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• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

Sailing Uma talk sailing to Svalbard in an electric-assisted yacht

• April 14, 2023

In their electric-assisted yacht two architects and YouTube stars, Sailing Uma, venture to the Norwegian Sea’s most remote and stunning fjords and islands

Eight years ago, Dan and Kika sold everything they didn’t need and bought their first sailing boat, a 1972 Pearson 36, for $3,000 in cash. The architecture students had just graduated and were keen not to ‘buy a couch’ and settle into the predictable evolution of life.

Since that day in 2014, they have sailed more than 28,000 miles, visited 28 countries and never motored for more than 30 minutes at a time. They make a living documenting their trips and promoting sustainability at sea, notably the ground-breaking use of electric engines.

Their story is one of adventure and true pioneering spirit. It is also inspirational, as witnessed by their 101,000 Instagram followers and 411,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel Sailing Uma .

‘Our boat is called Uma . Her name was inspired by the Portuguese word, uma, meaning first or primary. To us, she is more than just a number,’ says Kika.

Dan and Kika of Sailing Uma

Inspired to explore

‘In life there are many paths to choose; all require a first step, a first idea, a first choice to stand on, to guide you on your journey. We hope that our story will stand as an inspiration for those wanting to pursue their dream, to take their first step to discover their own Uma.’

Dan grew up in Canada and Kika is from Haiti; they met in Atlanta at university. ‘We realised that after five years in architecture we had spent a lot of our lives learning about other people’s ideas from books. We wanted to live our own experiences,’ says Kika. ‘We believe that architects have a strong possibility of changing the way people live and in turn change our world for the better. We knew we had to go out and study different cultures, experience different ways of living to search for the right solution. We felt the need to do so, not through textbooks but through people. And through our own adventures.’ Now their office is their sailing boat, which is also their home.

Dan and Kika are passionate about sustainability and are keen to seek and test cutting-edge solutions, ‘powered by the sun, wind and water. We want to be as self-sufficient as we can and share our passion for sustainability’, says Kika. They are working with manufacturers, testing their nautical equipment.

After buying Uma, Dan and Kika spent two years living on board in the shipyard in Florida while they repaired and refitted her. During this time, they replaced the original diesel engine, which had seized, and bought two 240W solar panels. ‘We spent $100 on Ebay buying an electric motor formerly used by a forklift truck,’ says Dan. He then spent many, many hours refining and converting the new engine to power the propeller. ‘We were not trying to replace the power of the diesel engine. We wanted the electric equivalent of oars, something that would guide us to a mooring or into harbour. It was new to us, a new system in general and we were testing it by sailing.’

Dan and Kika spent more than a year exploring the hundreds of coves and fjords on the Norwegian coast. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

2,200 miles across the Atlantic

The couple first sailed to the Caribbean, spending six months in Haiti and another six months cruising through Curaçao, Martinique and many other islands. A second year was spent cruising between Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and the Bahamas. Dan and Kika then cruised up the American east coast. In 2019, the couple sailed over 2,200 miles across the Atlantic from Newfoundland to Southampton. Taking more than two weeks, it was not always easy, with fog and gale-force winds. A large wave also knocked out some of the instruments and the electric motor at one point.

After arriving in Southampton, Dan and Kika spent a year in the UK, taking advantage of the shore time to upgrade their electric engine to an Oceanvolt system. At this time, electric systems were not widely available for yachts. ‘We were lucky. There was a catamaran with four engines that had been hit by lightning,’ says Dan. ‘They were replacing two of these with diesel engines and so we took one of those.’

Dan and Kika then decided to head north and cross the North Sea, just as the Covid pandemic was beginning to take hold in Britain. ‘The plan was always to go to Iceland,’ says Dan. ‘It is just that we found some great places on the way and of course we were looking at the wind patterns. A lot of our decisions are based on how the wind is.

Uma covered in snow. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

‘The more we sailed the more we learned that timing can make or break a passage. While the North Sea, just like any other sea, can indeed be fierce and terrifying, it isn’t always storms and bad weather, and can make for some beautiful sailing, if one is patient enough to wait for the right wind. We believe it’s the sailors that are in a hurry to get somewhere that inevitably run into trouble.’

Just before lockdown in 2020, Uma sailed into Norway in what was the start of a two-and-a-half-year tour of Norway, Svalbard, Jan Mayen island and Iceland. ‘We were one of the last boats to be allowed into Norway before lockdown,’ says Dan. What started as a shorter trip aimed at being a jump off point for Iceland, evolved into over a year of cruising the Norwegian fjords. ‘We really loved Norway. We wanted to spend time in Norway so we sailed up the coast and into the fjords.’ Uma cruised up the coast, stopping at many of the hundreds of coves and fjords on the way, including the stunning Nærøyfjord, the longest fjord in Norway at 120 miles.

During the winter, prepping Uma for up to 50-knot winds became second nature as strong winds hit almost weekly and there was also snow and the hazard of the boat setting into the ice. ‘This far north, we get “snow squalls”. Just some non-threatening clouds on the horizon, but filled with blinding snow instead of rain. Oh, and they can happen at pretty much any time of the year.’

The couple made it as far north as the glaciers of Svalbard. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

Not enough solar power

With fickle winds and very little solar power, there was also a need to charge the batteries. This, however, was easy with marinas every five miles or so. ‘As you know in the Norwegian winter, and sometimes even the summer, there is not too much light. You are so far north and there are the mountains that sweep down to the fjords – it is quite dark. Solar panels are useless covered in snow and ice so we plugged into powerpoints all along the coast. We didn’t feel bad doing this as almost all the energy produced in Norway is from renewables.’

Uma then sailed north into the Arctic Circle to the tiny offshore island of Myken, which has only 12 inhabitants. Then on to the Lofoten islands, through Raftsund and Trollfjord. ‘We anchored in the most lovely bay just outside of Raftsundet. We stayed there for a full week as the first signs of spring finally arrived around the end of April. It’s amazing how quickly the weather can change around here,’ says Kika. ‘In one fjord you get iced in, with 10cm of fresh snowfall, and just around the corner, you get a tropical white sandy beach surrounding your anchorage.’

Uma on the Norwegian coast. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

After a year in Norway, Uma reached Tromsø in the spring of 2021. Dan and Kika decided to install a new, regenerative charging Oceanvolt engine system. ‘Ours had a folding prop which didn’t really provide any regen while we were sailing. And to us the entire point about going electric is that while you are sailing you can generate an unlimited amount of electricity.’ They also bought a portable Honda 2.2kW petrol generator which was useful for topping up the batteries on foggy days or in extremely remote areas.

To the Arctic circle

In July, Uma left Tromsø, heading 570 miles north to Svalbard, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. At above 74°, it is as far north as most sailors are happy to venture. ‘After five days offshore, our first sign of land did not disappoint. We arrived in Svalbard, 700 miles beyond the Arctic Circle, at 0100. When the fog lifted, the view was nothing short of spectacular,’ says Kika. Incredibly majestic, Svalbard has around 2,100 glaciers, some dated to be 4,000 years old, as well as polar bears, reindeer and Arctic foxes. ‘Sailing in front of a glacier will forever be one of our most magical moments on board Uma. ‘The vocabulary a glacier uses to communicate is complex and alive. We’ve never heard a sound like it,’ says Kika. ‘Freezing and thawing water has cracked and fractured the rocks over thousands of years, creating a landscape unlike any other we’ve ever experienced.’

Dan and Kika sailed Uma up to one of the 2,100 glaciers on Svalbard. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

Svalbard on ice

Longyearbyen – the Longyear Town – is the world’s most northern settlement. As you approach it, you notice hundreds of white balls up on the mountain top. These belong to the Svalbard Satellite Station, which provides ground services to more satellites than any other facility worldwide. It has many clients, including NASA, the European Space Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Data is transferred to mainland Norway through a large, undersea fibre-optic cable.

Svalbard also hosts the world’s largest secure seed storage: the Svalbard Global Seed Vault stores up to four million different types of seeds at -18° in a vast cavern inside a frozen mountain. Should a species become extinct in its native habitat, it can be revived from here.

Dan and Kika always sail, waiting for suitable wind rather than motoring. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

Summer brings the midnight sun – sunlight for 24 hours a day. ‘This far north, this remote, satellite images and Google Earth aren’t updated very often and usually lack significant detail. Charts and guides are minimal, so we are often going in “blind” or at least with much less data than we are used to. But it all just adds to the adventure.’

Before venturing north, Dan and Kika also installed the main systems with backups. ‘We have a cooker that uses alcohol, we have a wood stove for warmth and we have a windvane to act as an autopilot.’ They had some questions about their electric engine too. ‘We took lithium batteries into the Arctic. We were not quite sure what to expect in terms of performance at such low temperatures – nobody has ever done that before.

Uma noses up the dramatic Trollfjord in Norway. It was too deep to anchor in. Photo: Dan and Kika Sailing Uma

Batteries have less capacity when cold. Once we got down to 20% we decided to just sail out of the port and tack south using the winds and the currents.’ The sailing season in Svalbard is short, even in summer, due to being so far north. ‘We wished we could stay for months, but after a short stay, it was time to turn south.’

Remote volcano

‘After six days of pretty favourable weather, we saw land – Jan Mayen.’ This tiny, remote island in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, with no protected anchorages or harbours, is a very difficult place to stop at. ‘We were lucky enough to arrive with the best forecast you can ask for in this place – 24 hours of zero wind.’ Mostly uninhabited, Jan Mayen is 325 miles north of Iceland and hosts the glacier-covered, active volcano Berenberg at 2,277 metres high.

Iceland was the last stop before Scotland. ‘We arrived in thick fog. We hunkered down on board for a few days of pretty nasty weather, and when the fog cleared, we realised how majestic the coast was. Waterfalls dropping straight into the ocean, bizarre rock formations. Iceland is full of surprises.

‘Making our way so far north in our little fibreglass electric sailing boat was a journey like no other, and it also came with challenges like no other. From Polar bear watch, to ice watch, to constantly shifting weather, to the pressure of simply wanting to tell a good story, let’s just say we haven’t had a good sleep for months. But having the opportunity to admire all of these arctic wonders, from the deck of our home, was seriously worth ALL the effort!’

10 top places in the Norwegian Sea

Stavanger and the Lysefjord – One of our absolute favourites: all the little islands, free mooring bouys, and a huge jjord to explore. It’s a quick sail from the UK too.

Nærøyfjord – One of the narrowest fjords in the world is a great spot with a very narrow entrance and waterfalls right next to the boat.

Coastal Norway – All the coast of Norway is a perfect cruising area, because there are lots of inland passages. Even in strong winds you are protected from the swells.

Stad – This popular stretch of water (also called Stadhavet) can be very treacherous. The weather is so notorious that the Norwegian government built a 1.7km (0.9 mile)-long ship tunnel (an underground canal) so vessels can avoid the Stadlandet headland.

Lofoten – We went through the Raftsund cut to visit Trollfjord. There is a basic berth at the end but you can anchor inside a little bay just north of the fjord.

Senja – Senja is nice, but it’s not very protected so you need to pay close attention to the weather.

Tromsø – Tromsø is a great place with an awesome community. A good place to prep and to get your Arctic permits (ideally 2-3 months before your planned departure).

Svalbard – In Svalbard/Spitsbergen, we mainly stayed in Area 10 where Longyearbyen is. In high season, this is where the ferries and expedition boats stay.

Jan Mayen – Before anchoring there, you need to call on the radio to request permission to go ashore.

Iceland – There is always a current flowing clockwise around the island, and the weather is never with you. There aren’t a lot of protected harbours.

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What Type of Sailboat is Uma? (The Essential Guide)

Are you dreaming of owning a sailboat and exploring the open seas? If so, the Uma sailboat may be the perfect choice for you! The Uma sailboat is a relatively new entrant to the sailing world, and this guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to know about it.

In this guide, we’ll cover what a Uma sailboat is, what its design looks like, its hull, rigging, sail plan, ideal use, and the advantages of owning one.

Read on to discover if the Uma sailboat is the perfect vessel for your sailing dreams!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Uma is a type of sailing yacht, specifically a sloop.

It has one mast and a Bermuda or Marconi sail plan, and is traditionally rigged with two sails – a mainsail and a headsail.

Uma is often used for recreational sailing and racing, and is well-suited for coastal cruising due to its relatively small size.

What is a Uma Sailboat?

Uma sailboats are a type of sailboat known as a cutter, designed for both cruising and racing.

It has a classic, traditional style and is well-suited for both short- and long-distance journeys.

Uma sailboats are renowned for their sleek, streamlined design, with a long, narrow hull, a full-keel design for stability, and a wide, open cockpit for easy maneuvering.

These boats have two masts and a large mainsail that allows for excellent upwind sailing.

The Uma sailboat is ideal for sailors of any skill level, from the novice to the experienced sailor.

Its maneuverability and stability make it an excellent choice for cruising in any waters, and its speed makes it a great choice for racing.

With its classic design, it is sure to turn heads on the water.

The Uma sailboat is easy to maintain, with its durable construction and low-maintenance exterior.

The boat requires minimal upkeep, making it an ideal choice for those who don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to boat maintenance.

The boat is also relatively lightweight, which means it can be easily transported between ports.

Uma sailboats come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 30 to 50 feet in length.

With its classic design, these boats are sure to provide a comfortable and enjoyable sailing experience.

The Uma sailboat is an excellent choice for those who want a dependable boat that will last.

The Design of a Uma

Uma is a classic sailboat that features a long, narrow hull and a full-keel design.

This design is meant to provide the boat with more stability and better maneuverability, as well as a wider, open cockpit.

The boat features a sloop rig, which consists of two masts and a large mainsail.

This allows the boat to sail upwind with ease and makes it a great choice for sailors of all levels, from the novice to the experienced.

The full-keel design of the Uma contributes to its stability, as it prevents the boat from tipping over easily in choppy waters.

In addition, the wide, open cockpit allows for easy maneuvering, as well as plenty of space for passengers and cargo.

The two masts and the large mainsail also help to provide the boat with a good amount of speed and performance.

In addition to its design, the Uma also features a variety of options to make sailing more enjoyable.

This includes things such as a spacious cabin, a comfortable cockpit, and plenty of storage space for supplies.

The boat is also outfitted with modern safety features, including a GPS navigation system and a VHF radio.

All of these features make the Uma an ideal choice for both cruising and racing.

Overall, the Uma is a classic sailboat that is designed for both cruising and racing.

It has a long, narrow hull and a full-keel design that provide stability and maneuverability, as well as a wide, open cockpit.

It also features a sloop rig with two masts and a large mainsail, which allows for upwind sailing.

The boat is also outfitted with modern safety features and plenty of space for passengers and cargo, making it perfect for sailors of all levels.

Uma is a type of sailboat known as a cutter, and it features a long, narrow hull.

The full-keel design helps to provide stability and makes it an ideal choice for long-distance journeys.

The hull also has a wide, open cockpit, making it easy to maneuver.

The boat has a sloop rig with two masts and a large mainsail, allowing for excellent upwind sailing.

The full-keel design helps to reduce drag and improve maneuverability, making it ideal for both racing and cruising.

The hull also provides plenty of room for storage, making Uma a great choice for those who need to bring along plenty of supplies for their voyage.

Uma’s Rigging

Uma is a classic cutter sailboat with a sloop rig, meaning it has two masts and a large mainsail for upwind sailing.

The mainsail is set on the main mast, with the jib sail and other smaller sails set on the foremast.

Uma’s rigging also includes a spinnaker, a large, triangular sail that is hoisted for downwind sailing, and running backstays, which provide extra stability to the masts.

The standing rigging consists of stainless steel cable running from the deck to the top of the masts, and the running rigging includes halyards, sheets, and other control lines.

All of the rigging is designed to ensure that Uma sails well in all directions and in all conditions.

Uma’s Sail Plan

Uma’s sail plan is a classic, traditional style sloop rig, with two masts and a large mainsail.

The two masts provide excellent stability and upwind sailing performance.

The mainsail is large and offers plenty of power to get upwind quickly, while the headsail provides just enough power to balance out the boat and keep it on course.

The mainsail is easily adjustable, allowing for a wide range of options when it comes to upwind sailing.

The jib and spinnaker, while not essential, are great options for downwind sailing and offer plenty of power for a comfortable and enjoyable ride.

Uma also features a full-keel design, which gives it added stability and makes it well-suited for both short- and long-distance trips.

The wide, open cockpit is great for easy maneuvering and makes Uma an ideal choice for sailors of all levels.

Uma’s Ideal Use

When it comes to sailing, Uma is the perfect boat for both experienced and novice sailors.

With its classic, traditional style and long, narrow hull, Uma is designed for both cruising and racing.

Its full-keel design provides excellent stability, while its wide, open cockpit makes it easy to maneuver.

With its sloop rig featuring two masts and a large mainsail, Uma is ideal for upwind sailing, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to explore the open waters.

Uma is well-suited for both short and long-distance journeys, providing the perfect combination of speed, maneuverability, and strength.

For the novice sailor, Uma offers a comfortable ride and ease of handling, while experienced sailors can take advantage of its performance capabilities.

Uma is also a great choice for the sailor who wants to combine leisure and competition, as it can easily be used for both racing and cruising.

With its classic style and versatility, Uma is the ideal boat for any sailor, no matter their level of experience.

Uma’s Advantages

Uma is an ideal sailboat for both cruising and racing, thanks to its full-keel design and two-masted sloop sail rig.

The long, narrow hull offers stability and maneuverability, while the wide, open cockpit is perfect for easy navigation and a pleasant sailing experience.

The large mainsail also allows for excellent upwind sailing, making Uma great for sailing in any direction.

Additionally, its classic, traditional style makes it a great choice for sailors of all levels.

Novice sailors can enjoy a reliable and safe boat, while experienced sailors can explore the open waters with confidence.

Uma’s full-keel design also provides great tracking and windward performance, allowing sailors to explore more distant destinations.

All in all, Uma is an excellent choice for both cruising and racing.

Final Thoughts

Uma is a classic, traditional sailboat that is well-suited for both cruising and racing.

It has a long, narrow hull that provides stability, and a wide, open cockpit for easy maneuvering.

The boat features a sloop rig with two masts and a large mainsail for excellent upwind sailing.

Uma is an ideal choice for sailors of all levels, from the novice to the experienced sailor.

Now that you know the essential details about Uma sailboats, why not take the next step and find out more? Explore your options and start your sailing journey with Uma today!

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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They took friend’s advice: “If you want to travel the world, don’t buy a couch” and bought sailboat instead

Have you already heard about sailing Uma ? Are you in for an amazing story about two architects who have decided that is much more important to build the life of your dreams rather than some tall buildings in the middle of the city? Then you’ve come to the right place! Meet Dan and Kika (sailing Uma) who are exactly that. Two architects travelling around the world on their boat – sailing Uma.

Have you always been in love with sailing and when did this love exactly happen? What was the trigger that made you leave everything behind and do it?

We often joke about how different our childhoods were, Dan being from British-Colombia Canada , and I (Kika) being from Port-Au-Prince Haiti, yet they led us both to the same place in time. Our existences merged in Architecture school in Atlanta GA. When we met,  neither of us knew anything about sailing. Honestly, it was never even a topic in our conversations.

Not long after graduation, we were contemplating about what our future would be, and many times the subject of “freedom to travel” would come up, still not knowing what that really meant. Around that time, a friend gave us the most important advice we ever received, he said “If you want to travel the world, don’t buy a couch .” The more we thought about it, the more it made sense. The couch is a metaphor for settling down and being tied to “stuff”, making it hard to live a mobile lifestyle. And so we started to define what freedom meant to us.

And THAT  freedom, became  our Priority .  One thing was certain, we both dreamt a bigger world existed than the one we grew up in and longed to see it for ourselves. With this binding ideal, we set our sights on achievement. By working backwards, we came up with a plan. By the end of the summer of 2014, we had sold the majority of our materialistic ties to our past lives, and purchased a sailboat (sailing Uma), our new home. 

Sailing without the engine must be hard. How have you decided to do it without a motor? Is it just because the love of the environment or are there other reasons to it?

We are asked many times “why electric?” And our answer is not as simple as “because we love it.”

In the beginning, we honestly thought we would, like most boats out there, have a Diesel engine. When we purchased our boat, the engine was seized. Her original price on the market was $21,000. But, since we had a replacement we found on eBay for $3,000 . We also put an equal offer of $3,000 for the boat, and to our surprise, the owner accepted. Unfortunately, the “replacement diesel” was built as a generator and when at first we thought we could swap parts between the two engines, it was not a possible option. Fast forward a few months, we sent the boat (along with the 2 non working engines ) to Florida on a truck in order to keep working on the refit.

Out of money, and out of ideas for the engine issue, we took a break and flew to Haiti for 3 months for an architecture project. It’s during those 3 months in Haiti that the electric idea sprouted. Many of the houses in Haiti are “off grid” relying on their own power, either with a generator or solar panels to charge their batteries. And we started to ask ourself “Do we really NEED a diesel?”

Lets first take a look back in time when “production” boats became popular in the late 60s early 70s , the intent was to make an inexpensive boat the average family could afford and handle with limited sailing experience and knowledge. As a result, one of their requirements was the ability to move the boat in difficult situations. This is where the “auxiliary engine” was coined. But, for many, it has become the primary means of maneuvering their boat. Yes, there are places in the world you can’t sail, like the Panama Canal. But, there are often alternatives where you CAN sail.

The answer was right in front of us. After all, we own a sailboat. They are inherently slow. We are not in a rush. We love the idea of being self sufficient. For those who sail with schedules , are short on time, lack the patience to sit out a wind hole, feel the need to power their boat to hull speed, enjoy maintaining a diesel engine or are just set in their ways, then an electric motor probably isn’t the right choice, but for us, and our needs, it was perfect. 

When we came back from Haiti. We removed the diesel engine, and used our DIY skills to rebuild and upgrade our sailboat, while starting a life at sea. With solar to power our everyday needs along with our electric motor to power our boat, sailing Uma is 100% off grid . We have very rarely used our motor for more than 30 minutes at a time and pretty much always sail in and out of harbours and on and off anchor. 

When and why have you decided to buy a boat, what type of a boat is it and how did you come up with a name?

Sailing Uma is a 1972 Pearson 36 . We named our her UMA, inspired by the Portuguese number 1, to us she represents hard work, patience, and determination—putting one foot in front of the other, she is the first step of a life long journey.

You are both architects and you have met in college? How is architecture built-in (intentional pun) your lives? Or is it whatsoever? Do you plan to work as architects when your adventure comes to an end?

The type of architecture that inspires both of us was never the fallac tall buildings in the middle of a city, but the ones that act as catalyst for a bigger purpose. The architecture and innovations that forces us to redefine how we “think” the world works. Although we are grateful for our education, we realized that we cannot truly know how to help, if we do not know how, and school for us was not enough. And the only way to truly learn how, is to be there and be present.

That is our motivation to observe the world, learn from our experiences, and share every step along the way on our Youtube Channel . That is our current focus. We do not know what we will discover during this journey. When the right opportunities come our way, we embrace them. But one thing that is certain is that no matter what we do in life, our adventures will never come to an end, it shifts and evolves, and leads us to different paths.

What are your everyday difficulties with living on board? How hard is living on a boat?

Our determination guides us though the difficulties and toward solutions. Most things on a boat that might be considered difficult can all mostly be solved with time and money. We started out this lifestyle with very little money, but had plenty of time.

Our comfort level was very low and our determination very high, we had no toilet, no shower, no fridge, no windlass, the list was quite long… We were basically camping. But we knew it wouldn’t be this way for long, so we were ok with the situation. Since those first few sailing trips, we’ve been able to adapt and modify sailing Uma to meet our needs and provide a safe, dry home as we travel the world. The term “difficulties” is unique to everyone, but I guess for us, we don’t see them as difficulties but as inconveniences. Things like getting water, or taking a cold shower out in the cockpit might still be considered an inconvenience, but they too can be solved when they are no longer a want and become a need.

What is the biggest advantage living on a boat compered to living on land?

What we love the most about living on our boat is that we are traveling with our entire home! We get to have different neighbors and a different back yard every time we lift our anchor , and if we do not like a place, all we need to do is move our home. 

Do you ever plan on moving back to land? Do you think it will be boring now as you have experienced the other way of living?

We do not know what the future holds but one thing that is certain is that we will never force ourselves to live a life we do not wish to have. Dan and I often find ourselves overwhelmed whenever we head back to a city, where there is noise and traffic, and where everything is stressful. We enjoy visiting those places for a limited time, but we absolutely love living on the water and will continue this journey as long as we are happy doing it. If one day we decide to change the path of the adventure, we will. 

What does a person need if someone wants to follow your steps? Do you have some tips&tricks you want to share?

To achieve any adventure, dream, or passion, we believe the most important tool is “DETERMINATION” . We are where we are today because we were determined to start 4 years ago. Many seem to believe everything need to be perfect to start. The truth is, you only need a handful of things to build a good foundation to start from— a good anchor, sails, a solid hull, everything else is comfort. 

Because of our determination, our comfort level was set very low from the beginning. We focused on what we needed now vs what was more comfortable. Not having a shower, working toilet, or a fridge, to us was a luxury we did not need right away. Our choice was to leave now and upgrade along the way.

“SAILING AROUND THE WORLD” was too intimidating, so we started by learning how to sail to the horizon, which is only about 10 miles away. From there, we could sail to the next horizon, and just keep going. By breaking the journey down into little steps, it made the idea of years of travel into the unknown much more manageable. 

I see you are an experts on not buying furniture ? Is there all to it if you want to explore the world – just don’t buy a couch?

The term don’t buy a couch means much more than just a piece of furniture. The couch is a metaphor for settling down and being tied to “stuff” making it hard to live a mobile lifestyle . 

Where to have you headed next? Why have you chosen the Mediterranean as your next destination because I’ve seen not many insta-sailors sailing here but rather exploring Asia or the Carribean?

Dan and I ( sailing Uma ) always shared the passion for doing things differently, creating our own path instead of following others, which is a motivation for the routes we choose. However, going to Europe has been on our bucket list for a very long time, since before we moved onto a boat . We look forward to exploring the wonders of the Pacific Ocean, but having done the sandy beaches and palm trees of the Caribbean , we felt the need to see something different. Our plans this summer is to sail to Greenland and Iceland before entering the med. 

2 thoughts on “They took friend’s advice: “If you want to travel the world, don’t buy a couch” and bought sailboat instead”

Hi… I have been following UMA since I seen it on YouTube.. I love their determination and drive. I hope they make it around the world. I sail also but only on Lake Ontario.My Dream is to sail to the east coast of Canada, and to the Caribbean.When I retire in two years! Good luck with your dreams! Long may your job draw! Stay safe…..Lloyd Brown

Loving these vids. I feel like I am travelling with you. Your shots and the angles chosen are beautiful particularly shots across the waves at dusk. Such a peaceful time. We are kayakers in Oz. Maybe you will come out to the south pacific?? Sail safely, Trish and Colin

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Who Is Sailing Uma?

Last Updated by

Jacob Collier

August 30, 2022

If you are at all interested in sailing, then you have probably come across the famous blog Sailing Uma. So, who is Sailing Uma? Let’s find out.

When it comes to blogs dedicated to the art of sailing, there is certainly no dearth of options. However, not all sailing blogs are equal. When you are first starting out with your passion, that is, sailing, you will need to find the right resource that can guide you.

Sailing Uma was started by Dan and Kika, two sailing enthusiasts who discovered their love for sailing together. The blog Sailing Uma documents their travels as they sail across the world in their yacht, a Pearson 36 from 1972.

We have visited their blog, read articles, and watched videos of the couple as they navigate through some of the most treacherous waters on the planet and visit exotic places most people can only dream of. If you are interested in living life like Dan and Kika of Sailing Uma, then you are going to find out some fascinating information about the duo right here.

As sailing enthusiasts who have experience in sailing, we are always looking for great resources that can help us improve our sailing experience. Sailing Uma is definitely one such resource. Read on to find out what we’ve learned about Sailing Uma.

Table of contents

‍ Who is Sailing Uma?

Dan and Kika met in college. They started a successful architectural design-consulting business soon after graduation, but they quickly realized that the rat race was not for them. One thing was certain they both imagined a larger universe existed than the one they grew up with and yearned to discover for themselves.

They boldly chose to sell all they possessed in quest of something greater and go on their sailing voyage after realizing that material things had little meaning in their lives and with a burning desire to travel the globe. They put everything they had into the 1972 Pearson 36 christened "Uma."

Dan didn't grow up sailing, so being on a sailboat didn't appeal to him at first. But, both knew that they wanted to see new countries, see new sights, learn about different cultures, eat new foods, and observe how people live. They considered numerous options for travel (including RVs and backpacking), but their major aim was to live sustainably and travel on their own terms, so living aboard a boat seemed like a natural choice.

Both had no prior experience with sailing or boats, so they figured they could 'architect' their way in by installing a bed and a sink. Then they looked up "sailboat interiors" on Google and realized that, indeed, you could live aboard a sailboat. With time and a lot of effort, the two have turned their sailing yacht into their home.

Knowing where you are in the world is only one aspect of navigation. That's a solid start, but you can't define your route and therefore know where you're headed until you know where you were a few minutes, hours, or days before. This is exemplified by the GPS chart plotter seen on many boats—at any given time, a half-dozen or more satellites are telling you exactly where you are on the planet. This position is remembered and used to create a predicted route on the screen. You can change the predicted destination by changing your current position.

In life, we frequently dwell on worries about tomorrow, next week, a five-year plan, or retirement. But perhaps the most accurate approach to predict our future is to look back at our history and compare it to the thoughtful contemplation of today. A future forecast can be obtained by connecting these theoretical dots. The trip becomes more important as a result of this process, which shifts our focus from the future to the present.

What Does Uma Mean?

The name of Dan and Kika’s boat is Uma. The name was inspired by the Portuguese number “one,” which translates to Uma. The reason behind this name choice is that it was their first attempt to sail a boat. We've learned that UMA has many diverse connotations in various cultures, each translation being awesome and unique in its own way.

During the years of living and traveling onboard their small home: the couple found out that Uma is also a name for Pavarti, the Hindu Goddess of fertility, beauty, and strength. The name also symbolizes Hope in Inuit and Nation in Hebrew and translates to Tranquility in Sanskrit. If you were wondering what the word Uma means in Japanese, well, don't get your hopes up because it's a horse.

What Boat do they Sail?

It is said that a thousand-mile trip begins with a single step. Dan and Kika's trip began with a leap instead of just a step. The two made everything they owned, including vehicles, laptops, motorbikes, and furniture. They sold all of their belongings so that they could invest in a yacht that they could sail around the world.

"However, why a sailboat?" The basic answer is that they wanted to live simply and travel eternally, and a yacht seemed the best solution. Their yacht, "Uma," was built in 1972. She is neither showy nor fragile, which is what made the boat ideal for the job.  The two wanted a name that reflected their passion and reasoning for purchasing Uma in the first place, so her name came from a poem.

Of course, the cost is a big deciding element. The best boat is the one you already possess, as it has been said. The issue was that they did not initially own a boat. Their post-grad budgets would not enable them to purchase a new boat, and they had no intention of going into debt to do so.

So, when the notion of buying a sailboat came up, they went straight to www.yachtworld.com to look at several options. The larger the boat, the more expensive it is, not only in terms of the purchase price but also in terms of maintenance and marina fees. As a result, they began small and worked their way to a larger boat.

The one factor that they considered when buying a boat is that they were looking for something that was easy for them to navigate and maintain but also roomy enough for the two to live in comfortably (Uma being their only home).

With that in mind, the duo estimated the entire length to be between 32 and 40 feet. They then began looking for a decent blue water-capable boat in their price range. They used the internet to read books, blogs, and forums. In the interim, they contacted a handful of guys and paid visits to their 36-40' boats.

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Who is Sailing Uma?

Get ready for your wanderlust to kick into high gear with Sailing Uma. From the high seas to glaciers, you’re in for a treat when you follow along on this couple’s life journey aboard a sailboat. 

Keep reading to learn about Sailing Uma and where they’ve sailed. We also look at three of their most popular YouTube videos that draw you into their life on the sea.

Let’s set sail!

Who Is Sailing Uma?

Dan and Kika are Sailing Uma. The couple sails the world while living aboard their monohull.

Dan grew up in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where he dreamed of traveling. Kika was born in Haiti and met Dan at an architecture college in the northeastern United States. She had hopes of traveling and making a difference in the world. And together, that’s what they do.

They seek to enjoy the journey instead of fixating on destinations. And with their YouTube channel, they take others along for a glimpse into their adventures.

What Size Boat Is Uma? 

Uma is a 1972 Pearson 36 (Pearson is a blue water cruiser ). Its overall length is 36.5 ft with an 11-foot beam. Uma means number one in Portuguese and represents Dan and Kika’s desire to put one foot in front of the other to go after their dreams.

One of the unique things about Uma is that they use no diesel. Instead, they have an electric motor that helps them navigate marinas and short distances. In addition, this keeps their costs and carbon footprint down significantly.

HOT TIP Take a magical journey through underwater worlds and jungle ecosystems with the crew from Expedition Drenched .

Where Has Sailing Uma Been? 

Sailing Uma has traveled more than 25,000 nautical miles, and they’ve visited 27 countries so far. First, they did a three-year circumnavigation of the Caribbean, including the Bahamas.

Then, they sailed along the east coast of North America and crossed the North Atlantic to the UK. Next, they explored the Norwegian coastline and went to the Arctic Circle.

After that, they went to Svalbard, which is as close to the North Pole as you can get on a sailboat. And you’ll currently find them starting to head south for a while.

If you become one of their followers on Patreon , you can get the most updated access to where Dan and Kika are in the world.

Sailing Uma’s Top Three YouTube Videos

We’ve pulled out three of Sailing Uma’s top YouTube videos to give you a glimpse into their life on the sea. Be prepared; you’ll likely want to subscribe to their channel after watching these and binge a lot more! 

BOAT TOUR: The Modern Interior of our 50 yr old DREAM YACHT

They give a comprehensive tour of their 1972 yacht in this video. When they purchased it for USD 3,000, everything on it was original.

Then, the work started. They started gutting it and built it into their dream home. It has a modern and beautiful interior.

You’ll get to see the entire inside and how they accomplished what it looks like today. They did an excellent job of making it cozy, efficient, and liveable for years to come.

Biggest Waves We’ve Ever Seen — DAY 10 / North Atlantic Crossing

Sail with Dan and Kika in this video during their North Atlantic crossing. Cold and wavy is the theme. They took on a couple of huge waves that splashed over the boat’s deck.

As you can imagine, doing any crossing is tiring, but when the seas are rough, it can be the most exhausting experience. They watch the weather constantly, navigating through the high winds on day 10 of their crossing like pros.

HURRICANE SURVIVAL TACTICS (I Stayed on the boat in HAITI)

Sailing Uma discusses their hurricane survival plan in this video. Uma was at anchor in Haiti when Category 4 hurricane, Matthew, came through in 2017.

To protect your boat, you want to make sure you’re as secure as possible from wind, waves, and other boats. And, be anchored well. Dan documents the experience while many other boats get too close to Uma in the anchorage.

Where Else Can You Follow Sailing Uma?

You can follow Sailing Uma on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Patreon, and their website. Whether you’re a sailor, a soon-to-be sailor, or a dreamer, Sailing Uma is an inspiring couple to follow.

And if you’re looking to design or redesign your boat, Dan and Kika’s architectural eye makes for a lot of interesting sailboat design ideas. We highly recommend subscribing to their YouTube channel for exciting and very well-done content. 

Have you considered living on a sailboat? There are ways to get a taste of the life without buying your own boat right away. You can crew on sailboats or yachts, or you can rent a sailboat in places like the Caribbean or Mediterranean to discover if sailing is for you. 

Have you checked them out yet? What do you think?

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Restaurant-Yacht Chaika

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Pleasantly surprised, service is good so is the food. Great selection of Fusion food, a mixture of Italian, Japanese, European, Asian etc. A pleasantly nice dining experience, highly recommended, a must try!

Thank you for your feedback and invite you to have lunch or dinner again aboard the ship in an atmosphere of high standards of yacht hospitality.

everything was perfect - the food, the service, the desserts were the best, nice atmosphere and the location - magical

Best food, best view in Moscow. absolutely faultless from arrival to finish. Best risotto i had for many years absolutely perfectly cooked. The view on Ukrainian hotel and the white house by night is amazing

Had to wait for the food for 1.5 hours and then another 20 minutes for the check. Finally called for the manager and he offered... a 10% discount as a compensation. Simply pathetic! The food is mediocre at best. Not bad per se, but one... would expect something better considering the prices. There are many places to eat in area that are much better. Avoid this one at all costs. More

Hello, Alexander Your comment is extremely important for us, thank you a lot for it. We are terribly sorry for your time that you`ve spent waiting your order and we have already taken actions to improve quality of our service and it would be realy... More

Food is very expensive,very pretentious, doesn't worth that money. Portions are very small. We ordered ravioli and there were 4! Four raviolis! For almost 15 euros. Then we asked to bring us dessert menu but nothing, they didn't even bothered, so we payed and left... without dessert. Very poor service for that price. More

This is a very good restaurant. The food is really good, maybe the best in Moscow. The service is also good. The view from the restaurant is great. The prices are very high.

I often visit this restaurant and must say it’s one of the best in Moscow in terms of quality and service. Staff really try hard to make sure that you are happy and satisfied. Customer service is a huge problem in Moscow but Chaika sets... a great example for others in the industry! Food is delicious and the menu has lots of options for everyone! Atmosphere is great and view is beautiful on the embankment. Special thanks to German & Oleg! More

Thank you for your feedback! Again aboard the yacht restaurant "Chaika" in accordance with the high standards of yacht hospitality.

Highly recommended, great location in the city center of Moscow with a superb atmosphere. Too many menu choices, though all delicious!

Thx a lot for your review! We are looking forward to see you in our restaurants.

Visited this lovely restaurant with a friend of mine. It was relaxingly warm August evening - so the place on the river seemed like a good idea. We came quite early and the restaurant was not full. The hostesses kindly offered several places to sit... and we chose to sit on the sofas. We had some wine, which was good. We struggled a bit when deciding about the food as few options (scallops) were not available. Fish on ice on display did not look very fresh. To be honest it was an unusually hot August and it is probably understandable that some see food options were not available. However, we did manage to order something and sat waiting and looking onto the river. My long-legged friend struggled sitting at the low sofa and the manager noticed that, offering as a very good, proper table beside the open window. It was nice touch and I was very pleased by their polite observations and immediate reaction to solve the problem. Food was quite good and presentation was perfect. Perhaps I can something about the food, but 1 visit is not enough to criticize or make a definitive opinion. Overall, quality place, which of course, does not come cheap. I would recommend this restaurant without hesitation. More

Good afternoon! Thank you for your detailed feedback! We are looking forward to seeing you again, we are sure that you will be delighted with our dishes!

I've been here several times during two business trip in Moscow. The overall quality for both service and food is absolutely top-notch, plus the location is very unique.

Hello! Thank you for your feedback! We are looking forward to visiting again!

Located on a boat at Krasnopresenskaya River Bank this 5 Star Restaurant transforms into a party location due to multiple groups hosting events. Impressive wine selection, Asian and European kitchen...

Thx a lot! We are waiting for you!

It is a nice place to gather specially at the lounge The service and staff very good I like the river view The food is almost like all restaurants in Russia they serve different cuisine. Staring Russian appetizer till Asian dishes Presentation and taste amazing... I consider it overpriced little bit More

Good location. Nice views. Good choice of food and drinks. European and Asian menu. Nice service. Pricey enough.

Had a large group dinner here. Food was above average and service quite good. The real attraction is the view of Moscow from the river on a nice night. Great place for a larger group dinner. More

Hello, John We are really pleased by reading that you and your friends were satisfied by our service, client`s experience is the highest value for us. We will be happy to see you again, come and enjoy some new dishes from our chef and nice... More

The luxurious atmosphere of this place, the view and the location make it quite outstanding. We had dinner here with friends and the dishes were amazing, accompanied by a chilled bottle of Chablis, it really made me feel as if it was a part of... the classic Russian movie. More

RESTAURANT-YACHT CHAIKA, Moscow - Presnensky - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

• Service: 4.5
• Atmosphere: 4.5

MAXWELL 48V Windlass

Having a solid, reliable anchoring system is key on any serious cruising yacht. ⁠

We’ve been working in collaboration with the Maxwell Marine, to develop the world’s first 48-volt windlass. Before now, all windlasses for small yachts have been 12V or 24V. Which isn’t much good on electric boats like ours, who’s main battery bank is 48V (The growing standard for electric yachts). After passing all it’s tests, Maxwell now sells this 48V variant so other electric yachts can now share in our joy!