SAILING ANIMA
COLLECTING MEMORIES
Follow me as I sail “around the world”
on SV ANIMA
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!
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, or support me on Patreon
This Is Where the Logbook Opens
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...
Sailing Off-Grid – Testing Freedom, One Anchor at a Time
September 14th, 2025There’s a special kind of feeling that comes when you finally leave the marina behind — when the last dock line is untied, and your boat becomes your entire world. In this video, I set sail to test life off-grid, anchored solo and relying...
Back to Boat Work – Rebuilding My Anchor Locker
August 29th, 2025After a short break on land, it was time to get back to what boat life is really about — fixing, improving, and keeping this floating home seaworthy. My next challenge: rebuilding the anchor locker. When I first installed my new windlass system, I...
Sailing Adventure to Grenada and the Grenadines
August 15th, 2025What was supposed to be a simple hop over to Grenada turned into a full-blown Caribbean odyssey. You’d think that, living in the islands already, a short flight south would be easy — but this trip had other plans. It started with a missed connection,...
Rebuilding My Anchor Locker – One Step Toward Freedom
July 25th, 2025When I first bought my boat, I knew I was stepping into a world of adventure — but also a long list of projects waiting to be tackled. One of the first things that caught my attention was the anchor setup. The boat came with a tiny anchor and an old...
There is never a day without a challenge living on a boat
July 18th, 2025Ah, boat life—where every project is an adventure, and nothing ever goes as smoothly as you hope. This week, I’ve been juggling a few different tasks, from something as simple as pumping up my kayak to more complex issues like my dying batteries. Let’s...
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...