Nathan Whitworth & onkudu.com
In 2008, feeling somewhat left behind by the ever growing popularity of blogging, I decided to create a website to document the purchase and refit of a Mk1 Corribee, called Kudu. I intended to move the boat down to London, where I worked at the time, and live on it until I was ready to venture further. This is no ordinary liveaboard story though, for the Corribee is a truly tiny boat at just 21ft in length, and with 4ft 6inches of headroom!
I craved adventure, which was the reason for this life changing move on to a small boat, but little did I know just where that adventurous spirit would take me. After over 18 months spent living on the boat in St Katherine Dock in London, I had finally grown tired of life as I knew it. So tired that I needed a change, and that change was the single most impacting event of my life. On the 2nd May 2009, having resigned from my job, I departed London with £500 to my name, destined to sail my little boat around our great island.
What started as a desperate yet entirely personal attempt to exit the rat race, ended up with over 100,000 people following my progress. Subsequently, I was awarded the Suhaili trophy at the London boat show 2010, presented to me by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Non of this was ever intentional; I was simply trying to live a little.
Still on a tiny budget and still living a life of relative freedom, I have since purchased another, slightly larger boat, which I am rebuilding ready for an even bigger adventure.
N,
I assume you did not drown – otherwise I would have heard about it
how was the thames
just editing the roach item
I greatly enjoyed our short drinking session
Dylan
Alright matey, just watched the rest of the vids, where all a great watch mate and looking forward to the next one.
Stay safe bro
Chris
I applaud you sir. I being from America am late in the game for sailing (I am 45) But I have sailed to 21 different countries. I now live in Reno, Nevada. But everyday I dream of being back on the ocean for one last jump. I want to sail from Mexico to the Marquesas (puddle Jump) and then spend 3 yrs in the South Pacific. oh and BTW I love Sir Robins Books as well. Good luck my brother I hope you find what you seek.
Fair winds and following seas to you !
hey I loved your story so much like me……..I now live aboard the 37ft yacht i rebuilt myself i also have my fathers 90 year old timber yacht that I grew up sailing with mates in have writen 2 page articles in australian mags…..In am currently taking the larger yacht on a lap around oz working along the way…unlike u I do most of the legs with a mate….if but live alone in ports as he has work commitments back in a city……if you would like to chat and perhaps exchange pics (i have thousands) email me back……cheers for now …Matt …..South Australia
Hi Nathan
enjoying your story, and partly living your adventures with you.
Have 28footer and wish to be able to do same some time but obliged to keep house and home ‘afloat’ at present.
Before you left did you do much preparation or did you simply look at the next few days options and go for it?
I’ve looked at the Jester proper and the Azores but concerned about the sleep deprivation ( how do they manage ?) and the cost of fitting boat out properly. What changes/additions to Kudu will be needed?
Ellens1st book was a great inspiration for me.
There I was reading away in the loo one day and I suddenly realised I just had to go find myself a boat all of my own. Since then I have been liberated and Betty, my Twister, is second home. She’s a bit deep to get up all those little creeks and in many ways a small bilge keeler lets you have even more freedom to do ’round GB, but she’s a terrific little ’sea boat’ and able to cope with most coditions better than most.
Tell us more about your Kudu.
How does she handle and despite her size how do you keep organised inside?
cheers
Scotty
I don’t tend to keep her organised. The boat is in a contant mess, although everything is usually well stowed before I set out to sea. Considering this is my full time home, no hotels or anything like that, I have to have everything on here. From spare polyester resin and CSM for repairs, to clothes, books, fenders, tools, electronics, spares for electronics, fuel for cooking, motoring etc. She is a very full boat, and there’s only just enough room left for me at the end of it all. As soon as I get myself oganised, I am going to try and detail the boat a bit more, so you can see what life onboard is like.
All the best,
Nathan
Hi Nathan
Met you for the first time today on the pontoon at Wells (parked behind you on Gold Coaster!). Spooky really, I have to continue to work to run this bloody thing and you have left the rat race to follow your calling. I greatly admire what you’re doing – be safe and I wish you every success. Just wish I’d had the same urge and sense of adventure when I was your age. Will be monitoring your progress over the coming weeks and months. Good luck!
Hi Nathan,
I’ve been asking Richard (Jay Pee) every time I see him how you are getting on and then by chance I read your article in the Little Ship Club mag which directed me to your website. You’re doing brilliantly and I love the site. You are now in my old stomping ground and I hope you are enjoying the puffins flying over the deck as much as I did. I am taking ‘Livia’ home in September after a year in St Katharine’s but look forward to following your progress. Good luck and keep a metre under your keel
Cheers
Bill
Having worked all my life in TV doco’s mainly editing I congradulate you on your shooting. What is your technique for mounting the camera when shooting yourself? It looks very stable to be all shot hand held and framing through a forward lcd screen. I hope when you finish you can get interest from one if the TV channels.
I see the home page of the Little Ship Club Site now features your own movie clips another step towards world domination…
Now I remember who you remind me of…………………… A young Omar Sharif……
Strange. I had a 22 ft Bluebird yacht here in Sydney I called Kudu, from 1974 until 2000. She was a great sea boat and I cruised her up the coast, and around the New South Wales estuaries.
I liked the name Kudu as it was a link with my African past, and the motion of the Kudu is similar to a yacht bucking a head sea. Add the horns for a mast… Good luck in your trip!
Enjoyed your clips so far, very natural, warts an all, great stuff. Music’s great.
STUDY Mingming for preparing for the ocean. You’ll feel much more relaxeed if Kudo is “bo-b proof” (Dare not print the full word on internet) Weared times ! !
Good luck and very best wishes, feel I know you from your blog.
Malcome
Ex skipper of Helix (Jester Azores 2008 finisher)
Hi Nathan! I am watching your videos on YouTube and am enjoying them tremendously… and also with a great deal of envy lol…. best of luck and I hope you and Kudu will have many (enjoyable) adventures still… and all the best with the Jester!
I found you’re videos on youtube nad boy have you inspired me. I am planning to sail around the world been a dream since i was 15. I almost thought it can’t be done but after watching you’re many videos on you’re 21ft boat I realize it can be done
hi
how is the new boat comming on?
Slowly. I still haven’t got it back to Preston on account of the weather, and I’ve also just lost 3 fifths of my income, so I’m a bit snookered for funding the refit. Still, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Hi Nathan(weird we have the same name but i’m a few years older {circa 1969}).Just wondering is the stag 28 for sale on ebay the same one as you talk about in your blog.I considering another project after refitting a Leisure 17 then selling to fund the refit of my Westerly Cirrus which is currently doing us proud but as you know yourself the temtation to go bigger is always there.If its the same can you give me any more info about it.Regards Nathan
Hi Nathan (I agree, it’s strange to address one’s own name
It is the same stag. It’s even still got the original fan heater I bought while working on it in the winter.
It’s no quick project. You’ll need to take it right back to bare hull because the bulkheads need replacing. Still, £750 for a 28 foot hull and a load of bits ain’t bad at all I think. This sale has nothing to do with me and I don’t know the details, but it should still have the prop shaft, prop, and a few other goodies on board. With the 6 months free mooring, it’s a bargain, in my humble opinion.
The boat is called Dreamer, and a note to any dreamers reading this. It is a BIG project. You need to be able to build the entire boat from bare hull, and it will take thousands to finish.
Hey
Liked Dylan comment ;0) first….
Keep the fate, and the hard work in train, and im sure the ‘Jester’ will come (and i don’t mean funny bones).
Best of luck..
Philip
hi nathan
cheers for showing me round kudu, she’s an inspiring little boat. It was also a real pleasure to have met your good self also very inspiring, really apreciated the time you gave me, hope to meet you again soon keep up the good work
p.s. excuse the spellling am writing this from my new fandangled phone and my fingers are t bloody big for the keys, you woud’nt believe how long it’s taken to write this…..!
cheers again mate
Paul (the biker in the silly pants)
Hi Nathan
Found your blog via your YBW post and have spent the better part of this morning reading your excellent posts. It has made me realise the tasks to be done on our own small boat are not so big after all!
Good luck with the refit
S
hi nat if you get chance mate pop down to douglas marine on the ribble always welcome for a beer and chat i brought flipper from peter the guy that helped you out give me a mail mate
how much did you end up spending in the end i thinking about leaving soon how far did the 500 get you?
Hi Nathen from a old fella to a young one as your reality changed about having a toilet on a boat i think you will find all these gadets you are fitting on your boat is just locking you in to being a slave for society instead of having money or what we call freedom tokens in your back pocket so that you can just go and be free all that stuff will break down causing you headach simple is best have a look at this site enjoy mate from Australia http://www.microcruising.com/
Hi William,
That’s an interesting point, but my requirements are somewhat more demanding for a small boat cruiser. I have to have shore power in order to run my computer thus earn money. I also need it to run the heater in winter. As an example, last winter saw a few weeks where the temperature didn’t rise above 0 degrees c, and frequently dropped to minus 8! There was 3 inches of ice holding Kudu still on her berth, and on the south side of the marina, where the low winter sun is hidden by buildings, it was up to 8 inches thick.
I know, hot water seems like cheating; it seems like adding complications to this ideal of a simple life, but it will add untold comfort and ease to those cold months. I’ve not loaded Kudu with gadgets to go wrong, I simply installed a calorifier and water pump. All the other modifications have been for the sole purpose of making her more sea worthy.
The micro cruising site was interesting, but they were trailer sailing their boat from a base on land, and sailing in a much warmer climate. Last winter here in England was dire, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing to seek a little more comfort.
All the best,
Nathan
Hi Nathan i just happened to be reading on that microcruising site on the restoration of their little cruiser and it shows a photo of damage from hitting ice now that dos’nt seem tropical at all…. also some great info on building a folding tender thought you might find that interesting since you have become so good on the tools, lol i enjoy rewatching your videos
Namaste William
hello nathan i am scottish in scotland hot and cold makes you a big jesse you are a good lad what are your plans are you up for jester 2012 see you on start line if you make it to start line i will give you £500 nae problem nelly nelson
Hey Nelly.
I do hope I see you at the start of the JC2012. That’s my intention anyway. It’d be jolly nice if everybody offered me 500 quid wouldn’t it! Hehe. I’d feel more comfortable accepting a pint of ale instead though
I have found you. Your articles are fascinating. Something for me to read, rather than wasting my time on facebook. keep going Nathan.