Interview with Soren from ‘S/Y Lady Elaine’

Last Updated on August 15, 2015 by Kay Chung

Farrier!

I didn’t know the definition of ‘Farrier’ until I met Sören from Sweden.

Captain Sören has been sailing alone since he left Sweden a year ago. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean by himself. It was ‘the most beautiful sailing experiences so far’ he remembered. It took 23 days!

As a single-handed sailor crossing the Atlantic Ocean, he initially had a ’20 Minute Watch Schedule; set an alarm for 20 minutes then try to sleep for 20 minutes, get up when the alarm goes off, look around the sea for about two minutes, set the alarm for another 20 minutes, and keep going on and on… With the ’20 Minute Watch Schedule’, he felt exhausted so he changed it to a ’30 Minute Watch Schedule’. Set an alarm for 30 minutes then try to sleep for 30 minutes, get up when the alarm goes off, look around the sea for about two minutes… An extra 10 minutes sleeping made a huge difference, he said!

Question: About yourselves and your boat?
Answer: Sören from Sweden. Boat name is ‘Lady Elaine’, Maxi 95 and 31 feet, built in Sweden in 1981. For details, check my blog — Click Here to Sorens Blogg.

Question: Where are you at today?
Answer: Curasao on August 2, 2015

Question: What was your career before cruising?
Answer: Farrier (a person who makes and fits metal plates for horses’ feet)

Question: What made you decide to live on a boat?
Answer: A lifelong dream

Question: How long have you been living on board?
Answer: 12 months and two weeks

Question: Why did you choose the boat that you have now?
Answer: Right length, price, and security

Question: How many miles have you traveled so far in the boat?
Answer: 8196 miles

Question: How did you prepare for the cruising lifestyle?
Answer: Work hard, live cheap, save a lot, and practice sailing in my boat for 10 years. I do not have many technical things that can be broken. I have a speed log, sonar, AIS, GPS, SSB radio, and computer.

Question: Best cruising/sailing place or experience and why?
Answer: All places have their own beauty and with dolphins and whales it is magic.

Question: What do you like the most about the cruising/sailing lifestyle?
Answer: Fantastic places and fantastic people

Question: What do you like the least about the cruising/sailing lifestyle?
Answer: Seeing the pollution and destruction of the environment and leaving the nice people I meet

Question: What was your most fearful moment of cruising/sailing experience?
Answer: Still waiting for it

Question: How do you maintain your boat?
Answer: The boat was well prepared before I started, and if something gets broken, I fix it right away

Question: How do you maintain yourself (health, fitness, and strength) and your relationship with your sailing partner?
Answer: I don’t drink alcohol or use drugs and I eat healthy and exercise, walk, bike, and swim. I sail alone, so problems with a partner are non-existent.

Question: What do you miss the most?
Answer: A healthy and non-polluted environment

Question: What is your favorite website?
Answer: Sören’s Blogg — Click Here to Sorens Blogg

Question: Want to share your best and simple boat food recipe?
Answer: Don’t mix too much

Question: Advices to future cruisers/dreamers?
Answer: Prepare and go for it!