If you’ve ever wondered what boat life is really like, this one’s for you. After completing a major refit, we finally set sail again for the first time to test our new rig and mainsail. We cruised along the stunning rocky coastline of New Zealand, with light winds, perfect conditions, and incredible scenery. Once we arrive in the Bay of Islands Marina, we decide to switch things up. Instead of taking you through another passage prep and marina routine, we head down the docks to meet fellow cruisers and hear their stories. We interviewed three cruising couples who live aboard full-time, asking them about their backgrounds, biggest challenges, scariest moments at sea, best memories, and the advice they’d give to anyone dreaming of living on a sailboat. From grounding incidents and offshore storms to moments of awesome beauty and human connection, each couple shares honest insights into what life at sea is really like. Watch our previous cruiser Q&A video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5XkGbQkqlw ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://svsabado.com ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We are thrilled to be back on the water after completing our major catamaran refit! As we settle back into life aboard, we're busy fine-tuning our new systems, testing upgrades, and getting everything dialed in for the adventures ahead. In this video, we reveal what might be the best upgrade of the entire refit: our onboard workshop. We transformed our port forward cabin into the workshop we've always dreamed of, creating a dedicated space for tools, spare parts, and future projects. Ray is already putting it to use & experimenting with the best ways to organize everything for life at sea. We also take you along for his latest project as he integrates the generator's oil pressure and exhaust temperature sensors into our monitoring system. Once complete, the system will automatically alert us to any issues, giving us greater confidence and peace of mind while cruising. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

After completing our extensive catamaran refit, we spent some time tied up at a nearby dock fine-tuning our setup before finally heading out to put our new systems to the test at anchor. In this episode, we troubleshoot a transducer issue, recommission our watermakers, put the dinghy through its paces, and test our new ground tackle and anchor alarm system. With a major storm approaching, we seek refuge in a more protected harbor, where we'll continue pushing our systems and building trust in the boat we've worked so hard to transform.——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray *As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases* Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the South Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra...

Join us for the final stage of our MASSIVE catamaran refit! In this episode, we tackle hatch issues, install a brand-new Northern Lights generator, carry out a minor fiberglass repair, and re-step the mast before finally launching the boat back into the water. After months of hard work, we’re back afloat and ready to put our new systems to the test, fine-tune the setup, and settle back into life aboard. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the South Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Now that we’re back in the water, we’re starting up our new Northern Lights generator for the first time on our Lagoon 42 sailing catamaran.

We’ve been hauled out in New Zealand for a while now, working hard on upgrades that will give us more freedom, comfort, and confidence once we’re back out cruising. In this video, we share the latest progress on several major refit projects: ⚓️ Rigging Issue & Fix: What we discovered and how we’re planning to address it before heading offshore again. ⛵ Power System Upgrade: A complete overhaul of our electrical setup to help us live off-grid more comfortably and reliably. 🔧 Cabin-to-Workshop Conversion: We’re transforming our port-forward cabin into a full-time workshop so we can handle repairs and projects anywhere in the world. Each one of these refit projects brings us closer to our goal: turning a standard production catamaran into our fully customized liveaboard dream boat. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/e

We’re FINALLY doing it! After years of dreaming and months of planning, we’re starting the process of converting our port forward cabin into a functional onboard workshop so we can tackle all the future projects boat life will throw at us. In this episode, we start the demolition and rebuild process, removing the built-in furniture, clearing out the old cabin, and even taking down the mast as part of our major refit in New Zealand. It’s a massive job, but we’re keeping our eyes on the prize. When we’re back on the water, Sabado will be better than ever! ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We’re back on the hard this week, making major progress on our refit and addressing one of the biggest safety concerns for catamarans: escape hatches. In this video, we dive into what makes them so risky, vent a little (okay, a lot 😅), and show the changes we’re making to keep our boat safe. While we’re at it, we also start rebuilding our bed base, where our new electrical system will soon live, fix a critical handhold near the helm steps that was barely hanging on, and remove the sails to prep for pulling the mast next week. Join us for another busy week on the hard: a mix of problem-solving, planning, and a few choice words for boat builders everywhere. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Join us as we continue making progress toward our dream electrical system! 🔋 In this week’s catamaran refit update from New Zealand, we finish the demolition of the starboard aft cabin— the future home of our new lithium battery bank, air conditioner, and other critical electrical components. We’ve been designing this system for a while, and now it's finally starting to take shape. There’s still a lot of planning, wiring, and installation ahead, but we’re excited to bring you along for every step of the journey! ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We’ve officially hauled Sabado out of the water at Port Whangarei Marine Center in New Zealand, and the refit has begun! In this video, we take you through a day in our new routine: starting the morning at our rental house, commuting to the boatyard, and diving into our first big boat projects. We kick things off by tearing apart our bed to prep for a major power system upgrade. We also give you a tour of the yard facilities, and remove our cockpit fridge to make way for a new one. It’s a strange feeling seeing the boat on land with empty cabinets, but we’re excited (and a little nervous) about what’s ahead. Big changes are coming — and this is just the beginning. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

After waiting out a storm on anchor in Minerva Reef, we set off toward New Zealand — but a drastic shift in the forecast, rough seas, and a vicious counter-current quickly turned this into one of our most challenging passages yet. With another storm closing in, we were pushed to make tough calls under pressure. In this video, we share our mindset, the decisions we made underway, and what the conditions were really like during our six-day passage. If you're preparing for an offshore sail or just want an honest look at life at sea when things don’t go as planned — this one’s for you. Mentioned in this video: Our blog: https://www.svsabado.com Passage Guardian: https://passageguardian.nz/ ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🛒Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Join us on our journey South to New Zealand! In this video we prepare to leave Tonga: stocking up on provisions, triple checking the weather and saying farewell to the local wildlife…🐋🪼🦑 From there, we set off on a 3-day passage to Minerva Reef, facing rough seas along the way and adding a few new items to the ever-growing repair list. Once safely anchored in the remote atoll, we shift focus to brace for an incoming storm. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🛒Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Join us as we complete a 10-day, 1,300 nautical mile voyage from French Polynesia to Tonga! We carefully navigate a reef pass into a peaceful anchorage, where we check into the country with ease—no dodgy docks, just smiles. After a brief rest, we lift anchor for a bumpy overnight sail to Vava’u, eager to restock our boat and begin exploring. Along the way, we’re treated to a magical dolphin escort and a jellyfish bloom in the mooring field! ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Let’s get the heck out of here‼️ Join us for a 10 day sail from French Polynesia to Tonga— a passage we’ve been looking forward to for quite some time… 😍 The journey begins with a beautiful overnight trip from Tahiti to Bora Bora, where we tackle some chores in preparation for our departure and soak up the beauty of the island one last time. Then, we set sail in search of something new⛵️. In this video, we share our honest thoughts on our time in French Polynesia, reflect on our favorite anchorages, and take you along for a glorious downwind ride. Join us next week for the final days of this trip + landfall at a remote island off the beaten path! ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Article mentioned in video: https://www.radio1.pf/le-pays-veut-des-amendes-forfaitaires-pour-les-voiliers-en-mouillage-illegal/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK581lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETBLb3RHamQ2elROeGlHeEFrAR4-yWmHuP95Pz5WKf__GIYeluVr6S5GA05HdgKWLeLkGYe0CsBBmIpOam11bg_aem_zaa98HgPSBowBrJ8K3JB9A# Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

We’re on the move! ⛵️ After an overnight sail from Tahuata to Nuku Hiva, we said goodbye to our family and restocked the boat with food and fuel before the World ARC arrived. Then, it was off on a six-day offshore passage back to Tahiti, the first leg of our journey toward New Zealand. Along the way, we dealt with booby invasions, frustratingly light winds, and a broken mainsail leech line—but we made it to our anchorage, where we’ll stage for our departure from French Polynesia. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

In this video, we review the Orca Core and Display navigation system—a modern take on the classic chartplotter. We highlight its key features, such as exceptional screen readability, radar capabilities, and remote autopilot control. We also share our honest assessment of whether it’s a valuable addition to your sailing toolkit. We hope you find this information useful! As a special bonus, an exclusive discount will be made available to our Crew & VIP members. ⛵️Join here: https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ Mentioned in this video: Orca website: https://getorca.com/?via=holly Sail drive repair in Tahiti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-mwBCxT6J4&t=17s Replacing our B&G chartplotter: https://www.svsabado.com/2024/09/01/august-2024-behind-the-scenes/ Our OpenCPN and SignalK setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9hHBXGgp7Q&list=PLulZzWW05bHcC3eemh-hNtzIFRtfZtH96&index=9 ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

All aboard! ⛵️ Join us for an overnight sail from Nuku Hiva to Hiva Oa, where we welcome family aboard for a memorable visit. We put our new Orca system to the test, cruise alongside a pod of dolphins, and take our guests to Tahuata to enjoy its crystal-clear waters and sandy beaches. Ray tackles a battery charger install for the generator, while Holly attempts (and hilariously fails) at making Jell-O shots with a locally grown pamplemousse…😂 ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

After a challenging 7-day sail from Tahiti to the Marquesas, we’re finally settling back into the slow, peaceful island life. Nuku Hiva has been the perfect place to recharge and catch up on boat work. Join us this week as we explore this beautiful island while searching for the tools we need for our latest boat project. ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

After completing our haul-out and sail drive repair in Tahiti, we set off on an easy two-day passage to the Tuamotus, with calm seas and no wind. Partway, we received a weather update: a storm system with lightning and high winds was expected to hit the Tuamotus just as we arrived. So, we decided to push on towards the Marquesas in search of sunshine and calmer conditions, adding an extra five days to our passage. We knew it would be a tough upwind sail, but we weren’t expecting to get stuck in a vicious storm with 40kn winds and 10ft seas for days… ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/

Our adventure in French Polynesia takes an unexpected turn when we discover severe damage to our sail drive shaft during what we thought would be a quick and simple seal change. 😩 It took two trips to the USA and thousands of dollars to get the parts we needed and make the repair— a consequence of sailing the remote islands of the South Pacific. Just as we began to think we were back on track, 40-knot winds, and an uncomfortable anchorage made it clear that the challenges are far from over. 😅 ——————————————————————— ⛵️Join the Crew or become a VIP (our version of Patreon!): https://www.svsabado.com/subscribe/ ⚓️Check out our Blog: https://www.svsabado.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: @sv_sabado 🎁Our favorite products: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hollyandray **As Amazon associates, we earn commission from qualifying purchases** Holly and Ray have been #sailing together since 2020 on their #catamaran, Sabado. They have sailed the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and now the Pacific! They’re documenting #boatlife and their experiences as #liveaboard sailors. Subscribe to tag along on the adventure! Music provided by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/ov4tmg/