SAILING ANIMA
CHASING DREAMS
Follow me on SV ANIMA as I sail “around the world” (hopefully soon)
Ahoy, I’m Paul – a German transplant officially calling Curaçao home, and this is the story of how I rescued an abandoned sailboat to chase my Caribbean sailing dreams.
⛵ Meet My Project Boat: A 1990 Gib Sea 402 Master
When I stumbled upon Bowalie in 2025, she was far from seaworthy—but her potential was undeniable. Despite years of neglect, I saw a diamond in the rough: a sturdy hull, a practical layout, and an interior begging for revival.
🌊 From Charter Workhorse to Forgotten Derelict
For years, Bowalie hosted day charters in Bonaire—until her owner vanished, leaving her stranded in a marina. Abandoned and decaying, she eventually wound up on a private pier, forgotten by everyone… until fate intervened.
🔧 The Rescue Mission
Through a twist of luck, I discovered Bowalie, negotiated a fair deal, and embarked on a crash course in “emergency boat repairs” just to sail her to Curaçao. Now, the real work begins: her full transformation into ANIMA (her new name, meaning “soul”—because every great boat deserves rebirth).
Join me as I:
✔ Battle corrosion, osmosis, and mystery repairs
✔ Document the highs (progress!) and lows (why is everything broken?)
✔ Work toward the ultimate goal: exploring the Caribbean in my self-restored floating home
Follow below for regular updates — this is going to be one heck of a ride!
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What to Do in Curaçao: Beaches, Snorkeling & Island Life Between Passages
December 28th, 2025Curaçao is not a new stop for me — it’s familiar ground. I’ve lived on the island for several years, explored it extensively, and gathered a lot of footage along the way. This video — and this post — exists in one of those in-between moments that...
Small Boat Maintenance Jobs That Matter: Sealing the Deck and Working on the Sprayhood
December 21st, 2025Living aboard a sailboat means that progress rarely comes in dramatic leaps. More often, it’s made up of small, practical maintenance jobs that quietly protect the boat and prevent bigger problems later on. In this short update, I focused on two of...
When the Ocean Says “Not Today”
December 14th, 2025My Attempt to Sail from Curaçao to St. Martin Some departures feel different right from the start. I left Curaçao with optimism, good forecasts, and that familiar mix of excitement and respect that comes with any offshore passage. The plan was...
Transforming My Neglected Sailboat
December 7th, 2025All Upgrades, Costs & Lessons From a $23,000 Refit When I bought my sailboat, she wasn’t the pristine, polished cruiser you see in glossy magazines. She was tired, neglected, and full of hidden surprises. But she had good bones — and that was...
Final Fixes Before Departure
November 30th, 2025Boat Life Preparations in Curaçao After months of repairs, upgrades, and unexpected delays, I’m finally getting closer to setting sail again. My Gibsea 402, built in 1990 and lovingly brought back from a neglected state, is almost ready for the next...
First Sail After the Rigging Repairs: A Day of Discoveries, Adjustments & Barnacles
November 23th, 2025There are days in boat life that feel like milestones — not because everything goes smoothly, but because everything finally starts moving again. This sail was one of those days. After months of refitting my Gib’Sea 402, replacing neglected rigging,...
I Bought a Neglected Sailboat in Bonaire – And Here’s the Full Boat Tour (GibSea 402)
November 16th, 2025When I decided to buy a neglected sailboat in Bonaire, people thought I had lost my mind. Maybe they were right. But sometimes, the best adventures begin exactly where everyone else sees a mistake. What started as a spontaneous dream to return a...
Life at Anchor: Fixing Leaks and Living Off-Grid on SV Anima
October 26th, 2025Life at anchor is rarely just sunsets and cocktails — sometimes it’s fiberglass dust, epoxy fumes, and a leaky water tank testing your patience. In this week’s episode aboard SV Anima, I tackled one of those essential (and slightly messy) off-grid...
DIY Rigging Upgrade at Anchor – Installing Sta-Lok Terminals on My Sailboat
October 12th, 2025When you live off-grid on a sailboat, maintenance doesn’t wait for the perfect conditions. This week, anchored in a calm bay under the Caribbean sun, I tackled one of those essential (but slightly nerve-wracking) projects — upgrading my rigging with...
A Day in the Life – Groceries, Boat Work, and Dreams on the Horizon
October 5th, 2025Everyday life looks a little different when your home floats on the water. In this episode, I share a glimpse of what off-grid living aboard a sailboat really feels like — a blend of simple routines, salty hands, and small adventures that make up life...
Life at Anchor – Off-Grid Living in a Curaçao Lagoon
September 28th, 2025After an unforgettable trip to Bonaire, I’ve dropped anchor once again — this time in a quiet lagoon in Curaçao. The water here is calm, the breeze steady, and life moves at the rhythm of the wind and the waves. It’s the perfect place to slow down,...
The Quick Escape – Sailing from Curaçao to Bonaire and Back
September 21th, 2025Sometimes, boat life takes you on adventures you didn’t exactly plan — and this one was a perfect example. Sometimes you get interrupted from life on anchor and work on the projects, turning into an island passage between Curaçao and Bonaire.The...











