Runa

Giving Up Everything… for an Excess 11!

When we met in 2021, neither of us imagined that our first date would change the course of our lives. Yet, over a couple of beers in our local pub, we discovered we shared exactly the same dream: to own a sailing yacht and explore the world by sea.

Published 31/07/2026

By Mary Nicholas

Issue: 209

Published: oct. / oct. 2026

Discover this issue

Who: Andrew & Ruth
Where: Mediterranean Sea
Multihull: Excess 11
Social media: @TheRunaLife

At the time, it seemed just that - a dream. We were both in our early thirties, building careers in the UK and working demanding full-time jobs. Then, in 2024, something changed. We can’t pinpoint exactly when, but we went from casually browsing second-hand yacht listings to falling in love with a Dufour 470 and impulsively making an offer - which was ultimately rejected. We were disappointed at the time, but looking back, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Having always sailed monohulls, I had sworn I would never own a catamaran. But Andrew persuaded me to test sail an Excess 11. I was convinced immediately. Fast, fun and spacious, it ticked every box for the liveaboard lifestyle we were looking for. So we took the plunge.
Buying our first boat was incredibly exciting, but one major question remained: how were we actually going to make it happen? As it turned out, the timing couldn’t have been better. In February 2025, I was made redundant. It certainly wasn’t planned, but it removed one of the biggest obstacles standing between us and life afloat.
Surprisingly, plenty of people questioned our decision. We’d both worked hard to build successful careers, so why risk giving it all up? Why not wait until retirement, when we’d have more time and fewer responsibilities? For us, the answer was simple: tomorrow is never guaranteed. The longer we waited, the less likely we were to go. So we jumped in with both feet and signed the order for our very first boat, Runa. During our first season in 2025, we sailed our Excess 11 from Les Sables-d’Olonne to the Mediterranean, crossing the Bay of Biscay along the way. In total, we covered almost 3,000 nm, discovering Spain, the Balearic Islands, the French Riviera and Corsica. Like many new liveaboards, we initially wanted to see as much as possible. But our approach changed during the final six weeks of the season, when we deliberately slowed the pace. We stayed in Corsica, taking time to explore peaceful anchorages, picturesque villages and the island’s spectacular mountain scenery. That’s where we realized this lifestyle isn’t about ticking countries off a list; it’s about immersing yourself in the places you visit and enjoying the journey every bit as much as the destination. That realization has shaped every decision we’ve made since. For our second season, we’ve chosen to slow down even more. After returning to Corsica, we’ll head for Sardinia, Tunisia and Sicily, taking time to discover each destination both ashore and afloat.

For our third season, the plan is to continue east towards Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. One day we’d love to cross the Atlantic and explore the Caribbean - but there’s no deadline. One of the greatest lessons sailing has taught us is that life afloat isn’t a race. There’s no need to hurry to the next country, the next milestone or the next dream. We’d rather spend years truly discovering each destination than rush around the world simply to log miles and say we’ve been there.