Lived on a sailboat for 18 months. The lifestyle was much more challenging than we expected.

A couple described how living full-time on a 36-foot sailboat for 18 months through Europe matched their dream of freedom only partially, and proved more challenging than expected. After moving aboard three years ago from the suburbs of London, they sailed continuously until the husband took a job on land and they had to leave. The account says they were limited once away from the dock to onboard supplies, requiring constant rationing of food, water, diesel fuel, cooking gas, medical supplies and spare parts. The writers also noted the need to monitor battery charge and electricity for lights, systems that help other boats see them, and radio communications. Working remotely in a small space and staying alert to weather changes added pressure, while unpredictable and costly repairs affected their fluctuating finances, especially if internet services like Starlink failed.