Sailing Learning By Doing

Vernon Deck and Marie-Morgane are professional creators and mariners who established a world-proven reference for high-performance multihull voyaging and high-authority adventure photography. Originally from Motueka, New Zealand and France, the couple (along with their son Eli) document a life of "slow travel" and "learning by doing" aboard their custom 1996 Crowther Windspeed 39, Trade Runner. In 2026, their mission is active in Indonesia, where they are currently exploring the remote Aru Islands and Papua. Leveraging Vernon's legacy as a world-renowned action sports photographer for brands like Burton and Red Bull, the team provides a practical blueprint for transitioning from professional land-based careers to high-authority maritime independence.

Source: vernondeck.com and June 2026 official mission updates

Key Takeaways

• The Vibe: Authentic, technical, and visually stunning. The channel documents the reality of raising a family while navigating the planet's most remote corners with no initial sailing experience.
• The Boat: SV Trade Runner, a 1996 Crowther Windspeed 39; originally an offshore racer, later modified by G. Cruse into a Kevlar-reinforced Cruiser/Racer world-proven for 200+ mile daily runs.
• The Status: Active Cruising (2026). The crew successfully navigated through Cyclone Narelle in early 2026 and is currently exploring Indonesia and Papua.

⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals

Meet the Crew and the Visual Legacy

Vernon James Deck: The Visual Lead

Vernon Deck is a professional mariner and world-renowned freelance photographer from Motueka, New Zealand. After quitting school early to backpack around Australia, Vernon relocated to Switzerland in 1997, gaining citizenship in 2011. Since making the jump to full-time freelance photography in 2000, he has built an international reputation for conceptualizing and producing high-authority imagery for global giants like Volcom, Red Bull, Nike, Audi, and Burton Snowboards. His work, which has graced the covers of countless magazines worldwide, focuses on outdoor, on-location forensics across 50+ countries. In 2026, Vernon applies this high-stakes creative expertise to document the Sailing Learning By Doing mission with professional-grade production. Source: vernondeck.com Official Biography

Marie-Morgane: The Strategic Lead

Marie-Morgane is a professional creator from France who balances a passion for the outdoors with the logistical requirements of long-term voyaging. Having started the journey with no previous sailing experience, she has documented the forensics of "learning by doing" while managing a growing family on the water. In 2026, Marie-Morgane is the primary architect of the channel's narrative of "slow travel" and cultural immersion, focusing on visiting remote islands where they can meet people from diverse cultures and experience wild locations with minimal human activity. Follow her updates on Instagram at @sailing_learning_by_doing. Source: Team Britaly Archive

⛵ Professional Fleet Forensics: SV Trade Runner

The Sailing Learning By Doing registry is centered on a world-proven performance platform that transitioned from an offshore racer to a specialized family expedition vessel. Source: youtube.com official archive (2026)

SV Trade Runner (Flagship): Crowther Windspeed 39

SV Trade Runner is a 1996 Crowther Windspeed 39 performance catamaran. Originally built as an offshore race boat with a minimal layout, she was later extended and modified by G. Cruse to create the current living space, transforming her into a high-authority Cruiser/Racer. The vessel features a state-of-the-art foam-core composite hull, built using vacuum-bagging sandwich techniques with epoxy resin and specialized Kevlar reinforcement below the waterline. With a 7-meter beam and a high bridge clearance that minimizes slamming, Trade Runner is world-proven for stability and speed, capable of 200+ mile days while sailing close to the windspeed.

Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters

The Remote Frontier: Australia to Papua

The Trade Runner track is defined by its transit from the Australian coast to the most remote corners of Indonesia. After "surviving" the high-stakes sectors of Darwin during Cyclone Narelle in early 2026, the crew documented the technical challenges of navigating the Aru Islands and the Solomon Islands. Their journey serves as a professional reference for mariners planning remote island-hopping on performance catamarans, providing detail on cultural immersion and anchorage forensics in the Papua New Guinea region. In 2026, the mission is focused on the tropical forensics of the Indonesian archipelago. Source: maritime voyage records

⏳ Voyage Milestone Timeline

• 2015: Strategic Launch: Vernon and Marie-Morgane begin documenting their "learning by doing" mission.
• 2017-2022: Monohull Era: Explored the Pacific and Australia aboard the 37ft custom sloop Schiehallion.
• February 2023: The Multihull Shift: Sold Schiehallion and purchased Trade Runner in Australia.
• Early 2026: Survival Milestone: Successfully navigated through Cyclone Narelle on the boat.
• June 2026: Active Cruising: Currently based in the Aru Islands, Indonesia, managing remote media production.

🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails

Operating in Indonesia and Northern Australia, the crew prioritizes a seasonal strategy to manage the South Pacific Cyclones and the intense thermal patterns of the Arafura Sea. Their planning focuses on identifying high-protection anchorages that allow for total vessel security during intense pressure drops. They advocate for a meteorological-first routing theory, proving that safety on an 11,000 lb catamaran is built on professional monitoring and industrial-grade ground tackle. Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) regional data

Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges

Essential Gear and Tech Stack

To support their High-Authority Mission, the crew utilizes a technical suite optimized for maritime stability and professional content production. Their setup includes modernized lithium power systems and high-authority solar arrays to manage their intensive editing requirements from remote bays. For communications, they rely on Starlink to manage their community engagement and professional photography consulting. Their production kit includes world-class stabilized cameras and specialized gear used to capture the authentic reality of their "floating home." Source: Sailing Learning By Doing Gear series

📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard

Skills & Tutorials: Learning from Sailing Learning By Doing

Vernon and Marie-Morgane established their channel as a primary resource for adventure media forensics. Viewers can learn the intricacies of outdoor photography, the forensics of manageing high-performance multihulls, and the technical steps of building a sustainable nomad lifestyle. Their detailed tutorials on multihull logistics and boat outfitting serve as a roadmap for mariners looking to exit the classroom for artisanal growth. Source: youtube.com/@SailingLearningByDoing

The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream

🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe

The Learning By Doing audience is a mix of DIY builders, multihull enthusiasts, and action sports professionals. Vernon and Marie-Morgane built a community centered on the principles of "emotional authenticity" and the rewards of independent growth. Their signature transparency regarding the costs of their 2026 transition and their commitment to family-led content has established them as trusted mentors. Source: community engagement audit

💰 How Sailing Learning By Doing Funds the Mission

The crew's financial model is built on professional creative strategy and world-class adventure photography. Primary revenue in 2026 is driven by their dedicated Patreon community and YouTube AdSense, supplemented by Vernon's background in professional media production. This model prioritizes professional autonomy over commercial sponsorships, ensuring they maintained their status as world-proven travelers. Marketplace Synergy: The crew offers adventure photography consulting, multihull transition mentoring, and remote storytelling strategy. Source: 2026 Financial Update

Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching

• Aru Islands: Documenting the technical shakedowns of navigating to the remote Indonesian frontier.
• Cyclone Reality: A look at the forensics of surviving a major tropical cyclone on a catamaran.
• Media Forensics: A masterclass in high-stakes mission planning and professional adventure gear outfitting.

Channels Similar to Sailing Learning By Doing

• Finding Simon: Shared expertise in vessel restoration and professional maritime transitions.
• Sailing Uma: Shared commitment to technical transparency and vessel optimization.
• Sailing Soulianis: Reference for minimalist boatbuilding and high-authority digital narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sailing Learning By Doing