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Currently anchored in the picturesque town of Almerimar, Spain, Lauren and Chris have traded their city life in London for an adventurous life on the sea. We had the pleasure of speaking with them to learn more about their journey, what inspired them to set sail, and their experiences navigating the highs and lows of boat life.
What inspired you to go sailing?
Chris: From a young age, I had some experience with dinghy sailing. Nothing competitive, but it sparked an interest in spending time on the water. The dream of living on a sailboat really took shape after the COVID-19 pandemic. We realised there was more to life than the 9-5 city life.
Lauren: Initially, I was more interested in a camper van adventure. But after meeting Chris and discovering sailing through YouTube, I became intrigued. We both travelled separately before meeting in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia when doing a travel round there, which was amazing! Chris started speaking about boat life and sailing and I thought ‘ah okay this could work.’ Then, after completing our skipper course, we knew this lifestyle was for us.
The idea of escaping the London rat race for a more fulfilling life was very appealing. I think there’s this idea that you have to have one or another, but we still make it work. You can have a bit of both, we still work full-time and we live this alternative lifestyle.
Did COVID push you to make the decision to live on a boat?
Chris: I would say definitely. I think the idea was that we would go and do a sailing course and see if we liked it. The covid thing really accelerated that and made us realise there’s no time like the present. It’s a saying that’s used quite a lot, but it’s true. There’s not going to be a perfect time when you can go: ‘Okay, I’m going to go and buy that sailing boat, or I’m going to go on that sailing holiday. You just have to throw yourself in the deep end and go for it.’
Lauren: I think Covid and the fact that we were both put on furlough, it gave us that time to think what else could we do with our lives. Then after Covid there were so many factors: I changed jobs, and luckily the whole working remotely thing wasn’t that alien an idea to employers, so that massively helped us too. For us, we wanted to make this lifestyle as sustainable as possible and something we can carry on doing. We wanted to implement the steps and foundations so that we can carry on doing this for as long as we want, not just for one or two years.
Do you ever see yourself moving back to a big city like London?
Chris: No, I don’t think so. I think London has got its appeal for certain people. There’s a purpose for city life and I think that’s great and to experience it. However, maybe we’re at that age where we’re looking beyond the perks of city life and seeing what else is there. I think living on a boat with what that brings in terms of the freedom and having that outside space of the ocean or a beach or whatever it is, you’re not going to get that in a city. And I think we really would miss that if we went back to city life
Lauren: We have to go back for work stuff every now and again. I don’t mind it, obviously, London is very cool, but I feel like two different people when I’m back in that environment. I don’t think we would ever move back to that completely. If we ever move back to the UK, there are loads of beautiful different places such as Cornwall.
What are the challenges of living on a boat?
Chris: It’s easy to underestimate the challenges involved in boat life. The YouTube videos often show the highlights, but there’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes. You can miss having that stability.
Lauren: Living on a boat is a full-time job with constant maintenance. Simple tasks like laundry become more complicated. However, the rewards are immense. The lifestyle teaches you to be present and adaptable, and the highs definitely outweigh the lows. You miss out on stability, but you gain incredible experiences and freedom.
What’s the best thing about sailing life?
Chris: It allows you to be in charge of every aspect of your life to a certain degree. You can really take charge. It’s hard to realise, maybe when you’re living a normal life, that there’s something that you’re missing out on. Onboard, you always have something to do, there’s always a journey you’re on… never stagnant, always moving. It’s great.
Lauren: When you work a 9-5 job in an office in London, your mind is filled with a million things, making it hard to be present. But when you’re sailing, it’s one of the only times I feel completely in the moment. You can’t think about anything else; you’re vulnerable in the best way. You have to focus entirely on ensuring everything runs smoothly. Plus, you’re surrounded by water, mother nature, and dolphins swimming beside you, which is incredible. It’s insane! It never gets boring. Sailing quietens the mind in the best way. It’s a great thing, every day is different.
What have been your most memorable sailing moments?
Lauren & Chris:
- Crossing the Bay of Biscay was a huge achievement for us. It was daunting, but we saw pilot whales and dolphins every day, which was incredible. We even saw an office chair floating in the sea, that was an interesting one. Clearly someone had a bad day!
- Another memorable moment was sailing back into the same marina in Gibraltar where we did our sailing course 3 years earlier. It felt like a full-circle moment.
- Cornwall also stands out as a favourite place, especially anchoring in the River Truro and reading “Frenchman’s Creek” while anchored next to the actual creek from the book.
- There’s some really beautiful moments which, when you’re having a bad day, it’s very funny how quickly those moments disappear when you’re having a good one. The highs definitely outweigh the lows!
What are your future dream sailing destinations?
Lauren & Chris:
French Polynesia is still a dream destination, along with Indonesia and Greece. However, we’ve learned that it’s more about the journey than the destination. We don’t have to do everything in a year or two. We don’t want to go to as many places as possible, but rather enjoy this lifestyle as much as possible, keep it sustainable as we said and not rush to tick off locations. Sailing life is about being present and adaptable, so we’re happy with wherever we end up next.
What advice would you give to beginners interested in sailing?
Chris: Go out sailing. If you’ve got a friend with a boat or an opportunity to rent a boat with a company like yours. Just go out on a boat as soon as you can! There are great communities on Facebook too. Get out sailing for a day, or a week, 10 days. We did our 10 days intensive skippers course, figuring out if boat life was for us.
Lauren: Ask questions like Instagram, Facebook and those platforms are so amazing. We always get questions from people like: ‘How did you do it? What did you think of this? How do you do that?’ And we’re always happy to answer questions and give as much of an honest account as possible. The old sailors at sailing clubs also love teaching people and helping them out!
Lauren and Chris’s story is a testament to the power of embracing change and seeking adventure. Their journey from the bustling streets of London to the serene waters of Spain is inspiring for anyone dreaming of a life less ordinary. As they continue to navigate their path, they remain open to new experiences and the endless possibilities that sailing offers. If you wish to follow their journey and find out more, visit their Instagram or Youtube:
If you want a taste of Lauren and Chris’s sailing lifestyle, feel free to find the boat of your dreams on Click&Boat. If you’re unsure of where to start or need some inspiration, check out our sailing itineraries on the blog. Whatever you need for your sailing adventure, Click&Boat have you covered!
