Lisa Terauchi-D’Rozario’s husband lost his job as a captain with Hong Kong airline Cathay Dragon after 14 years due to the pandemic-induced job cuts that Cathay Pacific implemented, she said. The family was devastated by the news and returned to the Netherlands, her husband’s home country. However, they soon decided to pursue a life at sea as her husband was an experienced sailor, and the family hoped to avoid Covid. The family sold their home and bought a secondhand monohull boat to explore the world and live onboard.
Their sailing journey began in France and continued through Spain, Portugal, and eventually reaching Sardinia, where they wintered before sailing to Greece. The family spent approximately 85% of their sailing time anchored or in a marina, which allowed them to explore many European towns. Lisa’s children were homeschooled, with Lisa providing teaching, while liaising with a school in the UK for monthly assignments and report cards.
Sailing allowed the family to cut out rent, electricity, and water bills while using alternative sources of energy such as a water maker, wind generator, and solar energy stored in lithium batteries. However, it also meant that they had to adjust their diets and stop being vegans to eat locally available foods, such as dry goods like pasta, rice, and canned sauces.
Although being at sea meant spectacular sunsets, starry night skies, and bioluminescent waves, Lisa admitted that there were challenges. Exercising was difficult onboard due to low ceilings and limited space, and the family had to learn to manage situations beyond their control, such as encountering unexpected weather conditions. Nonetheless, the experience enriched the family as it taught them to respect the environment and the technology that keeps them safe.
Lisa encourages others to consider a life at sea, even if it means buying a boat cheaply and learning through repairing it. “There’s no better way to learn than the hard way, because that’s when it sticks with you for the rest of your life,” says Lisa.
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