Somewhere in the middle of Biscay?.? A day into our trip back across Biscay we were treated to the most incredible sight?. ?.from our latest episode on YouTube ? #followintrepidbear #liveaboardsailboat #boatlife #sailing #sailinglife #ouradventures #atsea #thebigblue #whales #biscay #sail #oceansailing #ocean

As we are leaving on a jet plane bound for Thailand to start 2025's adventures it seems a good time to look back at all that we did in 2024. Sometimes it's only when you look back that you truly see all that you've done. 2024 for us has been another year of incredible adventures; from sailing ??our home from Gibraltar back to the U.K. against the prevailing trade winds, to buying a barge and navigating miles of the inland waterways to move our new home to the Midlands, and all that came between. 2025 has so much in store for us already. New adventures, by land, by water and air await! Today we're off for our first ever trip to Thailand for three weeks of amazing experiences! #followintrepidbear #boatlife #adventurebeforedementia #canalboatdiaries #sailing #liveaboardsailboat #liveaboardlife #sailinglife #widebeam #retiredbutnotexpired #retiredyoung #travelcouplelife #myboatandi2024 #ouradventures #lookback

We're back! Season 4 "The Battle for Home" starts this Friday?.!! Join us as we set off and ride the rollercoaster?ahead of us lie the tidal streams of the Gibraltar Straits, the ever present threat of orcas and trying to stay within the 20m contour, fog and bad weather, the incessant Atlantic swell and prevailing northerlies and the infamous Bay of Biscay. It's a far cry from the sailing we've experienced over the past two years and a journey where we have to fight our individual battles with our fears, anxiety, tiredness, and deal with sea sickness to boot. There are highs too that keep us moving forward as we return to some of our favourite spots in Portugal as well as find some new places to explore. #followintrepidbear #sailing #sail #sailingstories #saillife #liveaboardsailboat #saltlife #sailor #sailinglife #sailingcouple #sailingadventure #sailingtrip #sailingvlog #boatlife

After 5 years, 10,000nm and 8 countries it's time to say goodbye?looking back we've had some incredible adventures, us three together, thank you Intrepid Bear! ?? This is not a goodbye post btw?we'll be back on a new boat soon ??? #followintrepidbear #sailingadventure #liveaboard #liveaboardlife #liveaboardsailboat #thissailinglife #sailing #sailor #saillife #najad #ouradventures #adventurebeforedementia #travellingcouple #travellife #medsailors #sailboatlife #sailingblog #newadventures #movingon

Here's a snippet of what we got up to over second half of winter 2023/24?head over to YouTube to watch the full episode and the literal highs and lows of our winter as we sail to Gibraltar in the middle of winter, go deep inside the Rock of Gibraltar and up high in Andalusia ? #followintrepidbear #wintersailinginthemed #medsailing #liveaboard #liveaboardlife #sailinglife #floatinghome #gibraltar?? #andalusia #caminitodelrey #rondaspain #lovewhereyouare #exploremore #adventurebeforedementia #travelcouple #travelthroughtheworld #travelbyboat #retirednotexpired

uiser's Fatigue? Living on a sailboat is a dream lifestyle but a hard one too?there are three of you in the relationship?the two of you and the boat, and you're always together. Sometimes, at the end of a long season, with many nautical miles under the keel, you just need to stop, to get off the boat, to recharge and take stock. It's called Cruiser's Fatigue. If you didn't catch it last week then please join us on YouTube for a trip to Cartagena and some good old fashioned whinging as the end of the 2023 season approaches. #followintrepidbearorollowintrepidbear #cruisingcouple #continuouscruiser #liveaboard #liveaboardsailboat #liveaboards #lifeafloat #travellingbyboat #boatlife #sailtheworld #medsailors #sailinglife #thissailinglife #sailingstories #adventurebeforedementia

Would you change seacock valve 65cm below the water line whilst afloat?! It might not be as scary as you think. This valve body seized up (despite only being 3-4 years old) so I unscrewed it, popped in a wooden bung, bought a new one and screwed it on. The trick is to be prepared. I had all my wooden bungs on hand, covered any electrical equipment and was ready for the worst case scenario. Fortunately, because it was a fairly new fitting, it came undone relatively easily and the job was pretty straight forward ?? And what's the worst case scenario I was prepared for? The worst case scenario is the thru hull fitting itself breaking off when I attempt to unscrew the valve. What would I do about it? Just tap in one of my many wooden bungs and then arrange to get the boat lifted out! That scenario was quite unlikely but it helps to think through what could happen. What also helped me is that, from previous experimentation on another boat, we have pumps that I know could easily outrun the water coming in through that hole. An uncontrolled inflow through that fitting wouldn't be good as it would spray seawater everywhere but it's good to know that the pumps could cope. It's always counter intuitive and panic inducing to see water flooding in to the boat and I know many people don't like to pull out their paddle wheel log transducers for that very reason however staying calm and knowing that it would actually take quite a long time to sink through a 3/4" hole means it may not be as bad as you think. Always worth thinking what else could help. Whilst away, shopping for parts, I left Kate armed with cushions as well as wooden bungs as a cushion pushed hard over a hole will slow the flow enough that most bilge pumps would cope. Despite my previous experiments I was even surprised how little water we took on but the point is that, with a little thought and prep, changing a valve or pulling that paddle wheel so it doesn't foul up needn't be that stressful or require an expensive lift out. Luckily for me everything went super smoothly this time so no need for backup plans! It does get the heart pumping a bit when you haven't done it for a while though! ?? #followintrepidbear #sailinglife #sailing #sailor #liveaboard #sailboat #boatlife

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After our fantastic two day sail to get to the Balearics we set off to explore Menorca. We were looking forward to relaxing, snorkelling, swimming - so had we found paradise, the island life we were seeking? #sailing #sailinglife #medsailing #medsailors #followintrepidbear #sailingvlog #sailor #raymarineuk #lifeatsea #onthewater #onboard #balearicislands

A huge whale and going where the wind takes us for a fantastic two day sail! With the forecast winds we were going to be close hauled and knew we might be pushed off course and end up sailing straight on past to Majorca or even end up in Barcelona - but we didn't mind. We had nowhere or when we had to be and so we just set out to see where the wind would take us? Come along and join us for a whale of a two day sail and find out what made Kate cry?. ?? #sailing?? #lifeatsea #sailingboat #sailingvideo #liveaboard #sailboat #sailingcouple #mediterranean #sailingvlog #sailinglife #liveaboardsailboat #liveaboardlife #medsailing #summersailing #livingonaboat

Monaco dahling? I'd rather be sailing! In our latest episode, having sailed further east from Antibes, we waited for a weather window to cross back to Corsica and found ourselves in Monaco - known the world over as the playground of the rich and famous. We dipped our toes into this tiny but exclusive and expensive country and watched the weather. Instead of the hoped for northerlies to blow us across to Corsica, the forecast grew into a far reaching mistral and the marina had no space for us to stay! After finding what we hoped would be a protected anchorage we crossed our fingers?. Once the mistral passed we regrouped back in Monaco before deciding to abandon our Corsican plans and start heading west and as a result we enjoyed some fantastic sailing en route to Toulon?. #followintrepidbear #sailingvlog #youtubesailingchannel #sailinglife #medsailing #sailorgirl #monacolife #cotedazurfrance #sailthemed #anchorages #summersailing #thehighlife #idratherbesailing #sailingstories #sailingadventure

Anchor watch, boat rage and a beautiful day sail along the Cote D'Azure? With a strong mistral forecast to blow out of the Gulf of Lyon we spent a night on anchor watch outside of St Tropez before hoisting the sails and heading east to the largest marina in the Mediterranean, by tonnage; Antibes. Whilst we enjoyed a beautiful day of sailing along the Côte d'Azure some other boaters got a little, erm, shall we say, testy with each other. ??? Please do come aboard, relax, and enjoy a day of summer sailing with us?all you have to do is click here ?? https://youtu.be/nZBLcjelmQw #followintrepidbear #sailing #sailinglife?? #sailor #sailboat #najad #anchorwatch #sailingthemed #medsailors #boatlife #superyachts #

Saint Tropez?the chic playground of the rich, choc full of super yachts - is it somewhere worth visiting as liveaboard sailors cruising the Mediterranean? Check out our latest episode on YouTube to find out?.. https://youtu.be/9RG4-tRYe3Q Whilst it's a place synonymous with money, and one of most chic resorts in the world, underneath it's still a charming old town steeped in history and culture and, surprisingly, we found that there are anchorages and marinas within a reasonable distance and budget. Come with us and check out this gem of the French Riviera as well as the Little Venice of Provence - Port Grimaud. #followintrepidbear #sailing #sailinglife?? #liveaboardsailboat #liveaboardsailors #sailingaddicts #sailor #mediterraneanlife #cotedazur #sttropezsummer #portgrimaud #mediterraneansailing #sailingthemed #ouradventures #myboatandi2023

Sometimes there's just no drama??sometimes there's just plain old good sailing! ??? Join us for the next leg of our summer sailing along the beautiful Cote d'Azure as we head east from the Calanques to anchor in a huge bay south of Hyres. #followintrepidbear #sailinglife?? #sailingdreams #sailingthemed #medsailors #sailing #sailingvlog #myboatandi2023 #sailinglovers #simplysailing #ouradventures #emptynesterlife #sailingcouple #liveaboardsailboat #liveaboardsailboat

Is it worth it to live full time on a sailboat? If you've not yet then join us over on YouTube for cruising life's dirty, hot and dusty realities! Returning after a month away to visit family in the U.K. it's time to re launch our sailboat, and home, Intrepid Bear. We've got some dirty and hot jobs to do before she goes back in the water followed by a provisioning run to stock up?..only then we can finally head out to anchor and explore the beautiful Cote D'Azure. This life can be challenging and sometimes it's easy to ask yourself if it's worth it but then comes the reward! #followintrepidbear #thiscruisinglife #cruisingsailors #liveaboard #liveaboardlife #liveaboardsailboat #sailboatlife #sailboatliving #lifeafloat #boatlife #sailingvlog #sailingstories #sailinglife?? #saltnomads

That's 2023 done and what a year! It's always great to look back and remind ourselves what an amazing life we have?.bring on 2024 as we head north to the U.K. @FollowIntrepidBear

Here's a quick sneak at last week's episode?.have you seen it yet? @FollowIntrepidBear

Are we actually experiencing a Mediterranean weather forecast coming true? If you've not seen our latest episode please come aboard as we complete our passage from Corsica to the Île de Frioul, a stunning archipelago of islands just outside Marseille?. Having set off from Montenegro at the end of April we thought we would have plenty of time to make it to the South of France for a planned lift out in early July but the weather had been challenging so far, with too much wind at the beginning of the season and now, too little. Finally reaching these islands with some time in hand was a relief and a cause for celebration ? #followintrepidbear #sailing #sailinglife?? #sailboat #sailinginspiration #sailinginstagram #sailor #sailingvlog #mediterraneanlife #medsailors #sailingthemed

Screwhead teak plugs in 23 seconds!! Having just replaced around 1000 teak screw head plugs?this was the process.. Unscrew every exposed screw: I used a battery drill driver. Drill the hole deeper: I used a 10mm forstner bit as it fitted the existing holes perfectly and did a tidy job. This is subject to having enough teak left to drill deeper. Fortunately Najad were generous with their teak! Try not to drill as far as the fibreglass. Add sealant and replace the screws: I've seen videos where they say the screws were just for construction and you can leave them out. That is probably correct but I'm going for better safe than sorry. If the teak was thinner with no room to drill deeper and replace the screws I'd leave them out as a last chance of getting a few more years out of a worn deck. Sealant to stop any water getting into the deck core. I used a hand screwdriver rather than power to replace them as power was tending to rip out the self tapping screws from the fibreglass. Put glue on the plug: I used a polyurethane foaming wood glue. Epoxy would be very strong but mixing all the batches a big pain if you have lots to do. Try to get more glue on the edges than the base of the plug as I had a couple of plugs pushed out as the glue foamed up. Tap in the plug: I used a standard claw hammer as it's all I had but I daresay a wooden mallet is recommended but the top of the plug is waste material anyway so it matters not. Cut off the excess: I used a Fein multi tool oscillating saw. Be careful with your angle as you don't want to gouge the surrounding deck. It took me a few goes to master the technique but was pretty quick when I did. I said the top of the plugs were waste but if you found yourself short a lot of them had enough material left to do more holes. Sand flat: I used a random orbit sander with a worn 80 grit pad. I now have fresh patches all over the deck so, once I've completed a couple of caulking touch ups, I'll give the whole deck a very light sanding. You could just leave the newly sanded plug patches to grey down to match the deck if you preferred. And that's it?repeat many times! Feel free to ask any questions ??? #boatlife #liveaboardsailboat #boatmaintenance #najad #boatrepairs

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