A single night at sea can rearrange your entire life. Richard Hadida re-traces the moment it all clicked, when a fast-tracked sailing course and a charter for his sister's wedding turned into a 3 a.m. watch under the Milky Way, a guitar in the cockpit, and the sudden feeling of “Now I get it.” It’s a story about how bluewater sailing gets into your bones, even if you thought you already understood the water.

While he also shares - in a refreshingly honest way - why he bought Oyster Yachts, he reflects on the heart of sailing itself: the quiet, the rhythm, and the way a sailing yacht makes the journey the destination in a way powerboats rarely do. He connects that feeling to sustainability and long range ocean travel, then brings it full circle through the Oyster World Rally, where he’s circumnavigating with his wife Ally and their young son Harry. From deserted islands off Panama to weeks of island hopping in French Polynesia, he shares the family moments that feel like time slowed down, and the philosophy that drives it all: if your health, your opportunity, and your dream line up, why wait?

If this conversation sparks something in you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a push to “go now,” and leave a review so more listeners can find it.

Rough seas, barnacled commercial pilings, and a midnight decision to cross to the Faroe Islands don’t sound like “luxury yachting,” and that’s exactly the point. We’re joined by Eric Vonk, owner of the rugged explorer yacht Scintilla Maris, to talk about a style of cruising built around purpose, presence, and a boat that feels like it has a soul. If you’ve ever wondered what separates expedition yachting from a marina-to-marina loop, this conversation makes it real.

We dig into why Eric chose to reimagine a North Sea fishing trawler and why he worked to preserve her original character instead of transforming her into a conventional-looking yacht. That choice unlocks true seaworthiness, long-range autonomy, and the freedom to travel where many pleasurecraft simply can’t. From the Outer Hebrides to Icelandic waters, we talk about how the journey itself shapes decisions, why weather is part of the experience, and how capability expands your world rather than “ticking boxes” off a list.

Then the story widens into ocean conservation and marine science. Through Yachts for Science, Scintilla Maris becomes a stable research platform for scientists mapping marine biodiversity around Iceland with underwater drones, helping document what actually lives in huge areas of the ocean we still barely understand. We also explore a powerful idea: science-led charter trips where guests dive, learn, and explore with scientific guides, turning leisure into discovery.

If you want to understand cruising that feels meaningful and you’re willing to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, press play. Subscribe, share this with a fellow ocean-lover, and leave a review telling us: would you take the rough-water route on purpose?