When we left the UK in February 2014, we originally set a limit of five years to slowly sail around the world. Eight years later and with a multitude of fabulous memories, stupendous highs and more than our fair share of challenges, we’ve pressed the pause button on our circumnavigation. The boat recently went up for sale and was quickly snapped up by an Australian family.
It was a very difficult decision to make, but the ever-changing border closures from the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with being on the other side of the world to our family and friends, simply became too much. So, big changes are afoot, and another adventure begins for us two drifters, but without our lovely catamaran.
Our last couple of years spent in French Polynesia and Fiji have been nothing short of amazing. We’ve had such freedom and fun and we wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else during this topsy-turvy time.
We’re going to miss our floating home, the stunning views, sunny weather, sunsets and the palm trees. But on the other hand, we can enjoy a real pint at the pub, my Mum’s Sunday roast and a bath!
We will miss our lovely home
Future Plans
So what does the future look like? Well, to be absolutely honest, we don’t really know and it’s terrifying! We’ve been sussing out the laid-back vibe on the Isle of Wight and are now looking for a base to call home, while we consider other wanderlust options. You didn’t think we’d stop travelling, did you?!
As for work, in between a bit of property development, Skipper, as an RYA Yachtmaster, plans to skipper other boats. Hopefully, our double-handed sailing over the last couple of years will stand us in good stead for some joint offshore boat deliveries. He’s also keen to expand his diving skills, with the next step to qualify as a dive instructor.
I’ll certainly put my mind to some freelance writing for magazines and newspapers and, will hope to produce more in-depth features on our adventures of sailing around the world, especially on our recent exploits in the South Pacific and South Africa. Who knows, I might even write a book!
We’ve both really missed having a four-pawed friend alongside us, so we certainly won’t waste any time in extending our family with a salty sea dog (or two) once we have found somewhere to lay our sun hats.
This is by no means the end of Two Drifters, we have a passion for travel and an intrepid curiosity for adventure and exploration. After all, we still have such a lot of world to see! And, when the time is right, you can rest assured we will set sail on our own boat again.
…And a lot more palm trees to discover too!
It’s been such a huge learning curve and an accomplishment to have not only sailed across two huge oceans, but also over halfway around the world. Not bad to have got as far as Australia considering I didn’t know how to sail when we first started out!
Skipper and I very much hope you will continue to be part of our next adventure and we’ll keep the Facebook page updated with what happens next, so standby. But for now, we would like to say a huge thank you for being there, sofa sailing with us as part of this amazing journey we’ve been on. It’s been simply wonderful to share it with you.
We are Two Drifters – Fergus Dunipace & Jenevora Swann
© Two Drifters Travel 2022
Unauthorised publishing of the text or image content in part or in full is strictly forbidden
*****