Circumnavigating the UK on a Yacht

Last year, I did something I’d dreamt about since I was a child. I took a three-month career break, left behind the handcuffs of London life, and set sail with my partner aboard our 33-foot yacht - determined to circumnavigate the entire United Kingdom.

It was bold. It was beautiful. It was a moonshot.

Leaving the Shore (and the Scripts)

Moonshot Living is about choosing goals that stretch you - goals that feel just out of reach, but too important to ignore.

For me, that meant stepping away from the predictable rhythm of work and routine, and embracing the uncertainty of the sea. I handed in my notice, whilst applying for a post on the Isle of Wight - the home of sailing.

We plotted an anticlockwise route, packed our charts, stocked the galley, and cast off with a mix of excitement and nerves.

We didn’t know exactly what the journey would bring. But we knew we had to try.

The Highs: Wild Encounters and Quiet Miracles

There were moments that felt like magic:

• Seeing an orca whale - a flash of black and white slicing through the water, a reminder of how small and lucky we were.

• Sailing to the Scilly Isles, where the turquoise waters and white sands felt like a dream tucked into the corner of Britain.

• Watching the Masters golf at Portrush, anchoring near the coast and feeling the strange joy of combining sport and sea. Svea decided to take us on a coastal walk that ended up near the seventh green. A friendly security guard escorted us back on track.

• Docking in remote harbours, walking Svea (our Bernese Mountain Dog) through quiet villages, and discovering dog-friendly pubs with local ales and warm welcomes.

These moments stitched the journey together, proof that when you chase something big, the world meets you with beauty.

The Lows: Tides, Tangles, and Lessons

Not every day was smooth sailing.

In Ilfracombe, we misjudged the tide. The harbour dries dramatically, and our yacht, our home, slowly tipped over as the water disappeared beneath her. It was humbling, messy, and a little terrifying.

There were days of rough seas, tricky navigation, and exhaustion. Days when the wind turned against us, or the forecast didn’t match reality. Days when we questioned the plan, the boat, and ourselves.

Despite ripped sails and a broken auto-helm, we kept going.

Because moonshots aren’t defined by perfection. They’re defined by persistence.

What the Journey Taught Me

Sailing around the UK taught me more than any job ever has:

• How to plan with precision, and adapt when the plan fails

• How to stay calm in chaos

• How to find joy in small victories

• How to trust my instincts

• How to finish something that once felt impossible

• How to appreciate with awe and wonder the beauty of our country.

It reminded me that the limits we believe in are often imaginary, and that the version of ourselves we’re waiting for is already within us, waiting to be tested.

Your Moonshot Might Not Involve a Yacht…

But it might involve:

• Leaving a job that no longer fits

• Starting a business

• Writing a book

• Moving somewhere new

• Saying yes to something bold

Whatever it is, I want you to know: You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to begin.

Moonshot Living exists to help you define your dream, plan it with care, and stay with it when the tide drops.

Because the moment you commit to something bigger than your comfort zone - that’s when life gets interesting.

If you want to read more about our sailing adventure - our blog www.dogsail.com documents the highs and lows of this epic trip.