January 17 Finding Karl
It is late April 2013, I am in Shelter Bay Marina, and I just bought a sailboat. My sailboat. Most likely the only one I will ever own in my life. I have never made an investment like this in my life before: nearly 10.000€. It’s not a lot for a sailboat, especially not for one made from Aluminum, with a length over all of 11,20m. Still, it’s a lot for me. But that is not the reason why I have this queasy feeling inside me. It’s something else…something that slowly works its way to my brain.
For about four years, I have been looking around all Europe to try and find a boat. People always say, that you will notice, when you have found the right boat for you. I looked at various different boat models, with a checklist in my head for the rational part of the decision and trying to picture myself sailing and living on each one of those potential boats, waiting for a certain emotion to settle in that would make me think “this is the one”. It never came.
And here I am, in Colón at the Atlantic coast of Panama, with a signed contract in my hands. For a boat that I have just cleaned for more than a week because it was overgrown with a forest of mold.
Seriously? Well, it’s definitely my name on that paper in front of me, so it must be true.
I lie down on the bow of my new to me boat, the air is hot and humid, and I gaze up at millions of stars. And I let those slightly scary thoughts take over: The moment has come. I have a boat. The adventure begins. Untie The Lines!
Ok, so basically, you’re begging for money using patreon and the Internet instead of begging for it on the street. Disgraceful. What is it with people and their sailing blogs begging for money.
Hi Bon,
thank you for your comment. I can understand that this is your point of view, I see it a bit different. When you go to the cinema to watch a movie, you would not wonder twice why you have to pay for a product that someone worked for. You would never say that the film company is begging, would you?
Patrice and me produce videos. They are not as long as a movie in the cinema, but they are a product available for consumption. Now there are some differences between the movie company and White Spot Pirates for sure…one is size of production team for sure…another one, a big one, is that our products are available for free and you can voluntarily pay for them if you enjoy them. Obviously that does not work with big movies…I guess the latter is the most interesting difference and also the reason why you feel that it is strange that people are paying for the videos. But you know what? I did not even start asking for money, people approached me and asked how they could pay something pack to honor all the work that we have put into creating these videos and for the effect that the documentary has had on their life.
Yes, I do put out the word that there is the possibility of supporting the documentary in case someone wants to…but if we go back to the big movie production company…if they put out a billboard advertising their new blogbuster…would you call that begging? I guess it’s called Marketing Communication and everyone seems to be fine with it as long as it stays in the pattern that we are all used to.
The business of entertainment like TV, movies, magzines, books etc. has changed drastically through the internet…And there are some new business models growing due to that change. Maybe try to keep your mind open to those changes before you judge them that harshly.
As I said, I can understand that you might see my actions as beggine, but I always feel a bit misjudged when people say that. I think it is unfair, to be honest.
Ahoy, Nike & Karl
Nike
Good reply, I follow a few sailing blog/video producers my favorite is ‘keep turning left’ . He follows you.
Most sailing video bloggers are reluctant to ask for money but realize they must to do to pay for what they do. For us that follow we are so lucky to live a dream thru your eyes. You and many other are so generous to let us into your lives and adventure. The inspiration you and others provide is so uplifting to us stuck in the world of working. As a lifelong sailor/ boat owner I have imagined doing many of the things some folks actually get to do , just to see what it’s really like is worth the price of admission.
The ‘show first pay later’ is an old funding model that has worked well for the ‘so called’ public Tv&radio in the USA. The other funding platform of getting money from Ads that Google add to your YouTube videos is highly fickle as they can take it away for any reason they think fit and you have no appeal against an algorathium that makes the decisions! ever!
Thank you for your videos and blogs. Keep up the good work.
Your online friend, Warren
I just consumed 3.5 hours on my first sitting, so obviously there is a market for this! Sailing vlogs have been more entertaining than the vast majority of films I’ve seen in the last few years. It’s not limited to sailing blogs either, Bon. I’m currently paying for a Patreon by a guy whose music I like and another who writes good commentary on some software programming topics that are interesting to me. To each his/her own..
Hello Nike, thanks for your videos, all of them are great… I would like to ask, how to choose your boat, what are your check lists about long cruising boats?? What sould it be (your experiences, boat type, length etc…)??