BOAT LIFE REALITY CHECK: The Ocean Doesn't Care About You OR Your Plans

It was March 2021, when we set off from the small coastal town of Coffs Harbour to see if we could complete a circumnavigation of Australia whilst completing our university degrees online. One major contributing factor to our decision to see our country instead of pushing offshore was to experience a particular creature that frequents this area of coastline we have finally found ourselves on and is something we’ve dreamed of seeing since departing in March 2021. But as it turns out, sighting them is not as easy as we thought, and when conditions begin to turn unfavourable, our reality starts to take a turn.
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Chapters:
00:00 The backstory
02:12 Civilisation = provisioning
05:09 Out to the reef (Ningaloo)
13:28 When things take a turn

[@nooneanybodyknows7912]

As soon as you pulled up at Ningaloo, I spotted Sylfia. It's not hard since she's very distinguible. I'm sure you enjoyed the time with Nate and Expedition Drenched crew. I'm totally bummed you missed out on the whale shark sightings and interacting. Thanks for sharing Australia's Western coast. Miles is a reefer. 🤣

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

yeah, It was really great to catch up with Nate, I can spot those masts from miles away hahaha, yeah. It wasnt to be this time, but hopefully, we will have another chance somewhere in our travels.🙂

[@SailingSteelSapphire]

Such a shame about missing the whale sharks. I visited the Ningaloo Reef (by land) back in 2004, and actaully paid to go out on one of the boats (it wasn't so exorbitant back then). It was one of only 2 days that year when no whale sharks were spotted. Bah! It remained number 1 on my bucket list for a further 18 years, until I got to do it twice in 3 days off the Tanzanian coast some 15,000 nautical miles later. The wait was worth it!

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Oh my gosh!! So typical 😂 The brochures lied hey! Sounds like those experiences made it for it, hopefully, we will find ourselves somewhere else with some whale sharks to tick it off the bucket list too. Hope the book is coming along well legend!

[@sailingmarilynkaye]

Bugger about the whale sharks, but what's going on with the tow line? So looking forward to the next episode.

[@Dave_Smith_OnWheels]

It's hard to comprehend that it's been over 3 years at sea for you guys. I've spent a lot of time on the water, but nothing like your extensive adventure. Have really enjoyed your trip through the Kimberley and down the West Coast as it's so familiar to me. I now live at Cape Leeuwin, where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean. I'll have to get down to the lighthouse and wave to you as you sail by. Stay safe ❤.

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Yeah, it's wild; the time has flown by, and it's crazy to think we have been bobbing around out here so long now. So stoked you are enjoying the ride, and we are excited to share what's to come🙂⛵️

[@tomhouston9985]

Love the content guys..!! We did the Kimberly and Coral Coast as best we could by 4wd last year.. We “splurged”, and got blessed with 3 whale sharks on the last day of the season..!! Now getting organised to follow your wake..! Keep inspiring us all pls..!! Safe travels.. :)

[@colinboniface194]

Would have been nice to swim with a whale shark or two, but like you said, the reality of cruising. That's so true... Every day is an adventure, sometimes you don't plan them, they just happen... or not...

[@SuperPirate100]

Another great video, sorry you missed the big fish. Going to windward is like banging your head on a wall , great when you stop !

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Thanks, legend; yeah, we have a lot of windward miles ahead! Im sure we will cross paths with them sometime along our travels, this just wasn't to be this time unfortunately.

[@BTCxyz369]

I met my Sons Mother is Exmouth, and was there for Cyclone Vance march 22nd 1999 🌪🌅 Wishing you guys safe travels south around the cape be careful wen she blows like fuk from the NW because the SW change hits hard...

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

yeah the ssw is brutal haha

[@BTCxyz369]

@@SlimandSophSailingNakama how far are is your Channel behind real time out of intrest 🤷‍♂️

[@robertgold2643]

Thanks for making the time to out out another episode… it makes a huge difference in my life at the moment and must also confess to liking the spontaneity of them: hope the sailing smoothed out for you 3 🙏

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

So glad to hear that these videos are bringing you enjoyment 😊 We are incredibly touched. Hehe, keeps you on your toes 😉

[@Mrmadypossum]

Looking forward to the next episode!! Nicely done!

[@pmorph]

I was in Exmouth in the last week of May and we dived with the whale sharks... expensive but they were damn good and we saw 5 whale sharks All that did is confirm that I want to spend a lot of time in that area on my own boat...

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Ahh how great to hear! would have been an incredible experience, yeah we are a little behind in our footage at the moment so there weren't too many around, and yeah Uni budget unfortunately didn't allow for the tours, It would be a fantastic place to hang out for a while at the right time of year🙂

[@martineyer5336]

I love on the nose sailing, but then I love racing. We do the Perth Exmouth race, it’s always crappy sailing back after the race. 😂 Where are you staying in Perth? I’ll buy you a 🍺.

[@seawench555]

Hey Legends, been a while, sorry. I'll jump into any depth of clear water, but she's gotta be clear as. Hope ur both awesome and Chilly too. 🇦🇺🤘👍💕be safe.

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Hey hello❤️ yeah its a bit too shark lurky when the waters murky😂 We are both doing great, hope you're well !

[@mattcarroll106]

Good to see you Slim!

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Cheers!

[@timothydunn5889]

Just a quick hello to help out the algorithym.👍🇦🇺❤

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Llegend Tim

[@shaynewoodman6610]

dont give up on seeing your whale sharks itll be just another adventure at another time still loving this thanks for shearing 😀 a fan shayne

[@arteepee]

So sorry you missed the Whale Sharks this time. All the best. Richard (UK)

[@margaretriverstandupsurfing]

Heading down to the south west capes is going to be interesting this time of the year.

[@edmundbarrett-lennard6640]

This was awesome, but a real shame about the timing for the whale sharks. Nice that expedition drenched was there to give you some good advice. At least you got your pub meal!!! Thanks for the content legends

[@rufftime1]

I imagined you going around shopping, it was like a film so i think your of the hook.😊

[@Stevos_HookedonRods4844]

Nice to have you both back on our screens. Amazing how he coast lines change and are so barren now Safe sailing 🙏

[@SouthernCrossGO]

Awesome mateys😊

[@jonathanscott550]

Yea the whale sharks would have been awesome, I'm sure you'll find another spot where they come to. Yea that reef you were at for only 1 day seemed like the perfect spot and so did the reef you left from at the beginning of video. So many hidden gems as you sail around Aussie. The ending of his video seems like a nail bitter. Looking forward to next week cheers

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Real-time us was there for about five days, but we were mostly boatbound in strong winds. it was safe and did give us some time to smash out some uni and editing 🙂. there truly as so many gems we doing our best to find as many as we can haha, yeah stay tunned for next week !!

[@jonathanscott550]

@@SlimandSophSailingNakama thanks for the long replies cheers

[@thestruggler3338]

Soph is glowing walking off the Exmouth Marina!

[@DYoung-vt8pq]

Love you kids! So sorry you didn't get your whale shark adventure. I hope you will one day! Safe travels. ❤

[@SamuelKTennis]

'Expedition Drenched' has disappeared from KZbin, been a year since last video I am able to locate. Miss them!

[@markgreen7701]

Cheers!!

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Thanks Mark

[@Lonnwriting]

I enjoy your films

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Thank you🙂

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

What sort of boat is Hagar ? Looks quite large and with a good view from inside through those long ports.

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Hagar is a big bulletproof steely, (Adams 40) She's decked out to the nines and if you want to see more of her, she's actually currently listed for sale!

[@engelkep504]

nice content ++

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Cheers mate

[@adambooth600]

Nakas is a windward beast baby reefer in let the fun begin

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

She is well and truly proving herself to us at the Windward game, maybe not so much in next week's video, though...so stay tuned.😉

[@ambermarshall3572]

Oh dear slim, vb??. I think different of you now😅. Na just feel for sofe, fart material 🤣

[@Stephan_01]

❤❤🥰🥰

[@robertlaird6746]

I wonder what happened to cause you to get towed in next weeks video. Tune in to find out.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Slow cruising is the way, what's the point in rushing?

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

😂we are pretty certain we are doing one of the slowest-ever circumnavigations of Australia, I'd say rushing isn't the right word to use, we are not sure if you are a sailor yourself but the seasons determine where it is safe to be at any time of year and the direction of the trade winds, so while we are not rushing per se, we are under time pressure to get out of this region before things get ugly. At this point in time, we are a little behind schedule with the change in season seeming as though it has come a little earlier than expected. I guess we wish we could spend as long as we wanted in a lot of the spots we visit, but that's just not the reality of sailing. we are constantly at the mercy of Mother Nature, and sometimes you just have to do what you're told and move on to a more favourable region. In order to complete our circumnavigation, there are quite a few seasonal trade wind changes that we need to juggle in order to safely complete and make the most of our trip. Hope this helps your curiosity🙂

[@thomasthornton5737]

😀😀👍👍❤❤

[@bobflores]

Fastest 20 minutes on youtube. Why do your videos go by so fast? See you on the next one.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

Just seen a YT ghost, assumed Nate had sold up and moved on as Drenched had dissappeared from view.

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

Nate has some big things coming up! so keep an eye out 🙂 He is doing some exciting things and still filmmaking but is taking a bit of a break from KZbin.

[@colinedwards7367]

Exmouth-pronounced like "ek smuhth" not Ex-Mouth.

[@SlimandSophSailingNakama]

So we thought too until we got to Exmouth and the locals told us off…