Virtual Cruising

from Latitudes & Attitudes #40 Fall 2022

Tips for Cruising

VIRTUAL Cruising By David Levesque

SAILING NOMAD CITIZEN

From the Associate Publisher: Since this is my first go-round writing this section, I’ll be very upfront on this: My tech-savvy awareness kind of began, and is still stuck to some degree, in my teenage room making the original “playlist” mix tapes by cassette, using the eraser end of a pencil to wind to the desired place to hit record for the next song… So when the digital and virtual world evolved to where it is now with social media influencers, YouTube sensations, and other purported expert-level branded content, I was, like most people my age, a bit overwhelmed and even digitally paralyzed. So when I took over managing the direction of this publication, diving into the world of the virtual cruisers was like being duct-taped to a chair and having a confetti cannon shot in my face. There are THOUSANDS out there and growing! So, where to begin? If you love this industry like many of us do, it’s a great issue to have. But the more I swam through the congested waters of content, one thing became very clear: These are mostly

normal people living extraordinary dreams and documenting it for all to see, and there’s A LOT we can all gain from their offerings. It needs to be mentioned that perhaps one is looking merely for entertainment and your goal is never to leave the dock. Still, you’d just like to see some boats, intriguing personalities, the occasional tan lines, and silly antics…. BUT, if you’re a newbie or even a veteran cruiser looking for inspiration, instruction, and motivation, where do you start to sort through the pile and find the ones you can identify with? Key phrase: IDENTIFY WITH. Let’s face it, not everyone can take early retirement to the islands, land a gorgeous catamaran and make money hand over winch with a million followers, endorsements, and the like. Heck, many of us aren’t even capable of putting the content together properly to even land said followers and endorsements. (See cassette tape reference...) But that’s the beauty of this explosion of virtual cruising; much is reality, while some are made-for-TV drama, and some are sheer entertainment and laughs at the expense of others. Over the coming issues, we will expand this very popular section of the magazine and explore and feature a broader palette of the virtual cruising universe.

In the hopefully post-pandemic world, we’ve been encouraged by the fact more and more have discovered what many of us in boating already knew: no one does social distancing like cruisers! Can I get an Amen? And yes, there have

been many families raising kids on boats for years. However, with the rising popularity of YouTube and other social media platforms, the numbers doing so today are staggering. In a good way. And it’s encouraging to find families documenting the good, bad, and often ugly realities of raising kids. And let me tell you, after raising two of my own in a house, I give mad props to anyone willing to do it on a modest-sized vessel surrounded by water.

When I found Sailing Nomad Citizen and the first photo that popped up was husband Marvin and wife Dani glaring at each other, I instantly felt the photo had sound. The sound of a baby crying in the background while the happy couple navigated through the issue du jour with their vessel. Now, perhaps the baby was fast asleep, and they were just disagreeing and working through a mechanical issue, but I was like, come on now, I’ve been there. I have dished out and been on the receiving end of those looks. The chances of a baby crying in the other cabin are north of 90%. And I bet there was eyerolling. Definitely eye-rolling. And my money is on the fact it wasn’t Marvin. Why do I know this? Because behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes….look it up. It’s a stone-cold fact as old as the pyramids. So my first thought was, “Man, I subscribe to that tribe. I get them.” And for the record, while perusing their content, seldom do we hear, “Marvin was right,” but it does happen. Just wanted to point that out for any fellas out there who may be feeling the eye-rolling behind them.

Sailing Nomad Citizen is the family of Marvin, Dani, beautiful daughter Tara, and new months-old baby boy Soan! Much like

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

~ Muhammad Ali

many cruisers, they felt a collective emptiness in what many consider a “normal life.” Well, is anything normal anymore? Of course not, but when you think of normal life, then images of nice homes, cars, steady jobs, kids’ activities, and family gatherings come to mind. But for Marvin and Dani, the latter two points were where the emptiness simmered. For many of us, the responsibilities involved in creating the life we want often overwhelm the opportunity to enjoy what we already have. It’s a vicious cycle, and unfortunately, this world is not reversing the course anytime soon. As more and more adults are forced to work longer hours to provide for their lifestyles, and just basic ones at that, the family units we once knew are the unfortunate casualties. Yet, for Marvin and Dani, who at the time had a very young daughter Tara, this was not going to be their lifestyle. Recognizing immediately the need to maintain their physical and mental health first while they planned their family’s future, it was clear that trying to balance careers was going to be a challenge. So why not give it all up and go sailing?

It was a cold day in November when Marvin, Dani, and baby Tara departed the south of France for Spain. Armed with their life skills, confidence, love for each other, and Turkish coffee, off they went, learning as they go. Which honestly is what any of us do, right? Plus the coffee, of course. I was impressed and amused to watch them attempt to maintain their workout regimen with the baby in tow. Anyone that has tried to do that understands. Except they did it dockside. Major props there. Watch the first episode. It’ll make you laugh and nod your head in understanding. And in each subsequent episode, you’ll see what Nomad Citizen is hoping you’ll identify: Maybe just a wee bit of yourself in each adventure.

A little about this multilingual family: Free-spirited Daniela (Dani) left native war-torn Yugoslavia for Hungary when she was 11, found her way to France, and settled in as a dentist. Which proper dental hygiene is not surprisingly very important

when cruising, correct? Husband, skipper, and entrepreneurial guru Marvin is from the island Reunion, an overseas department region of France. He spent 6 years in the National Navy and runs CrossFit gyms. Their ever-energetic daughter Tara is already quite the budding little sailor, helping in certain aspects of the boat as well as an unofficial translator to anyone speaking French, Serbian and English. And the newest addition to the clan is baby boy Soan, whom we really only learn about in the last few months, but whom I have a feeling will be taking over duties in a short time.

Going back to the part about recognizing their need to maintain proper physical and mental health, it’s important to note this family has emphasized health. Watching the episodes, you learn quickly Dani has some mad skills in the galley, creating tasty dishes for the family while maintaining healthy diet aspects to coincide with the mind and spirit. With the occasional pizza mixed in for good measure and Marvin’s gastro-satisfaction.

Anyone who’s anyone who’s been a follower of Latitudes & Attitudes for the last 25 years knows one of our core philosophies is “Don’t dream your life, Live your dream!” I think this is one of the aspects which drew me to Nomad Citizen and their sometimes misfit imperfect adventures. I can relate, more than I care to admit, but I can relate. And I know many out there can. They’re authentic and not afraid to show the sometimes-hard reality of their ever-changing world. This is what the cruising lifestyle we embrace is all about! I’ve heard it said, “I’m not ready for marriage,” or “I’m not ready for kids.” Well, a show of hands, how many out there have said they’re not ready for cruising? Tough to find many who are. And Nomad Citizen certainly wasn’t, but their motto is “Stop Dreaming and Start Moving!” Sounds familiar, right? Check out Sailing Nomad Citizen. Let them into your world a bit. I know they’d love to have you be a part of theirs.

Visit Sailing Nomad Citizen’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/c/SailingNomadCitizen.

See photos of their adventures on Instagram at www.instagram.com/sailing_nomad_citizen.

CLASSIC BUILDER BECOMES POPULAR VIRTUAL CRUISER

With the astronomical rise of cruisers documenting their adventures on the likes of YouTube and Vimeo and the fascinating curiosity unsurprisingly arising from it of the vessels they trust to shuffle them around the globe, one has a wealth of inspiration and motivation at their fingertips should they choose to get out, do it and maybe try to make some extra income showcasing it to the global audience. Yet, with the thousands of cruisers and “vlogs” available to find on these social media channels, how many can lay claim to exploring the world’s waters in a boat that carries their name? Let alone one they built themselves along with over 340 sister vessels in use to date? Enter Tony Fleming and Fleming Yachts.

In a growing world of YouTube cruising vloggers and insanely popular drone-footage-heavy influencers, Tony Fleming manages to ride a wave all his own. Perusing the Fleming videos, narrated by Tony himself, one feels emersed in a timeless style, almost National Geographic-esque in that every detail of the natural surroundings is captured and intelligently expressed. Of course, Tony’s smooth British accent certainly helps carve this essence, to be very honest. I’m reminded of the travel documentaries my father would have in his video catalog we would watch on a comfortable, lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s quite a lovely and relaxing alternative to many other styles found in the virtual cruising universe. And much of the locations Fleming visits are as rugged and time-tested as the vessels themselves. To understand where Fleming Yachts is today and how Tony himself became an unlikely, and perhaps unintentional, YouTube personality, one needs to first dive back into the history and happenings which shaped the brand, the man, and the vessel.

In the early 60s through early 80s, Tony was working with the ever-popular Grand Banks trawlers being built in Hong Kong as

technical director. With engineer skills and an eye for enterprise, in 1983, Tony took a pilothouse design he had developed and, along with a business partner and a naval architect, selected a factory in Taiwan to produce what would eventually become the Fleming 55. After several hulls beginning at 50 feet, the designs were expanded to the now known 55. By the late 90s, over 100 Fleming 55’s were in use, and customer acceptance and increasing demand for larger models eventually ushered in the Fleming 75. But why stop there…2005 brought about hull number one of the Fleming 65, taken by Tony himself, aptly named VENTURE, and off he went on what Tony has been quoted as referring to as his personal “voyages of discovery.” Fleming Yachts have quite often been regarded as “the ultimate cruising yacht” not just by her owners but in boating circles worldwide. One unfamiliar with cruising may ask, why is this?

A thorough review of Tony’s maiden voyage on VENTURE puts any questions to rest. Regarded as the “ultimate sea trial,” Tony took VENTURE from her home in Newport Beach, CA, north to the venerable cruising grounds of British Columbia, then Alaska, south to Mexico and the Galapagos, and on through the Panama Canal. Making her way up to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway, out to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, to finally rest for the winter in Annapolis. Over 20,000 nautical miles of adventure, reflection, experimentation, and innovation.

This extensive nautical experience resulted in VENTURE II, an all-new-and-improved Fleming 65, making her debut in 2010 at the Southhampton Boat Show. Integrating many new features from the 20,000-mile “sea trial,” VENTURE II cruised Europe, eventually circumnavigating Iceland, the journey of which is skillfully documented on the Fleming YouTube channel and is what originally drew me to discover for myself Fleming’s adventures. Throughout the mid-2000’s Tony continued to cruise the original VENTURE throughout the west coast and Pacific Northwest, eventually and to date including all Fleming models in his journals and travels. With models ranging up to 85, the 55 is still the most sought after and delivered Fleming with over 250 worldwide.

One might not equate Fleming’s oft-traveled cold, rugged waters of the Northwest as refreshing, yet the simplistic charm with which Tony documents his adventures is all that and so much more. The scenery is stunning, the narrative is intriguing and engaging, and the vessel is timeless. In a world over-saturated with noise, handheld devices dominating our every day, and media stimulating our every move, Tony and Fleming Yachts have mastered a balance between documentation and platform deliverance, continuously presenting a gift to the cruising lifestyle.