From transatlantic crossings to local day trips and everything in between, meet the adventure enthusiasts who’ve joined the BRNKL crew and stay connected to their boat.
MV Freedom
Welcome aboard M/V Freedom, a 2004 43’ Nordhavn trawler currently based in Seattle, WA. After nearly 14 years of cruising the Great Lakes and majestic waters in the Pacific Northwest, Captains Shawn & Elizabeth, along with their two rescue pups Sully & Martha, began turning their cruising dreams into reality by purchasing Freedom. She’s not only an explorer yacht but is also their full-time floating home and remote office with big plans to circumnavigate the globe. To prepare her for near and off-shore cruising, Capt. Shawn has been working tirelessly to outfit her with everything necessary to keep her safe and secure. Having a BRNKL monitoring system has given her crew peace of mind that their boat and home is always protected no matter if they’re at the dock, away or out on the water!
Ryan and Sophie
Ryan and Sophie have been exploring the world on their boat, a Beneteau Oceanis 40 from 2007 called Polar Seal, since 2016. Having been inspired by the story of fellow sailors Matt and Jessica of MJ Sailing, Ryan and Sophie embarked on their journey with little to no sailing knowledge. Since then, they’ve sailed the Stockholm archipelago, around the Mediterranean, and across the Atlantic several times, and even released their own course on how to get started sailing the world. Fun fact: At the Annapolis Boat Show in 2022, Barnacle CEO Brandon challenged Sophie to a game of Mario Kart. Sophie came out on top and earned herself a brand new BRNKL that is now proudly monitoring Polar Seal.
Odd Life Crafting
Duca and Roberta, a Brazilian couple, embarked on a sabbatical trip around Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, and New Zealand in 2016. During their travels, they realized it was time to start pursuing their dream project. They created “Odd Life Crafting,” a lifelong project consisting of many smaller projects, each called a “season.” They bought a 44ft steel sailboat (Dinieper Tropic 1200) that had sat neglected on a beach for 22 years, and spent two years refitting her to be their home on the water. Follow along as they create an ongoing documentary about their life journey.
Earle Writes
Join multi-talented artist and writer Elizabeth as she embarks on a solo adventure through the historic waterways of Britain on her century-old Peaky Blinder Narrowboat, cruising with her loyal rescue street dog, Leela. You’ll get an authentic look at what it’s like to live on a vintage boat like Maggie and see all the nitty-gritty details of boating life on a 1928 70ft Fellow Morton & Clayton ex-coal boat. Elizabeth shares the stories of the narrowboaters who have traversed these waterways for centuries and gives you a real sense of their daily grind. Watch as she challenges social norms and navigates the canal system as a solo woman, proving that you don’t need to be “with someone” to enjoy a fantastic adventure!
Sailing Nahoa
Sailing Nahoa is the passion project of Ben and Ashley, a young couple who left behind their conventional lives to pursue their dreams of sailing around the world. They sold their possessions, bought a sailboat, and embarked on an adventure that has taken them to far-flung corners of the globe. Together with their two children under two, Willa and Bodhi, they have faced and overcome numerous challenges at sea, and have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience along the way. Barnacle Systems is proud to share the same hometown with Sailing Nahoa of Victoria, British Columbia, and protect SV Nahoa while they’re out exploring!
MJ Sailing
Meet Matt and Jessica of MJ Sailing, the adventurous couple from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who discovered their love for sailing in 2008. Matt has always been passionate about his hobbies, ranging from cars to watches and real estate, but it wasn’t until they were at the shores of Lake Michigan that he became fixated on sailboats. It started with just a passing interest, but eventually, they both decided to buy a boat instead of a cabin and spent their summer days sailing the waters. Fast forward to now, they are seasoned cruisers, having sailed the east coast of the US, the Bahamas, and even crossing the Atlantic twice in 2014. Currently, they are preparing for their newest adventure, rebuilding a 37ft aluminum boat in Florida.
Distant Shores
Paul and Sheryl Shard are a dynamic and experienced sailing couple with over 25 years of experience cruising and exploring the world’s oceans. They are the co-hosts of the television series “Distant Shores,” which chronicles their adventures sailing to remote and exotic destinations around the globe. Paul and Sheryl are skilled sailors and navigators, having completed numerous transatlantic crossings and tackled challenging ocean passages. They share their travels and expertise through articles, books, and online resources, continuing to inspire and educate others to pursue their own sailing dreams.
John Kelsey
John is a talented professional photographer with a deep appreciation for natural beauty – his photos speak for themselves! Growing up on Vancouver Island, he was surrounded by stunning landscapes that inspired him to capture their essence through his lens. John’s love for the Pacific Northwest ultimately brought him back to British Columbia after spending time away for school and work. Since then, he’s had the privilege of working with Sealegacy to further pursue his passion for coastal environmental conservation. Follow along as John and his partner Meesh explore the BC Coast on their 1977 DownEast 38′ sailboat, Shambhala, proudly protected by BRNKL.
Tula’s Endless Summer
Meet Billy, Sierra, and their furry companion Jetty – the adventurous trio who are exploring the world by sea on their own terms. They have sailed up and down the East coast of the U.S., and explored the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Northwest from California to Canada. Starting their journey on a small monohull sailboat named Tula, they have since lived on various vessels including a 34′ Marina Trader trawler (Neverland), a 40′ Crowther Spindrift Catamaran (Adrenaline), and a 43′ DeFever Trawler (Mountain Myst), all of which they have renovated themselves. Follow their journey and join in on the fun as they inspire, educate, and entertain through their captivating videos.
Sailing Zephyr
Zephyr is a 2010 Beneteau Oceanis 43 owned by an adventurous Australian couple Natalie and James who left their desk jobs to explore the world. With no prior sailing experience, they bought Zephyr to embark on an epic journey to see the world’s amazing sights. Through weekly updates, the couple shares their adventures, hilarious moments, and amazing sights from the places they visit. They hope to inspire awareness of marine conservation and a more sustainable way of living. Join the adventure with Sailing Zephyr as they sail around the world, discover new places, and inspire others to follow their dreams!
Taylor’s Travels
Taylor created Taylor’s Travels to document her passion for travel and adventure. Since the age of 18, she’s lived an alternative lifestyle, from living in a van to living on a sailboat. Since joining the crew of Sailing Doodles in 2019, she has become the captain of her own boat – most recently a 1994 Catalina Morgan 38 name Gypsy Moon. On top of this, she’s a motor cycle enthusiast and a talented guitarist. Her goal is to share her adventurous lifestyle and inspire others to do more of what brings them joy.
Onboard Lifestyle
Hop aboard SV bāsik and join Teal, Linh, Emma and little Compass – A family of four on a trip of a lifetime exploring the world one port at a time. From the refit of their custom 435 catamaran, they create videos to share the ups and down of cruising, experiences in new ports, and delicious dishes whipped up in their galley to inspire the DIY boaters and dreamers to follow their dreams. Watch as they share tips and tricks from their years of experience and learn what it takes to thrive on the open water.
Beau & Brandy Sailing
Beau and Brandy are the epitome of “going for it.” In 2015, they had a fleeting idea to purchase a sailboat, which quickly became a passion, and then a lifestyle. In February of 2016, the couple sold all of their belongings, left their jobs, and drove from New York to Florida to start their sailing adventure without any prior experience. They found their home in Saoirse, a rundown boat donated to a Florida seamanship school. After two and a half years of restoration, they set sail with their dog, Oona, and have never looked back. The journey has been far from easy, but Beau and Brandy know they made the right choice to pursue their dream.
WE|Sail
Warren and Erica, known as WE|Sail, are a couple who have taken on their biggest adventure yet: sailing around the world in their 2015 Fountaine Pajot Helia 44′ catamaran. With the desire to seek a powerful change in their lives, they sold all their belongings, quit their jobs, and transitioned from the mountains to the sea. After four years of sailing and living aboard, they have fallen in love with life on the water. They create exciting and inspirational travel videos documenting their adventures as they sail the world one nautical mile at a time.
Reel West Coast
As a must-watch for outdoor and fishing enthusiasts, Reel West Coast is a cinematic adventure and travel show centered around the experience of fishing. Hosted by former NHL player Brendan Morrison, the program features some of the best fishing locations globally while highlighting the local culture, people, and adventures in each destination. Beyond being a fishing show, Reel West Coast takes its viewers on a captivating journey to explore the beauty of the West Coast and other parts of the world, offering an unforgettable water-bound experience. The show promotes conservation, celebrates adventure, and proudly showcases the unique culture of the West Coast.
Mermaid Monster
Mermaid Monster is a 2008 Nordhavn 55′ yacht that has been home to the Palmer family since July 2018. The family is made up of Braden, a business owner with a passion for adventure, Brooke, a licensed Captain and professional photographer featured in publications like National Geographic, and their children Rooney, Penn, and Leo. The Palmers share a passion for the outdoors, especially the ocean, which they strive to instill in their children through hands-on education. With no concrete plans, they’re just going with the flow and hoping for smooth sailing.
Living On A Lifeboat
Dani and Toryn met in 2010 and have since embarked on numerous adventures together. Their latest project involves converting a 28ft enclosed lifeboat (formerly from a ferry) into a liveaboard boat with an electric engine. Once complete, they plan to explore Southeast Alaska, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the canals of Europe, and beyond. Throughout their journey, Dani and Toryn will be sharing their thought process, research, and cruising reports with their followers. They invite others to join them on their unique and exciting adventure with Luja the Lifeboat!
Interested in joining the crew?
If you’re an adventurous soul interested in becoming a Barnacle ambassador, we would love to hear from you! Please send us an email to express your interest and why you think you’d be a good fit.
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Learn more about BRNKL
We would be happy to walk you through the BRNKL app, the installation process, and help build a system suited for your boat. Fill out the contact form below and we’ll reach out to you to schedule a 15-minute video call or phone call.