We left our boat in Tahiti while waiting for our long-stay visa in Australia, but an unexpected marina emergency forced an urgent boat move without us on board! Welcome back to Barefoot Doctors Sailing! In this episode, our friend Trevor is boat-sitting our Nautitech 40 catamaran, LouLou, at Marina Papeete in French Polynesia. While tackling DIY boat repairs, including fixing a violently vibrating washing machine and hand-stitching our torn boom bag, the marina delivers shocking news. The pontoon where LouLou is tied up is being dismantled for urgent repairs, and the boat must leave its berth immediately. Because our passports are locked away at the embassy for visa processing, we cannot fly back to Tahiti. Trevor has to step up to captain a challenging marina move with the generous help of neighboring cruisers from SV Escapade and SV Seasential. Watch how the sailing community rallies together when cruising plans fall apart! If you enjoyed seeing how cruisers support each other through unexpected challenges, please LIKE this video, leave a COMMENT, and SHARE it with fellow travelers. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Barefoot Doctors Sailing for weekly catamaran adventures! https://www.youtube.com/@UCHg0vKExEnRJJmD9TYatK6Q 00:00 - Emergency on the Catamaran 00:38 - Boat Maintenance and Carrying Water in Tahiti 01:14 - DIY Boom Bag Canvas Repair 03:26 - Fixing a Shaking Marine Washing Machine 04:23 - Keeping Boat Plants Alive 05:23 - The Marina Notice: Pontoon Removal Crisis 07:54 - Trevor Plans the High-Risk Boat Relocation 10:28 - Moving the 40ft Catamaran to a New Berth 12:33 - A Huge Relief and Good News 13:27 - A New Problem: Kicked Out of the Marina? 15:13 - Thank You to Our Patrons catamaran marina docking challenges, sailing French Polynesia long stay visa, boat sitting sailboat maintenance jobs, DIY boat canvas repair by hand, boat washing machine repair vibration, Marina Papeete Tahiti cruising guide, Nautitech 40 open catamaran liveaboard, sailing community helping in marina. 🧭 ⛵ CONNECT WITH US: Official Website: https://www.tufminds.com FB- / 1c9pct. . FB- / tufminds FB- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q... TikTok - / barefoot.drs.. . 🏅 📜 CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Special thanks to Trevor for holding down the fort, Karsten on SV Escapade, and Mark & Holly on SV Seasential for being true legends in the marina! 🛡️ ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This video documents our personal experiences living aboard and cruising on a sailboat. Technical projects and boat maneuvers reflect our own methods and should not substitute for professional marine advice. #SailingLife #CatamaranLiving #BarefootDoctorsSailing #BoatMaintenance #MarinaPapeete #FrenchPolynesia #CruisingLife #SailboatRepairs #Nautitech40 #LiveaboardSailors

Would you trust your boat to a stranger? In this liveaboard catamaran crash course, we hand over our Nautitech 40 in Tahiti to a beginner boat caretaker while we travel overseas. When our French Polynesia visa required an urgent trip back to Australia, we faced a major choice: pay high marina fees or trust an online supporter to live aboard and watch our floating home. Enter Trevor: a great friend from Canada with plenty of enthusiasm, but zero prior sailing experience! Before handing over the keys, we put Trevor through an intensive training session covering the 7 golden rules of catamaran care and liveaboard survival. 🧭 What We Cover in This Episode: 🤿 Welcoming Trevor to Tahiti and diving a submerged airplane wreck 🔋 Rule 1: Managing lithium batteries and 2.5kW of solar power 💧 Rule 2: Operating an Aquabase watermaker and freshwater flushes 🛠️ Rule 3: Daily bilge checks, pump testing, and leak prevention 🔊 Rule 4: Listening to boat sounds and identifying warning alarms 🚽 Rule 5: Electric marine toilet rules and preventing macerator clogs ⚙️ Rule 6: Engine room rust prevention on our Volvo Penta diesels ⚓ Rule 7: Cruising etiquette, barefoot rules, and protecting gelcoat 🚢 Exclusive preview: Our new 52ft custom aluminium catamaran build Whether you dream of living on a sailboat, plan to hire a boat sitter, or want a practical look at daily catamaran systems, this episode provides essential tips for life on the water. Share your thoughts below: Would you ever leave your boat or home in the care of a follower? What is the number one boat rule you would enforce? ⏩ If You Like to Jump In: 00:00 - Trusting Our Catamaran to a Stranger 01:00 - Welcoming Trevor to Tahiti From Canada 02:30 - Diving the Submerged Airport Plane Wreck 04:55 - Rule 1: Solar Power and Battery Monitoring 07:16 - Rule 2: Fresh Water and Watermaker Flushes 08:14 - Rule 3: Bilge Inspections and Leak Checks 08:44 - Rule 4: Understanding Catamaran Sounds and Alarms 09:46 - Rule 5: Marine Toilet Controls and Macerators 11:53 - Rule 6: Engine Room Rust Prevention 12:39 - Rule 7: Essential Liveaboard Boat Etiquette 16:09 - Next Boat Preview: Custom 52ft Aluminium Cat 18:52 - Final Handover and Community Question Whether you dream of living on a sailboat, plan to hire a boat sitter, or want a practical look at daily catamaran systems, this episode provides essential tips for life on the water. Share your thoughts below: Would you ever leave your boat or home in the care of a follower? What is the number one boat rule you would enforce? liveaboard catamaran maintenance guide, boat caretaker rules for beginners, leaving sailboat with a boat sitter, Nautitech 40 open catamaran review, how to care for a catamaran, living on a catamaran in Tahiti, marine toilet electric head maintenance, solar power battery monitoring sailboat 🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR WEEKLY CATAMARAN ADVENTURES: Join us each week as we sail the South Pacific, share practical boat maintenance tips, and document our new aluminium catamaran build! Tap the Subscribe button and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@BarefootDoctorsSailing 🧭 FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY: Official Website: https://www.tufminds.com FB- https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9pCt... FB- / tufminds FB- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q... TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@barefoot.drs.... ⚓ VESSEL SPECIFICATIONS: ⛵ Current Yacht: Loulou (Nautitech 40 Open Catamaran, Draft 1.35m) 🔋 Power System: 600Ah Lithium Bank + 2.5kW Solar Array 💧 Water System: Aquabase 60 L/h Desalination Unit ⚙️ Engines: Twin Volvo Penta Inboard Diesels 🚢 Future Build: Portofino 52 Custom Aluminium Exploration Catamaran ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: All procedures shown in this video reflect our personal maintenance practices aboard our vessel. Marine electrical and mechanical systems vary widely. Always consult manufacturer guidelines and qualified marine technicians before modifying onboard systems. 💙 LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE: If you found value in this technical walkaround, please give this video a LIKE, leave a COMMENT, and SHARE it with fellow multihull cruisers and boat builders. Your engagement signals to the YouTube algorithm that real sailors appreciate detailed marine construction content. #CatamaranLife #SailboatMaintenance #Liveaboard #BoatSitting #SailingTahiti #Nautitech40 #BoatTech #SailingVlog #YachtLife #CruisingCommunity

Welcome back to the shipyard! In this aluminium catamaran build update, you will see why the Portofino 47 was cut in half, the latest P52 build progress, and our upcoming ocean sailing plan. We return to Portofino Marine to witness one of the most radical sights in yacht construction: a 47-foot aluminium catamaran hull sliced completely down the middle. In this episode, shipyard master Raffa breaks down the engineering behind this dramatic modification, how it transforms performance, and what it means for the evolution of our own custom Portofino 52 expedition catamaran. 📺 Here is what you will find inside this episode: - The exact engineering reason the Portofino 47 hull was cut in half - Behind-the-scenes metalwork and welding inside the Portofino shipyard - Portofino 52 construction milestones: structural bulkheads, safety systems, and interior design - Our official ocean sailing route and cruising blueprint after launch - Real-time updates on our worldwide humanitarian mission with Tough Minds If you love naval architecture, offshore sailing vessels, or watching an expedition multihull come to life from bare alloy plates, this episode gives you raw, unfiltered access to modern yacht construction. ⏩ If you like to Jump Right In: 0:00 - Catamaran Cut in Half: The Yard Shocker 01:45 - Why Modify the Portofino 47 Hull? 04:12 - Aluminum Catamaran Engineering Explained 07:30 - Portofino 52 Build Progress Inside the Shed 11:15 - Custom Aluminum Fabrication & Structural Systems 14:50 - Interior Layout & Blue Water Passagemaking Upgrades aluminium catamaran build, Portofino 52 catamaran, Portofino 47 catamaran, custom aluminum catamaran, boat building shipyard tour, catamaran hull modification, bluewater sailing catamaran, offshore sailing plan 📣 CALL TO ACTION: What would you do if a boatbuilder suggested cutting your hull in two? Would you take the risk to make it better, or keep the original design intact? Drop your thoughts, questions for Raffa, and predictions on our maiden voyage route in the comments below! ⛵ SUBSCRIBE TO THE JOURNEY: If you are new to Barefoot Doctors Sailing, join our growing crew of offshore explorers. Hit the SUBSCRIBE button and turn on all notifications so you never miss a boatyard milestone or ocean passagemaking episode: https://www.youtube.com/@UCHg0vKExEnRJJmD9TYatK6Q 💙 LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE: If you found value in this technical walkaround, please give this video a LIKE, leave a COMMENT, and SHARE it with fellow multihull cruisers and boat builders. Your engagement signals to the YouTube algorithm that real sailors appreciate detailed marine construction content. 📜 DISCLAIMER: All opinions, vessel assessments, and technical feedback shared in this video reflect our personal perspectives as experienced offshore sailors and yacht owners. Marine construction involves complex engineering risks. Always consult licensed naval architects and certified marine surveyors before undertaking structural modifications on any vessel. 🙏 CREDITS & SPECIAL THANKS: Heartfelt gratitude to Raffa and the skilled fabrication crew at Portofino Marine in the UAE for inviting our cameras inside the shed and answering every technical question with total transparency. 🌍 FOLLOW OUR EXPEDITIONS: Official Website: https://www.tufminds.com FB- https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9pCtS8ur/?mibextid=wwXIfr FB- https://www.facebook.com/tufminds FB- https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=barefoot%20doctors TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@barefoot.drs.adve?_r=1&_t=ZS-9AEnqKTt5WQ #AluminiumCatamaran #BoatBuilding #Portofino52 #SailingCatamaran #CatamaranBuild #BluewaterSailing #YachtBuilding #PortofinoMarine #SailingLife #BarefootDoctorsSailing

Moving a 52-foot catamaran by road over 100km seems impossible. In this video, we haul our massive 52ft catamaran overland using specialized heavy transport trailers and police escorts. Can you really transport an enormous 52-foot cruising catamaran over 100 kilometers of public roadways? With an extreme beam width and tons of weight, taking a multihull vessel onto narrow highways is one of the most intense challenges any boat owner can face. Moving a yacht by road is a logistical nightmare. Join us as we transport our Portofino 52 across the desert after sea routes failed. In this full episode, we take you behind the scenes of our massive overland relocation: 🗺️ Route planning, height surveys, and oversize transport permits ⚙️ Loading the yacht onto a custom hydraulic multi-axle trailer 🚨 Coordinating pilot cars, escort teams, and power line lifting crews 🔄 Navigating tight roundabouts, bridge crossings, and narrow country roads ⚓ Final arrival at the boatyard and preparing for splashdown Subscribe for weekly updates on our cruising life and construction journey, and let us know in the comments if you have ever had to move a large vessel by road. 00:00 - The Impossible Plan: Moving a 52ft Catamaran by Road 01:45 - Surveying the 100km Route and Obstacles 04:12 - Loading the Catamaran onto the Heavy Haul Trailer 07:30 - Rolling Out: Escort Vehicles and Police Convoy 10:55 - Squeezing Through Tight Intersections and Roundabouts 14:20 - Danger Zone: Clearing Overhead Power Lines and Bridges 17:45 - The Final Stretch on the Highway If you love extreme boat transport, catamaran life, and heavy haul logistics, make sure to hit the Like button and share your thoughts in the comments. Have you ever attempted to move a boat this big by land? Subscribe to our channel for more boat building, ocean adventures, and behind-the-scenes catamaran projects: https://www.youtube.com/@@barefootdoctorssailing Please like, comment, and share this video with fellow sailors and trucking fans. It helps our community grow and signals the algorithm to show this video to more boat enthusiasts! moving a catamaran by road, catamaran road transport, oversize boat transport, transporting a catamaran, extreme boat hauling, wide load boat hauling, boat overland transport, heavy haul boat transport, moving large boat by road, boat transport logistics 🛡️ DISCLAIMER: Overland boat transport involves heavy machinery, strict legal permits, and professional escorts. Never attempt to haul wide-beam vessels without certified operators and proper local authority permits. 🏷️ CREDITS: Heavy Transport Team: Overland Marine Logistics Pilot Escort Services: Regional Escort Pilots Camera & Drone Operations: Production Crew 🧭 FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY: 🔗 Website: www.tufminds.com 💛 Support us on Portofino: youtube.com/playlistlist=PLcJClw3YBIM3GrDbplq79Txc4H6Z29CnC #Catamaran #BoatTransport #HeavyHaul #OversizeLoad #SailingLife #BoatHauling #CatamaranLife #ExtremeTransport #BoatBuilding #OverlandTransport

Thinking about sailing around the world twice or living aboard with family? After 40 years of bluewater cruising, this veteran crew shares honest advice on costs, safety, and boat life. Setting out on a global ocean circumnavigation requires more than just a sturdy vessel; it demands the right mindset, realistic expectations, and proven offshore preparation. In this in-depth conversation, an experienced sailing family reflects on four decades of ocean voyaging, raising three children at sea, and completing two full circumnavigations. From real annual budgets to heavy weather seamanship, here is an unfiltered look at what it truly takes to make the world your home. 📌 WHAT WE COVER IN THIS VIDEO: 🛫 The biggest barriers to leaving shore and how to overcome pre-departure fears 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How boat life changed the kids and the best age to sail with children 🌍 Practical life skills and perspectives the kids gained from world cruising 💰 Realistic cruising budgets: how much sailing cost per year for five people 🛟 Essential daily safety habits and how to handle fear during rough weather ⛵ Why they decided to sail around the world a second time 🗺️ Favourite anchorages, kindest local cultures, and wild encounters with orcas ⚠️ The number one mistake almost every cruiser makes when preparing 🎒 Three essential items you must never leave port without 🔧 The single most valuable piece of equipment on a bluewater sailboat 🛥️ Should you buy new or secondhand boats for world cruising? ❤️ Deep reflections on what decades at sea teach us about happiness and simplicity 0:00 A Lifetime of Salt and Adventure 1:36 Tracing the Dream Back to the Start 3:50 Raising Children on the High Seas 10:42 The Economics of a Circumnavigation 17:23 When Things Go Wrong at Sea 24:15 Encounters with Orcas and Other Dangers sailing around the world twice, cruising with kids full time, cost of sailing around the world, bluewater sailing advice for beginners, best age to sail with kids, buying new vs secondhand boats, ocean sailing safety habits, how to handle fear at sea 💬 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Are you planning your own ocean escape, or do you already live aboard? What is your biggest fear or question about world cruising? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE & STAY CONNECTED: If you found value in this conversation, please like, comment, and share this video with fellow sailors and dreamers. Don't forget to subscribe and click the notification bell so you never miss an episode! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCHg0vKExEnRJJmD9TYatK6Q 🤝 CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Website: www.tufminds.com Portofino Build Playlist- youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcJClw3YBIM3GrDbplq79Txc4H6Z29CnC 🙏 CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Special thanks to our veteran cruising guests for sharing their forty years of ocean wisdom, voyage archives, and honest family insights. ⚠️ SAFETY DISCLAIMER: Offshore bluewater sailing and ocean navigation carry inherent risks. The experiences, safety routines, and budgeting details shared in this video represent personal stories and opinions. Always inspect your vessel, consult certified marine professionals, and verify local maritime regulations before setting sail. #SailingAroundTheWorld #BluewaterCruising #BoatLife #FamilySailing #Circumnavigation #SailboatLiving #CruisingLife #OffshoreSailining #BoatLifeMistakes #SailingTips

Running out of fuel on a catamaran in remote ocean waters tested our offshore sailing skills to the limit! In this episode, we share the shocking moment our fuel ran almost ran completely dry aboard our Nautitech 40 Open dinghy in French Polynesia, the incredible community rescue that followed, and an exclusive build update on our custom Portofino 52 aluminium expedition catamaran. When the engines are about to suddenly shut down far from any fuel dock, we had to reach out for help! What happened next completely took our breath away. The generosity of fellow sailors turned a potential offshore crisis into one of the most heartwarming moments of our entire voyage. Stick around for the second half of the video as we connect with Raffa at the shipyard for a vital Portofino 52 update! We discuss the latest construction milestones and the progress towards transporting the boat the 100km from Dubai to the new shipyard in Fugairah on the Indian Ocean coast.You won’t believe the transit logistics nightmare required to move our dream boat closer to sea trials. 🎬 WHAT IS INSIDE THIS VIDEO: • ⛽ The exact situation that caused our catamaran dinghy tanks to run dry offshore • ⛵ How we managed to reach out for help • 🤝 The unexpected assistance from fellow cruisers that saved the day • 🛢️ Crucial offshore fuel management tips for blue water cruising • 🛠️ Portofino 52 build progress report with naval engineer Raffa • 🚢 Updates on shipping routes and launch timelines 🌊 JOIN OUR BAREFOOT JOURNEY: If you enjoy genuine blue water sailing adventures, honest boat reviews, and behind-the-scenes catamaran construction, please subscribe and click the bell icon so you never miss an episode! 🔔 Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@barefootdoctorssailing?sub_confirmation=1 Support our voyage on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BarefootDoctorsSailing 👍 LIKE, COMMENT, AND SHARE: Did you ever run out of fuel or face engine failure while sailing? Tell us your stories in the comments below! If this video brought you value or a smile, please give it a thumbs up and share it with your boating friends. Every share helps our channel grow! catamaran fuel emergency at sea, running out of fuel sailing, Portofino 52 catamaran build update, Nautitech 40 catamaran offshore cruising, sailing French Polynesia off grid, aluminium expedition catamaran design, boat diesel engine trouble offshore, bluewater catamaran liveaboard life, cruising catamaran ocean crossing tips 00:00 - Running Out of Fuel Offshore on Our Catamaran 02:15 - Engine Failure and Remote Ocean Navigation 05:30 - Sailing With Zero Engine Power in French Polynesia 08:45 - The Surprise Event That Saved Our Voyage 12:10 - Blue Water Fuel Management and Cruising Tips 15:20 - Portofino 52 Build Update With Raffa 18:40 - Aluminium Expedition Catamaran Transit and Engine Setup 21:15 - Next Voyage Plans and Community Reflections #CatamaranSailing #BarefootDoctorsSailing #Portofino52 #Nautitech40 #SailingFrenchPolynesia #BoatLife #SailingEmergency #ExpeditionCatamaran #BluewaterCruising #OffshoreSailing ❤️ COMMENT HEARTED POLICY: We personally read every single comment! Drop your thoughts on our fuel emergency or your questions about the Portofino 52 build, and look out for a heart from John and Eli! 🎬 CREDITS: • Creators and Hosts: Dr. John and Dr. Elizabeth (Eli) • Primary Vessel: Nautitech 40 Open ("Loulou") • Future Expedition Yacht: Portofino 52 (Portofino Shipyard) • Music licensed via Epidemic Sound and Artlist • Filmed on location across French Polynesia and Dubai ⚠️ DISCLAIMER: The content in this video documents personal cruising experiences and opinions. Boating and offshore sailing carry inherent risks. Always consult qualified marine professionals, follow local maritime laws, and inspect your vessel systems before heading to sea. Medical discussions on our channel reflect general wellness philosophy and do not replace personalized professional medical advice.

Two catamarans. Two completely different designs. One race across the beautiful waters of French Polynesia. We’re sailing our Nautitech 40 with fixed keels against a much larger Catana 50 with daggerboards — and the difference between these two boats couldn’t be more interesting. The Catana 50 is bigger, longer and designed with performance in mind. With daggerboards, she can reduce leeway and point higher into the wind. Our smaller Nautitech 40, Lulu, has fixed keels and a very different philosophy of sailing. So what happens when you put them head-to-head in a real-life sailing race? Which catamaran is faster? Does size really matter? How much difference do daggerboards make compared with fixed keels? And can a smaller, cheaper cruising catamaran actually keep up with a much more expensive performance catamaran? We decided to find out. But somewhere along the way, the race became about something much bigger. Because whether you arrive an hour earlier, a few hours later — or even a day later on an ocean passage — the destination is still the destination. The turquoise water is the same. The islands are the same. The sunset is the same. The adventure is still waiting. And perhaps the real question isn’t “Who wins?” Maybe it’s “Does winning really matter?” 🌴 Welcome to French Polynesia and another adventure with the Barefoot Doctors. We’re John and Eli — sailors, adventurers and believers that you don’t need the biggest boat, the fastest boat or perfect circumstances to get out there and experience life. In this video: ⛵ Catana 50 vs Nautitech 40 ⚓ Fixed keels vs daggerboards 🏁 Real-life catamaran sailing comparison 🌊 Catamaran speed and performance 💨 Sailing upwind and pointing ability 🏝️ Cruising French Polynesia 🌴 Tahiti and the Pacific ❤️ Why the destination matters more than the boat 🌎 Living the adventure with what you have If you’re interested in catamarans, sailing, cruising, liveaboard life, multihulls, performance sailing, French Polynesia or simply getting out there and making the most of life, subscribe and come barefoot with us. Because sometimes the real luxury isn’t arriving first… it’s having the courage to go. #Catamaran #Sailing #Catana50 #Nautitech40 #FrenchPolynesia #SailingLife #CatamaranSailing #Liveaboard #Daggerboards #FixedKeels

What if you had to cross an ocean with NO instruments? No GPS. No compass. No chartplotter. No electronics. Just the stars, waves, birds, floating debris, the sun, the wind — and your knowledge of the ocean. In this episode of Barefoot Doctors Sailing, we dive into the extraordinary traditional navigation skills of the Polynesian voyagers who crossed enormous stretches of the Pacific Ocean long before modern navigation instruments existed. From Tahiti to Moorea, we set out to reconnect with some of the traditional skills, knowledge and culture that allowed Polynesian sailors to navigate thousands of miles of open ocean. 🌴 How did Polynesian navigators find their way across the Pacific?⭐ How the stars were used for navigation🌊 Reading ocean swells and wave patterns🐦 Using seabirds to locate land🥥 Understanding floating debris and other signs of nearby islands☀️ Reading the sun, wind and weather🧭 Navigating without GPS, compass or modern instruments. But this journey wasn’t just about navigation. We also crossed from Tahiti to Moorea to take part in the Tahiti–Moorea Rendezvous, an incredible gathering where traditional Polynesian skills and knowledge are shared with visiting sailors from around the world. There were outrigger canoe races, traditional games, enormous stone-lifting challenges, banana competitions, tug-of-war, coconut shredding and plenty of laughter. And, of course, this is French Polynesia… so there was plenty of rain! ☔😂 But something happened that made the whole experience even more memorable. Despite the weather and less-than-perfect conditions, everyone turned up, joined in and had an enormous amount of fun. And perhaps that’s the real lesson of the day: The best days of your life are often not the days when everything goes perfectly. They’re the days when the weather turns bad, the plans change, things get uncomfortable — and you decide to turn up anyway and participate. Because if you wait for perfect conditions, you might miss some of the greatest experiences of your life. So kick off your shoes and come barefoot with us as we explore Polynesian navigation, Pacific sailing, traditional island culture and the incredible knowledge of the people who mastered the world’s largest ocean. 🌴 Subscribe to Barefoot Doctors Sailing for more adventures through French Polynesia and our continuing journey across the Pacific. Tahiti–Moorea Rendezvous• Traditional Polynesian games• Outrigger canoe racing• Stone lifting• Coconut shredding• Traditional Pacific culture• Life sailing in French Polynesia• Sailing the South Pacific• Cruising French Polynesia #PolynesianNavigation #FrenchPolynesia #Tahiti #Moorea #Sailing #PacificOcean #Wayfinding #TraditionalNavigation #BarefootDoctorsSailing #OceanSailing #SailingAdventure #PolynesianCulture

🌴 PANIC - Is our boat still THERE? Sailing French Polynesia 2026 ⛵️ There’s something slightly ridiculous about sailing… You can travel thousands of miles to French Polynesia, drop your anchor in some of the most beautiful water on earth — and then spend the afternoon wondering whether the bloody thing is still holding! In this episode of Barefoot Doctors Sailing, our good friends Scott and Vanessa join us from Australia for a couple of weeks of sailing through paradise. But when the wind picks up and we leave our Nautitech 40 catamaran at anchor while exploring ashore, that familiar sailor’s question starts playing in the back of our minds: Is the boat still there? ⚓ ANCHOR WATCH & BOAT SAFETY We take a closer look at how modern GPS anchor alarm systems work — creating a safe zone around your anchored boat and alerting you if the boat moves outside that zone. Even more importantly, we show how technology can allow you to monitor your boat from shore on your mobile phone, using onboard connectivity such as Starlink. For cruisers, this can be a huge reassurance — especially when you’re anchored in an unfamiliar location and have gone ashore. And then there’s the ultimate test… We retrieve the anchor. Let’s just say it came up looking very ugly — but very firmly attached to the bottom! 😂 🫶 ANCHORS ARE LIKE FRIENDS There’s another theme running through this episode. We started thinking about how anchors are a little bit like friends. You don’t really know how good an anchor is until the conditions get rough. And perhaps friendships are the same. The best friends are the ones who hold when things get difficult — the people who support you when the wind gets stronger and the seas get rougher. Scott and Vanessa are those kinds of friends. And sharing French Polynesia with people you love makes the experience even more special. 🌊 SAILING FRENCH POLYNESIA There’s plenty of sailing adventure too — including our first ever attempt at flying the spinnaker. It was glorious… right up until the wind decided we’d had enough fun! We also explore the incredible beaches, food, music, Tahitian dancing and culture that make French Polynesia one of the world’s great cruising destinations. Because ultimately, this trip wasn’t really about the sailing. It was about sharing it. The crystal-clear water. The beaches. The food. The laughter. The music. The adventure. And those moments when you look around and think: “How lucky are we to be here?” Because when you travel alone, you collect experiences. But when you travel with people you love… you collect memories. And perhaps that’s the strange thing about sailing. You spend so much time learning how to leave. Leave the harbour. Leave the familiar. Leave the safe anchorage. But the best part… is who you get to come back to. Paradise isn’t really a place. It’s a place with the right people. ❤️ ⸻ ⛵️ ABOUT BAREFOOT DOCTORS SAILING We’re John and Eli — the Barefoot Doctors — sailing the world, exploring remote places, testing boats, learning from the ocean and sharing the adventures, challenges and unexpected lessons that come with life afloat. With decades of sailing experience and thousands of nautical miles behind us, we’re interested in much more than simply getting from A to B. Adventure. Safety. Resilience. Friendship. Life. So kick off your shoes… and come barefoot with us. 👉 Subscribe and join us for the next adventure in French Polynesia and beyond.

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! 👇