Nomad Sailing Retreat an Interview with Uwe TheSailor by Daniela Sanhueza
Uwe Allgäuer (a.k.a. Uwe TheSailor is digital nomad, entrepreneur & co-owner of Coworking Bansko. One of his passions is sailing and he likes to share his passion with other likeminded people.

Uwe created the Nomad Sailing Retreat, which is an unique adventure sailing reatreat for Digital Nomads, entrepreneurs & location independent people, where all of the attendants will became the boat crew for one week and will get a real hands-on experience in sailing, while discovering Greece, its natural bays and outstanding outdoors. During this retreat Uwe will form a sailing team and teach you the basics of sailing, navigation and yachting in general. You will find out more about the next journey on the Facebook page or group: https://www.facebook.com/nomadsailingretreat
Uwe was interviewed by Daniela Sanhueza Gajardo
When did you start sailing and how?
I started sailing about 7 years ago. My first sailing trip was a boat delivery from Sicily to Dubrovnik. It was a really inspiring sailing trip with ups and downs but I liked it very much, the crew was a great bunch of people and we had lots of fun! Sailing was so fascinating that I immediately signed up for a sailing course at the nearest lake — the lake Constance and sailed around on lakes in close proximity.
Lake sailing is very different and anchoring is not quite as possible as in the mediterranean sea and thus I wanted to go for the bigger certificate to sailboats along the shore. After dedication one and a half years to sailing, I thought it is time to take it a step further and went for the next higher German sailing certificate.
Where did you get a certification?
The last two certificates I have made in Germany, actually in Kiel on the Baltic Sea. It was lots of fun to do the course and I want to inspire people to do such a course, you learn a lot and it is a good team spirit too.
Now with the Germans certificates, the SKS and the short-range radio certificate, I feel well equipped to take sailing yachts out for a good sail and my experience with many different skippers gave me a foundation where I feel very confident at sea.
Where you always interested in sailing?
The mediterranean sea has a few advantages compared to other destinations. The water is warm, thus swimming SUP and other water-related activities are possible and fun. Also, many destinations along the mediterranean sea are good developed, restaurants, marinas, and anchorages are well documented and offer great services. Croatia or Greece offer amazing and stunning locations, so does Italy, Spain and others. That is why I love it here and it is close for me, at least in most of the cases.
Thailand and the Maldives are also destinations I would like to explore further. My most preferred sea is the south pacific — never been there but this is very high on my Bucket list.
What’s your connection with the sea?
I like the sea and the water, two-thirds are water and land makes one-third of the surface of the globe. I have been travelling a lot and not seen so many things via waters yet. I love to be on a sailboat. It is amazing and sometimes I can glare for a very long time just in the nothing of the water. It makes me calm and the life on board is something very close to me, maybe it resonates so well with me and thus I like it so much. Also, the sound is something I like. The water splashes against the hull and sometimes it is a bubbling noise, or when you sail with the wind the water whooshes along the hull and makes another noise.
How would you describe the feeling?
All of that is something I like a lot. It is also physical, you need to do rope-work, hoist the sail, or even balancing on the boat because of the constant movement. I sleep so well on a boat too. Furthermore, the normal life seems this distant memory you relate to in a rather strange way when you have been sailing for instance for two weeks or longer.
How was the idea of the Nomad Sailing Retreat originated?
On the last sail in Croatia, the crew inspired and motivated me to go further with my sailing trips. They said the loved it so much that I shall organise for other nomads too and advertise it online. I took it seriously, as you can see, and I really believe it is something special and I want to enable people to experience sailing but rather actively instead of passively. With me you learn sailing, you are closer to it and you help sailing, steer the boat and you participate in the entire boat life — fully immersed. You’ll get the full impression and you are an important part of the crew who helps to get the boat going.
How many trips have you done with groups?
The vast majority of all my sailing trips have been in company, either two or more people. Sailing is a team sport and I like sharing it. Sailing alone, aka solo-sailing, is not made for me.
What is the most remarkable thing that ever happened while sailing with a group?
We have seen dolphins, whales and other sea-life. Seeing dolphins swimming in front of the boat and crossing the waves is always a very uplifting moment. I always want to jump overboard when I see them.
Sometimes it can be adventurous and you might need a lot of creativity in order to find a solution when a challenge comes on. Anchoring can be tricky, or other more ordinary stuff can happen. It is very satisfying to get going and to keep a boat running, thus I find it teaches also creativeness. Most probably the easy lifestyle, the wind the sea and the things you are surrounded with seem so appealing. For me, the entire situation of sailing emits this powerful energy where the entire crew is flashed from. The team spirit on a boat is usually high and everyone takes on a position suiting her or his best. Some like to cook, some like to help to navigate or help with other stuff. It is very rewarding and stimulating. There is also plenty of time to relax.
What is your experience regarding weather conditions and how do these have an effect on the group dynamic?
A skipper carries the responsibility, hence he needs to decide what is safe and what is not safe. Never you’ll find the same crew twice and thus the situation will always be different. I get quickly a feeling for the group and decide after I have received the weather forecast where we want to sail or anchor. Safety comes always first, I would never compromise on this topic! Better safe than sorry. Also the boat costs a lot of money and besides a very old sail, which was in bad condition to start with, I gave all the boats back in ship-shape, best condition. Never broke a keel of a boat or had problems otherwise. I learned from many experienced skippers and the most I learned from bad captains! But finally, we are all in the same boat. I usually tell the people that the boats come empty — you get what you bring in! This is especially true for the atmosphere. There are no animators on the boat, we need to make it happen and that has always worked out so far. Especially after a couple of days, the people start to feel more in tune with the boat and the ropes and the surrounding. That usually eases and people are more open, the boat helps to create a safe environment where people feel quickly familiar with.

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Daniela Sanhueza Gajardo is a chilean journalist & digital nomad, and you can read her adventures in her blog www.asimequiero.com
