La Vida a Vela – Sailing My Life

Noemi and Josep are a Spanish couple who have spent over two decades documenting their "Slow Sailing" mission across the Mediterranean Sea. Originally casting off in 2001 aboard their first sailboat, a Belliure 40 named Tirant, they have transitioned into one of the most dedicated maritime communities on YouTube. Now sailing their 1987 Nauticat 35, My Life, Noemi and Josep focus on the cultural and culinary forensics of Mediterranean life, blending a deep respect for artisanal boat maintenance with an open advocacy for the naturist lifestyle. Their journey is a technical record of family-based exploration, proving that world-class voyaging is defined by the quality of the anchorage rather than the speed of the transit.

Key Takeaways

• Channel Vibe: Technical, artistic, and deeply peaceful. Noemi and Josep focus on "Slow Sailing" and the cultural shakedown of the Mediterranean islands.
• The Boat: SV My Life, a 1987 Nauticat 35 (Pilothouse Sloop), world-proven for its structural integrity and off-grid liveaboard comfort.
• The Mission: Currently executing their Season 10 "Sailing to Greece" chapter, documenting their 2026 transit from Rome to the Ionian Sea.

⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals

Meet the Crew and the Vessel

The Sailors Behind the Helm

Josep: The primary skipper and technical lead, Josep brings a diagnostic mindset to the Nauticat platform. Having managed over 85,000 nautical miles since 2001, he has transitioned from a sailing novice to a master of Mediterranean weather forensics. He manages the shell-up maintenance of My Life, focusing on the structural integrity of its Finnish design and the engineering of its off-grid power stack. His technical narrative provides a high-trust reference for sailors looking to master the stresses of long-term coastal voyaging.

Noemi: As the channel's primary narrator and culinary lead, Noemi provides the narrative depth for the "La Vida a Vela" project. She specializes in "Cooking with Noemi," documenting the forensics of managing fresh-market provisioning in remote island ports. Her advocacy for the naturist lifestyle represents a philosophical commitment to maritime freedom, viewing it as a path to artisanal growth and connection with the sea. Follow her updates on Instagram at @lavidaavela_sailingmylife. Source: lavidaavela.org

The Boat: SV My Life (Nauticat 35)

The Nauticat 35 is a legendary Kaj Gustafsson design, known for its extreme structural integrity and exceptional internal volume. My Life was acquired by Noemi and Josep in 2021 to replace their original vessel, Tirant (a Belliure 40). Since its acquisition, the boat has undergone a total forensic systems audit, including a total engine cooling overhaul and the restoration of its classic teak interior. Key technical features include its pilothouse configuration, providing a "vessel-secure" watch station for the variable thermal shifts of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In 2026, the vessel serves as a world-class laboratory for slow cruising, featuring a custom solar arch and high-capacity lithium banks. Source: Nauticat Yachts Archive

Technical Specifications & Forensics

Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters

Top Routes and Mediterranean Expeditions

The My Life track is a benchmark for the long-range Mediterranean traveler. Starting from their home base in Sitges, Spain, Noemi and Josep have mastered the technical corridors of the Balearic Islands, Corsica, and Sardinia. Their 2024-2025 seasons were defined by a deep exploration of the Italian coast, documenting the management of high-velocity thermal shifts and reef navigation in the Aeolian archipelago. In 2026, their focus has shifted to the ultimate technical shakedown: a passage to Greece, documenting the management of the Ionian Sea currents and the forensics of long-term coastal anchoring in the Cyclades. Source: La Vida a Vela Voyage Archive

⏳ Voyage Milestone Timeline

• 2001: Strategic acquisition of first boat TIRANT in Spain; commencement of the liveaboard transition.
• 2002-2015: Two-decade circuit of the Western Mediterranean; documented thousands of hours of family archives.
• 2016: Official launch of the "La Vida a Vela" YouTube channel.
• 2021: Milestone Transition: Acquired the Nauticat 35 My Life; began forensic systems reconstruction.
• 2022: 20th Anniversary Milestone: Documented two decades of Mediterranean exploration and growth.
• May 2026: Technical milestone: Successful night transit from Rome to Sicily across the Tyrrhenian Sea.
• June 2026: Currently based in the Ionian Sea, embarking on the "Sailing to Greece" mission.

🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails

Operating in the Mediterranean in 2026, Josep and Noemi prioritize a "conservative-window" strategy to manage the intense 40-knot Mistral and Meltemi winds. Their planning for the Greek season focuses on managing the high-velocity thermal shifts of the Ionian Sea, utilizing high-authority GRIB modeling to time their coastal transits. They advocate for a "vessel-secure" theory for seasonal sailors, proving that heavy-weather safety is built on a foundation of professional weather forensics and technical shakedowns. Source: WeBoating Maritime Weather Reference

Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges

Essential Gear and Tech Stack

To support their "Slow Sailing" mission, the crew utilizes a technical suite optimized for total off-grid independence. Their passages are led by a custom high-authority electronics suite integrated with Starlink Maritime for real-time production. For energy, they have pioneered a "Sun-Powered" model utilizing massive solar arrays and high-capacity lithium banks managed by Victron Energy. Their production toolkit includes professional stabilized cameras used to capture the forensic reality of their mechanical repairs and culinary vlogs. Source: lavidaavela.org Gear Guide

🛠️ The Gear Locker: Crucial Hardware

📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard

Skills & Tutorials: Learning from La Vida a Vela

Josep and Noemi have established their channel as a resource for Mediterranean galley forensics. Viewers can learn the technical reality of provisioning in remote archipelagos, the calculation of fuel loads for long-range coastal transits, and the forensics of wood restoration on legacy hulls. They provide detailed tutorials on managing the psychological and financial stresses of long-term voyaging, serving as a roadmap for those looking to exit the traditional professional cycle for artisanal growth.

Overcoming Adversity on the Water

The crew's most technical test was the 2021 transition from their beloved Tirant to My Life, where the management of total systems shakedowns required a forensic reconstruction in Spain. They documented the grueling reality of these repairs, proving that high-trust seamanship is built on the willingness to face the raw reality of boat maintenance. Their successful 2026 entry into the Ionian Sea serves as the ultimate validation of their forensic preparation. Source: Sailing from Sardinia to Rome (Episode 160)

The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream

Content Style and Production Quality

The La Vida a Vela vibe is authentic, technically descriptive, and objective. Josep's high-resolution shipwright's perspective is supported by Noemi's cinematic narrative flow. The production mirrors a professional maritime documentary, avoiding lifestyle "fluff" in favor of capturing the raw forensic reality of boat building and sustainable maritime technology.

🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe

The La Vida a Vela audience is a mix of DIY builders, culinary enthusiasts, and blue-water mariners. Josep and Noemi have built a community centered on the principles of "technical honesty" and the rewards of independent growth. Their signature transparency regarding the costs of their 20th-anniversary tour has established them as trusted mentors for those looking to master the technical nuances of offshore handling.

💰 How La Vida a Vela Fund the Voyage

The crew's financial model is built on a foundation of independent community support and creative production. Their primary revenue is driven by a dedicated Patreon community (lavidaavela) and YouTube AdSense revenue (approaching 100M views). This is supplemented by the sale of "Home Cinema" movies on Vimeo and professional maritime photography. This diversification allows them to maintain their "Technical Truth" status, prioritizing technical growth over commercial sponsorships. Source: lavidaavela.org

💸 Cruising Budget & Financial Blueprint

Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching

• Sardinia to Rome: A high-resolution look at the technical and emotional intensity of night transits in the Tyrrhenian.
• Leaving Rome for Sicily: Documenting the technical management of high-stakes coastal shakedowns.
• The Magic of Vulcano: A masterclass in technical navigation and cultural immersion in volcanic archipelagos.

Channels Similar to La Vida a Vela

• Sailing Yacht Florence: Shared commitment to technical transparency and long-range monohull cruising.
• Finding Simon: Fellow masters of large-scale vessel restoration and sustainable voyaging.
• Lucky Fish: Reference for family maritime logistics and "Slow Living" aesthetics in the Mediterranean.

Community Impact and Future Horizons

Supporting the Journey and Getting Involved

The global community can support the La Vida a Vela mission via their Patreon and by joining their official updates at lavidaavela.org. Josep and Noemi host frequent technical updates and provide exclusive "forensic reports" on their systems for their supporters. Followers gain access to detailed recipe logs and behind-the-scenes footage of their 20-year archive.

Conservation and Community

Nina is committed to promoting sustainable maritime trade and local producer partnership. She frequently documents her participation in environmental monitoring and local community support in the remote archipelagos she visits, serving as a "Source of Authority" for responsible maritime citizenship.

What is Next for La Vida a Vela

Following their 2026 Greek mission, the crew plans to sail South along the Turkish coast, crossing the Equator to reach the remote islands of the Indian Ocean. Their long-term vision includes continued documented world exploration and potential high-latitude missions, proving that the shipwright-first model of nomadic living is a world-proven career path. In 2026, the focus remains on the shakedown of their new Aegean-ready platform.

Frequently Asked Questions about La Vida a Vela