Honolulu – Halfway while sailing The Pacific With only his cat named Phoenix, Oliver Widger reflected on why he thinks that his many followers, more than one million in Tiktok and Instagram, are attracted to their story of leaving their work from 9 to 5 and embarking on a trip of Oregon to Hawaii.
“The world stinks and, as, I don’t think it’s just how I felt with my work,” said Widger, 29, The Associated Press on Wednesday through Zoom. “You can win $ 150,000 a year and you still feel that you are making account purposes, do you know what I mean? And I think people are tired of that and work very hard at all and want a way out.”
People are inspired by someone who found an exit, said Widger, who is among a growing number of people who have undertaken such trips In recent years.
Being diagnosed four years ago with a syndrome that had a risk of paralysis made him realize that he hated his work as a manager in a tire company, a work that required him to be shaved and wear pressed shirts. He learned of people who sailed from California to Hawaii and decided that this was life for him.
He abruptly left his work with “without money, without plan” and $ 10,000 of debt.
“I knew one thing: I’m buying a sailboat,” he recalled. “I’m browsing the world.”
He liquidated his retirement savings, taught to sail mainly through YouTube and moved from Portland to the Oregon coast, where months spent reconditioning the $ 50,000 boat that he bought.
Now, Widger is taking advantage of the power of social networks to finance his navigation dream around the world.
Since he sailed in April, the followers have been tune in their publications on the social networks “Sailing With Phoenix” to watch videos of him and his first feline companion who fight against the waves and episodes of tide, enjoying dazzling sunsets, telling difficult repairs of boats or simply reflecting on life in the sea.
While arguing his trip with the AP, a scored bag that transported bottled water and snacks saveded wildly on his head while the boat was balanced.
He recalled the most prominent aspects of the trip so far, including the wonder of the rapid dolphins cut through water and finding flying fish on the deck. There have been stretching when there were no birds in sight for days. It can be a fight to sleep when the boat is cracking while accumulating by waves or to stabilize a boiling pot for the mres in which it has been subsisting.
There have been heartbreaking moments such as when a rudder failed and the boat leaned sideways in the waves for three hours while making repairs, and the time that was locked in the engine compartment and ran out with a key.
Widger acknowledged that it is relatively inexperienced as a sailor, but has implemented security measures and communication support plans, including a satellite phone and an emergency lighthouse.
Lieutenant CMDR. Jesse Harms of the United States Coast Guard in Hawaii has not been following the trip closely, but said it relieves when he heard that Widger has the emergency position indicated by Radio Beacon, known as an Epirb.
It is a critical tool for rescuers to locate the position of a sailor during an emergency, especially in the Pacific, the largest ocean, Harms said.
Widger’s trip provides a good opportunity to educate the public on navigation safety, such as the importance of using a personal flotation device when it is superior in the boat, monitoring the climate closely and registering emergency tools such as the EPIrb, said Harms.
“That is a really critical piece for anyone who is motivating their history to go to their own adventure,” said Harms.
Until his arrival, probably to Honolulu, Widger assures that everything is in his place to prevent Phoenix from having to submit to Hawai’s quarantine. A mobile veterinarian will sign Phoenix’s health when they arrive, he said.
Widger was not aware of the mortal Cat Stool Danger At the seal of the Hawaiian monk in danger of extinction, but has been maintaining all its garbage, including kittens garbage, on board. Although he said that he is legally allowed to throw it overboard, seeing So much plastic in the ocean motivates him not to do it.
In addition to handling the practical aspects of daily life on a ship, it is dealing with viral in the middle of the ocean creating social networks content and making decisions about the merchandise that their fans want to buy.
He accredits everything to his neck, which “shook my world and changed my perspective of everything.” He also hopes that he can be an inspiration for anyone in a routine.
“Everything I’ve done thought it was impossible,” Widger said. “Navigating the world is such a ridiculous dream. Whatever your dream, just see, do it.”
