The prerequisite when they were buying a boat was that it should be small enough to handle for two people, but large enough to live in and undertake longer voyages. They ended up with a Swedish-built Mamba 33 from 1986, 33 feet long.
We’d like to know a bit about your backgrounds. Where did you grow up, and how did you meet?
Bianca: I grew up in Nynäshamn and have lived here all my life with my family. I’ve always loved the sea and living close to nature. But due to studies, I moved to Stockholm a few years ago, where I studied business development.
Eric: I was raised in the countryside outside Stockholm and in the forests of Småland. I travelled a lot for several years, and worked as a freelance adventure photographer. Then I moved to Stockholm and started an advertising agency.
We met through mutual friends when we both moved to Stockholm. We knew right away that it would be the two of us, and got married after just over a year. Quite soon after that, we felt we missed the tranquillity outside the city, the desire for adventure and travelling, and that we needed a change in our lifestyle.
You are novices to boating. How did you learn to handle the boat?
Our first voyages were made together with friends experienced in sailing, and then we spent the whole summer of 2023 venturing out into the Stockholm archipelago on our own. Since we were living on the boat, we had lots of time to learn and get accustomed to boating life. We have continued since then and are learning new things all the time.
What’s the best thing about living on a boat?
It’s an exciting and active life. At the same time, we’re living a slower life compared to before in the city. Every day offers something new, and we get to challenge ourselves. We’ve also started to appreciate everything we have much more, and feel good about living more minimally. Then, of course, a big advantage is that we can move our home and have the opportunity to explore the world.
How have you managed this cold winter? Is a standard heater enough to keep warm, and doesn’t the boat take damage from being in the water during winter?
It has gone surprisingly well to live on the boat over the winter. We’ve managed with a convection heater with a fan, and some insulation (1 cm) around the waterline. We also have a heater when we’re in natural harbours. The most important things are to prevent the thru-hulls from freezing, and to ensure that loose ice does not scrape against the hull. We’ve lowered pumps to stir the water around the boat when there has been risk of ice.
How do you manage working from the boat when there’s two of you and not a lot of space?
We often work from the boat, but we also sit a lot in nearby cafés for a change of scenery. It’s easy to feel cooped up otherwise. Especially in the winter when you don’t want to be outside as much. We try to work some in the morning and then do something else during the day; we often become productive again in the evening.
Have you visited any Swedish harbours that have been particularly lovely?
We have been to Utö and Landsort (Öja) several times. They are probably our favourites so far!
You’re planning a trip to the Mediterranean. Which route will you take, which places are you going to visit?
We will go through the Kiel Canal and then follow the Atlantic coast down to Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean. Top on our list are places like Mallorca, Sardinia, Sicily, Kalymnos, and Ikaria.
Is the boat ready for such a long trip? What do you need to think about or make ready?
Among other things, we will get new sails, install solar panels, an anchor windlass and plenty of navigation and safety equipment.
What do you think your life will look like in the future?
If we continue to enjoy boat living, we will surely want to have a larger boat, especially if we have children. Think of the adventures we could experience on our trips together, both within Sweden and in warmer latitudes. Maybe in combination with a house in Spain or Italy. That way, we could more easily spend time on our other interests, like freediving, rock climbing, and snowboarding. In the long term, a combination of living on land and on a boat would probably be ideal.
Bianca adds that it is not the place, the boat, or the house that’s the most important. They can build a good home anywhere – as long as they are developing and challenging each other, able to help and inspire others, invite discussions, and meet new people. But one thing is crucial: always living close to nature.
We wish Eric and Bianca all the best on their journey!
Listen to Eric and Bianca at their YouTube channel “Eric & Bianca”.
… or follow them on Instagram:
