Aurora Blue Sailing

Aurora Blue Sailing documents our journey from Germany to the Carribean as we prepare to build a life on a catamaran. Follow along as this new chapter unfolds.

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Every adventure deserves a name.

After weeks of paperwork, registrations and endless waiting, the day had finally come.

Our catamaran officially became FORTY-TWO.

Friends joined us for a small naming ceremony in the marina, where we celebrated the beginning of a completely new chapter in our lives.

A name is more than just letters on the hull.
It represents every dream, every mile still ahead, and every horizon waiting to be explored.

The Mediterranean is only the beginning. Next stop: the Caribbean. 🌊

Have you ever named a boat or another special project in your life?

⛵ Follow along as we sail across the Atlantic.

Read more in our newest blog post → link in bio.
See the live video record on our YouTube channel: https://t.co/ZXWuxFPqcB

#AuroraBlueSailing #FortyTwo #BoatNaming #CatamaranLife #Liveaboard #SailingLife #SailingAdventure #BlueWaterSailing #CruisingLife #AtlanticCrossing

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

One of the last missing pieces just arrived. ⛵📦

Today I picked up our brand-new Oxley Bora sail and brought it aboard. It was one of the last major pieces of equipment still missing before we can finally set off on the next stage of our adventure.

A huge thank you to the team at Oxley for the excellent advice, patience, and outstanding support throughout the process. We can’t wait to hoist it for the first time and see what it can do.

We’re especially looking forward to using it during our upcoming Atlantic crossing, where we hope it will make those long downwind passages faster, easier, and more comfortable.

And a small side note: our trusty Andersen Tura Shopper with Ortlieb setup once again proved its worth. Without the bag this time, it became a surprisingly capable dockside hand truck for transporting the sail. Sometimes the simplest gear turns out to be the most useful.

Have you ever used an Oxley Bora or similar downwind sail on a cruising catamaran?

#SailingLife #Liveaboard #CatamaranLife #BluewaterSailing #OxleySails #OxleyBora #AtlanticCrossing #CruisingCatamaran #SailingAdventure #BoatLife #Bali42 #MarinaLife

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Same marina. Same position. Two completely different moods.

Captured from our Bali 4.2 at Marina Baie des Anges with the new Hasselblad X2D II 100C and XCD 25mm F2.5V.

A small preview of the landscapes we’ll be photographing across the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Caribbean.

Day or night? 📷⛵

#AuroraBlueSailing #Hasselblad #SailingLife #TravelPhotography

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Only on the French Riviera 😄

One afternoon, several Ferraris, McLarens and Porsches appeared directly beside our berth in Marina Baie des Anges.

For a brief moment, our catamaran found itself in rather exclusive company.

Looking at the lineup, we couldn’t help but smile.

Most of those cars could outrun us by a factor of ten.

But none of them are heading for the Caribbean. 🌊⚓

Read more in our newest blog post → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing #FrenchRiviera #CatamaranLife #Liveaboard #BoatLife #SailingLife #LuxuryCars #Ferrari #McLaren #Porsche #MediterraneanLife #LifeAboard

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Small Milestones, Big Changes Aboard ⚓

Four weeks have passed since we moved aboard our catamaran on the French Riviera.

During that time, we received approval for our Panama residency, our RYA radio certificates arrived, we experienced our first thunderstorm aboard, welcomed a glowing jellyfish alongside the boat, and completed our first major refit project.

The biggest change was replacing the original gas oven with a modern Panasonic combination oven. What started as a simple appliance swap quickly turned into a three-day DIY project involving measuring, cutting, drilling, rewiring, and plenty of problem-solving.

And after restoring the neglected plancha, we celebrated with grilled tuna steaks and green asparagus in the cockpit.

Slowly but surely, this yacht is becoming our home.

⛵ Read the full story via the link in our bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing #Liveaboard #CatamaranLife #SailingLife #LifeAboard #Bali42 #FrenchRiviera #BoatLife #CruisingLife #SailingAdventure #PanamaResidency #LiveaboardLife

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

A floating piece of art beneath our boat.

Today we spotted what appears to be a Mauve Stinger jellyfish drifting gracefully around our catamaran on the French Riviera.

Beautiful colors, elegant movements, and a reminder that even a quiet day in the marina can bring unexpected wildlife encounters.

Have you ever seen one of these while sailing?

#LiveaboardLife #SailingLife #CatamaranLife #MediterraneanSea #FrenchRiviera #Jellyfish #MarineLife #OceanLife #SailingAdventure #BoatLife #LifeAtSea #NatureLovers #AuroraBlueSailing

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Twenty years ago, when we moved into our house in Biesenthal, we were convinced it would be our last move.

Life had other plans.

Over the past year, we downsized, sorted through decades of belongings, and packed our lives into a rental van. What followed was a 1,450 km journey across five countries, a flat tire in Bavaria, countless boxes, and finally the moment when an empty catamaran slowly became our new home.

Looking back, the hardest part was not the drive. It was letting go.

Yet somewhere between selling, donating, and discarding things we no longer needed, the process became surprisingly liberating.

None of this would have been possible without the help of our friends. A special thank you goes to Bine and Dirk, who not only helped us with the move but also became some of the very first guests aboard our new floating home. Their support made one of the biggest moves of our lives so much easier.

Today, our catamaran feels less like a boat and more like home.

Our biggest move yet is complete.

The adventure is just beginning.

⛵ Read the full story via the link in our bio.

#LiveaboardLife #CatamaranLife #SailingLife #MovingAboard #Bali42

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Slowly Becoming Our Home
Right now, life mostly consists of cleaning, organizing, waiting for deliveries, and turning a recently purchased yacht into an actual home.

Some moments are beautiful.
Some are exhausting.
And some are simply absurd — like finding clothes from the previous users still inside the washing machine.

But with every cleaned locker, every reorganized compartment, and every sunset in the marina, the boat slowly feels a little less like somebody else’s yacht…

…and a little more like ours.

More about our first days onboard in the newest blog post → link in bio.

#liveaboard #sailingcatamaran #boatlife #marinalife #sailing

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Nobody warned us that buying the boat would actually be the easy part.

Finding insurance for a catamaran owned by a Panama company while not living in the EU turned into an absolute nightmare.

European insurers rejected us because we no longer live in the EU. UK insurers rejected us because we do not live in the UK. US insurers rejected us because we are not US residents.

Some Caribbean policies only insured the boat up to force 5 winds. Others excluded unattended anchoring entirely.

At one point, we genuinely wondered whether this entire project could fail because of insurance alone.

But in the end, after weeks of searching and countless emails, we finally found a solution.

The full story is now on the blog → link in bio.

#yachtinsurance #catamaranlife #sailingblog #liveaboardlife #offshorelife

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

The Big Milestone
We actually did it.

After more than a year of planning, learning, travelling, inspections, paperwork, stress, and countless difficult decisions, we finally bought our catamaran.

And honestly?
It still feels slightly surreal to walk through the marina and realize: “That’s our boat.”

The last weeks were intense. Surveys, contracts, insurance problems, equipment orders, endless phone calls and far more bureaucracy than we ever expected. But step by step, this project is slowly becoming reality.

Our new floating home is now waiting for us in the south of France — and this is only the beginning.

New blog post online now → link in bio.

#sailinglife #catamaran #liveaboard #sailingadventure #balicatamarans

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

We did it.

Two intense weeks at sea are behind us — and we passed our RYA Day Skipper training in Greece.

What started as a course quickly became something more.
Taking responsibility for a 42-foot catamaran, planning routes, sailing at night, and learning how to make decisions when it actually matters.

One of the biggest lessons wasn’t about sailing itself.
It was about leading a crew — giving clear instructions, trusting others, and staying calm when things don’t go exactly as planned.

We are far from being perfect skippers.
But we now understand what it takes — and that feels like a solid first step.

Next comes the survey of our Bali 4.2.

A little exciting.
A little unreal.

More details in our webblog → link in bio.

#sailing #sailinglife #ryatraining #dayskipper #ioniansea #greece #catamaranlife #bali42 #liveaboardlife #boatlife #sailingjourney #learnsailing #futureplans #newchapter #aurorablue

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Easter 2026 — Greece

We wish you a Happy Easter and a few peaceful days with your loved ones.

While many are spending this time at home, we have just arrived in Greece to take the next step on our journey.

After an unexpectedly comfortable trip via Amsterdam, we reached Preveza yesterday. Shortly before landing, we had a beautiful view over Corfu and the Greek coastline — a first glimpse of what lies ahead.

Today, our RYA sailing course begins in Sivota.
For the next two weeks, a Lagoon 42 will be our home as we focus on practical sailing and continue building experience at sea.

A new chapter begins here.

More in our web blog → Link in bio.

#aurorabluesailing #sailinglife #liveaboard #greekislands #preveza #sivota #lagoon42 #catamaranlife #sailingtraining #rya #daybyday #lifeatsea #slowtravel #sailingjourney

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

From Theory to the Open Sea

Preparing for an Atlantic crossing is not just about finding the right yacht.
It’s about building the knowledge and confidence to handle it when conditions are far from ideal.

Over the past months, we have been fully immersed in our RYA training.

What started as a “refresher” quickly turned into something much more demanding:
• tides and currents that require real understanding
• navigation that goes far beyond GPS
• and an entirely new layer of English maritime terminology
At times, it was challenging.
At times, even frustrating.
But also deeply rewarding.

Because step by step, things started to make sense.
Not just in theory – but in a way that builds real confidence.

We’ve now completed all theory modules and passed the exams.
And this is where things start to get real.
In just two weeks, we will begin our practical training in Greece –
on a catamaran, similar like the one we plan to sail across the Atlantic.

We’re excited.
And yes… a little nervous too.

📷 Read the full story in our blog – link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing #RYA #DaySkipper #LearnToSail
#SailingLife #CatamaranLife #BlueWaterSailing
#AtlanticCrossing #SailingTraining #LiveAboardLife
#OceanSailing #SailingAdventure #FromTheoryToPractice

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

A Short Distraction in Nice

Not everything during this trip was about boats.

While we were in Nice for our second yacht viewing, something else kept catching our attention.

Just a few steps away from the marina, kitesurfers were out on the water — moving effortlessly across the waves, carried by wind and sea.

For a while, we stopped thinking about layouts, equipment lists and decisions.

Instead, we just stood there watching.

Moments like these are small reminders of what this journey is really about.

Being outside.
Being on the water.
And enjoying the freedom that comes with it.

More in our webblog → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing
#Nice
#Kitesurfing
#CotedAzur
#FrenchRiviera
#OceanLife
#WaterSports
#SailingJourney
#BeachLife
#LifeAtSea

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Life Moves Slower in Panama

Some animals completely change your perception of time.

At Punta Culebra Nature Center in Panama City, we came across several sloths — some resting high up in the trees, others surprisingly close, quietly tucked away in unexpected places.

They move slowly, almost effortlessly, blending into their surroundings.
And if you are not paying attention, you might not notice them at all.

Watching them for a while, everything else seems to slow down as well.

Moments like these remind us that not everything needs to happen fast.

More in our webblog → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing
#Panama
#Sloth
#WildlifePhotography
#PuntaCulebra
#Rainforest
#NaturePhotography
#ExplorePanama
#CentralAmerica
#WildlifeEncounter

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Choosing the Right Boat

Finding the right boat is not a single decision.

It is a process shaped by questions, trade-offs and changing perspectives.

At first, everything seems clear — size, layout, budget.
But with every viewing, new details emerge.

What looks perfect on paper might feel different in reality.
And sometimes small things turn out to matter far more than expected.

Not just to evaluate a specific boat, but to better understand what we are truly looking for — and what life on board might actually feel like.

Because in the end, it is not just about choosing a boat.
It is about choosing a future.

More in our webblog → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing
#BoatSearch
#SailingJourney
#CatamaranLife
#LiveAboardDream
#SailingLife
#BlueWaterSailing
#LifeAtSea
#NewBeginnings
#SailingStory

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

A First Look at Panama

Before Panama became part of our plan, it was mostly an idea.

A place connected to legal structures, residency options and future routes across the Caribbean.

But experiencing it in person changed everything.

From the skyline of Panama City to the vast waterways of the Panama Canal and the rainforest surrounding Gatun Lake, the country revealed a depth we had not expected.

It is a place where global trade routes, nature and everyday life intersect in a unique way.

In our blog we share our first impressions and why Panama became such an important part of the Aurora Blue journey.

More in our webblog → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing
#Panama
#PanamaCity
#PanamaCanal
#GatunLake
#SailingJourney
#CentralAmerica
#ExplorePanama
#TravelStory
#LifeAtSea

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

A Moment Along the Promenade des Anglais

Not every part of the journey happens on board.

During our stay in Nice for the second yacht viewing, we also took time to walk along the Promenade des Anglais — one of those places that immediately captures the atmosphere of the Côte d’Azur.

Rows of blue chairs facing the sea.
Waves rolling onto the pebble beach.
And a calm, almost timeless rhythm along the waterfront.

Moments like these remind us why we chose this path in the first place.

More in our webblog → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing
#Nice
#PromenadeDesAnglais
#CotedAzur
#FrenchRiviera
#TravelMoments
#OceanView
#SailingJourney
#MediterraneanLife
#LifeAtSea

[Aurora Blue Sailing @AuroraBlueSail]

Unexpected Wildlife at Gatun Lake

When people think about Panama, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the Panama Canal.

But just a short distance away from the shipping lanes lies a completely different world.

The rainforest around Gatun Lake is home to an astonishing variety of wildlife — including several species of monkeys that can often be observed directly from the water.

Watching them move effortlessly through the trees while large cargo ships pass quietly in the distance is a surreal contrast.

Moments like this remind us how closely nature and global infrastructure coexist in Panama.

More in our webblog → link in bio.

#AuroraBlueSailing
#Panama
#GatunLake
#WildlifePhotography
#Monkey
#Rainforest
#NaturePhotography
#ExplorePanama
#CentralAmerica
#WildlifeEncounter