Travel Sketch

25/02/2024

Telicia's latest blog for Noforeignland.com has gone live and this time Rose is the star 🤩 Having a dog aboard can be a challenge at times and isn't something to enter into lightly, but for us it's worth every bit of extra planning and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Back in the planning stages of live aboard life one of the decisions we made was whether or not to get a dog. We knew our plans would have us living aboard a yacht for most of the dog's life and that having a dog would have implications on how we travelled. Here’s an insight into what our experien...

23/02/2024

For people considering coming to Trinidad for the 2024 hurricane season make sure you check out our complete guide to hauling out! 🇹🇹

It covers a range of topics including how to enter, what's around, how to import Yacht in Transit goods and what the visa extension process is, as well as tips about how to get around and where to buy the best food 😃

Our first Caribbean destination was the dual island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Known for its warm climate, jungle terrain and vibrant annual carnival, it is considered a safe destination during the North Atlantic hurricane season. Our stay was initially meant to be 3 months but lasted almost 12,...

18/02/2024

This week was the annual Trinidad & Tobago Carnival! 🎉

In the lead up to Carnival there are many different events including fetes, steelpan band competitions, the national stick fighting championships and costume competitions. Carnival takes place during the two days before Ash Wednesday. At around 4am on Monday morning Jouvert starts, and on Tuesday it's all about Mas Parade.

Given Carnival is one of the biggest cultural events on the calendar we decided to go into the capital city of Port of Spain to experience it for ourselves! 🇹🇹

During Carnival there are some amazing Soca tunes but sadly due to copyrite we couldn't include them all in this video. Our favourite was DNA by Mical Teja w...

07/02/2024

When deciding to buy a sailboat and cruise around the world finances are a huge part of the process. Some can afford to do it off their savings alone while others need to find ways to make money along the way.

In our latest blog post Teesh shares 14 ways you can make money while sailing the world, from freelancing and consulting to selling physical products and offering services as you sail. ⛵️💸

When deciding to buy a sailboat and cruise around the world one of the primary factors is money. Some can afford to do it off their savings while others need to find ways to make money along the way. This is a topic I've done quite a bit of research on and have experience in as our adventures are al...

02/02/2024

After a couple weeks off focusing on the boat and our newly launched website and blog, we're back with a new video!

As you all know, for almost 12 months now our home has been a shipyard in Trinidad while our Leopard 45 catamaran undergoes significant warranty repairs. One exciting morning it was time to launch one of these catamarans, with the team at Power Boats in Chaguaramas showing off how they work together to lift, tow and launch these enormous yachts.

For almost 12 months now our home has been a shipyard in Trinidad while our Leopard 45 catamaran undergoes significant warranty repairs. One exciting morning...

31/01/2024

Through our new website we've launched our very own Travel Sketch blog!

It will cover everything from travelling with pets and destination guides to what we use inside our boat and how we provision for passages. To us, it's important to add value to the sailing community. Sharing our knowledge and ideas through this blog is another way to do that!

Here's one of our recent posts which shares how we streamlined and improved our Leopard 45's Code 0 furling system, making it more functional, safer and able to be single-handed.

When we purchased our new Leopard 45 catamaran we selected the OEM Code 0 sail and furler from the Robertson & Caine factory option list. Since then we streamlined and improved the entire system, making it more functional, safer and able to be single-handed. The value of this simple conversion is th...

22/01/2024

We promise a new video is coming soon but in the meantime we've been working on a different project - creating and launching an entirely new website! We're excited by the potential of the new site and will be launching even more new features soon 🥳⛵️

Join the Travel Sketch adventure as we share tips, reviews and ideas based on our experiences as liveaboard cruisers, sailing and travelling the world aboard our 45ft sailboat!

02/01/2024

27/12/2023

We wanted to share some of the good work being done by the world's only sailing vet clinic, Vet Tails!

Check out their projects and do a direct donation on the website - https://www.vettails.com/Watch their latest adventures on YouTube - https://www....

24/12/2023

Since releasing the first tap testing video, these hulls been opened up like a page out of Incredible Cross Sections revealing more dry glass. We've learned about the different noises our hull makes when we beat it with a hammer and have decided to share this wonderful catalogue of sounds with others at Christmas 🎅⛵️

How to tap test your own new Leopard Catamaran. Have some spare time over Christmas? Have we got the family friendly activity for you!This time featuring a 2...

21/12/2023

We recently shared a video about the Trinidad Central Market - if you haven't had a chance to watch, check it out! The feedback from Trinidadians has been wonderful, both online and at the market. During last week's trip there were hugs and celebrations from a few of the vendors who were really happy to see their work shared and received online with so much positivity😃

⛵ Support the Channel! ❤ For exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/travelsketch Since arriving in Trinidad almost 9 months ago we've settled into a rout...

17/11/2023

Before we bought our Leopard 45 we had another boat which facilitated incredible experiences that the course of our lives!

⛵ Support the Channel! ❤ For exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/travelsketch Here is the story of the time we bought a Filipino fishing boat while st...

11/11/2023

Earlier this year we came across this incredible channel who we appreciate are actively trying to make a difference in the world and decided to help!

Vet Tails (Sailing Chuffed) held their first spay and neuter clinic in Puerto Madero while doing a yacht refit in 2020. Puerto Madero is the most impoverished state in Mexico so despite having a local vet who's willing to help, outside funding is needed to supply the necessary resources.

Since then Vet Tails have sponsored 8 clinics using donations from various sources, working with the local vet to ensure this valuable program continues 🐶⛵️

15/10/2023

I was a bit slow to share our latest video on Facebook but here it is, "Dry Fiberglass on a New Yacht: Part 1"

After arriving in Trinidad we engaged a local contractor to open the anomalous areas previously detected on the bridge deck so we could see what was inside.... it was dry fiberglass with little to no resin. Multiple sections of the bridge deck had not been resin infused during the build process in the Leopard 45 Factory, so the fiberglass inside was dry, making it non-structural.

This video shows the whole process, from opening them up to the completed repairs, as well as observations made on 2 other Leopard 45's also hauled in Trinidad.

⛵ Like, Share and Comment to support the Channel! ❤ During our warranty repair rectifications scary issues have been exposed with our new Leopard 45 catamara...

06/10/2023

One of the best upgrades done to our Leopard 45 catamaran is the installation of STEINBAUER PowerModules on the engines.

Based in Austria, STEINBAUER have decades of experience developing PowerModules that are used in a range of industries including agriculture, construction and automotive. After the owner bought his own catamaran, attention turned towards marine engines.

Since installing the STEINBAUER PowerModules we've noticed our 4JH45 motors are more responsive, faster and fuel consumption has improved. Head to the website to find out more about how the modules work and why we chose to be part of the project!

In turning our Leopard 45 into a fully functional liveaboard and remote area cruiser we've made quite a few additions. One of such addition was installing STEINBAUER PowerModules on our 4JH45 engines, and what a difference it has made!

04/10/2023

After reading some of the blogs Telicia wrote for our website, the team behind No Foreign Land reached out to see if she'd be interested in working with them. She said yes and the first one is now live! 🇬🇮

If you're a cruiser and haven't checked No Foreign Land out yet, it is definitely worth a look. We've found it's a great resource to discover where things are when we move somewhere new ⛵️

Gibraltar might be a small peninsula, but it has a long and intriguing history. Situated near the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, the land around the towering Rock has been inhabited by Neanderthals, conquered by the Moors of North Africa, ceded to the British and turned into a defensive strongho

01/10/2023

During our time in Trinidad we've really come to appreciate the value of tap testing fiberglass to detect potential discrepancies. 🔨

In this DIY video Teesh takes you through what a tap test is, how to do it (including what you're listening for👂)and why we think it's a valuable tool for current and potential yacht owners.

Since the hull of our Leopard is largely covered in scaffolding, we've included footage of tap testing a 2023 Leopard 45 that's on the hardstand a few boats up from our 2021 model. ⛵️

⛵ Support the Channel! ❤ For exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/travelsketch Just in time for the 2023 Annapolis Boat Show, here's our take on the va...

18/09/2023

At least once a week we try to get away from the shipyard and out into nature. These little trips help us stay sane and recharge our minds for the warranty repairs and boat work ahead. This time one of the guys found a stick that Rose just had to have 😂😂

16/09/2023

Something we've been asked more than a few times is -"How are you all still sane??"

That question got us thinking and we've identified a few key things that have helped us keep working towards our dream of sailing and exploring the world.

We also share what we think is THE BEST OVERALL JUNGLE EXPERIENCE you can have in Trinidad. It's a stunning jungle hike up a river that goes through Three Pools, where you can swim and cliff jump, and ends at the spectacular Avocat Waterfall. You may even be lucky enough to see wild monkeys jumping through the bamboo. 🌿

HEAD HERE TO VOTE 👉 bit.ly/travelsketchvoteThank you to everyone who's voted for us so far in the International Cruiser Awards, we really appreciate it! If...

07/09/2023

After some encouragement from friends and supporters we've also nominated for Inspirational Cruiser of the Year⛵️

We'd appreciate it if you'd click the link & vote for us in the 2023 International Cruiser Awards👉 bit.ly/travelsketchvote

"Friends who spent years planning and saving to self-fund our remote cruising dream, having our lives put on hold by poor workmanship instead. Together we chose make something positive out of it by sharing the truth and pushing for change."

All you need to do is input an email address and then confirm your vote - there's no spam but you can always use your dump account 😉

03/09/2023

We're entering into this years Young Cruisers Awards for Best Emerging YouTube Channel ⛵️

If you've got a second flick us a vote, you just need to input an email address (they don't send spam but we suggest you use a dump address 😉) and confirm your vote!

https://www.zealous.co/youngcruisersassociation/opportunity/Best-Emerging-YouTube-Channel-23/submissions/teliciacampain/Travel-Sketch/?f_work=hCKp0WxWYD60KJJg1RQ5&white_view=true

02/09/2023

💧💧 From the first few days it became clear that our Leopard 45 had various leaks all over, from the windows and skylights to exhaust mixer hose and deck fittings. 💧💧💧

In this short video, we take a look at which of the Lewmar hatches on our catamaran leaked, the possible causes of the hatches leaking (which can apply to other brands of yacht) and what the warranty/rectification response from Leopard Catamarans and Robertson & Caine was like for the boys in Cape Town. We also show you how we leak test our hatches using a hose or bucket, just in case you're buying or handing over a new boat.

We're trying to group similar issues together to help paint an overall picture of what brought us to where we are today and why we're handling it the way we are. ⛵️

From the first few days it became clear that our Leopard 45 had leaks all over varying in severity. We are trying to group similar issues together to help pa...

19/08/2023

Here's a quick look at the the top ten things we think are worth checking when buying or collecting a production catamaran ⛵️

This is our quick list of the top ten things, we think are worth checking when buying or collecting a production catamaran. It is not just based on our catam...

16/07/2023

During the handover test sail, Trent and Tynan noticed water sloshing around in the engine bay of our new yacht and the bilge light going on and off. Details...

26/06/2023

Tuning for Multihulls, Sailing Boats and PowerBoats MORE POWER. SMOOTH SAILING. When it comes to engine tuning, marine engines don't usually come to mind. But when you consider that more and more couples and families are opting for the floating sea change lifestyle - it's time to revisit our thinkin...

12/06/2023

Lots has happened since we last posted so here's the latest update!

Much has happened since we last posted! We are in communication with management from Leopard Catamarans and Robertson & Caine, representatives from both have...

01/05/2023

With things progressing in the background here's an update on what's going on with our warranty repairs as well as our first attempt to remove the crossbeam... it didn't quite go the way we thought 😅

To start off we share a current update on where things are at with Robertson & Caine, Leopard Catamarans and the warranty repairs our Leopard 45 needs to und...

18/04/2023

Latest episode is up now! The mast comes down and we take you through a day on the hard in Trinidad.

Once again the mast comes off on our Leopard 45 Liger in preparation for the upcoming yacht repairs. With that done Telicia shows you what daily life is like...