Oï, the dog who is about to sail around the world

A few days ago, Marie, a fan of the Facebook page EmmèneTonChien.com, sent me a message to tell me about her upcoming project. She's leaving at the beginning of September to sail around the world with her partner and her dog. What a wow-worthy idea!

Intrigued, I wanted to call him and ask him tons of questions about this long journey. I love these projects that prove that with a little organization and imagination, you can take your dog anywhere! I completely share this vision of things! And this type of project nails the beak to those who abandon them cowardly at the slightest opportunity...

Let me introduce you to Marie and Oï. Marie is a 24-year-old young woman who has travel in her skin. She discovered sailing a year ago thanks to Dario, her companion, a pro skipper who has already sailed on most of the seas and oceans of the globe. They say that love gives wings, there, it will make Marie sail for several months... (it's cute!!)

She adopted Oï almost a year ago at the SPA in La Rochelle. He was 11 months old and very ill when she took him in. It's a Labrador cross spaniel found on the street. He had never been vaccinated and had caught parvovirus but when Marie caught his eye, she fell in love.

Gradually, he regained his strength and alongside Marie, he became an 11-month-old puppy again, very playful and crazy. Oï has sea legs, he navigates without stress and very quickly got used to the boat. He is a very bad swimmer so on board he is equipped with a harness with a dorsal handle, easier to fish him out in the event of a fall. The harness is attached by a lanyard to the lifeline of the boat when the sea conditions are bad. All around the boat, Marie has installed nets to prevent falls. Oï is super attached to his masters, he shares everything and everything with them so they go away without him, he sees it quite badly and cries a lot until their return...

Who read it believed? Oï is a dog who loves to navigate! If he was unlucky in his first life, his second life has some adventures in store for him Wow Good!!! Before embarking for 3 years at sea with him, Marie and Dario tested increasingly long sea trips up to a 5-day trip to Ireland. 5 days at sea without touching land: a first! A kind of dress rehearsal for the big trip. Oï has never been seasick despite the fact that the Irish Sea is rather rough. Generally, Marie and Oï rather leave for the day. He therefore got used to having to return to dry land to relieve himself. During this 5-day trip, he held back the first 24 hours. He probably thought he shouldn't do it on the boat… Marie encouraged him to show him that it was allowed and rewarded him when he finally relieved himself. And since then, he goes as far as possible on the boat to have a little privacy and zou! For Marie it's easy to clean, a bucket of water and off you go, to the sea!

On the boat, Oï is generally very calm: he watches all the maneuvers attentively. Marie has already thought of a few games to stimulate him mentally so that he can exert himself (toys, agility on the deck of the sailboat, learning tricks, etc.). On a boat, it moves a lot. To compensate for the heeling of the boat, you have to make a lot of effort: it's quite tiring. During their world tour, they will travel to French Polynesia; which represents 40 days of non-stop sea between Panama and Polynesia.

If they're on this huge sailboat trip (with no return date!) it's to visit the world. Marie therefore checked whether Oï could dismount at each stopover they planned to make. Where he is not welcome, they have decided not to stop. Marie therefore had to inquire at each embassy to find out which document(s) were mandatory or which vaccine(s). Not all dogs are dog friendly. In some countries, dogs live stray in packs, left to fend for themselves in the streets. going around the world means meeting people and customs and adapting to the countries you visit. As they are on a boat, they are lucky enough to be able to access very isolated places so they can disembark more easily with Oï. Their objective is not to follow the routes of tourist guides but to unearth little corners of paradise!

Besides, to get a good idea of ​​what their expedition will be like, I suggest you watch the video of their Irish journey. This is an opportunity to find out more about their life on board with Oï.

If, like Oï and Marie, you dream of exploring the world by boat with your dog but aren't exactly a sailor, a luxury cruise with your canine companion might be the perfect solution. Indeed, it's certainly preferable to discover the world by boat on an organized cruise if you lack sailing experience. Opt for a luxury cruise and explore the fjords, the far north, Iceland, the Caribbean, or even circumnavigate the globe. Whether on a luxury yacht or a more intimate vessel, set off to discover the world's seas and oceans with your dog. I'd love to go on a cruise with Musher one of these days! Besides, as you know, Musher LOVES the water. And if you have a Labrador, I imagine it's the same for him ;) So, to sum up, if you're not experienced in sailing, I recommend taking an organized cruise or renting a boat and hiring a skipper who will take the helm throughout your trip. Expedition cruises, yacht cruises, river cruises, or cruises on sailboats or catamarans—there's something for every taste and skill level all over the world.

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Has this story whetted your appetite for adventure? Marie's boat is a sailing school. To finance their journey, they offer sailing courses to learn in real-world conditions. It's a life-changing experience you can even share with your dog if it gets along with Oï. Join them for a cruise of a few days or longer. For more information, find Marie and Oï on their Facebook page, Nomade Voile.

For my part, I will regularly hear from them which I will transcribe in articles to tell you about their great journey and you count the Wouafement Bien adventures of Oï, sailor dog. If you want to follow them day after day, I advise you to follow their Facebook page. Their photos will make you want to leave!

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