Will Nika Be Coming Back?
August 1, 2026 · 35 min · 126K views · Bangkok
What this video covers
Bobby White, host of Sailing Doodles, answers patron questions from a Thailand Airbnb two days before flying home to the United States, covering his relationship with Nika, the Island Spirit 410's electric drive reliability problems, a past near-disaster, and his health after blood clots.
Nika, a Belarusian national, cannot visit the U.S. without a visa — currently difficult to obtain because Belarus is politically tied to Russia — but holds a new Spanish residency permit that may eventually help.2:07 White plans to return to Thailand November 1st, sail a Sailing Doodles flotilla November 8–15 around Ko Samui and Ko Pha-ngan, then leave around December 15th.15:28 A delivery captain named T will then move the boat roughly 1,200 miles from Ko Samui to Phuket via Singapore while White is home for Christmas.16:57 White plans to return to Phuket in February for a month of cruising, then explore yacht shipping to Europe for a transatlantic crossing targeting summer 2027 or 2028.17:36
The scariest sea moment he describes: a secondary anchor on Dyneema rode fell loose near Cape Hatteras in 30–35 knots, wrapped the prop, and seized the engine, forcing him to sail 14 miles with a flooded engine bay and submerged batteries.6:36 On health, he has been on Eliquis for two months for blood clots of unknown cause, feels fully recovered, and is arranging a hematologist referral in Dallas.10:53
Boats in this video
More from The Sailing Doodles Podcast
From The Sailing Doodles Podcast — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.