Oliver Widger, aged 29, navigating the seas aboard his sailboat Pacific with his cat, Phoenix , has gathered more than a million followers across TikTok and Instagram . His voyage from Oregon to Hawaii has resonated with many, and Widger believes he understands why.
As he put it, 'The world sort of stinks, and I don’t believe I was the only one who felt this way about their job,' Widger shared. Zoom interview.
You could earn $150,000 annually and still feel financially stretched thin, right? It’s something relatable for many of us. people have simply had enough of that and are working very hard with nothing to show for it, and they're looking for an escape.
Widger’s tale revolves around escaping conventional norms, a narrative that echoes increasingly among people pursuing unconventional ways of living.
Four years back, a diagnosis of a condition with potential paralysis led him to rethink his life.
He recognized his discontent with his management position at a tire firm, where the expectations of being cleanly shaven and wearing crisp shirts seemed suffocating. Motivated by tales of seafaring adventures, he was inspired by stories about voyages across the seas. California To Hawaii, he imagined a distinct route.
Despite having “no money” and “no plan,” Widger left his job with $10,000 in debt weighing him down. This bold move, shared via social media, has drawn interest from many who dream of making a similar escape from their routine lives.
He remembered thinking, "There was one certainty: I’m purchasing a sailboat." He added, "My plan is to sail around the globe."
He cashed out his retirement funds and primarily used self-taught methods to learn how to sail. YouTube and moved from Portland To the Oregon coastline, where he dedicated several months to refurbish the $50,000 vessel he purchased.
Currently, Widger is utilizing social media to finance his ambition of sailing around the world.
Ever since he embarked on his journey in April, his devoted audience has been following his "Sailing with Phoenix" social media updates. These posts feature clips of him and his catmate navigating through ocean swells and dealing with occasional motion sickness, capturing breathtaking sunset vistas, sharing stories about challenging boat maintenance, or simply contemplating existence out at sea.
While talking about his journey with the AP, a mesh bag filled with bottles of water and snacks dangled erratically overhead as the vessel bobbed up and down.
He remembered some memorable moments from the journey up until then, such as admiring how swiftly dolphins slice through the sea and discovering flying fish resting on the deck. At times, there have been long periods without seeing a single bird for several days. Sleeping becomes challenging when the boat groans under wave impacts or keeping a cooking pot stable proves difficult while preparing Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs), which make up his daily sustenance.
There were terrifying instances such as when a rudder broke down and the vessel listed to one side at the waves for three hours while he carried out emergency fixes, along with another occasion where he found himself trapped inside the engine room and had to use a wrench to force his way out.
Widger admitted his relative lack of sailing experience, yet he has put several safety protocols into place along with contingency plans for communications. This includes having access to both a satellite phone and an emergency locator beacon.
Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Harms from the US Coast Guard in Hawaii hasn’t kept close tabs on the voyage, but expressed relief upon hearing that Widger possesses the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, also referred to as an EPIRB.
Harms stated that this essential device helps rescue teams pinpoint a sailor’s location during emergencies, particularly within the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, which is the biggest ocean.
Widger’s voyage offers a valuable chance to inform the public about boating safety measures, including always wearing a life jacket when above deck, keeping a close eye on weather conditions, and ensuring that emergency equipment like an EPIRB is registered, according to Harms.
"That’s an incredibly important aspect for anyone inspired by his journey to embark on their own expedition," Harms stated.
Before he arrived, most probably in Honolulu Widger is ensuring all arrangements are made so that Phoenix won’t have to go through Hawaii’s animal quarantine. He mentioned that a traveling veterinarian will certify Phoenix’s health upon their arrival.
Widger was unaware of the severe threat posed by cat waste to Hawaii’s endangered monk seals, yet he kept all his garbage onboard, including used kitty litter. Despite claiming legal permission to discard this waste into the sea, witnessing extensive plastic pollution in the water inspires him not to do so.
Aside from handling the day-to-day tasks of living on a boat, he’s also dealing with becoming an internet sensation mid-ocean by producing social media content and deciding which merchandise his supporters would like to purchase.
He attributes it entirely to his neck problem, which "jolted my life and altered how I view everything." Additionally, he expresses hope that he might inspire others who find themselves stuck in a difficult situation.
“What I’ve accomplished always seemed unachievable,” Widger stated. "Circumnavigating the globe is an utterly preposterous aspiration. No matter what your ambition may be, simply pursue it and take action."
Self-directed readers are globally aware individuals who aren’t categorized by conventional statistics or descriptions, but rather by their viewpoints. In our ever more disjointed society, groups cherish accurate data and honest perspectives shared directly from an impartial news source they find reliable. With knowledge and motivation, these independent thinkers feel enabled and prepared to advocate for what they hold dear.
