us happier. We don’t buy for the sake of buying, go for quality over quantity and ask ourselves ‘why’ we need this new object before making a purchase.

We don’t focus so much on our appearance, on things that would make us look good to others, and don’t seek validations. When you eliminate the inessential and focus on what brings value to yourself only, then saving becomes a lot easier.

When you focus on what brings value to yourself only, saving becomes a lot easier

Can you give an example?

Well one thing that surprises a lot of people is that we don’t celebrate Christmas or birthdays, at least not with presents. A nice meal and quality time spent together means a lot more to us and we make that a priority over material goods.

If we feel like buying each other something, then we do it but we don’t enforce it and it can be any time of the year.

One thing is sure, we only spend the money we have available after saving and we don’t live beyond our means.

Are you satisfied with your financial situation?

If you could change one thing about your finances, what would it be? 

We definitely want to move part of our savings away from the bank and use it to invest more in real estate and stocks. That way, we can protect it from inflation, and get passive income.

Our biggest regret is not having bought a property from the very beginning and having rented apartments for so long. It’s always hard to invest when you are an expat as rules may be different from what you are used to but one thing is sure, we could have saved a good bunch of cash if we’d chosen to buy.

Our biggest regret is not having bought a property from the very beginning

Lastly, what is your best tip (or two) for someone who wants the same lifestyle as you?

Every story is different so it’s hard to give a bit of one-size-fits-all advice. But don’t let anyone tell you no, that you are silly or perhaps too young. Trust your gut and do what feels right for you!

Be honest with yourself and your financial situation and don’t aim too high. We also recommend overestimating the cost of sailing. Set aside 6 months worth of living costs on your bank account for safety.

Last, don’t wait, just do it! It’s good of course to save for a few months but don’t wait forever to take your big leap, you have no control over your health and what the future holds!