wifi. This means that even uploading big
files, such as videos, is much faster (about
a tenth of the time) on a mobile network.
For this reason, we choose to invest in
mobile data packages rather than multiple
drinks out at a café. It’s more cost efficient
and we feel far more productive in a quiet
anchorage than in a busy beach bar. We
own and use a total of four SIM cards from
different countries at the moment.
Next year we plan to work more underway
during our off-watches so we can have more
free time at anchor. As most of our sailing is
coastal, we often have good reception. With
a dry centre cockpit and no heeling, it’s easy
to work from a laptop.
ADAPTING TO THE
LIVEABOARD LIFESTYLE
Our change from landlubbers to cruisers was
a gradual one. We lived on and off the boat
since we bought it. Once we set off, it was
easy to adapt to our brand new lives, also
thanks to the research we did beforehand.
We’ve had a couple of wobbles since leaving
Falmouth. We found ourselves in a storm
in the Isles of Scilly, where we had to relay
a Mayday call for a vessel that was sinking
nearby. We also learned the hard way
that fishing boats rarely respect collision
regulations by very nearly colliding with
one. These lessons have proved invaluable.
We’re grateful we’ve come out of some
difficult situations unscathed and wiser.
CRUISING AND WORKING
Working remotely from a sailboat means
meetings become Skype calls, updates
turn into online chats and briefs into emails.
Communication might be slightly delayed
due to a potential time difference, so it’s best
to look for flexible clients and seek projects
that aren’t very urgent. Passage planning
needs to take work into account too.
Having to earn a living while sailing can
be challenging at times. We sometimes
can’t take advantage of a good weather
window due to an impending deadline.
The other limitation we have is that we
aren’t confident venturing to less-populated
areas in case the mobile networks are weak
and sparse. We aren’t planning any ocean
passages yet either, but if we do we’ll have
to discuss time away with our clients.
When work is stressful, sitting in a
small space can feel suffocating. If we
start showing signs of burnout, we go
for a row in the dinghy or a walk ashore.WORTH THE SACRIFICES
While we recognise we have some
limitations, we feel that working keeps
us busy, active, and focused. It may slow
us down from time to time but it means
we have a chance to get to know places
and people better. Working while cruising
is ultimately the only reason why we can
afford to live on a sailboat.
We believe the effort and compromises
involved are definitely worth the slower
pace of life, the sight of dolphins playing
with our bows, the sundowners shared with
likeminded cruisers and the freshly caught
fish eaten in front of a beautiful sunset.
Visit http://www.sailingkittiwake.com and
http://www.youtube.com/c/sailingkittiwakeGET ONLINE AT ANCHOR
There are a number of ways to connect
to the internet from a yacht...
QUse your mobile contract’s data
allowance or buy an international
top-up and use the phone as hotspot.
Q Purchase local mobile SIM cards
or dongles with good data packages
to use as hotspots.
Q Install a wifi booster on your mast
to catch networks from shore.
Q Purchase a Fi-ready phone to use
Google’s Project Fi to use one SIM
card to access the internet worldwide.
Q Or, try an Apple SIM card to buy local
mobile data packages around the world
from your iPad.
Q If you’re new to working online, visit
the Digital Nomad Community website
http://www.digitalnomadcommunity.net to
find helpful resources and connect with
other nomadic workers. You can also
join the Global Digital Nomad Network
on Facebook, where members often
share useful articles and job openings.THE KNOWLEDGE
Elena at the helm,
sailing out of SantanderElena’s office: the saloon
The digital nomad’s life might
be busy, but there’s always
time to sunbathe on deck