Caribbean

05
Jul
2026
Galery – Rigg and Leftovers

Galery – Rigg and Leftovers

After launching Mabul, it turns out that replacing the entire rigging is unavoidable. A closer inspection reveals fine hairline cracks in the swaged terminals of the shrouds on the deck side.All we actually wanted to do was bend on the sails, finish a few small jobs, put away the tools, clean up and provision Mabul. After receiving an absurd quote from the local rigger, I order all the materials from the US. Jason from SV Escapade helps us fabricate the new shrouds and stays. Together, we measure and cut the wires to length and install the screw terminals. During the first engine check, I also discover that the shaft has slipped inside the coupling during the short trip from the launch ramp to the mooring. On closer inspection, I find a crack in the coupling that prevents it from properly clamping the shaft. It can’t be repaired, so a new one is needed. Not exactly cheap, but at least it’s relatively easy to replace. So now we can’t escape the marina under sail or under engine power, and once again, everything takes a little longer. But in the end, Mabul has new standing rigging and a new shaft coupling. Everything is installed, adjusted and properly tuned. She is finally complete again and ready for her next adventures.

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24
Apr
2026
Gallery – On the hard again

Gallery – On the hard again

We originally plan to use this boatyard stay for just two projects: applying a fresh coat of Coppercoat to the hull and installing a folding arch for our dinghy davits. The plan is to be back in the water within four to six weeks—but in the end, the project stretches to more than four months. Twice, Mabul is only moments away from being launched again. The first time, Alex discovers that all the gearbox oil has leaked out, forcing the engine to be removed for repairs. The second time, the keel joint cracks while the boat is being lifted. Instead of continuing our voyage, we find ourselves facing countless unexpected repairs. Fortunately, this time is about more than setbacks. We meet many wonderful people, enjoy the peaceful mangrove canal, and spend countless relaxing hours on the beach at Cacique. Looking back, these encounters and small moments of calm are what we remember most. When Mabul finally returns to the water, the effort has paid off. The entire underwater hull, engine, engine compartment, and gearbox have been thoroughly overhauled. The new Coppercoat should keep us free from traditional antifouling for many years, and thanks to the new davit arch, a single person can now lift our dinghy out of the water with ease.

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28
Dec
2025
They Traded Land for Sea – Where Are Karin and Alex Now?

They Traded Land for Sea – Where Are Karin and Alex Now?

Life on a sailboat isn’t a one-time adventure but a constant evolution. In this follow-up, Mandy Schielke speaks again with Karin for Deutschlandfunk Kultur about how daily life, their relationship, and their roles on board have developed since their first conversation. Listen to the podcast “Plus Eins”.

https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/aussteigerpaar-auf-dem-segelboot-was-wurde-aus-karin-und-alex-100.html

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30
Jul
2025
Winter Storage

Winter Storage

Freshly rested and full of new energy, we return to Mabul from our vacation in Colombia. But in addition to beautiful memories, we also bring back a far-reaching decision: after three intense, exciting, and at the same time exhausting years, we need a longer break from life at sea to finally find peace again. So the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal will have to wait another six months until we and Mabul are ready for the next adventure. To prevent further mishaps, we decide to park Mabul in the dry dock of the Panamarina during hurricane season – at least there she can’t sink herself. The coming weeks will therefore be dominated by a special task: putting our sailboat into winter storage in the tropics.

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13
Jun
2025
The Mangrove Months

The Mangrove Months

Before finally passing through the canal into the long-awaited Pacific Ocean, there is one last short stop on land. The very last Panama Canal boat preparation. The worn-out cutlass bearing needs to be replaced again, and above all, the cause must be permanently fixed. Since we have been anchored in Linton Bay for weeks anyway, the decision is clear: Mabul will be hauled ashore at the nearby Panamarina, we will rent a room with air conditioning to keep the mood bearable, and we will do what needs to be done.

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05
Jun
2025
Gallery – Panamarina

Gallery – Panamarina

The time has come again, Mabul is spending a few days on the hard in Panamarina so that I can replace the shaft bearing and rectify the cause. The recently installed rudder bearings are still like new, but the keel-hull joint repair from the last dry dock round didn’t hold. So I pull out my beloved angle grinder again and remove everything I laminated on a few months ago. And this is exactly where the problem lies. I laminated over the keel joint, but that doesn’t make much sense from a sober point of view. The slight movement that is always present here will and has simply sheared off two super-stiff, thin layers of fiberglass laminate. We book a room with air conditioning right next to Mabul, which makes the whole experience much more pleasant. Back in the water, we decide to have a fixed railing welded to Mabul and since the welder is already on board anyway, we could do this and that… And that one as well…

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07
May
2025
Gallery – Birding in Panama

Gallery – Birding in Panama

The wildlife and especially the birdlife in Panama is simply amazing and too often I was unable to capture them well in photographs. Even the most modern smartphone camera gigantism is not enough, the flight distance of the shy animals is simply too much. So I’ve been carrying a longer lens for my mirrorless camera on our walks for a quarter of a year now. And all of a sudden, it’s become a new incentive to explore nature. So I spend hours and hours birding in Panama in the forest, in the mangroves or on the dinghy to get to know more and more of this diversity. All the photos were taken on the Caribbean side of Panama, between Colon and San Blas.

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