BLOG SAILING ANIMA
Bought a sailboat to sail around the world, but will I ever get out sailing?
July 11th, 2025Battery Blues and Rope Rescues: Another Week of Sailboat Survival Another week, another boat crisis—because why would anything ever go smoothly? Just when I thought I had my systems dialed in, my sailboat decided to keep me on my toes (and my toolbox...
Boat Life Update: Fixing the Backstay, Winch Maintenance & Caribbean Challenges
July 4th, 2025Back in the Marina—The Never-Ending Boat Repair Saga Continues! Just when I thought I’d be slicing through turquoise Caribbean waves, fate had other plans. After my backstay snapped like a overcooked spaghetti strand (yep, that happened), I’m back at the...
First sail after 75 days on the hard
June 27th, 2025Ahoy, fellow adventurers! This week’s journey was one for the books—full of excitement, unexpected challenges, and that ever-present camaraderie that makes the sailing community so special. After what felt like forever docked at the marina, I finally...
Finally splashing after 75 days on the hard
June 20th, 2025After 75 long days on the hard, the moment we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived—we’re back in the water! 🎉 There’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your boat float again after weeks of sanding, painting, and boatyard chaos. But as any...
Boat Restoration Progress – Hull Painting Done & New Friends!
June 11th, 2025The past week has been a major milestone in my boat restoration project—the hull painting is finally done! 🎨⚓ This was one of the most critical and time-consuming steps, so seeing it completed feels incredibly rewarding. The fresh coat not only brings...
Victory Week: Autopilot Rises From the Dead & The Countdown to Splash Day Is ON!
June 4th, 2025Ahoy, shipmates! This week was one of those glorious stretches where the boat gods finally smiled upon me. After months of wrestling with ANIMA's gremlins, we've hit some major milestones that have me doing my happy dance (though my neighbors in the...
The Challenges and Rewards of Fiberglass Boat Repair: A DIYer’s Journey
May 28, 2025Boat ownership comes with many joys—but also the inevitable need for maintenance and repairs. One of the most demanding yet essential tasks is fiberglass boat repair. Whether fixing cracks, restoring hull integrity, or smoothing out imperfections, working...
Boat Life Chronicles: When Your Fridge Betrays You & Other Tales of DIY Despair (and Triumph!)
May 21, 2025Ahoy, Shipmates! This week aboard ANIMA was a wild ride of electrical heartbreak, ceiling victories, and grinding-induced existential dread. Grab a cold drink (if your fridge works—unlike mine), and let’s dive into the chaos! ❄️ The Great Fridge Fiasco: A...
Boat DIY & Sailboat Refit Adventures: Battling Moisture Damage & Making Progress!
May 14, 2025: Windows, Fridges, and the Never-Ending Boat DustThe Great Window Replacement Saga This week marked a major milestone in Operation Make My Boat Watertight Again. With a friend's help, we:✔️ Successfully replaced the worst leaking windows✔️ Discovered the...
Sailboat Refit & Boat DIY: Progress at Last!
May 7, 2025: Galley Makeovers, Window Woes, and the Countdown to Splash DayGalley Transformation Underway This week was all about turning my water-damaged, glue-crusted cabinets into something resembling a functional kitchen. The before-and-after is shocking: The...
Boat Yard Chronicles: Mosquito Battles, Leaky Decks & DIY Fixes!
April 30, 2025: Botched Repairs, Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes, and the Boatyard BluesThe Osmosis Nightmare Unfolds This week revealed some truly shocking DIY sins from a previous owner. While sanding, I discovered an entire fiberglass patch that was basically just painted...
Boat Life Diaries: Solar System Woes & Island Adventures in Curaçao
April 16, 2025: Solar System Mystery & the Kindness of StrangersThe Never-Ending Sanding Saga The hull drying continues—slowly. While osmosis treatments demand patience, I turned my attention to another critical issue: my failing solar system. The Great Battery...
Boat Life Reality Check: When Osmosis Derails Your Plans (But Teaches You More)
April 2, 2025: When Osmosis Derails Dreams (But Builds Character)The Plan That Wasn't This week delivered a brutal reality check. My simple "haul out, paint, and sail away" fantasy collided with the truth: my hull is a waterlogged sponge. Humidity tests revealed what...
Solo Sailing Adventure: No Autopilot, No Electronics – Just Pure Seamanship!
March 26, 2025: A Wild Ride to Curaçao – Engine-Only, No Electronics!The Dramatic Departure Docked bow-first into howling winds, tangled lines wrapped around unforgiving poles—not exactly the smooth exit I’d imagined. Thanks to a kind dockworker’s help, I freed the...
Resurrecting a Forgotten Sailboat: My Ambitious Journey from “Bowalie” to “ANIMA”
March 13, 2025 – A New Beginning Under a Lunar EclipseThe Backstory: How It All Started In February 2025, I sold my car rental company in Curaçao and set my sights on a new adventure. Little did I know, fate had other plans—and they involved a neglected sailboat named...