220 MILES. 4-METRE SWELLS. ONE SMALL BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC. 🌊 Leaving the remote atolls of French Polynesia, we faced a decision that every offshore sailor eventually has to make: When is the right time to go? We needed to get back to Tahiti. Friends were arriving, and ahead of us lay a 220-nautical-mile Pacific Ocean passage aboard our Nautitech 40 catamaran, Loulou. We had been watching the weather and talking with other cruising yachts, but every boat has different capabilities. A monohull has different characteristics. A larger yacht can handle conditions differently. And Loulou has her own limits. The forecast wasn’t perfect. But it was better. So we made the decision to go. As we left the protection of the atoll, the Pacific slowly revealed its true size. The horizon opened up and enormous 3–4 metre swells began rolling beneath us. The wind was actually in a better direction than during our previous passage, but the ocean was BIG. Really big. And somewhere in the middle of those enormous Pacific swells, something happens that is difficult to explain unless you’ve experienced offshore sailing. You realise just how small you are. You can study weather. You can know your boat. You can prepare. You can plan. You can make good decisions. But you don’t control the ocean. You don’t control the wind. You don’t control the swell. You simply make the best decision you can with the information you have at that moment. And then… you live with the consequences. During the night, while one of us slept and the other stood watch, Loulou climbed enormous swells, tipped over the tops and slid down into the troughs again and again. What initially felt intimidating eventually became a strange kind of rhythm. And somewhere between the darkness of the night watch and the sunrise over the Pacific, we started thinking about what this cruising life is really about. It isn’t just the destinations. It’s the people. The sailors who share information. The locals who point you towards a better anchorage. The friendships formed in remote places. The people who quietly help you when conditions get difficult. And perhaps that’s why the sailing community becomes so close. Because when you’re hundreds of miles from land, trust matters. This passage from the Tuamotus back towards Tahiti, French Polynesia, became much more than simply another ocean crossing. It became a reminder that the ocean doesn’t care about our plans. It doesn’t care that friends are waiting. It doesn’t care how experienced we are. And strangely… that’s one of the things we love about sailing. You make your plan. You check the weather. You study the charts. You listen to people who know the area. You choose your moment. And then… you go. Join us aboard Loulou, our Nautitech 40 Open, as we take you with us across 220 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean and experience some seriously impressive Southern Pacific swell. If you enjoy sailing adventures, ocean crossings, catamaran cruising, French Polynesia, offshore sailing, sailing storms, boat life and real-world cruising, make sure you subscribe and come barefoot with us. 👣 We are John & Eli — the Barefoot Doctors. After decades in medicine, we’re now trying to add more life to the years by sailing, travelling and exploring the world. 🌊 Kick off your shoes and come barefoot with us. ⸻ ⛵ OUR BOAT Loulou — Nautitech 40 Open Catamaran This is our Nautitech 40 Open, which we are using to explore French Polynesia and the wider South Pacific. ⸻ 🌊 FOLLOW OUR SOUTH PACIFIC ADVENTURE We’re sailing through some of the most spectacular and challenging cruising grounds in the world — French Polynesia, the Tuamotus, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, the Cook Islands and beyond. Every week we share the reality of life aboard a cruising catamaran — the beautiful moments, the difficult passages, weather decisions, anchorages, boat problems, friendships and adventures that come with sailing offshore. Subscribe and join the adventure. 👣 Barefoot Doctors Sailing Kick off your shoes and come barefoot with us. #️⃣ HASHTAGS #Sailing #Nautitech40 #FrenchPolynesia #Tahiti #PacificOcean #Catamaran #OffshoreSailing #BluewaterSailing #SailingAdventure #Tuamotus #SouthPacific #SailingLife #OceanCrossing #CatamaranLife #BarefootDoctor

When do we get the keys? 🔑 | Portofino 52 Update with Raffa The biggest decision we’ve ever made… and one of the most uncertain chapters of our lives. Our Portofino 52 is still trapped in Dubai, waiting for road approvals so she can finally be transported to Fujairah, where a new shipyard is ready to take over the project. In this very personal Portofino 52 update, we sit down with Raffa to talk honestly about what is happening, the enormous financial and personal uncertainty we’re facing, and the question everyone keeps asking: When do we actually get the keys? The move to Fujairah wasn’t a reaction to the war. It had actually been planned six months before the conflict began. But circumstances have changed dramatically, and with war risk excluded from our insurance, there are very real questions about personal safety, finances, timing and what the future looks like. But there’s something even more important we’ve learned through all of this: You can’t always control what happens to you — but you can control what you allow it to do to you. We talk about our “bubble technique” — a simple way of protecting your peace by not allowing external events to enter your heart and create unnecessary stress, fear or unhappiness. Because even though the Portofino situation is a huge part of our lives, it doesn’t define us — and it isn’t going to consume the rest of our lives. After more than 40 years in medicine, we’ve learned that life isn’t just about adding years to your life… It’s about adding life to your years. And that means continuing to live, explore, dream and move forward — even when circumstances are completely outside your control. 🌊 In this episode: ● The latest Portofino 52 construction and delivery update ● Why the yacht is still trapped in Dubai ● The planned move to Fujairah ● Why the shipyard move was organised six months before the war ● The impact of the war on our plans ● The reality of war-risk insurance ● The enormous financial and personal uncertainty ● How age changes the way you look at major life decisions ● Why we refuse to let the situation consume our lives ● Our “bubble technique” for managing stress and uncertainty ● What you can control when everything around you feels out of control ● Why the Portofino 52 does not define who we are If you’ve been following the Portofino 52 journey, this is one update you definitely won’t want to miss. And if you’re facing your own situation where life hasn’t gone according to plan, we hope our experience gives you something useful to take away. Kick off your shoes and come barefoot with us. 🦶🌴 #Portofino52 #PortofinoYachts #BarefootDoctors #Sailing #SailingLife #YachtLife #WorldCruising #Liveaboard #MentalResilience #LifeLessons #Dubai #Fujairah #Adventure #LuxuryCatamaran.

What if paradise isn’t a place… but a way of seeing the world? In this episode of Barefoot Doctors, we journey into what feels like the closest place on Earth to the Garden of Eden. Crystal-clear lagoons, vibrant coral reefs, and untouched tropical islands become the backdrop for something far deeper than another sailing adventure. Join us as John experiences an exhilarating drift dive through one of French Polynesia’s spectacular passes, where the current carries us effortlessly through a living underwater world. Along the way, we encounter colourful reef fish, breathtaking marine life, and an extraordinary little octopus that has formed an unlikely friendship with local sailors—a reminder that curiosity and kindness exist throughout nature. But this episode isn’t just about what we see. It’s about what these islands teach us. Surrounded by beauty, simplicity, and an abundance of life, we explore timeless questions about happiness, purpose, gratitude, and what it really means to live well. After more than 40 years in medicine, we’re discovering that many of life’s greatest lessons aren’t found in hospitals or textbooks—but in nature itself. If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing the South Pacific, snorkelling pristine reefs, or simply slowing down long enough to appreciate the wonder of the world, this episode is for you. Because sometimes the greatest adventure isn’t crossing an ocean… it’s changing the way you see life. 🌴 Welcome to Barefoot Doctors. We’re John and Eli. After more than 40 years in medicine, we’re exploring the world to discover what truly helps people live healthier, longer, and more meaningful lives. If this story inspired you, please Like, Subscribe, and share it with someone who could use a little more wonder in their life. #BarefootDoctors #FrenchPolynesia #GardenOfEden #DriftDive #Snorkelling #Octopus #SailingLife #PacificOcean #TravelDocumentary #Nature #Adventure #Philosophy #MeaningfulLife #LiveBetter #CoralReef

🌪️ We made it into Tikehau Atoll just in time… But once the storm arrived — there was no way out. No marina. No shelter. No second chances. This is the raw reality of being stormbound in the Tuamotus — where one wrong decision can cost you your boat. ⸻ ⚓ In this episode, we reveal: * Where to anchor in a storm inside a remote atoll * Why one anchor is NOT always enough * The truth about lagoon fetch & shifting wind * How we prepare for 40+ knot winds off grid * The critical mistake sailors make entering passes * And the hidden force that makes “slack tide” dangerous ⸻ 🌊 THE PASS LESSON THAT COULD SAVE YOUR BOAT We entered at what should have been slack tide… So why was it chaos? Because in the Tuamotus… It’s not just about the tide. It’s about swell, lagoon levels, and water escaping through the pass. 👉 This is essential knowledge for anyone sailing French Polynesia. ⸻ 🌴 LIFE STORMBOUND (It’s Not What You Think) While the storm rages outside… * We monitor the anchor constantly * Prepare backup anchoring systems * Explore the island between squalls * Harvest coconuts for hydration 🥥 * And watch something unexpected… Extreme water sports in storm winds. Because sometimes… Storm life is equal parts tension and adventure. ⸻ 🧠 REAL OFF-GRID SAILING Out here, there is no rescue. No help coming. Just: ✔ Knowledge ✔ Preparation ✔ Experience And the decisions you make before the storm hits. ⸻ 👣 ABOUT US – Barefoot Doctors Sailing We’re John & Eli — full-time sailors exploring the world while sharing: * Real offshore sailing knowledge * Storm tactics & safety * Life off grid * And the mindset to handle extreme situations Kick off your shoes and come barefoot with us. If you love sailing, catamarans, yacht design, boat safety, offshore cruising, and behind-the-scenes boatbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell — because the Portofino 52 launch is coming, and you won’t want to miss what happens next. JOIN PATREON if you want early release episodes, live updates, go sailing on out Portofino 52 and a chance to meet us at events throughout the year? Click here: www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing Future proof your children with TUFMINDS Audio stories.... Help sleep, improve self image and confidence from little to teens - so get the pack for the age group and give your children, grandchildren the gift of a happier and healthier future!!! Every penny goes to Exqisit Life Foundation to support TUFMINDS Mental Resilience and Suicide Prevention Program worldwide! DONATIONS to the charity to support Suicide Prevention with the free TUFMINDS program can be made at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DR5NY95QLCTP6 ⸻ 👍 If this helped you, please: Like 👍 Subscribe 🔔 Share with fellow sailors ⛵ ⸻ 🔥 HASHTAGS #Sailing #Storm #OffGrid #Tuamotus #Tikehau #SailingLife #Catamaran #StormSailing #OceanLife #Liveaboard #SailingAdventure #ExtremeWeather #BoatLife #Anchoring #SailingTips

Having sailed in less than pleasant sea conditions on our Nautitech 40 Open catamaran to get to the Tuamotu atoll of Rangiroa, the weather window closes in around us and storms forecast in 4 days time. We have to decide where the safest place to hide will be and share the process and logic of our decision making, including the importance of getting information from other cruisers that have been here for a lot longer! After we make the decision we have to sail 50+ miles to a neighbouring atoll of Tiehau and experience the worst ever pass entry in our decades of sailing - 1-2m standing waves, current against us at 6 knots and surfers enjoying 2 meter waves just 30metres away from the boat! We join the surfing and slide down several waves and eventually get in safely! ELi also bakes a test loaf of bread on the induction hob - the first time doing this on an induction plate ever... If you enjoy real cruising adventures, honest decision-making, and exploring some of the world’s most incredible destinations, we’d love to have you aboard. ⚓ Subscribe and join us next week as we batten down the hatches and weather the storm that is forecast to be 26-37 knots for about 10 days....

After two years without a boat, we finally found what we hoped would be our next floating home… a Nautitech 40 Open. But did we make the right decision? In this full walkthrough, we take you aboard our new-to-us Nautitech 40 Open and show you every part of the boat—from the spacious aft cockpit and saloon to the cabins, galley, helm stations, engines and storage. We also share the features we absolutely love, along with the compromises every sailor has to make when choosing a cruising catamaran. One of our biggest concerns before buying this boat was the dual outside helm stations, which leave the skipper exposed to the sun, wind and rain. Was that a deal-breaker? Or do the incredible sailing performance, open living space and social cockpit more than make up for it? Whether you’re dreaming of buying a catamaran, planning to sail around the world, or simply love boat tours, this episode gives you an honest first look at what it’s really like to own a Nautitech 40 Open. Along the way, we also share practical cruising tips and simple life lessons we’ve learned from decades of sailing—small changes that can make life onboard safer, easier and far more enjoyable. If you’ve ever considered a Nautitech 40 Open, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Would you choose outside helm stations for the sailing performance, or would you rather have an inside helm? Let us know in the comments! ⛵ Subscribe for weekly sailing adventures, honest boat reviews, practical cruising advice and life lessons from around the world. Fair winds, Elizabeth & John Barefoot Doctors Sailing #Nautitech40 #Catamaran #SailingAroundTheWorld #BoatTour #LiveaboardLife :::

Having sailed in less than pleasant sea conditions 0j 0ur Nautitech 40 Open catamaran to get to the Tuamotu atoll of Rangiroa, the weather window closes in around us and storms forecast in 4 days time. We become aware of the very important lesson of enjoying the moments you have now without letting concern over what may happen tomorrow. take away your pleasure of today! Amazing fish and coral, unbelievable reef, a huge blue lagoon but all cut short by an impending storm of 35 knots.... If you enjoy real cruising adventures, honest decision-making, and exploring some of the world’s most incredible destinations, we’d love to have you aboard. ⚓ Subscribe and join us next week as we work out the best way to handle the upcoming storm and the logic we used to choose the best place to hide....

There are moments at sea when one decision can change everything. After an overnight passage from Moorea, we had just one chance to enter the spectacular Rangiroa Ato Lou ll safely. Miss the afternoon slack tide, and we’d be forced to spend another 18 hours outside the reef in rough Pacific seas, waiting for the next safe opportunity. With the wind turning against us, confused seas slowing LouLou, and every lost knot bringing us closer to missing the tide, we had to make a difficult decision—keep sailing as planned, or start both engines and put safety ahead of pride. As we raced the clock toward one of French Polynesia’s most powerful passes, every mile mattered. Standing waves, strong tidal currents, and a narrow weather window meant there was no room for mistakes. Join us as we navigate one of the most beautiful—and most demanding—atolls in the South Pacific, and discover why good seamanship isn’t about proving how tough you are… it’s about making the right decision when it matters most. 🌴 In this episode: •⁠ ⁠Overnight passage from Moorea to Rangiroa •⁠ ⁠Racing the tide to make slack water •⁠ ⁠Heavy seas and challenging upwind conditions •⁠ ⁠Why we chose to motor instead of sail •⁠ ⁠Entering the famous Rangiroa Pass •⁠ ⁠Finding a safe anchorage before sunset •⁠ ⁠The relief of finally arriving after a long passage If you enjoy real cruising adventures, honest decision-making, and exploring some of the world’s most incredible destinations, we’d love to have you aboard. ⚓ Subscribe and join us next week as we explore Rangiroa’s crystal-clear lagoons, incredible coral gardens, and one of the best diving destinations on Earth. :::

🌴 Moorea, French Polynesia to Rangiroa, Tuamotos! 220nm and DID WE PUSH OUR Nautitech 40TOO HARD? For the last two years, this moment lived only in our imagination… And now, we’ve finally arrived in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth but we have to take an unfavourable weather window or we will be trapped for 10 days by a 35 knot storm... So we set sail, UPWIND, against the trade winds in a boat we have almost no experience on. Every creak, every vibration - is that normal, will she cope and are we pushing TOO HARD, TOO SOON? ⸻ 🐠 We take you deep into the practicalities and details of a real offshore passage with just eh two of us and we have a deadline to meet as the pass into Rangiroa has to be reached by 3.30pm or we will spend another 18 hours eating for the next suitable slack tide... Big pressure - and then Mother Nature throws us a curve ball! A northerly headwind that was completely NOT FORECAST!… That puts us behind on the schedule and leaves us in limbo - how can we possibly sail the last 60 miles at an average boat speed of over 7 knots? 👉 See how this drama unfolds 👉 Enjoy seeing and feeling what is like on a fast cruising cat in washing machine seas... It’s real. It’s thrilling. It’s an experience!. ⸻ ⛵ Our Journey Continues… This episode is the start of a bigger journey It’s about the start of a new chapter for us — Sailing our Nautitech 40 through French Polynesia. So see sun the next episode of we make the Rangiroa deadline or have to spend 18 hours at sea waiting for the pass to settle in day light. ⸻ 💬 We Want Your Opinion Do you want to see this match detail about the practicalities of sailing? This is not a simple yes or no debate. So tell us honestly in the comments: 👉 Do you like seeing the details of speed and performance? 👉 Do you think like to see the sail set and why the changes are made? 👉 Do you want more or less sailing decisions in the journey? We genuinely want to hear your thoughts. ⸻ 👍 If you enjoyed this episode: ✔️ Like the video ✔️ Subscribe for more sailing adventures ✔️ Join us as we take on the open ocean Because life is better barefoot. 🌊 And we’ll see you out there.

🌴 Moorea, French Polynesia… Paradise or Problem? | Stingrays, Sharks & the Ethical Debate 🦈 For the last two years, this moment lived only in our imagination… And now, we’ve finally arrived in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth — Moorea. Towering green peaks. Electric blue lagoons. Coral gardens bursting with life. This island feels like stepping into a dream. But beneath the beauty… there’s a growing controversy. ⸻ 🐠 The Experience Everyone Talks About… Swimming in Moorea’s lagoon is nothing short of magical. Stingrays glide over your feet… soft, curious, almost playful. Blacktip reef sharks circle calmly nearby… powerful, yet peaceful. And unlike most places in the world… 👉 You’re encouraged to touch them 👉 You’re encouraged to feed them It’s close. It’s thrilling. It’s unforgettable. ⸻ ⚠️ But Here’s the Question… For years, we’ve followed one simple rule in the ocean: Look… but don’t touch. Don’t feed. Don’t interfere. So what happens when that rule gets blurred? These encounters in Moorea aren’t random… They’re created. Boats arrive. Food goes in. Wildlife gathers. And while it feels incredible… it raises a deeper question: 👉 Are we connecting with wildlife… or changing it? ⸻ 🌊 The Bigger Debate Around the world, feeding marine life has been linked to: • Changes in natural behaviour • Conditioning animals to humans • Increased risk — for both animals and people Yet here in Moorea… it feels calm, controlled, even safe. So where is the line? Is this: ✨ A rare, beautiful connection with nature OR ⚠️ A long-term problem we don’t fully understand? ⸻ ⛵ Our Journey Continues… This episode isn’t just about Moorea. It’s about the start of a new chapter for us — Sailing our Nautitech 40 through French Polynesia. From lagoon snorkelling and drift dives… To lush mountain hikes, cultural history, and life at anchor… And just as we begin to fall in love with this island… We leave. Next stop: A 220-mile upwind crossing to the Tuamotus. ⸻ 💬 We Want Your Opinion This is not a simple yes or no debate. So tell us honestly in the comments: 👉 Would you feed and touch the stingrays? 👉 Do you think this is harmless… or harmful? 👉 Where should the line be drawn? We genuinely want to hear your thoughts. ⸻ 👍 If you enjoyed this episode: ✔️ Like the video ✔️ Subscribe for more sailing adventures ✔️ Join us as we take on the open ocean Because life is better barefoot. 🌊 And we’ll see you out there. ⸻

⚓️ If you’re enjoying the journey, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment... Help us get to 30,000 subscribers and we’d love to have you onboard. After two long years without a boat, we’re finally back where we belong… at sea. 🌊⛵ But getting there? It was anything but smooth sailing. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of what should have been a simple step… getting insurance for our newly purchased Nautitech 40 in Tahiti. What followed was two weeks of emails, delays, frustration, and uncertainty that nearly stopped our dream before it even began. With no insurance, we were stuck. No sailing, no exploring, no freedom. Just when things felt like they might fall apart… everything changed in a matter of hours. And then… we finally did it. Lines off. Engines on. We sailed. Join us for our emotional first sail in two years as we leave Tahiti and head to the breathtaking island of Moorea — navigating reef passes, rediscovering the magic of life at sea, and dropping anchor in one of the most beautiful places on earth. This isn’t just another sailing video… This is the moment everything begins again. 👉 In this episode: • The reality of buying a boat in French Polynesia • Why yacht insurance nearly stopped us sailing • Our first sail on our new catamaran • Navigating a reef pass in Tahiti • Arriving in Moorea for the first time • The emotional return to sailing life If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing, living aboard, or escaping the ordinary… this one’s for you. ⚓ Subscribe and follow the journey as we explore the islands of French Polynesia, from turquoise lagoons to unforgettable wildlife encounters. 🎬 Coming next: Snorkelling crystal-clear lagoons, swimming with sharks and stingrays, and discovering what makes this part of the world so special. 📍 Locations: Tahiti & Moorea, French Polynesia ⛵ Boat: Nautitech 40 Catamaran👇 Comment below with your stories about your travel delays and your favourite names for jocks and knickers! 👇

⚓️ If you’re enjoying the journey, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment... Help us get to 30,000 subscribers and we’d love to have you onboard. We are in Tahiti to take possession of our new boat, the Nautitech 40 Open, finally get the Deed Of Sale so "officially" own the boat and expect to sail away almost immediately. But completely out of left field, we get notified by email that changes EVERYTHING and leaves us stranded and unable to leave again!!!! We use the further delay to create this video (lucky for you guys!), organise shopping for beautiful things to make this boat our "home" and have Eli put her classic stamp on the decor!!! Lots of other exciting stuff this week discussing the practicalities of sailing in remote areas and what challenge we are facing this time... Next episode n- really depends on how this problem is resolved but hopefully our first sail to paradise anchorages in French Polynesia! This is just the beginning… South Pacific sailing is about to start —and later this year… The Portofino 52. 👇 Comment below with your stories about your travel delays and your favourite names for jocks and knickers! 👇

⚓️ If you’re enjoying the journey, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment... Help us get to 30,000 subscribers and we’d love to have you onboard. We return to Tahiti to take possession of our new boat, the Nautitech 40 Open,, struggle with over weight airline baggage, risk of high penalty charges and then the strict French Ploynesian customs while we carry our boat medications including injectables, a new speargun and a surprisingly large amount of alcohol... We get through those hurdles and the next morning go for a test sail to see how the Nautitech 40 operates, go shopping for seemingly endless supplies of Eli's desire and on day 2, GET THE KEYS TO THE BOAT! While we are able to move aboard, because of bank holidays, the bureaucracy is not done and we are left with having the paid the money a week ago but not able to leave harbour as the paperwork is not yesterday "legal"!!! Will we get it before our planned departure in 24 hours - or are we going to be trapped again! It takes us back to the 3 week delay leaving Tahiti last year on the Leopard 45 with similar "paperwork" blocks. We just hope we don't get the 3 week delay again.... Lots of other exciting stuff this week too with pearly shopping and lots of detail about what we bought for the sailing.... Next episode: "How we turn Lou Lou into our home with our own personal stamp!" This is just the beginning… South Pacific sailing is about to start —and later this year… The Portofino 52. 👇 Comment below with your advice especially if you always have some weird things you want to have with you on your travels!👇

HI Everyone, we tried to go live but the internet did not work for us so we are just posting this as a 2 minute clip to show that it has actually happened and give you teh exciting preview of what the boat looks like!!! Full episode later in the week with all the details and when we have time to do the editing!!! VERY BUSY!!!

⚓️ If you’re enjoying the journey, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment—Help us get to 30,000 subscribers and we’d love to have you onboard. The Boat we have made an offer for is only 2.5 years old - and we get the call we did not expect!!! The Surveyor found 3 problems.... Leaking hull, broken B+G electronics and worst - a problem with the rigging. So join us for the agony of the event and what it really means.... - Is it the end of our offer on this boat? - DO we have to go back to square one with another boat? - Is there a solution to overcome the BIG issue??? We also go through teh steps of working our what we need to get for the boat and where we have to get it from... Not everything is available in Tahiti and some things are really expensive. What about flagging the boat? Which country to use" What flag allows easy charter approval? What name do we register her in - our personal name, our company that has the Portofino 52 or do we need to set up a completely new entity? We take you step by step through the process we are going through and explain the reasons for each decision! And the final challenge we have before we board the plane, is trying to get everything we NEED into the bags and within the baggage allowance! See how we go.... Next episode: we fly back to Tahiti to take ownership of the Nautitech 40 Lou Lou!!! This is just the beginning… South Pacific sailing is about to start —and later this year… The Portofino 52. 👇 Comment below with your advice especially if you always have some weird things you want to have with you on your travels!👇

⚓️ If you’re enjoying the journey, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment—we’re closing in on 20,000 subscribers and we’d love to have you onboard. This was the moment everything changed! After 48 hours of intense back-and-forth negotiating with Seawind, we were right on the edge of a deal… but not quite there. Then—out of nowhere—a pre-emptive offer lands from the owner of a Nautitech in Tahiti… and it completely flips the script. A better boat. In the right place. Ready to go. And $50,000 cheaper. There was no time to wait. No time to ask for advice. So we made the call. Find out which way we went in this episode - it is really nail biting stuff!!! In this episode, we take you inside that decision—the pressure, the risk, and the moment we committed to a completely different path. But this isn’t just about buying a boat… We’re also sharing some of the most spectacular footage we’ve experienced so far—crystal-clear lagoons, world-class diving, remote anchorages, and the raw beauty of sailing through the islands of Polynesia. This is the life we’ve been working toward. And now—it’s real! Next episode: surveys, final checks, and the full handover process. Because this is just the beginning… South Pacific sailing is underway—and later this year… The Portofino 52. 👇 Comment below with your advice on which boat you thin is best for us👇

After waiting over 3 years for our dream expedition catamaran… everything has come to a halt with our Portofino 52 Aluminium performance shallow draft catamaran trapped in Dubai because of the war! We’ve already lost two sailing seasons… and now we’re being told it could be another 6+ months before we can sail the boat! So we hmake the exciting a SCARY decision to BUY ANOTHER BOAT! The risks we face: 👉 The yacht market continues to crash 👉 We may not be able to see the boat in the future 👉 The share market may crash and leave no-one buying boats This isn’t just emotional—it’s a life-changing financial and lifestyle decision. So having made the decision to buy another boat, we now set about seeing what is available and if we can get good deals (because teh boat market is so low...) Come along with us as we travel to New Zealand and the remote Tuamotos to search out a great boat to fulfil Eli's sailing dream of spending time in French Polynesia!!! 👇 Comment below with your advice on which boat you thin is best for us!👇 —

After waiting over 3 years for our dream expedition catamaran… everything has come to a halt. Our custom-built Portofino 52 aluminium expedition catamaran—designed from scratch for our future life at sea—is now stuck in Dubai due to ongoing conflict and global shipping disruptions. We’ve already lost two sailing seasons… and now we’re being told it could be another 6+ months before we can sail the boat!. In last weeks episode we discussed our options: 👉 Do we keep waiting? 👉 Do we patch together short-term sailing? 👉 Or do we take a huge financial risk… and buy another boat? Your feedback was amazing - new ideas like long term rental of boats AND teh suggestion from several that WE SHOULD RUN THE GAUNLET OF THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ to get our Portofino out!!! We discussed lots more details about the road transport issues, the options for completing the boat in Fugairah and more pros and cons for each option.... This isn’t just emotional—it’s a life-changing financial and lifestyle decision. We are looking to have all our viewers vote on which option we should take now including RUN THORUGH THE HORMUZ STRAITS risking both Iranian and American bombs! Your advice could genuinely shape what we do next so we want everyone to vote on the 4 options, just leaving the number that they recommend - 1- Wait 2. Patch it up 3. Buy another boat 4. Run the Hormuz Gauntlet!. 👇 Comment below with your vote -1, 2, , or 4 👇 —

After waiting over 3 years for our dream expedition catamaran… everything has come to a halt. Our custom-built Portofino 52 aluminium expedition catamaran—designed from scratch for our future life at sea—is now stuck in Dubai due to ongoing conflict and global shipping disruptions. We’ve already lost two sailing seasons… and now we’re being told it could be another 6+ months before we even see the boat. At this point, we’re facing a decision we never thought we’d have to make: 👉 Do we keep waiting? 👉 Do we patch together short-term sailing? 👉 Or do we take a huge financial risk… and buy another boat? This isn’t just emotional—it’s a life-changing financial and lifestyle decision. We could: • Lose even more precious time waiting • Sacrifice the liveaboard lifestyle we love • Or risk owning TWO boats if things suddenly change And the truth is… no one knows how this situation will unfold. So now we’re asking YOU: 💬 What would you do in our position? • Wait it out? • Find temporary sailing options? • Or go all-in and buy another boat? Your advice could genuinely shape what we do next. 👇 Comment below: WAIT / TEMP / BUY 👇 —

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT ⛵ CRAZY STUFF - we challenge the age old wisdom is that you should only sail around the world in boats over 45 foot! We test out the liveability, safety, performance and handling ease with the Seawind 1160XL and I did not believe the experience. If you want to test sail the Seawind 1160XL or just CRUISE the Koh Chang area, contact Seawind at www.seawindcats.com or email at info@seawindcats.com. We spent two weeks on the boat with only the two of us to properly test out every aspect of the boat and here, we share the REAL TRUTH - warts and all! Pros, cons and everything in between... This is a real-world review of all aspects of this boat as a long distance cruiser — not showroom talk. But is also gives the coastal and weekend sailors great understanding of what this boat is REALLY LIKE! In this episode, we break down what actually matters: ✔️ Upwind performance ✔️ Light air performance (3-6 knot winds tested) ✔️ Ease of sail handling ✔️ Ability to be handled by a couple or solo ✔️ Is she suitable for round the world sailing ✔️Comfort aboard for long distance and tropical areas We also soar ethe amazing beauty of the Koh Chang area of Thailand and the incredible things to see and do! ⸻ 🎥 👉 Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss it! 👍 Our Verdict Two weeks of pure sailing bliss. The Seawind 1160XL gets a big double thumbs up from us. 👣 About Us We’re the Barefoot Doctors — medical doctors and lifelong sailors living full-time aboard a performance expedition catamaran. Life really is better barefoot. If you love sailing, catamarans, yacht design, boat safety, offshore cruising, and behind-the-scenes boatbuilding, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell — because the Portofino 52 launch is coming, and you won’t want to miss what happens next. JOIN PATREON if you want early release episodes, live updates, go sailing on out Portofino 52 and a chance to meet us at events throughout the year? Click here: www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing Future proof your children with TUFMINDS Audio stories.... Help sleep, improve self image and confidence from little to teens - so get the pack for the age group and give your children, grandchildren the gift of a happier and healthier future!!! Every penny goes to Exqisit Life Foundation to support TUFMINDS Mental Resilience and Suicide Prevention Program worldwide! DONATIONS to the charity to support Suicide Prevention with the free TUFMINDS program can be made at: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DR5NY95QLCTP6