Do you ever feel stuck in your environment? Would you be willing to give up everything and start a life beyond the ordinary?
Roberto and Kelly Pisano, 50 and 44 years old, a married couple from the Netherlands, decided to sail around the world. They quit their corporate jobs and bought a boat. Now they are living a dream.
Surely, this transformation did not happen overnight.
If you have time, the two will happily walk you through their journey. Roberto’s eager look and Kelly’s peaceful demeanor melt into a mutual quiet passion for the life they lead.
Who are these two individuals daring to gift themselves the most precious gift of all, that of freedom?
by Lyra Goga
Roberto and Kelly are both Mediterranean by origins. While raised in the Netherlands, they never felt quite at home in the rigid rules and structure of the country. With fiery adventurous spirits, they always longed for another lifestyle.
Born in Belgium and growing up in the Netherlands, Kelly could not be completely satisfied with her conventional life. She studied food technology and would switch from one job to the other. Kelly was restless, she could not figure out a calling for her.
“I just turned 44 and finally got to know myself. After all these years, after having children and moving from country to country…” says Kelly with the profound smile that comes from knowing one’s self.
Today Kelly is certain of what she wants. She loves sailing because it brings her back to nature. To her, both sailing and nature equal happiness. Kelly is into health and herbal remedies as well as meditation. Her interests help her stay focused while building a completely new life around sailing.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Roberto is betrayed by his Italian name. His father is from Sardinia and being half Italian certainly leaves its mark. The Italian blood characterized by an intense love of life and more laid-back living runs through his veins.
“We feel that we are being held back through this environment in our own development” expresses his concern Roberto, as if any other second wasted in this colder climate keeps him away from a more exciting life.
Roberto has always been working in investment banking, trading in the capital market. Mathematics and finance were all he knew; he had no idea about boats. Eager to transform his life and even make a change in society, he is now deep into learning all there is about boats. Roberto, together with Kelly, does not shy away from getting hands-on with any sort of fixing the boat needs.
The two are synchronized with this new way of life to the point that they often complete each other’s sentences. Upon discussing choosing a place to live, Kelly starts with: “If you move around…” and Roberto concludes “…you create opportunities.”
The Pisano family describes themselves as nomads. They lived in the Middle East; they lived in London. They are experienced with life abroad as well as easily adjusted to constant traveling. They normally have a cycle of five years and after that, they start moving around again. There was always something missing and it took them some time to figure out the answer.
“We don’t really belong on land; we don’t belong on a place for a number of years. We always want to be moving around. So, ideally, for us, we will be sailing. Some period of time to live on a boat but also eventually find places like Sardinia, Italy or someplace with warm weather and set small projects.” explains Roberto.
Some of the destination dreams are without a doubt Italy, followed by other European countries such as France, Spain, and Portugal. They like to have the option of switching between life on land and at sea. Sailing makes such a lifestyle possible, as well as it offers the freedom of movement they desire.
The initial idea for sailing started from a feeling of isolation. During Covid, the entire world was shut down. Everyone was stuck at home and the Pisano couple used this time for some serious reflection on life as they knew it. They were more aware of the limitations set by the system. While the idea of sailing was not new, their busy lives had previously prevented them from pursuing it. The pandemic, however, made it clear that the time was right. It was almost like all the little pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
Roberto and Kelly did not list all the things that would make this new life impossible. Instead, they focused on how to make it work. They started by buying a quite cheap and old boat, just as a way of testing. The boat had cracks and was dirty, it took about two or three months just to clean it. Despite the challenge, the couple were determined to ensure the boat was in good condition before taking it out. Their first voyage was meant to make sure all the family enjoyed sailing on a boat. Luckily, they did.
The Pisano couple could have postponed it for more years and perhaps saved for some luxurious yacht. Instead, they decided to waste no time and do the change with whatever was at hand.
“A lot of people think that you need a lot of money to start living on a boat. But you don’t have to be a millionaire or rich to have a sailboat. You can start small and see if eventually you can build that up.” insists Kelly, wanting to encourage others to pursue this or whatever else that might bring fulfillment to their life.
This approach led them to another boat after discovering serious damage on the first one. They now purchased a 9.6m sailing boat, which is still not the largest. This is a boat from the ‘70s that they are refitting and modernizing themselves. Again, this can present different obstacles because being in the harbor and working on the boat requires good weather. And as it happens, the weather in the Netherlands was not ideal, postponing the trip for an uncertain time. There was not much to do but stop and wait for the sun.
The process takes serious dedication, effort, and money since the couple are not exactly boat experts. There is certainly the tedious document work, such as licenses and registration for the boat, which was a smooth process due to collaboration with Lorrendraaier. In addition, the couple is making use of advice from either professionals or friends, as well as seeking help on YouTube.
“Thanks to things being broken, well, you kind of start learning from it, because when it is broken you need to fix it,” says Roberto, remaining positive for the process.
“This preparation process to me is mostly about patience. There is always something with the boat, we have to go ahead and fix it. And then you get another problem and you have to face that too.” says Kelly in the same persistent and positive note.
The Pisano family are currently going on with the preparation of the boat, and even the sailing itself. So far, the family sailed throughout the Netherlands, but going out in the ocean is another thing. Their families are a little worried and doubtful about this grand adventure. Indeed, there are endless possible things that could go wrong out in the ocean. It does not help that one cannot control the weather or the potential encounter with dangerous sea creatures.
The couple is aware of all of the risks, and they do not diminish the concerns of others. However, it is important to note that the people around them are the exact opposite, preferring comfort over adventure. After all, the life of the Pisano family is certainly not for everyone. They also advocate that everyone should find their own path in life.
Moreover, although the Pisano family were beginners when they started, they have come a long way. They are constantly learning about potential dangers and how to manage them through books, articles, and experienced sailors. They are supported by friends and encouraged by strangers.
Roberto and Kelly are surrounded by people living paycheck to paycheck, only smiling two weeks of a year, while on their holiday.
“We think we don’t need a holiday to have something different. Why not make every day of your life your own choice? Especially now with online work and presence. It is possible.” claims Roberto.
Financial barriers often prevent people from living each day as if it were a holiday. In the same light, the attempt to make every day count certainly comes with its cost. The Pisano family had to rebuild their boat and invest in VHF equipment, safety gear, and necessary measures for seaworthiness. This took a toll on their budget, leaving the family to try harder to be self-sustainable. They are now concentrating on generating income from their journey by documenting everything online, a growing trend in today’s digital world.
“There is another way of life. There is another way of income generation. You can be happy every day and you can share your stories and inspire people” agrees Kelly.
The two are especially passionate about sharing this adventure with others. They are already posting videos on their social media platforms where they show glimpses of their life. At times they even show themselves working on the boat or giving tutorials on how to make the boat seaworthy. By watching their videos, the viewers can get inspired but also realize the pragmatic aspects of the journey. The Pisano family is creating a whole new world for other people.
Remember, Roberto and Kelly were not born into this life, they had to work hard to create it. Today they are making the most of their potential, preparing to sail around the world by boat.
They are no longer held back by their circumstances. In line with Henley’s famous poem Invictus, Roberto and Kelly are the masters of their fate, they are the captains of their souls. And the captains of their sailing boat. Good news, we can all be. Join the Liberty ship and let us keep sailing together.
