Life on an E-Yacht! An Interview with click&boat: Transatlantic Crossing Without Diesel Consumption

**This is a translated interview that was published on the 25th of Mai 2023 in German for clickandboat. We had a very nice interview with Lisa, thanks for inviting us!**

Nicola and Raffael have been on their electric sailing yacht named Ferdinand, cruising the Atlantic for a year now. Taking a year off and embarking on a transatlantic journey on their own sailboat—a dream that has come true for them. One year has passed, and the idea of returning to a regular nine-to-five job seems unimaginable.

We interviewed the couple about their life on an electric yacht!

Raffael: We're both from Vienna, and we met in Croatia while sailing.

Nicola: Our shared love for the sea brought us together and led us to our boat. Since 2016, we've been spending 2-3 weeks each year sailing in Croatia as skippers. Then the idea of sailing elsewhere and doing a transatlantic crossing became fascinating.

Raffael: It all started as a crazy idea, but we began researching the cost of a used boat suitable for a transatlantic journey. We realized that with two or three years of good work and savings, it was actually a realistic goal.

You chose an electrically powered sailing yacht. How did that come about?

Nicola: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the used boat market, making it very challenging to find a boat at that time. We had several options, but from the start, we were drawn to the charm and features of this electric yacht. We are people who find new and unfamiliar things interesting, and we were aware that it was a risk, especially because electric motors are not yet widely accepted in yachting.

Raffael: When you mention an electric motor in the world of boating, people often respond with, "Really, is that possible?" We hadn't seen a single boat owner with an electric motor. During the boat inspection, we interviewed the previous owners who had installed the electric motor. Raffael and I were used to traditional engines, and during a video call, we asked, "Could you start the motor and let us hear how it sounds?" He just laughed. "Sure, I can start it, but you won't hear anything."

Raffael: That was the moment that convinced me. That's precisely what bothered me about classic diesel engines — the noise.

Nicola: We experienced it with charter yachts. The most beautiful moment and sailors will surely relate, is when the engine is turned off, the sails are raised, and there's no more noise. Having that experience all the time convinced us, alongside our curiosity, to try something new and the environmental aspect, of course. We don't have a single milliliter of diesel on board, and we don't need motor maintenance.

Raffael: We have no smell, no noise, and no guilt when we run the motor for longer periods.

Are you self-sufficient in terms of electricity, or do you need to charge in ports?

Raffael: No, we are completely self-sufficient, thanks to solar power. We do have a charger on board. If necessary, we could head to a port to charge the motor batteries, but especially here in the Caribbean, solar power works great. However, switching to an electric motor was quite a change. It's a different kind of sailing because the motor is only used for entering and leaving harbors, not for navigating calm winds or against strong currents, which can be tiring. In some situations, we have wished to have a stronger engine as we would have arrived earlier.

Nicola: Sometimes, when the wind is blowing directly out of the bay, and you're just a mile away, you might want to bring down the sails and comfortably use the motor to enter the harbor. This only works when there's no wind or waves. Otherwise, you sail as long as possible and only use the motor for the very last part. It's just a different way of traveling.

Raffael: You also need to be patient and adapt to the weather. If there's no wind, you simply can't sail. You might have to stay in a bay for a few extra days. But we've taken the time. The motor in this boat is not a specified marine motor. These are, of course, available these days and have a significantly better performance, but they are still very expensive.

Nicola: Sailing is already a form of "slow travel," but with an electric motor, it's even slower. The sustainability aspect is a major advantage. We have a generator on board for emergencies, but we've only used it twice in the past year. Overall, we might have consumed about 5 liters of gasoline for the main motor through the generator.

Raffael: It's beautiful to be propelled solely by nature. Primarily, we sail like any other sailboat, powered by the wind. If the wind isn't sufficient, we use the electric motor charged by solar panels. So, it's either the power of the wind or the sun that propels us.

Nicola: It's fascinating to harness the forces of nature to your advantage. There's always that special moment when you realize that a massive ship is propelled solely by the wind and can navigate through the waves. And when the wind isn't enough, the sun powers our motor. This connection with nature and sustainability is a beautiful thought.

How did you prepare for the transatlantic crossing?

Nicola: We are both sailors, not mechanics or electricians. It's almost better to be the latter because you need to acquire so much know-how for various boat tasks, from electrical work to gas and fiberglass repairs.

Raffael: Having a sailing license is good, but when you live on a boat, it's almost secondary. What you need to learn is how to handle various boat tasks. We had no knowledge of diesel or electric motors. So, during preparation, it didn't matter much. I simply dug out my old electro-physics books and refreshed my electronics basics. Most of it is learning by doing. After a while, you just get the hang of it. We talked to many people before buying the boat—sailing colleagues and our sailing instructor. The general sentiment in the established sailing community was, "The boat looks good, but you shouldn't do it with an electric motor." It was important for us to have someone confirm that we weren't completely crazy for buying a boat with an electric motor. That someone was Dan and Kika from sailinguma, who have been doing it for many years. They've shared a lot about electric motors and the technology behind them.

What are your highlights on board?

Raffael: It's the little things, like this morning: just getting up and jumping into the water. Taking three steps from the bed and you're in the sea.

Nicola: For me, being in the middle of the Atlantic and doing night shifts was quite special. Despite being tiring, it's beautiful. You have no internet, you're alone, and you have plenty of time with just the sea, the stars, and the sun. Arriving in the Caribbean was somewhat surreal because that's when you truly realize what you've accomplished. You've crossed the Atlantic Ocean with a sailboat and are now on the other side.

Raffael: During the 18 days, it was just the two of us, with no communication with the outside world. We only saw about three other boats throughout the entire crossing.

What's next on your journey? Do you have any plans?

Nicola: The original plan was to be on the journey for a year, and that's about to end in a few weeks. Just a few months ago, we decided to extend our stay in the Caribbean for another season. Since we're staying longer than planned, we absolutely want to visit our family and friends. We're taking a small boat-life break and flying to Europe for a few weeks. It wasn't what we initially planned because we deliberately made a sustainable transatlantic crossing, and flying back feels strange. But we want to see our family. Besides a few household appliances, that's what we miss the most. Seeing friends and family who know you well in person is invaluable. We're looking forward to it. And to a good coffee in Vienna.

Raffael: I don't miss the city on the boat, but we miss friends, family, and acquaintances. In broad strokes, the plan is to sail north to St. Martin and be on the water for about a month. Then we'll turn around and head south out of the hurricane zone. The goal is Trinidad, where we'll take the boat out of the water and put it on land. From there, we'll fly to Croatia. In August, we'll spend two or three weeks in Croatia to work as skippers and then a month in Austria. After that, it's back to the boat, and we'll extend our stay for another season in the Caribbean.

Nicola: And as for what comes next, we'll see.