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Your pride in boat ownership shines in every video. Congratulations on living your life's dream. I'm living vicariously.

Mark needs to work on his Narcissism somewhat

Respect to you both

What a wonderful and useful episode. I watch many boating channels and you have shared information that I have not seen on the others. Many dreamers may be intimidated by the cost of boat life but your no nonsense presentation will cause many to think “yes, I can handle that, I am in a better financial position than realized”. Interestingly, I have seen many estimated boat operating costs at 10% of the purchase price of the boat, and your numbers hit that estimate almost exactly. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experiences. Fiona has been a great partner and crew member, once off the boat she may miss it more than imagined. She is also a delight on your channel.

Thanks for this very interesting video. To buy a boat is one thing, but to know the real cost of use is the most important thing to avoid financial problem after.....When you speak about the total cost of your N51 about 2,2 M NZ dollars , it's with or without VAT ? thanks !!

Fiona, you are so brave and the best thing is to be honest with each other. I can totally understand as I have been in a similar situation being away from my wife and doing something that I love. I found that the time we have spent away from each other has made us closer and really appreciate each other even more. Really enjoyed the show especially with the costings of running the boat. It has been a really big help. Congratulations to you both. Mark can’t wait to see you use the Lures, if you ever need a fishing buddy let me know. Safe travels and tight lines.🎣

from the hart from both of you well done Fair wind and claim seas

Fiona and Mark, it is such a joy to watch your channel. Honestly, it is very refreshing. My husband is very ambitious and an avid traveler, too. He dreams of setting off on big, intrepid adventures as soon as possible. So Fiona, I can totally relate to your honest thoughts. Best wishes to you both for the journey ahead. Keep up the cool videos.

Another top episode team, obviously a very emotional one to put together. Was a true pleasure meeting you both at your wonderful property, last week. Fiona Her in doors said she wouldn’t want to spend that length of time with me on a boat. I am not sure why as I am an absolute delight,😉. Good luck with the next adventure

Mark and Fiona- you two are Great. Very transparent which is refreshing. Question does the 2,2124,00 include any tax? and are a lot of the replacement parts for the John Deere expensive? Also does Norhavn offer different engines? and if you need someone for a week or two . Need to get out of the Keys for a bit-- away from these Hurricanes

Fiona you are wonderful. It takes a strong woman to support her husband, no questions asked. As a married woman (50 years) I also try to "go along" and support my spouse whatever his adventures are: flying his own plane(s), scuba diving, sailboat ownership, powerboat ownership, etc.

Fabulous episode! You know, the heart only aches deeply because there’s abundant profound love shared. 💝💝🐨

Hi from NZ! You two are great and we really appreciate your honesty in the videos, and Fionas bravery to make the decision to be based from home. If you are anxious on the boat it takes away a lot of the enjoyment. Boating isnt easy - but it is lovely at times. Dont feel like you are failing if you bring Awanui NZ home on a ship - we are long way from anywhere and the weather is so changeable getting down here. Great cruising around NZ coastal waters (just a bit colder!), and the Pacific Islands are lovely and easy to get fellow delivery crew and Fiona can fly up easy. Whatever you do - keep in contact daily as a couple if you can and you'll make it work 😊

Another great video. If you need an extra crew member for a longer trip, let me know!

Thanks for the honest info!

Wow, I thought here in New Zealand anything to do with boats they charged like wounded bulls. I might have to rethink my ideas 😁

Thank you so much for this video. You are so honest, it is truly amazing. It is very interesting and quite frightening how much it coast's to run a boat like yours, thanks for sharing that to. Looking really forward to your next video.

That's what you guys have worked for all your life, hard to put a price on that. you only live once. And yes I have a 12m Bavaria sport two Volvos 310s so I understand. Great trip great memory's. Love your channel.

The joys of a diesel sucking monster. I'd go yacht every time. Same speed, usually faster, safer, quieter and most certainly cheaper. WoW. too much money. What a liability.

My retirement kiwisaver is just over what you yearly fuel bill is . . 👍👋🇳🇿🍻twa

Take care both of you . . . 💐❤👍👋🇳🇿twa

Put awanui on a boat to nz you get the best of both worlds.

I personally don’t get the grandkid thing, it’s an incredible adventure in your life and it’s your life to live, grandkids will be there when you get back.

Glad to see you back Mark sorry that Fiona won't be with you but I totally understand why looking forward to the next adventure. And thank you to you both for the great video.

$10,000 investment into a business co-op returns 40,000 per year. 30,000 investment 120,000, your years boating is free.

It will get way cheaper next year with the new system and way less taxes worldwide. Insurance is a total scam. Wondering Hillbilly got scammed. His Insurance didn't pay out. Hope you're not with that one.

Hi Mark, many thanks for the brutal reality of living overseas with the NZ dollar, doesn’t matter how much it cost as long as you have it and you are happy, cheers for the content.

Hello interested in your insurance prices seem high compared to what I pay , for 1 year in Europe great square basically everywhere you are planning on being for time is 3k Euros. My insurance company has the option to extend voyage as needed. Something that may reduce your costs. Great channel thankyou for sharing.

I'm gonna miss the laughs you 2 gave me 😢 Wishing everything works out for you guys 🙏

Did you have the solar and fly bridge cover in there somewhere? Plus insurance on the boat? Just curious….good video!

I fully understand where you are coming from. Nothing like yours but we have a boat in theSounds. It is hubbys dream and not mine. I always wanted a caravan. Never got anywhere so thought, whats the next best thing but a caravan on water! I get anxious about boating. i just cant help it. I would not want to be away from grandchildren for long periods. Dont feel guilty. You gave it a go and it just isnt your cup of tea full time. You will still have many years of fun with the boat.

I’ve watched all your episodes since launch (from my home in Chicago) . A few comments re your fly bridge . I commented early on that I thought you should spend the money to install Stidd seating on the fly bridge especially since your lower helm is Stidd. How have you felt about the bridge seating? FYI, I am on our second Sabre yacht . Our first was a 36 flybridge bought new in 2002 and after our complaints to the company about the Pompanette seating, Sabre switched to Stidds only. You are definitely doing the right thing about adding stability to your Bimini. I looked at old photos of our first Sabre and note the reliance on triangular stainless steel framing. So at the front of the bridge, there are vertical s/s posts at the corners with s/s braces coming down from the top of the vertical posts at an angle abeam and fastened maybe 1.5 feet in from the bottom of the vertical post. Similarly, there are s/s braces coming down from near the top of those corner posts at angles along the side of the bridge forming additional triangles. The hardware and means of attachment look similar to your planned installation. You will never remove the front bracing because it does not obstruct your vision

You guys are courageous with honesty. Your open-book attitude makes the whole exercise unbelievably authentic. Unlike some of the other comments I have no advice on anything. You guys share so much of yourselves along with social interactions between one another, with friends and family as well as personal financial stuff which is unique. You both have my utter respect.

Very honest video and must say your cost are lower than ours. Our maintenance cost are much, much higher, so you are absolutely fine with what you have. All the other cost are basically what we have as well, so indeed spot on calculation. Saw the intro of Fiona and although we understand reasoning of the both of you, life is short. You don't have another 20 or 30 years to create memories and spend time together. I may have perhaps 10 years left before dementia will hit me (runs in the family), so spending time together is important to us. And you are also not getting any younger, so we are wondering why not change your plans ? Now that Fiona is not joining you, all it comes down to now is bringing the boat back to NZ and that is it, then what ? Sure you can try to get through the rough winter months in Europe, but so far we have had one storm after another and fighting our way through those would start to look like work. Would not be our idea of fun. We had planned to be in Greece for the winter, but the admiral did not want to go through the rough weather, so I had to give in and it became a change of plans. Found ourselves a covered spot for the winter in Italy, taking the boat out on the 29th this month and will be changing the deck there. Beginning of April we will get back on the boat again, first to Greece, then back to Croatia and Venice. Sad part is that October will most likely be very warm in Greece, forecasting 30 - 35 degrees in the Ionian, basically summer, I would love to be there with the boat. But sometimes you just have to realize that the little time we have left (at our age) to spend together is more important than doing something that is nothing more than proving you can do something. After all, what is the value in just having to go out every day to bring the boat up in bad weather so that in the end you can say it arrived in NZ and you will sit at home again ? Last week we had to drop off family in Italy, had to battle through storms for 2 days to get there, when normally we would just stay put, wait for good weather and only then go out. One of the benefits of being in pension is that you don't have any time pressure, you can do it at your own pace. We have, since our drop off in Italy, returned to Limsky Fjord, Istria, been her for almost a week, lots of bad weather, but tomorrow seems to be good weather for about a week, so we will move to our favorite anchorage and enjoy being on the water. No more schedules to meet. You said it right and many people have told you, they were not wrong. This part of the world, Eastern Med, is the absolute most beautiful place for boating in the world. I know the Caribbean, used to live there for a couple of decades, great for flying, but not for motor yachting in our size of boats. So this may sound strange and not very welcome, but why not keep the boat here in the Med for a few more years, enjoy the summers in the Med. Spend 3 months in Schengen, then 3 months out, go home in between and come back for another 3 months. And when you are finally done, Fiona will have much more confidence, you will have created beautiful memories and then load the boat on a cargo ship, have it transported to the next place the two of you feel comfortable doing together and get back on the water ? Going in winter time to the UK is something not a lot of people would try to do, it is just flat out dangerous. Even going along the coast in the bay of Biscay is dangerous and that is purely due to the curvature of the bottom of the ocean. It goes from extremely deep to very shallow, very fast, creating the wildest seas you will ever encounter. You can of course sit and wait in each port for a few weeks, but let's be real............what is the fun of that ? In any case, whatever you decide, we will be following the journey, but be safe out there. The Med and Biscay are unforgiving, don't go out when it is not necessary, it is not worth it to risk your life just because you put a time constraint on yourself.

This is me and my wife. I have to explain everything to her in a patronising way. Then when she points out I am wrong I make up a crap excuse.

Fiona it is a brave thing to decide to get the best of both worlds. Mark will have his continued adventures and you will keep the home fires burning and go back for a boat adventure whenever you want! It would be wrong to stay on the boat just because you think you should. Life is too short for everyone to not get what they want out of life.

Fiona can rest assured not every couple is comfortable with each others dream, My first round the world drive was abruptly cut short as the misses wasn’t enjoying it like I was, so on subsequent journeys I left her at home, and it’s all worked out for the best and I love me time, been married now38 yrs, enjoy Mark I’m following and wishing I was had the opportunity

L🍿

The biggest cost is depreciation. Especially if you are writing off income against the expenses as a business. That number goes up every year too, where the better half half said keeping the boat up to date to date, an accountant might call depreciation expenses.😀 Thanks for the other costs. Forget Financing....different for everyone.😀

Numbers are pretty good, even better if you've sold up and have revenue coming in somewhere.. fuel not as bad as suspected and med is dear for marinas..

Great Video Mark and Fiona. Mark I will be looking forward to the next video to learn what the custom officials think of the things you are bringing into their country. Fiona enjoy this next month I am going to miss you when you are back home. Also sorry about the NZ naval ship that you lost in the last 10 days or so. So glad no one was injured.

That's a bargain price for the boat and setup costs. Even taking into account the teething issues!

Fiona will work out really well, Marc will take it easy after scare’n the shite out of himself once :) its the right move. My partner could not handle at all but supportive with time and starlink makes it easy.

What a prick he is

Fully understand yr decisioning to spend some time off the boat at home with kids etc. No right or wrong in the world. As a doubter when I first watched yr channel, your growth has been phenomenal and cant wait for yr future vids no matter who is on board. Hope there will be regular uodates from Blossom Valley . As a fellow Kiwi Ive loved seeing the ‘can do’ attitude and the beautiful places you have been. Mark - if she is not there to tell you off you will have to be mindful- more smiling and let crossed arms on videos. She wont be there to blame for things😅 lets hope the nzd/usd exchange rate improves.

Great vlog and brave to open up Mark and Fiona. I reckon all those years of high flight level cruising for hours on end in the 74, 76 and 777 has prepared Mark well for those long distance low level water ‘cruises’. Of course that does make Fiona - FIFO Fiona the F/O - an elegant and excellent solution to meeting each others life goals. Keep the faith and vlog going. Cheers and beers A❤️👍🇳🇿

Missed you guys - great to have you back - looking forward to your next adventures on the boat.

Welcome back, must admit got a wee bit excited when you mentioned Scotland, looking forward to seeing you back on the water.

The good thing is you're both intelligent adults that can make decisions that are good for both of you. You're both accomplished sailors now which is brilliant. PS. You've got your logistics pipeline established. Only time, bleeding hands and an inquiring mind can establish that. Fiona, you get the best of both worlds. You remind me of my mum. Friendly, competent and a mind of your own.

Great to see you guys back, been missing you. Mark give Fiona a big hug from us all. Looking forward to your next adventures, if you’re needing a hand whilst sailing through Scotland, give me a shout, both my wife and I would love to help you through the canal. Cheers 🥃🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿