This week in the San Blas Islands, we experienced one of the most terrifying moments of our entire sailing journey. 💔 Our adventures continue through the beautiful San Blas Islands of Panama, but living in tropical paradise isn't always quite as idyllic as it looks! After riding out a powerful tropical squall, known locally as a Culo de Pollo, we make our way to the stunning Coco Bandero Islands, where we find ourselves anchored in one of the most beautiful spots we've ever visited. With our stern tied to a palm tree, nurse sharks swimming past the boat, incredible snorkelling, and a sunset BBQ watching fish and eagle rays glide beneath us, life couldn't have felt much better. But the following day, another violent storm rolls through our anchorage, and things take a terrifying turn when we suddenly realise we can't find one of our beloved cats, Nala. With the wind howling and rain pouring down, we search desperately, terrified that she may have been swept overboard. It's an incredibly emotional experience, and one that brings up a lot of feelings I've been carrying for quite some time. When we first started this journey almost five years ago, we were inexperienced, perhaps a little naive, and certainly didn't fully understand the power of Mother Nature. But after sailing thousands of nautical miles, crossing oceans and experiencing everything this lifestyle has thrown at us, my perspective on sailing has changed enormously. For quite a while now, I've found myself questioning whether this is the lifestyle I still want. As much as I love the incredible places we've explored and the experiences we've had, I'm finding myself craving the safety, comfort and stability of life on land more and more. It's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and in this episode, I open up a little more about how I'm feeling, how this journey has changed me, and what that might mean for our future. Thank you so much for following along on our adventures and being part of our journey. ❤️ Love, Janaye, Jason, Nala & Lulu 🐾 📍 Coco Bandero Islands, Guna Yala, Panama #Sailing #SanBlasIslands #SailingLife #BoatLife #panama ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

Thanks to ‪@UbigiOfficial‬ for making this video possible! Get a convenient eSIM here: https://rebrand.ly/UbigixLeadingTheEscapade and use promo code ESCAPADE. Check if your phone is eSIM compatible by dialing *#06# on your keypad—if an EID number is displayed, you're all set! Welcome back to the San Blas Islands, Panama! 🇵🇦⛵🌴 We're continuing our sailing adventure through one of the most beautiful island chains in the Caribbean, exploring the crystal-clear waters, remote tropical islands and incredible underwater world of Guna Yala! This week, we're island hopping through the San Blas Islands, exploring more of Chichimé before heading off to find our next anchorage beside a mangrove island, where we whip up some epic homemade pizzas aboard Escapade! 🍕 We dive a shipwreck dating back to the 1950s, explore the outer reef, swim in ridiculously clear water at a stunning sandbar and visit another little slice of paradise in the Lemon Cays. But there's more to these islands than white sand beaches and turquoise water. We also spend some time learning about the fascinating history, culture and traditions of the indigenous Guna people, who have called this region home for generations. And along the way, we discover that life in paradise isn't always quite as idyllic as it looks. Come along for another week of sailing, snorkelling, diving and exploring this incredible corner of the Caribbean! #SanBlasIslands #gunayala #sailingaroundtheworld ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

Discover Guna Yala, a stunning collection of 365 islands along Panama's coast. Home to the indigenous Guna people, this tropical paradise offers crystal clear waters and a deeply preserved cultural heritage. Join this sailing journey through one of the Caribbean's most unique destinations. 🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/l4JwUcQdBRU #SanBlasIslands #GunaYala #PanamaTravel #IslandHopping #SailingLife

We're back sailing the San Blas Islands in Panama, and what a way to spend our first day back in paradise! 🇵🇦 From incredible coral reefs and nurse sharks to catching our own seafood and relaxing beneath the coconut palms, this is Caribbean island life at its best. Anchored between two beautiful tropical islands at Chichime, we head out to explore the underwater world, enjoy some of the best diving we've had in ages, cook up a freshly caught Caribbean king crab and finish the day with spearfishing, a delicious fish dinner and a beach bonfire under the stars. 🤿 Our Favourite Snorkelling Gear! Here are the masks and snorkel we use, plus a similar alternative (Cressi) to the Beuchat mask that we also love! 🐠 Beuchat Small-Fit Mask: https://amzn.to/3MBCz0Z 🌊 Beuchat Snorkel: https://amzn.to/48TMczp 🐢 Cressi Mask (Beuchat Alternative): https://amzn.to/4hWMzh9 🍋 Fish Baked in Lemon Cream Sauce Recipe The delicious fish recipe we made in this episode! https://www.recipetineats.com/baked-fish-with-lemon-cream-sauce/ Some links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our adventures! ❤️ Thanks so much for watching and coming along on our adventures. If you're new here, we're two Aussies sailing around the world aboard our 40ft sailboat Escapade, with our two rescue cats, Nala and Lulu. Subscribe to join us as we explore the world by sea! #SanBlasIslands #SailingPanama #gunayala ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

🌸 Insta360’s Spring Sale is on now — Insta360 X5 – 20% OFF, save up to AUD $190, until October 14th! 🌸 https://store.insta360.com/campaign/2026-spring-sale?utm_term=INRAN10PY Sailing Panama from Bocas del Toro towards the San Blas Islands, our overnight passage quickly turns into a much bigger adventure than we expected… We leave Bocas and set sail overnight for Linton Bay, but in the middle of the night our engine suddenly dies. It turns out our fuel gauge has been lying to us and we’ve completely run out of diesel. With our plans out the window, we divert to Colón where a couple of nights in the marina actually gives us a much-needed reset before continuing east. But when we finally make it to Linton Bay to check out of Panama, we discover we can’t properly complete the process there — and apparently we should have done it while we were back in Colón. Now we’re left with a decision: sail all the way back, or continue towards Colombia and deal with our visa situation at the border. Then things get even more uncomfortable. While anchored in Linton Bay, we hear that another sailor was boarded the previous night and pushed around while thieves tried to steal from their boat. With nowhere else practical to go, we're left anchored on the outskirts of the bay feeling pretty exposed… and spend the night with a baseball bat beside the bed just in case! ☠️ Definitely not the relaxing start to our journey towards the San Blas Islands that we had planned. Thanks for watching guys! If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe and come along as we start exploring the incredible San Blas Islands. ⛵️ #SailingPanama #SailingLife #SanBlasIslands #BocasDelToro #sailingchannel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

Capture everything in 360 and choose your angle later! The X5 with its invisible selfie stick offers drone-like shots, gesture control, and 8K footage. Reframe for any format, get perfect audio, and even shoot normal flat video. Plus, replaceable lenses and a spring sale! 🌸 Insta360’s Spring Sale is on now — Insta360 X5 – 20% OFF, save up to AUD $190, until October 14th! 🌸 🔗 https://store.insta360.com/campaign/2026-spring-sale?utm_term=INRAN10PY #Insta360 #X5Camera #360Video #ActionCam #FilmmakingTips #Tech

A spontaneous beach party with traveling DJs added an unexpected twist to the afternoon. We soaked up the good vibes, and one guest even showed off some serious skills! 🔗 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/QiJud1E-BHs #BeachParty #TravelDJs #GoodVibes #SurpriseEvent

📍Bocas del Toro, Panama sailing adventure! Before setting off for San Blas, we head 7NM into Bocas Town for a civilisation fix and to pickup our replacement navigation gear destroyed by a lightning strike. From tropical Starfish Beach to boat jobs and mast climbs, beach party vibes, skurfing, and one last island adventure around Bastimentos Island, snorkelling and enjoying the beach, this episode has a bit of everything as we soak up our final days in Bocas before the next passage. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

Sailing in Bocas del Toro, Panama is starting to feel a little too comfortable… so naturally, we find ourselves leaving the boat to explore what’s hiding beyond the islands. 🌴⛵️ This week aboard Escapade takes us from Starfish Beach into the canals and jungle of Bocas del Toro, with light-wind sailing, a few long-overdue boat jobs, a hike through the jungle and an unexpected dinghy adventures We visit the Drunken Monkey, explore a mangrove tunnel, and keep our eyes peeled for some of the wildlife hiding along the way. Then we take the dinghy deep into the Snyder River — a waterway originally carved out more than a century ago to transport bananas — where the jungle starts to feel a whole lot wilder. And somewhere along the way, we spot something swinging through the trees… This is another week of life aboard Escapade — the beautiful, the ordinary, the jobs we keep putting off, and the adventures that seem to find us anyway. ⛵️ Sailing Vessel Escapade 📍 Bocas del Toro, Panama #Sailing #BocasDelToro #panama ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

After days of nonstop rain, we finally get some sunshine and make the most of it! 🌴☀️ In this episode, we start with a few cosmetic boat jobs we’ve been putting off while waiting for the weather to improve. Then we set sail through Bocas del Toro, Panama, heading to Dolphin Bay Yacht Club to check out one of the popular cruising spots on the islands and meet some of the people who call this beautiful part of Panama home. From there, we sail to Starfish Beach on Isla Colón, where the weather finally turns picture perfect. We spend a few days enjoying the tropical paradise — exploring Starfish Beach, paddle boarding through the crystal-clear water, walking the beach trails, eating some seriously good food, getting out for some skurfing, and even letting our cats have their own little beach adventure! 🐈🌴 This is exactly the kind of island life we dreamed about when we started sailing — warm water, beautiful beaches, good food and plenty of time to slow down and enjoy where we are. 📍 Bocas del Toro, Panama ⛵ Isla Colón | Dolphin Bay | Starfish Beach ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

Sailing the San Blas Islands, Panama after months of sailboat repairs, boatyard damage and an ongoing insurance claim! ⛵️🌴 After months stuck in the boatyard, Escapade is finally back on the water and we’re sailing again! In this episode, we take you along for our first week back aboard Escapade as we leave the boatyard behind and begin sailing through Panama once again. We explore the incredible San Blas Islands, spend some much-needed time back at anchor, and start making our way towards Bocas del Toro. 🌊 But we also know many of you still have questions about what happened to Escapade, so we sit down to give you a more detailed update on the boat repairs, the damage caused at the boatyard, our insurance claim, and where everything currently stands. After such a long and frustrating few months, it feels amazing to finally be moving again. There’s still a lot to sort out, but getting Escapade back in the water and sailing through the beautiful islands of Panama feels like a huge step forward. ❤️ 📍 San Blas Islands, Panama → Bocas del Toro ⛵️ Follow our journey aboard Escapade as we continue sailing through Panama and beyond! Thank you so much for all the incredible messages, encouragement and support you’ve sent us throughout this whole experience. It genuinely means so much to us. If you'd like to support us while we work through the costs of getting Escapade repaired and back to where she needs to be, you can find our GoFundMe here: https://gofund.me/bafa058ff Thanks for watching and coming along for the journey! Janaye & Jason Leading the Escapade ⛵️ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

We’ve been itching to get back out exploring, and this time we’ve got a new toy to see the adventure from a whole different perspective! 🚁 In this episode, we take the Antigravity A1 out for its first real adventure. After learning the basics back in the boatyard, we head to Bocas del Toro, Panama, for a full day of exploring. Janaye rides a motorbike for the first time, we hit dirt tracks and island trails, chase some epic tracking shots, and take the A1 over the surf for a seriously immersive perspective. And after a full day of building confidence, we attempt something we definitely weren’t ready for at the start… launching and landing the drone on the boat! 😳 Another day of exploring, experimenting and figuring it out as we go. 🌴⛵️ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🚨 Antigravity Labor Day Sale! 🚨 The Antigravity A1 is now up to 25% OFF for a limited time! 🚁 🎁 First 10 orders using code AGRA0R9 or this link get: FREE flight battery ($99.99 value) 20% OFF Care Plan 🛒 Amazon: https://bit.ly/amz_A1_LeadingtheEscapade Extra bundle deals: 🔋 Infinity Bundle → FREE High-Capacity Battery Code: HCB100DS 🔋 Explorer or Standard Bundle → FREE Standard Battery Code: STB100DS 🛡️ Any drone bundle → 20% OFF 1- or 2-Year Care Plan Code: 20CAREDS #360Drone #Antigravity #DroneCamera ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

After our boat was badly damaged by the boatyard, we now have to trust them to lift Escapade again — and this time, everything has to go right. After everything that happened to Escapade, the time finally comes to start putting her back together. But before we can get anywhere near putting this nightmare behind us, there is one thing we have been absolutely dreading… we have to trust the boatyard to lift our boat again. After watching our boat sustain serious damage during the previous lift, seeing her go back onto the same equipment was nerve-wracking to say the least. This time, every lifting point, every support and every movement matters. In this episode, we begin the repairs and start dismantling parts of the cabin to access the areas that need to be rebuilt. We show you exactly what is involved in repairing the structural damage, what we discover along the way, and how the repair process comes together. At the same time, things with the boatyard continue to be difficult, with more challenges and frustrations appearing as we try to get Escapade repaired and ready for the next stage. After months of being stuck, dealing with the damage, insurance battles, unexpected costs and one setback after another, we're desperate to finally get our home back to where she needs to be. But we're not counting our chickens just yet… Thank you so much for all the incredible support and messages you've sent us throughout this whole experience. ❤️ If you'd like to support us while we work through the costs of getting Escapade back to where she needs to be, you can find our GoFundMe here: https://gofund.me/bafa058ff Thanks for watching and coming along for the journey. Janaye & Jason Leading the Escapade ⛵️ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

Our sailboat haul-out turned into the biggest nightmare we've ever faced after unexpected damage, an insurance dispute, and a lightning strike. What should have been a routine haul-out quickly turned into the biggest ordeal we've ever faced with our boat. What followed was months of uncertainty, unexpected damage, insurance disputes, and one setback after another. Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse… lightning struck ⚡️ In this episode, we're sharing everything that happened, the challenges of getting our boat repaired, the financial and emotional toll it took, and where things stand now. If you've been following our journey, thank you for sticking with us through one of the toughest chapters yet. We hope sharing our experience helps other sailors know what to watch out for and reminds you that even when everything seems to be going wrong, you just have to keep moving forward. If you'd like to support our journey, watching our videos, subscribing, liking, commenting, and sharing them with others all make a huge difference and help us continue creating these adventures. ❤️ Many of you have also asked if there's a way to help with the unexpected repair costs after everything that's happened. If you'd like to contribute, we've created a GoFundMe. There's absolutely no pressure or expectation—we're incredibly grateful for your support in any form. 👉 GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/bafa058ff ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we navigate the highs and lows of full-time sailing, boat life, and the adventures that come with exploring the world by sea. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

After two weeks on the hard stand smashing through boat jobs, we're getting closer than ever to putting Escapade back in the water! This week we freshen up the bottom with a new coat of antifoul, install our brand new headsail, varnish the cockpit table, oil the shower grate, fit a new Rocna stainless steel swivel, and tackle a long list of those last-minute maintenance jobs that always seem to pop up before splash day. It's amazing how quickly the to-do list grows, but seeing everything come together has us even more excited to get back out sailing. Next stop... launch day! ⛵ ⛵ South East Asia Sails One of the biggest upgrades we're making is our brand new headsail, custom-built by South East Asia Sails. We couldn't be happier with the quality and craftsmanship. 👉 Learn more here: https://southeastasiasails.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopfQL9qV_GJt2PBLp24ylbY3D0Au7Fuzy6v8xKDA2-RkNJGeOMg ⚓ Rocna Stainless Steel Swivel We also upgraded our anchor setup with the Rocna Stainless Steel Swivel, designed to help keep the anchor and chain aligned while reducing twist. 👉 Check it out here: https://rocna.com/products/rocna-swivel/ 🛠️ TotalBoat Products Used in This Episode A huge thanks to TotalBoat for supporting this project. Here are the products we used in this episode: • Dewaxer & Surface Prep https://www.totalboat.com/products/dewaxer-surface-prep-solvent • Spartan Black Antifouling Paint https://www.totalboat.com/products/spartan-multi-season-antifouling-paint • TotalProtect Epoxy Barrier Coat Primer https://www.totalboat.com/products/totalprotect-epoxy-barrier-coat-primer • Gleam Marine Spar Varnish https://www.totalboat.com/products/gleam-marine-spar-varnish • Prop Coat Barnacle Barrier (Prop Shaft Antifouling Spray) https://www.totalboat.com/products/outdrive-af-antifouling-prop-outdrive-spray-paint

Check out the Fitnexa SomniPods 3 here to apply $10 off: https://go.fitnexa.com/wyIdKP #Fitnexa #SomniPods3 #travelsleep What started as a few small cracks quickly turned into a more involved repair than we expected… While inspecting our sailboat’s rudder, Jase noticed cracking around the rudder stock. What seemed like a minor cosmetic issue led us to grind back a small area of fiberglass to see how far the cracks went. By the time we reached solid material, we had uncovered a section that needed proper attention. With the damaged area exposed, it was time to learn a completely new skill. Using epoxy, fiberglass, and fairing techniques, we carefully rebuilt and reshaped the rudder back to its original profile. It was a challenging repair, but one that gave us the confidence to tackle future maintenance projects with a little more know-how. #BoatRepair #FiberglassRepair #diyboatrepair ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we prepare for our upcoming Pacific crossing. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

What happens if a through-hull fitting fails offshore? As we prepare Escapade for a Pacific Ocean crossing, we're tackling one of the most important sailboat maintenance jobs we've ever done: replacing our through-hull fittings and seacocks with a complete TruDesign installation. While it might not be the most exciting boat project, neglected through-hulls can become a major safety risk. A failure below the waterline can quickly turn into every sailor's worst nightmare. In this episode, we remove our old fittings, install new TruDesign composite through-hulls and seacocks, and take another big step towards getting Escapade ready for thousands of miles of offshore sailing. If you're planning a long-distance sailing adventure, cruising offshore, or simply want to make your boat safer, this is one maintenance job worth paying attention to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to find TruDesign products: 🇺🇸 USA: Shop TruDesign products through Gemlux: https://gemlux.com/ 🌍 All other countries: Find your local TruDesign distributor here: https://www.trudesign.nz/marine/distributors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Products we used in this project from TotalBoat: • TotalBoat TotalProtect Epoxy Barrier Coat: https://www.totalboat.com/products/totalprotect-epoxy-primer • TotalBoat TotalBilge Epoxy Bilge Paint: https://www.totalboat.com/products/totalbilge-epoxy-bilge-paint • TotalBoat Dewaxer & Surface Prep: https://www.totalboat.com/products/dewaxer-surface-prep ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we prepare for our upcoming Pacific crossing. 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

After arriving in Panama from the San Blas Islands, it's time to haul Escapade out of the water and begin preparing for our biggest sailing adventure yet: crossing the Pacific Ocean. The plan seems straightforward. A few routine maintenance jobs, a bit of boat work, and then back in the water. With Escapade safely ashore, we remove the rudder, begin hull preparations, polish the topsides, repair our outboard motor, and tackle grinding back and barrier coating the keel. It's all part of getting the boat ready for the thousands of miles that lie ahead. At the time, everything felt like it was going to plan. Looking back now, this haul out would mark the beginning of one of the most challenging chapters we've faced aboard Escapade. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🔧 Thanks to TotalBoat for supporting our boat maintenance and refit projects. We've been using their products throughout our preparations for the Pacific crossing and beyond: [LINK] https://www.totalboat.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorfJFbwQ2E3wskoSICu1-Wa5QrDKDv9ekDPTVC8sT9UXlRtxUSh ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we continue our full-time sailing journey through the Caribbean and beyond. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

After weeks of offshore passages, unexpected challenges, and nonstop movement, we finally wake up in one of the most beautiful cruising destinations in the world: the San Blas Islands of Panama. With only one day to explore before continuing our journey, we move Escapade into crystal-clear shallow waters and set out to discover why sailors fall in love with this Caribbean paradise. From snorkelling reefs to visiting one of the most popular islands among cruisers—with its beach bar, hammocks in the water, and even an overwater bungalow—we soak up everything San Blas has to offer. Jason and Tom head out spearfishing, successfully catching invasive lionfish before feeding the remains to the waiting reef sharks below. Then, just as quickly as we arrived, it's time to move on. The next morning, we set sail for mainland Panama, where Escapade will be hauled out for routine maintenance and final preparations before our biggest adventure yet: crossing the Pacific Ocean. ⛵ Join us aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade, as we continue our full-time sailing journey through the Caribbean and beyond. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade

After a whirlwind week in Cartagena, it's time to continue our journey west. Before leaving Colombia, we make the most of our time ashore celebrating our friends' wedding and exploring one of the Caribbean's most vibrant cities. From island beach clubs and sunset catamaran cruises to Cartagena's famous party buses, walking tours, and the wedding itself, it's a week we'll never forget. But we need to get a move on if we want to cross The Pacific Ocean this year! After lessons learned on our passage from the USA to Colombia, we take advantage of Colombia's incredibly cheap fuel prices and stock up on extra jerry cans before heading offshore once more. With Escapade ready to go, we set sail on an overnight passage bound for the legendary San Blas Islands. The conditions are better than expected, the miles disappear quickly, and before we know it, we're approaching the islands much sooner than planned. As darkness falls, we carefully navigate our way into one of the Caribbean's most remote cruising destinations and drop anchor among the palm-fringed islands of San Blas. ⛵ Join us as we continue our sailing adventure through the Caribbean aboard our 40ft sailboat, Escapade. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🔥 If you're enjoying the videos, you can Hype this episode on YouTube to help support the channel and share our adventures with more people. 🎥 Watch from the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcpg_1nM2Z5zzbEr20cfs0K1W3FAV46DJ 🫶🏽 Patreon (early access / ad-free): https://www.patreon.com/Leadingtheescapade ☕ One-off support: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/leadingtheescapade