Sail Life - Cross the Atlantic ocean ✅ We did it!

[@WaterFaucet24]

Where are all the trolls that said “Mads will never cross the Atlantic!” OR “you never sail!” They won’t eat the crow they deserve. Great job team Athena!

[@SailLife]

Haha 😂 Thank you so much 😀

[@davidellis2021]

Tolling is horrible, and so are naysayers but as a fellow seasickness sufferer I was a bit worried for him. It hasn't stopped me from going sailing and it hasn't stopped him. I thought he would conquer it, and it seems he has, which is fabulous. What is also good is that he has such a well sorted, safe and comfortable boat fit for ocean crossings. He's done things the correct way and is now reaping the benefits. As you say, all those unconstructive commentators should eat crow. It's no way to treat such a clever and positive person like Mads. @Sail Live - really enjoyed the video. I'm insanely jealous, but not in a bad way. You both really deserve to be enjoying it so much.

[@DiscusRussell]

Don't forget he didn't get seasick either. I'm so happy for them Go Team Athena ⛵

[@2oqp577]

The same trolls that swore Doug Jackson would never make it to sea,

[@ĶČXXĻ-ĀxÐ]

@@SailLife If the new country ritual doesn’t take place on video. Did it really happen? 🤔 Congratulations guy’s it feels good to see your dreams come true. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@todd-617]

When you finished refitting Athena you were worried about transitioning from a boat work channel to a sailing channel. Well, you've nailed it. Loving your sailing videos. Congratulations on the crossing.

[@storkstormhawk]

Agree

[@dcastro8492]

I remember how seasick you were when you first picked up the boat from Scotland. You’ve come a long way. You’re an inspiration and Ava you’re a joy.

[@vit0feit0]

I've been subscribed to this channel since you had hair and a house and I dare say I watched every single video, but never commented before. But here goes my first comment: congrats on your success across the Atlantic! What a milestone! Well done! 💪

[@SailLife]

Thank you so much :) Oh glorius hair - those were the days. Haha

[@Rittlesleo]

@@SailLife I've been married to a sexy bald guy for 44 years! Sailing together for 14 and counting🙏⛵

[@henricagven2874]

@@SailLife 😂 know you can sense the wind direction better 🤭

[@johnmayer3433]

Congratulations Mads and Ava for crossing the big pond, well done.

[@Sailing_Pardon]

Hi Mads, i am folowing you from the start and have never place a comment, but now i will and that is tnx for all the DIY movies and conratiolations with the milestone that you have make together whit Eva. And i am looking forward to see al of your tropical adventures in the future

[@seccat]

Considering how seasick Mads was on his first trip when he purchased Athena, I’m glad he didn’t get sick on this passage.

[@gorrie3113]

So great to see all those years of grafting, hard work and oh-so- glorious sanding has led to your dream of crossing the atlantic without too much drama. Very inspiring stuff, well done

[@johnmooney9444]

Congratulations, and thanks for sharing. Cheers

[@wizardmix]

It's not quite as big of an accomplishment but it's somewhat rewarding as an interloper to your DIY adventures (since Drake and Mo clued me onto your channel in July of 2017) to have watched all of your backlog on Athena, catch up with you in real time and then stick with the process until tHiS mOmEnT aNd bEyOnD!!! It's so great to see real people doing real things with real budgets that enrich their lives and the lives of those around them. THANK YOU for the continued inspiration.

[@SCTaylorTX]

I’ve been watching your channel for about 5 years. So stoked to see y’all made the passage!! Congratulations 🎉🎉

[@marktahu2932]

Well done Mads and Ava, I think everyone would agree a lot of the reason for your successful crossing is because of your meticulous planning and preparation.

[@brucemcfadden8906]

Hi Mads, as someone that has enjoyed your content from the beginning-Congratulations!! A lot of blood, sweat, tears as well as a lot of education for all of us. Enjoy your travels while we enjoy them with you.

[@paulnelson8945]

Congratulations guys! I’ve been following you for about 6 or 7 years Mads! So happy for you guys. Enjoy the Caribbean!!

[@billburkart8527]

You two look so happy. Congratulations on your passage. 🎉👍👍

[@bobrose7900]

Awesome is the word, and Athena is looking great. Well done!

[@bocamax]

Congratulations. The crossing went about as good as you could have hoped for. Welcome to the Western Hemisphere.

[@yakekaj]

So cool that your refit has lead to your crossing of an ocean. I bet if you go back to "first video Mads" and told him you had made it he would be delighted!!

[@hansslob6749]

Mats, Eva, please make a lot of underwater footage. For us, Europeans it is so beautiful to see the cristal clear water and all that it hides!

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

This is SO awesome! I've been watching your videos pretty much weekly since you were installing Reflex diesel stove to Obelix! You've come pretty far from that! 🥰

[@DVKajak]

Congratulations to the great passage! Amazing, how perfectly "good old Athena" worked after all the refit time. Quality work! 👌😊

[@michaelgillespie6526]

Awesome video Athena crew! Thank you for this episode. Congratulations! Mads, you did it! You followed your heart and built your dream life of sailing! Sail Life is the good life!

[@davetowz]

Congrats! been a long time coming, all the hard work pays off.

[@tacodias]

Congrats! So long in the making, you should be super proud

[@themooringscottage8872]

Love your Channel all positive and no acting or drama. Love your projects, honest reviews, fixes and tours of new places brilliantly…….thankyou.

[@edrussell7960]

Congratulations Mads and Ava. I've been watching since episode 8 working on Obelix. Glad you have been able to check off alot of yiur bucket list items so far including finding a young lady to sail the world with. Keep up the great work. You're one of the few channels i have kept up with once the diy is "done" and the sailing begins. You have kept it enjoyable and relevant and many have not done that. So cudos to you guys and heres to many years more of adventures.

[@craigsmith2889]

I’m so happy things worked out that Eva was able to be part of this adventure. You’re both awesome.

[@teeanahera8949]

*Ava.

[@philipwilkie3239]

Such good luck with your passage is no coincidence! Well done.

[@jfr55man]

i have had my share of achievements in my life... but I have never crossed an ocean on a boat I built myself. However, I know enough about that feeling to know that it is probably still sinking in for you two. I have been following you two since before you were two, and it was just mads on obelix. It is a bit amazing and even a bit rewarding for me to see this dream come true. Glad to know you have made it to this hemisphere and I look forward to seeing some of your adventures to come.

[@stinkintoad]

Well done! I've been following you from the days of your other boat. I just got back from a week long BVI bareboat trip around the islands on a Beneteau 46 as captain. Best vacation ever. I would love to do this full time.

[@johnwinslow7390]

Congratulations on your Atlantic Ocean crossing. I have enjoyed your videos for years. Thank you.

[@davidbroman8391]

Congratulations on your transatlantic crossing. Looking forward to more adventures with Athena!

[@scottplace2009]

So happy for you guys to finally get a passage like that after all the work you've put in! Bravo Zulu!

[@adz6494]

Awesome Mads. A BARD be DOS humble pie to all those who made wise cracks while you & Athena were on the hard & refitting her. Now for a season of O Glorious SANDY beaches. Cheers & well done.

[@mozismobile]

For some reason I have a mental image of a great big tanker looming over Athena and a speech bubble saying "lets' be friends". Apparently my mind is a children's book.

[@allsearpw3829]

Hi, glad you made it ok , all the hard work and planning has worked out , high five to you both and all the suppliers of all the odds and end , that were supplied over a few good years of following you . Have fun and enjoy .❤😉

[@SgtToastieYT]

Having watched since the refleks stove went into Obelix. Congrats you two! Thanks for sharing this journey, still one of my favorite channels.

[@richardbryant8286]

I think that abandoned resort was where we went for our honeymoon . It was beautiful back then.

[@jaguar3552]

I watched this whole video with a smile on my face! So glad you two made it safely!

[@jessicakirchoff2536]

I have been watching since the Oblix days and am ecstatic to see such a great Atlantic crossing for both of you, especially I worried about sea sickness for Mads. It looks like you got that beat. Cheers and following your’s and Ava’s adventures 🎉🎉🎉!

[@nutsandbolts432]

Congratulations on the passage! The culmination of almost a decade finally comes together.

[@stephenphillips740]

Super SUPER well done guys! Mads makes everything look easy, or at least possible with some thought and hard work. After doing a brilliant job of refitting Athena, is now applying that same calm logic to crossing oceans!

[@philgray1023]

Excellent video folks. Did you see my specs and phone down there with Ava's sunglasses? One thing, this is important so read it. We have the same anchor and swivel. We recently came across a post where the swivel jaws had been opened by the anchor shank twisting on a change of tide. The engineering recommendation is to put a short 3-4 links of chain between the anchor and the swivel and not to fix the swivel directly to the anchor shank. That engineering recommendation is from a real engineer responsible for wings staying on aircraft, not an internet expert! That said we were caught out in an anchorage with a vicious 6 knot current which changed direction on the tide. We swung around at the change and the Rocna held solidly and I didn't have to re-anchor and our swivel held.

[@johnx9318]

Good grief that was a long wait! Well done - you must be very pleased with the way Athena performed!

[@kenttegneskog]

Glorious as always. Congratulations to safe crossing and thanks for sharing

[@davidyendoll5903]

So happy you enjoyed the crossing and made it safely . Well done both of you . ATB

[@Moftoo]

Congrats to you both! I understood the reasons several weeks ago you were contemplating not doing it together, but I am really happy you did and that you both share that bond now. Feels like just yesterday you were revealing that you purchased Athena - the adventure has just begun!

[@wmac3306]

Congratulations Mads and Ava - you did it! I am very happy for you both and also a bit envious :). Looking forward to exploring the Caribbean with you in future videos. Fair winds to you both.

[@chrisshields1775]

What an epic achivement well done to both of you

[@lissainkd2580]

Congratulations never had any doubt pretty darn spiffy 🎉

[@pfalzgraf7527]

Congratulation on the crossing! Now, enjoy the East Coast for a while - and then the next ocean is waiting! 😉

[@DiveGirlDeb]

Clearly, Caboose joyfully has their priorities well aligned; Soft Drinks 4 & Beer 4... well done. 🥰 Mads; scuba DM here. Best kicking motion/style eminates from the HIP. Make your knees firm, tighten the leg muscles to a 60% ridged state & twist those HIPS! Practice & watch yourself kicking on film. 'Riding A Bicycle' kick style is an inefficient movement. Displays poor buoyancy at times too, as some not neutral. Hips as the powerhouse is remarkable when you master it. Best looking too, no one will keep up as it'sfastest. Excellent for hunting fish too. Avoid 'riding A Bike'. Vinegar is excellent at breaking down corrosion. You could soak those Wisker pole end in a Vinegar bucket. Prolly would get it moving. You folks look like you're having a great time. Thanks for sharing. ~DiveGirl Deb SV Melittin's Miracle

[@youtubelivingonasailboat_1year]

Hi, Eva and Mads. A huge congratulations on reaching Barbados - a big achievement and one that will no doubt be recalled with fondness in years to come. I’ve been watching you for a while and have been itching to get my own boat - and finally, that moment is about to arrive on the 3rd June: a Grampian 34 from 1978. Looking forward to watching more of your vids, emulating your journey and creating a wealth of my own amazing memories, via KZbin, of course. Enjoy the Caribbean and the USA. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@teeanahera8949]

At least be polite and use her correct name. *Ava

[@not_so_random_life_videos]

Congratulations to you both! It makes me very happy to see y'all make it across the Atlantic safely. Looking forward to some more DIY/Sailing fun!!

[@WindedVoyage]

It seems just like a few days ago thst you cast off from Mindelo. And you did it. Crossed the Atlantic!. Now I got to catch up with your recent videos to see what you're up to. It was great to hang out with you two in Mindelo. Hope we'll meet again in the future

[@joewilliams932]

congrats thank you for sharing your life with us loving the vids

[@SailLife]

Thanks! 😀

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Congratulations Team Athena of finishing the first leg of your around the world adventure! Have a great time in the Caribbean and prepare for the next leg in a couple of years. Have a great week.

[@airgead5391]

Now that's how I like it!! The video delivered just around Sunday pizza time!

[@RustProof1]

Tick, another milestone. Very happy for you both.

[@g.lausin8521]

Well done!!! Bucket list items being checked off are always a plus.

[@jorgeconcheyro]

Wow man, I still remember you installing the diesel stove in your old boat... You made it... Cheers!!!!

[@SVSeaChange]

Well done, really glad to see you had a swim, and that you have a working windvane, two things I questioned on the last video. Getting comfortable with the latter will make your sailing so much more peasant and quiet. Finally, next ocean crossing you don’t need to scrape the gooseneck barnacles off, a week at anchor and they will all die and fall off.

[@mmorlan1481]

I heard a rumour that the Barbados government wants to comindeer Athina because it more technologically advanced that their entire coast guard fleet. ;-) Very Very Well done to both of you. By far the KZbin channel that I enjoy the most. Thank you

[@jpkalishek4586]

Good on ya! Such is this small planet when you are out in the literal middle of nowhere, and someone recognizes you

[@donnakawana]

I'm so excited to be watching you from my new home.... Congrats on your successful crossing.. Go have fun can't wait to see what you 2 get up to!!

[@JCAJCA3]

Great, great job guys! No small feat to have accomplished.

[@tomelerding1399]

Congratulations on attempting it AND making it! And with no drama. Enjoy the Caribbean!

[@carlosrosa1965]

Congratulations, hats off to you both, respect.

[@bernardlawson665]

You are both an awesome authentic couple having followed your projects, hopes, and aspirations since the "GETGO"! BRAVO ZULU!! [USN WELL DONE]. Thank you

[@felipebouzonnoexperienceon1160]

I particularly enjoyed the last few minutes of this week's video. Nothing but quality peepou!

[@MMM_Pizza]

Great to see nothing serious broke! 😅 Congrats and enjoy the warmer weather. Keep on adventuring.

[@stsomewhereP30]

Congratulations! What an accomplishment. I was waiting for the "new country ritual"!!! lol

[@SailingSisu]

when crossed, we were headed for Barbados, but at the time, their covid quarantine arrangements made it pretty impossible for fibreglass boats to check in so, we diverted to Antigua. Would love to visit Barbados!

[@jonrjd912]

Mads please don't be offended but I love seeing Ava's huge smile more than DIY stuff -BUT I also enjoy the DIY stuff.

[@DennyVanDorn]

Ditto!

[@forge20]

Congratulations. Been watching since the beginning and it's great to see you accomplish this major milestone. Now for the FUN!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Congratulations to the nicest most awesome husband and wife sailing team on the planet, well at least on KZbin!

[@henrymorgan3982]

Glad to see you two made it safe and sound! Enjoy it!!

[@russgaulke1364]

It's great that what seemed like a problem in your plans resulted in you and Ava being able to make the crossing together. Congratulations. I have been following your adventure pretty much since the beginning and its amazing to see how far you have gone and I await all the adventures that lie in store.

[@livingforsail]

Congratulations on this HUGE milestone! It has (and continues to be) really great to follow your journey! Keep it up!!

[@denisbeaulieu958]

I’m super happy for both of you as having check this one of the list (crossing that is). This is likely a new chapter in your life (as sailors) and from this moment on, you will experience new things and, …..we as your invited guests…will tag along with pleasure ; (wondering who’s the luckiest, you or all of us). 👍🇨🇦

[@jeanhawken4482]

So pleased you are safe and are having a break.

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

Congratulations! You did it! Looking forward to Barbadian adventures. Ava, yur gonna LOVE scuba diving! Be safe!

[@Rittlesleo]

Wow! So happy your crossing was great! We're looking forward to your continuing journey.

[@YTMegiddo]

Absolutely cool about the guy on the freighter!

[@boazjoe1]

I can't quit smiling. Congratulations!!!

[@8028rsj]

Mads great stuff. So excited you guys made it across. Looks like it was an amazing trip. I've been following you from the beginning and remembering to add words like spiffy to my nautical vocabulary once again. Now that you're on my side of the world I would live to encourage you to come to Trinidad. I do a lot of costal weekend cruising here on my own boat and would love to meet you and Ava and see Athena in the flesh. You are well poised being well to Windward in Barbados do hit the Grenadines and head south. It's easy beam reach sailing down to Trinidad and back up again. Don't listen to any negative reviews about Trinidad and we are still the island of choice for any technical machine work like your rudder bushing etc. We have some lovely small islands off our Western Peninsula and it's a short hop from the marine yards in Chaguaramas to any of them.

[@milt7348]

Congratulations. Good preparation makes for a good outcome, and you two did a great preparation. Stay safe and we'll see you next week.

[@jaywoodfine3405]

Barbados is my most favourite place in this world, if you're still there make sure you get to pebbles beach early morning to swim with the race horses, also oistins on Friday night is an epic night out. (you may see a guy with a pet monkey called g-boy) also animal flower cave is pretty magical.There are many many more places to see but thats a whole lotta typing.. damn I'm so jealous right now. Well done you two. 🌴 🌴 🍸

[@johnwspeck]

I'm sure it's already on your list, but highly recommend the Tobago Cay and Bequia. Bequia is by far my favorite stop in the windwards. The people are so nice, it's off of the normal cruise ship path, and you can easily find authentic food as opposed to the horrible restaurants that cater to the resort and cruise crowd. We spent a week trying restaurants in Rodney Bay in St. Lucia and it was all flown in frozen food. You gotta find get a local to take you to where they eat! I did not have a pleasant experience when we anchored in Wallilabou. The swarms of people trying to intimidate you into buying something were quite intense which was a shame because another fantastic place to eat was a location mentioned in Chris Doyle's guide... I don't recall the name, but the food was great the woman who ran it was amazing. It was up in the NE corner of that anchorage. I assume you have the Chris Doyle guides?

[@oualie705]

Welcome to the Eastern Caribbean!!! I hope you make the island of Nevis one of your stops as you head North. You must anchor at Pinneys Beach and go to Sunshines Beach Bar for lunch. Maybe we can have lunch together.

[@chasemixon6327]

Congratulations! I remember when you were supposed to cross the Atlantic in 2015 or 2016? So proud of you guys!

[@randyhenley]

Awesomeness. Congratulations on reaching a long awaited goal. Enjoy the Caribbean.

[@blackjackjoe7]

Very glad your trip was uneventful from a 'scary' standpoint. You were well prepared nonetheless. All the best!

[@edwardhovitz1753]

You made it! Big milestone! Greetings from Spring Green, Wisconsin USA

[@mlmontalvo]

Congratulations!! You are now officially in the ocean crossing cruiser’s club. 👏👏👏

[@swamprobin3291]

Congratulations you two! I would love to hear your reflections on self-steering at some point. I have a great autopilot: a Garmin Reactor like you, with an L&S hydraulic drive. I am trying to decide if I should bother with a Hydrovane. You mentioned that your windvane was one of the highlights of the trip, but I noted that you were not using it as you came into Barbados. When do you use your windvane? When is it better than the autopilot? When is it worse? Perhaps you would throw this on your backlog of discussion points for future videos. Have fun in the Carribean. You sure have earned it!

[@superformOG]

congrats Mads, well deserved, i have been following you since you painted your ballad in your lounge room :) I have a ballad and feel like im following in your footsteps

[@thomaspaccione8237]

congratulations to you both, your two have waited a long time for this.

[@mikeyadrick5154]

When you get to America, West Marine will have a Suction Cup handle. This will be massively helpful when scrubbing the hull. I scrubbed hulls for 40years.------Mikey, in B elfair, Wa

[@ItsABoatThing]

Very nice! (Love the quiet electric dinghy motor too.)

[@kollarpeter5707]

Big congrats on your first passage, wish you many more! One thing: i saw on your anchor the swivel is directly attached. It is recommended to attach just a few, like 3 links of chain first with a shackle, and then the swivel, as they are incredibly strong to pulling and rotate well, but they do not really deal well with sideways pulls, and can break.