The family sold everything and have lived on a boat for the past decade. Source: sailingcatalpa.com
An Aussie couple sold everything to live on a sailboat with their kids, sailing the world for a decade – and say they still have no plans to return to ‘normal’ even if life is easier on land.
As house prices and living costs rose, Gold Coaster Sara Rice and husband Lee decided to ditch the rat race, selling everything and taking their children, Taj and Bella, for what has been a decade of adventure.
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Lee, Sara, Taj and Bella sign off their messages “somewhere on the sea”. Source: sailingcatalpa.com
“We didn’t want to wait until retirement to live this lifestyle. Both of us lost a parent too early and that taught us to not take life for granted we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow,” Ms Rice told The Courier-Mail.
“We love the ocean and we wanted to make our life with our kids one big adventure showing them to follow their dreams and live a life they love.”
They set sail full-time in 2016 in a “budget sailing boat” Catalpa, before leaving Australian waters the following year, travelling throughout South East Asia and eventually buying a bigger boat in 2022 in San Diego that they named Catalpa 2.
Lee teaching son Taj to appreciate diving about a decade ago. Source: Sailing Catalpa/YouTube
The toughest thing was deciding whether they were doing the right thing for their kids, according to the couple. “The scariest thought was whether we’d made the right decision pulling our kids out of school away from family and friends,” Ms Rice said.
Instead they boatschooled, something that wasn’t easy but the kids got through, now 18 and 19 years old.
“In the beginning I was nervous about it for sure and not everyday was easy. It was sometimes hard to get them to want to do school but as the years went on we adapted to each of our kids, learning to suit them. Travelling is a wonderful education and seeing the world I believe was in itself a beautiful way to learn,” she said.
Their daughter on the mast in early days. Source: Sailing Catalpa/YouTube
Life at sea has also tested them. “There’s been a few scary moments like going through the hole in the wall in Australia on the wrong tide. We have hit a reef. Had a hole in our boat taking on water mid passage, Been in terrible storms many times but one of the scariest moments was when we were being followed by a boat in the middle of nowhere between Indonesia and Thailand – a boat full of at least 20 men slowly gaining on us. After an hour or more they finally caught us and much to our relief they just wanted some food and to check us out,” she said.
The family at sea, doing whatever makes them happy in their first YouTube video. Source: Sailing Catalpa/YouTube
The couple caution others considering the lifestyle that “as beautiful as this lifestyle can be, it can also be challenging and stressful. The good times are incredible but the lows can be really hard so you got to want it”.
If you don’t like the ocean, it would be a struggle, but they said but also warned that “anyone that likes to stick to a schedule” would struggle.
“You find out pretty quickly things don’t always go to plan so being flexible and relaxed with that helps,” she said.
Anyone that thinks “it’s going to be easy” might also struggle, as there are challenges, they cautioned.
The family believe in the value of a worldwide education of a different kind. Source: Sailing Catalpa/YouTube
“They are more often than you think,” Ms Rice said, adding “look at those things as this is just a part of the lifestyle, for example, things breaking or bad weather, getting stuck places.”
“Some of our favourite memories are from being somewhere we never thought we would be so it’s not all bad.”
“I guess like any lifestyle it’s how you look at the positive. But to be honest life is easier on land.”
Ten years on, the family has no regrets, saying it has been worth it. “Absolutely I guess that’s why we are still out here,” Ms Rice said. “In a heart beat I would love to go back and do it all again.”
