For most families, summer means a fortnight somewhere sunny. For the Saltmates, it means casting off the lines and pointing a 25-year-old catamaran towards the Greek islands – with Albania, Montenegro, Cyprus on the horizon.
A German family of four who swapped life on land for life on the water, the Saltmates don't do rigid itineraries. They follow weather windows, take tips from fellow sailors, and let the journey unfold – with two kids who are every bit as much a part of the crew as their parents.
We caught up with them ahead of their Mediterranean summer to talk route planning, life aboard as a family, and what it really takes to feel ready for an ocean crossing.
You're spending the summer in the Mediterranean – Greece, potentially Albania, Montenegro and Cyprus. Do you have must-see stops already planned or do you prefer to let the journey unfold?
We started this journey because we wanted a different kind of life – one that isn’t built around waiting for “someday.” We left our life in Germany, refitted the boat for about a year, and set off with relatively little sailing experience, knowing that we’d figure things out along the way.
That mindset still shapes how we travel. We have a rough direction – Greece, maybe Albania and Montenegro – but we try not to over-plan. We’ve learned pretty quickly that fixed plans don’t work well out here anyway.
Some of the best moments happen when you follow a recommendation from another sailor or change course because of the weather. Those unplanned stops often end up being the ones we remember the most.
As a family of four aboard a catamaran, how do you plan your route?
Our route planning is probably less structured than people might expect. It’s a balance between weather, safety, and what feels right for us as a family.
With kids on board, we try to avoid long, exhausting passages unless there’s a good reason. Instead, we break things into manageable legs and look for places where everyone can enjoy being there – not just arrive and leave again.
The catamaran definitely helps with that. It gives us more comfort and flexibility, which makes a big difference when you’re living aboard full-time.
And honestly, we’ve learned not to plan too far ahead. A rough idea is enough – everything else tends to change anyway.
You're planning to head west towards Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands next year – how do you decide when to move on from one region to the next?
For us, moving on is a mix of practical factors and instinct. Weather windows and seasonal patterns play a big role, especially when you think ahead towards the Atlantic.
But there’s also a personal side to it. We usually feel when it’s time to go – when a place starts to feel familiar, when we’ve explored enough, and when curiosity kicks in again.
We didn’t leave our old life to rush from place to place. So we try to give each region the time it deserves, without holding on for too long either.
What does keeping your catamaran in shape look like day to day, and what changes have you made/are making for the Summer of sailing?
Keeping the boat running is part of daily life now. After refitting her for a year before we left, we know most systems pretty well – but that doesn’t mean things stop needing attention.
It’s a constant process of checking, maintaining, and improving. Small routines make a big difference: quick inspections, listening to how things sound, catching issues early.
For this season, we’ve focused a lot on reliability. When you live on your boat, it’s not just about performance – it’s your home. So, we’ve been refining systems, improving storage, and making sure everything critical is easy to access and works when it needs to.
Sailing as a family across so many different countries and conditions, what do safety preparation look like – and how do you make sure everyone aboard feels confident and ready?
Before we even left, we took safety seriously. We completed courses like sea survival training and medical training for offshore situations, which gave us a solid foundation.
On board, safety is about preparation and involvement. We talk things through as a family, keep procedures simple, and make sure everyone knows their role.
Confidence comes with understanding. The more familiar everything is, the less intimidating it becomes – especially for the kids.
And we try to keep safety practical. Gear needs to be accessible, routines need to be realistic, and everything should work under real conditions, not just in theory.
What does the kids' involvement look like when it comes to preparing for a big passage – are they part of the process?
They’re very much part of it. From the beginning, we didn’t want them to just be passengers – they’re part of the crew.
We chose this life not just for ourselves, but for them. Brigitte is homeschooling them on board, which allows us to connect learning with real experiences and the places we visit.
At the same time, they already take on real responsibility. They handle the dinghy almost independently, help prepare the boat, and are involved in many of the routines on board.
Even during passages, they’re included – they’ve started taking part in night watches in a way that’s appropriate for their age.
It gives them confidence, but also a real sense of ownership. This isn’t just our journey – it’s theirs too.
An Atlantic crossing is potentially on the cards – what does feeling "ready" look like for you and the family?
For us, “ready” isn’t about a single moment and more about a combination of things coming together.
We started this journey with very little sailing background, and every mile since then has been part of the preparation.
The boat needs to be technically solid, of course. But just as important is how we function as a family at sea – routines, trust, communication.
We’re building up to that step by step. Longer sails, testing routines, refining workflows. At some point, it shifts from “big goal” to “next logical step.”
And beyond that, we’re not just thinking about the typical routes. Places like Patagonia or more remote regions definitely spark our curiosity – but there’s still a bit of ocean between where we are now and that chapter.
The Mediterranean to the Atlantic covers a huge range of conditions – how does your kit list adapt across the summer, and what Gill gear will you be relying on throughout?
That range is exactly what makes it interesting – and challenging. In the Med, you often deal with heat, strong sun, and sudden wind systems, while moving west brings more exposure, swell, and cooler conditions.
So our kit needs to cover everything from lightweight UV protection to proper offshore gear. Breathable layers are key, as well as gear that can handle spray and changing weather without being too bulky.
Christian has actually been using Gill gear for many years through his fishing background, long before this journey started – so there’s already a lot of trust in it when conditions get rough.
And that’s ultimately what matters out here. Gear you don’t have to think about.
We’re genuinely happy to have Gill as a partner alongside us – on the easy days, but especially on the challenging ones.
