Sailing Two Get Lost

Adam Whistler and Emily Nancolas are a British couple who left their careers in the UK in early 2019 to sail the Mediterranean aboard a 38-foot Kadey-Krogen cutter named Hot Chocolate. Over four years of documented sailing across the Ionian, Dodecanese, and Aegean seas, Sailing Two Get Lost grew from a small diary-style channel into a practical resource for aspiring liveaboards. In June 2022, they purchased a rare Wauquiez Kronos 45 catamaran—one of only 13 ever built—renamed her Calico, and began a full refit in Preveza, Greece. Their channel has since paused for the arrival of their son, Jack, but the fleet, the guidebook, and the archive of genuinely useful sailing content remain.

Source: YouTube channel description, twogetlost.com, video descriptions (2019–2023).

Key Takeaways

• Channel Vibe: Budget-conscious, DIY-focused liveaboard sailing with detailed cost breakdowns, restoration tutorials, and a self-deprecating British humour. No glossy production—just honest footage of clogged toilets, Meltemi gusts, and centreboard removals.
• The Fleet: Two vessels—Hot Chocolate, a Kadey-Krogen 38 cutter with tandem centerboards (now listed for sale in Preveza), and Calico, a rare Wauquiez Kronos 45 catamaran undergoing a full refit.
• The Journey: UK to the Mediterranean via France and Italy, then three years of Greek island hopping before purchasing the catamaran. Currently shore-based in the UK following the birth of their son in 2023.

⚓ Quick Specs & Channel Vitals

Meet the Crew and the Fleet

The Sailors Behind the Helm

Adam Whistler handled the technical side of Hot Chocolate from the start. He managed engine servicing on the Perkins 4-108 diesel, built the boat’s solar charging system, maintained the tandem centerboards, and navigated through Meltemi conditions in the Aegean. Before sailing, Adam worked a conventional desk job in the UK. In July 2021, he made the decision to leave remote employment entirely and go full-time on their website, twogetlost.com, which had grown into a viable income source through affiliate content and their digital guidebook. He handles the camera work for most sailing episodes and is the primary voice behind their energy systems and technical repair tutorials.

Emily Nancolas manages the editorial direction of the blog and much of the written content on twogetlost.com. She co-authored their "How To Run Away To Sea" guidebook alongside Adam, and her writing covers practical topics like provisioning, laundry aboard, sailing with prescriptions, and the logistics of living full-time on a 38-foot sailboat. Emily has been the consistent voice in their Instagram feed and handles much of the community interaction on Patreon and Facebook.

Tiny Cat is the crew’s calico-patterned cat, adopted during their Mediterranean voyage. She appears in nearly every episode, from boatyard haulouts to anchorage sunsets. Calico cats hold a special place in Japanese maritime tradition—they were carried aboard ships as symbols of good fortune. Tiny Cat’s colouring directly inspired the name of their second vessel.

Jack is Adam and Emily’s son, born circa 2023. His arrival was referenced in a December 2023 YouTube short with the caption “Cannot wait to get back on the water and show Jack the world.” Jack’s birth appears to be the primary reason behind the channel’s pause in regular uploads and the couple’s return to the UK.

Source: YouTube video descriptions, twogetlost.com/about, YouTube shorts (Dec 2023).

⛵ Professional Fleet Forensics

Sailing Two Get Lost operates a two-vessel fleet that documents a clear transition from monohull cruising to catamaran ownership. Hot Chocolate served as the learning platform and primary home for over three years of Mediterranean sailing. Calico represents the long-term vision—a rare French-built catamaran intended as a decade-plus circumnavigation platform, currently undergoing a ground-up refit.

Hot Chocolate (Legacy Vessel / Flagship Monohull)

Adam and Emily purchased Hot Chocolate in early 2019 as their entry into full-time sailing. The Kadey-Krogen 38 is a distinctive American bluewater cutter designed by James S. Krogen himself—only around 85 were ever built at the Asia Harbor Yacht Builders yard in Taiwan between 1981 and 1992. The design’s defining feature is its tandem centerboard system, which drops the draft from a shallow 3’2” (boards up) to a proper offshore 6’8” (boards down). This gave Adam and Emily the ability to gunkhole in shallow Greek anchorages while maintaining the windward performance needed for open-water passages across the Aegean.

The boat’s fiberglass sandwich construction with closed-cell PVC foam core made her stiff and well-insulated for Mediterranean summers. Below decks, the saloon offered over 6’3” of headroom—unusual for a 38-footer—with a convertible double berth, a full galley, and a forward cabin. Over their years aboard, Adam performed a significant DIY restoration including topside refinishing, interior revarnishing, and engine maintenance on the Perkins 4-108 diesel.

As of 2026, Hot Chocolate is listed for sale in the Preveza/Aktio area of Greece. She served as both home and classroom for over three years of continuous cruising through Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, and extensively throughout the Greek islands.

Source: twogetlost.com, apolloduck.eu listing, yachtsnet.co.uk specs, YouTube video "DIY CLASSIC SAILBOAT RESTORATION."

Calico (Project Vessel / Current Catamaran)

In June 2022, Adam and Emily revealed their biggest project yet: a Wauquiez Kronos 45 catamaran, purchased in Preveza, Greece, and renamed Calico. The announcement came in their video Time to let you in on a SECRET, where they walked through the vessel for the first time on camera. The Kronos 45 was built by the French yard Wauquiez between 1991 and 1996, with only 13 hulls ever launched. That makes Calico one of the rarest production catamarans afloat.

The boat had been sitting on the hard for over three years when they found her. Structurally, the GRP hulls were sound, but everything else needed attention. Both engines had over 9,500 hours—well beyond practical rebuild value—requiring complete replacement along with new gearboxes. The electrical system needed a full rewire, navigation electronics were obsolete, and the interior had accumulated mould, ant colonies, and wasp nests from years of neglect.

The name Calico carries three layers of meaning: a tribute to Tiny Cat’s calico colouring, a nod to the Japanese maritime tradition of carrying calico cats for good fortune, and a reference to the pirate Calico Jack Rackham. The vessel’s previous name was Kraken (pronounced “Crack-in” by its French owners). With four double cabins, four heads, and a spacious saloon, the Kronos 45 was designed as a serious cruising platform—and Adam and Emily’s intention is to make her their 10+ year circumnavigation home.

Source: YouTube video "Time to let you in on a SECRET" (June 2022), catamaransite.com specifications.

Boat Tours

Watch Adam and Emily’s first walk-through of Calico (then still named Kraken) in Time to let you in on a SECRET. For a look at daily life aboard Hot Chocolate, their video Life On A TINY SAILBOAT HOME documents three weeks at anchor during the Greek lockdown.

Voyages, Destinations, and Local Waters

Top Routes and Expeditions

Adam and Emily’s sailing covered the central and eastern Mediterranean over three continuous years. After departing the UK in 2019, they transited through France and crossed to Sicily, Italy. From there they worked eastward through the Strait of Messina and along the coast to Montenegro and Croatia before entering Greek waters—the region that would become their permanent cruising ground.

Their Greek itineraries focused heavily on the Dodecanese islands: Rhodes, Symi, Patmos, and the eastern Aegean island of Samos. Each of these passages required careful navigation around the Meltemi—the strong, dry northerly wind that funnels through the Aegean from June through September. Their fastest recorded sail came on southerlies pushing them northward through the Aegean against the prevailing wind pattern—a rare weather window they exploited for a sprint passage documented in Aegean Sailing.

The crew also spent significant time freediving in the Aegean, exploring underwater caves and hidden sea lakes near the Turkish border—documented in their episode Freediving Greece.

⏳ Voyage Milestone Timeline

• November 2018: YouTube channel created.
• Early 2019: Purchased Kadey-Krogen 38 "Hot Chocolate" and departed the UK.
• 2019: Transited France, crossed to Sicily (Italy), then continued east through Montenegro and Croatia.
• Early 2020: Arrived in Greece. COVID-19 lockdown struck while at anchor—spent three weeks confined to the boat, then moved to a Greek boatyard for several months.
• May 2021: Sailed to Rhodes Town in the Dodecanese.
• July 2021: Adam quit his remote 9-5 job to run twogetlost.com full-time. Experienced 50-knot Meltemi gusts in Symi. Survived an approaching Medicane (Mediterranean tropical cyclone).
• August 2021: Fastest Aegean sail of the season on rare southerlies. Freediving in Aegean underwater caves.
• October 2021: Extended sailing season through Greek autumn—Patmos, Samos. Dodging thunderstorms and managing reduced solar output.
• December 2021: Earthquake and tsunami warning while anchored aboard Hot Chocolate.
• March 2022: Hauled out by tractor for centreboard removal and hull maintenance.
• May 2022: Published "The TRUE COST of LIVING ON A SAILBOAT" and "DIY CLASSIC SAILBOAT RESTORATION" episodes.
• June 2022: Purchased Wauquiez Kronos 45 catamaran in Preveza, Greece. Renamed from "Kraken" to "Calico."
• September–October 2022: Continued sailing Greece (Samos, general Aegean). Short sailing clips from Croatia.
• Circa 2023: Birth of son, Jack. Channel activity shifted to occasional shorts.
• December 2023: Final YouTube short: "Cannot wait to get back on the water and show Jack the world."
• 2024–2026: Channel on hiatus. Hot Chocolate listed for sale in Preveza. Calico refit continues.

Navigating the Greek Islands

Greece became the defining sailing ground for Sailing Two Get Lost. The Ionian Sea on the western coast offered sheltered sailing and reliable afternoon thermals, while the Aegean to the east presented the full force of the Meltemi wind system. Adam and Emily sailed extensively through both regions, with most of their documented passages concentrated in the Dodecanese chain (Rhodes, Symi, Patmos) and the eastern Aegean (Samos, near the Turkish coast).

Sailing the Dodecanese in summer means planning around the Meltemi, which can build from a moderate 15-knot northerly to sustained gusts well above 40 knots within hours. Their episode 50 KNOT WINDS, Anchoring Fails captures exactly this scenario in Symi harbour. The narrow channels between Greek islands create acceleration zones where the Meltemi compresses and intensifies—a reality that Hot Chocolate’s tandem centerboards helped manage by providing a solid grip to windward.

The couple also documented a rare Medicane event—a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone—approaching their position in July 2021. Their handling of the storm is covered in HURRICANE IN THE MED. Beyond weather, they filmed an earthquake and tsunami warning while aboard Hot Chocolate in the Dodecanese—a reminder that Greek waters present seismic risks alongside meteorological ones.

🌪️ Regional Weather Guardrails

The primary weather system affecting Sailing Two Get Lost’s cruising ground is the Meltemi (also known as the Etesian winds)—strong, dry northerly winds that dominate the Aegean Sea from June through September. These winds regularly reach 25–35 knots with gusts exceeding 40–50 knots in the acceleration zones between islands. Effective anchoring in Meltemi conditions requires hard-bottom anchorages, adequate chain scope, and a willingness to sit tight for days when conditions exceed safe sailing limits.

While the Mediterranean does not have a formal tropical cyclone season, Medicanes (Mediterranean hurricanes) can form between September and January. These systems are rare but intense, producing hurricane-force winds and dangerous sea states with very little warning compared to Atlantic hurricanes. Adam and Emily encountered one approaching their position near Symi in July 2021—early for the typical Medicane window, highlighting the unpredictable nature of these systems.

For late-season sailing (October–November), the crew documented reduced solar energy generation, increased cloud cover, and more frequent thunderstorms. Their Samos episodes illustrate the trade-offs of extended Greek season sailing: fewer boats and calmer anchorages, but less reliable power and shorter weather windows between frontal systems.

Source: Regional Weather Reference (WeBoating.com), YouTube episodes from Oct–Nov 2021.

Life Aboard: Techniques, Gear, and Challenges

Essential Gear and Tech Stack

Hot Chocolate’s systems reflected a budget-conscious approach to offshore self-sufficiency. The boat relied on solar panels as the primary energy source at anchor, supplemented by engine charging via the Perkins 4-108 alternator. Adam built and documented their solar setup in detail in the episode Energy on a sailboat – How do we make power at anchor?, covering panel placement, charge controller selection, and the realities of solar output during cloudy autumn sailing in the Aegean.

For water independence, they installed a Rainman portable watermaker—a unit reviewed in detail on their blog at twogetlost.com. This allowed extended anchoring without needing to visit marinas for freshwater fills, a significant cost saving in Greece where marina fees can quickly erode a tight cruising budget.

📊 Vessel Systems Health Scorecard (Hot Chocolate)

Skills & Tutorials: Learning from Sailing Two Get Lost

The channel’s practical value lies in its detailed how-to content aimed at first-time liveaboards. Adam’s episode on energy systems at anchor walks through the full electrical chain from panel to battery to load. Their TRUE COST of living on a sailboat is one of the most granular budget breakdowns in the sailing YouTube space—covering three years of tracked expenses including marina fees, provisioning, insurance, engine maintenance, and visa costs across multiple Med countries.

Their DIY Classic Sailboat Restoration episode documents months of work bringing Hot Chocolate back to condition—including topside painting, woodwork, and systems overhaul. For viewers considering older boats, this video provides an honest look at what a budget restoration actually involves.

Beyond video, their blog at twogetlost.com includes sailing itineraries (including a detailed Ionian sailing itinerary), gear reviews, and practical articles on topics from learning to sail for free to making money while living aboard.

Overcoming Adversity on the Water

The channel’s most dramatic content comes from genuine emergencies. In July 2021, Adam and Emily weathered 50-knot Meltemi gusts in Symi harbour, dealing with anchoring failures and the stress of protecting a 38-foot sailboat in conditions that push well beyond the design envelope of most ground tackle. Shortly after, a Medicane tracked toward their position—the Mediterranean equivalent of a tropical cyclone, with concentrated wind fields and minimal forecasting lead time compared to Atlantic systems.

In December 2021, they experienced an earthquake while aboard Hot Chocolate, followed by a tsunami warning that forced immediate contingency planning with no clear protocol for a sailboat at anchor. The COVID-19 pandemic also tested their resilience: stuck at anchor for three weeks during the Greek lockdown, they managed water, food, and energy without shore access before eventually finding a boatyard that accepted them.

The YouTube Journey and Financing the Dream

Content Style and Production Quality

Sailing Two Get Lost produces approachable, family-friendly content with a distinctly British sensibility. Episodes run 10–20 minutes and follow a diary format—mixing sailing footage, technical repairs, and personal reflection without heavy scripting. Production quality is clean but not cinematic; Adam shoots on consumer-grade equipment with natural audio and minimal post-production effects. The channel’s appeal lies in its honesty about the unglamorous side of liveaboard life: clogged marine toilets, engine oil changes in confined bilges, and the monotony of waiting out multi-day Meltemi cycles.

🎙️ Community Pulse & Audience Vibe

The Two Get Lost community is built on trust through transparency. Adam and Emily’s willingness to share exact financial figures—monthly costs, boat purchase price, refit expenses—sets them apart from channels that keep budgets vague. Their Patreon community receives bonus footage, live location updates during sailing seasons, and early access to blog posts. The couple also maintains active engagement on Facebook and Instagram, where Emily shares day-to-day updates between video uploads.

💰 How Sailing Two Get Lost Fund the Voyage

The Two Get Lost financial model evolved significantly during their sailing years. Initially, Adam maintained remote employment while Emily focused on building the blog. By July 2021, twogetlost.com had grown enough through affiliate content, SEO traffic, and digital product sales to replace Adam’s salary entirely.

Their primary income streams include:

• YouTube AdSense: Passive revenue from 87 videos and 180,000+ total views.
• Patreon: Community support platform at patreon.com/twogetlost, offering bonus content and live sailing updates.
• Digital Product: "How To Run Away To Sea" guidebook—a 200+ page, 50+ chapter digital guide sold via Easy Digital Downloads on twogetlost.com/guidebook. Covers boat buying, provisioning, safety equipment, paperwork, sailing with pets, and maintenance.
• Website Affiliate Income: twogetlost.com generates revenue through sailing gear recommendations, itinerary guides, and product reviews (including a detailed Rainman watermaker review).
• PayPal Tips: Direct donations via their "Buy us a beer" PayPal link.

💸 Cruising Budget & Financial Blueprint

Estimated based on Kadey-Krogen 38 market averages, Wauquiez Kronos 45 refit benchmarks, YouTube CPM rates ($2–$5 USD), and the channel’s own published cost data from their May 2022 budget episode.

Top Episodes: Where to Start Watching

• The TRUE COST of LIVING ON A SAILBOAT full time — The definitive budget episode. Adam and Emily break down every expense from three years of full-time Mediterranean sailing, including marina fees, food, insurance, engine maintenance, and visa costs. If you’re researching the real financial picture of liveaboard cruising, start here.
• Time to let you in on a SECRET — The reveal of Calico, their Wauquiez Kronos 45 catamaran. This episode includes the first walk-through, the discovery story, the naming rationale, and an honest assessment of the refit scope ahead. Essential viewing for anyone considering buying a project catamaran.
• HURRICANE IN THE MED — Adam and Emily face the approach of a Medicane—a rare Mediterranean tropical cyclone—while anchored in the Dodecanese. The episode covers their preparation, decision-making under pressure, and the realities of storm management on a 38-foot sailboat without nearby hurricane holes.

Channels Similar to Sailing Two Get Lost

If you enjoy the practical, budget-focused Mediterranean sailing content of Sailing Two Get Lost, these channels cover similar waters and themes:

• Sailing Okaliptüs — Mediterranean sailing aboard a Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 catamaran, covering Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia. Strong overlap in geography and DIY repair content, with a focus on Turkish sailing grounds.
• Sailing Bluefish — A UK-Swedish family sailing a Lagoon 42 catamaran in Greece with two young children. Similar family-oriented liveaboard lifestyle, with a focus on worldschooling and the realities of catamaran ownership in the Aegean.

Community Impact and Future Horizons

Supporting the Journey and Getting Involved

The primary way to support Sailing Two Get Lost is through their Patreon, which offers bonus footage, live location tracking during sailing seasons, and direct access to Adam and Emily. They also accept PayPal tips and generate income from their blog and guidebook. Following them on Instagram and Facebook provides the most current updates during their hiatus period.

What is Next for Sailing Two Get Lost

The channel is currently on hiatus following the birth of Jack in 2023. Their December 2023 short—"Cannot wait to get back on the water and show Jack the world"—strongly suggests the intention to return to sailing as a family. The Calico refit in Preveza continues, and the sale of Hot Chocolate would likely fund the remaining engine replacements and systems work needed to make the Wauquiez Kronos 45 passage-ready. When they do return, the transition from a 38-foot monohull to a 45-foot catamaran with four cabins positions them for a fundamentally different kind of cruising—one with space for a growing family, more storage for extended passages, and the shallow draft needed for Caribbean and Pacific gunkholing.

Milestones and Industry Recognition

While Sailing Two Get Lost has not received formal industry awards, they have built a respected position in the budget liveaboard sailing niche. Their "How To Run Away To Sea" guidebook has become a recommended resource across sailing forums and social media communities. The channel has been featured in HuffPost UK and Hampshire Live for their story of leaving conventional UK careers for full-time sailing. Their acquisition of one of only 13 Wauquiez Kronos 45 catamarans ever built places them in a unique position within the sailing YouTube community—documenting the restoration of a vessel most sailors have never encountered.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sailing Two Get Lost