Sailing Learning By Doing

05/07/2025

Repairs done(mostly) Now off to explore Raja Ampat

Our sailing catamaran was finally fixed and after 20 days of frustration, sweating and head scratching it was time to leave Sorong and sail out into Raja Ampat for some R&R
Marie and Eli were raring to go and I was just hoping all my repairs would prove to be seaworthy.
Join us for our first day.
Enjoy

Our sailing catamaran was finally fixed and after 20 days of frustration, sweating and head scratching it was time to leave Sorong and sail out into Raja Amp...

28/06/2025

Rule #1, dont lose your cool! Collision repairs part 3

After hitting a log while sailing at high speed I had plenty of repairs to get done. This is part 3 of 3 of my repair series in Sorong.
In this video I finish up the gantry and anchor walkway, re-lash the trampolines. I take the gearbox in and out twice trying to figure out how to make my worn clutch work.
Never give up!
Blood, sweat, tears and swearing.
Enjoy(more than me)

After hitting a log while sailing at high speed I had plenty of repairs to get done. This is part 3 of 3 of my repair series in Sorong.In this video I finish...

26/06/2025

Our current slice of paradise. All alone surrounded by jumping fish and birdsong.

22/06/2025

6 years ago, I was visiting Vernon for the first time on his boat, in Raja Ampat !

At this time, I was working in Switzerland, living in Chamonix having all my life in the alpine mountains ! I would have never believe that this trip will change that much my life !

We are now in Raja Ampat, after 5 years of living aboard, and with a new baby crew aboard ! So much adventures we lived since this first trip, so many miles sailed, and so many things changed in my life and in my head.

Thanks Vernon to invited me one day to come on your sailing boat. I love you

Marie-Morgane

22/06/2025

Fixing my bent Rudder, DIY repairs in remote locations

After hitting a log while sailing at high speed I had plenty of repairs to get done. This is part 2 of 3 of my repair series in Sorong.
In this video I mainly work on getting the bent rudder straight. After the local guys attempted but failed to get the shaft straight I found a bodgy way to get the job done.
Never give up!
Blood, sweat, tears and swearing.
Enjoy(more than me)

After hitting a log while sailing at high speed I had plenty of repairs to get done. This is part 2 of 3 of my repair series in Sorong.In this video I mainly...

20/06/2025

This shapes of island 😍

The beauty of this landscape never cease to amaze us !
📷 .deck.sailing

09/06/2025

Family adventures!

Panorama lagoon in Wayag.

07/06/2025

Katembe Resort, a heavenly anchorage!

Returning to Raja Ampat makes me so happy! Three years ago, I said goodbye to this paradise, thinking I'd never see it again...

It's an incredible opportunity to be able to explore this haven between coral reefs and equatorial jungle again.

Some things have changed, others haven't, but I have the same feeling of freedom and well-being sailing here.

Unfortunately, The Last Paradise is in danger; permits for nickel mines have been granted, and could change the face of Raja Ampat... we'll talk about it in more detail very soon... but for now, let’s focus on the beauty of some aerial shots of the small island of Ura.

📷 Drone photography Vernon Deck Photography

31/05/2025

Repairing my collision damaged Catamaran. Part 1

Repairing boats is not at the top of my list of fun things to do but what do can you do? I had just recently spent a week fixing my boat after hitting a log in Sulawesi and now this, another log, this time in Raja Ampat. I dont have enough money to just pay someone else to do all the work and in the remote part of Papua I'm in there is no one who could do that anyway. So I just had to buckle down and get into it. This is part 1 of 3 of my repair series in Sorong.
Blood, sweat, tears and swearing.
Enjoy(more than me)

Repairing boats is not at the top of my list of fun things to do but what do can you do? I had just recently spent a week fixing my boat after hitting a log ...

25/05/2025

Amazing sailing until....Not Again!!! I hit a huge tree sailing 12 knots

I had a 260nm passage ahead of me and this time with favourable winds. In the first 8 hours I banged out 75 miles and was loving it! Finally proper sailing! The night was also very good with minimal traffic, no squalls and lower but ok winds.
After an epic breakfast of pancakes and fruit I was back at it, sailing fast and looking forward to arriving at my anchorage in good time. Just after lunch I was down below getting a drink and was thrown to the floor in a huge impact. Rushing upstairs fearing the worst I saw I'd collided with a huge tree.
Hope you enjoy my video this week.

I had a 260nm passage ahead of me and this time with favourable winds. In the first 8 hours I banged out 75 miles and was loving it! Finally proper sailing! ...

10/05/2025

SOS at sea.... OR a false alarm?

A few minutes after leaving Wakatobi an alarm started beeping loudly. I thought it was something relating to my boat for a minute until I realised it was an AIS Safety Warning, an alert being transmitted by someone in distress.
It was 6-7nm out of my way and there were two ships passing the area much closer but when I radioed them they didnt seem concerned and said they'd "monitor" the situation. That didnt sound very encouraging so I changed course to go checkout the situation myself.
Hope you enjoy my video this week.

A few minutes after leaving Wakatobi an alarm started beeping loudly. I thought it was something relating to my boat for a minute until I realised it was an ...

02/05/2025

Indonesia's BEST marina... and it costs NOTHING!

Welcome to Wakatobi, one of the premier dive spots in the world and home of Indonesia's best boat marina. The thing is it's totally abandoned basically and it costs nothing to stay there. Join me as I try to figure out what happened here and why so much money was invested with no apparent return.
Turns out the theme continues all over the whole island, so much new infrastructure thats never been used and is slowly decaying.
Hope you enjoy my video this week.

Welcome to Wakatobi, one of the premier dive spots in the world and home of Indonesia's best boat marina. The thing is it's totally abandoned basically and i...