4 Keys to Nurturing Your Relationship When One is at Sea and the Other on Land

Living at sea or on rotation is an extraordinary adventure… but it can also put a couple to the test.

Since 2016, I've been living this reality with my husband, my ex-yacht captain, now merchant marine officer.

A life of alternating between intense reunions and frequent separations (1 month in /1 month off).

And for the past 3 years, we’ve chosen to live aboard our sailboat with our two children.

We’ve experienced:

• Immense joy — like the births of our children, which I literally delayed out of fear of giving birth alone. They arrived post-term, just in time for their father to be there.

• But we’ve also navigated tensions, adjustments, last-minute cancellations,

• and that invisible exhaustion carried by the one who stays ashore.

And, beyond the romantic myth of the adventurous sailor, there’s:

• Holidays and birthdays spent apart

• Children growing up while the other is away

• Unexpected delays in long-awaited reunions

• The logistics of everyday life managed solo, on land

All of this can create distance, lead to misunderstandings, and generate deep frustration — even when there is love.

What I share here is lived experience. This life has transformed me, challenged me, and strengthened me — and that’s why I care so deeply about passing on what truly makes a difference.

👉 To understand where I come from and why I support seafarers the way I do, I invite you to read our story here.

4 Keys to Navigating This Reality Together

1. Create Rituals of Reconnection

Distance creates a different rhythm. But you can make it a reunion ritual:

• Plan a moment together within the first 24 hours (even short)

• Don’t jump straight into chores and obligations

• Look at each other, listen, breathe together

💬 A walk, coffee at the harbor, a screen-free moment... to root back into the relationship.

2. Respect the Transition Phases

When one returns, they shift from a highly structured world (crew, schedules) to a lively but chaotic world (kids, emotions, appointments). The partner on land often holds a lot.

💬 Talk about your needs: solo time? couple time? rest? immediate involvement?

3. Name Emotions Instead of Blaming

Instead of accusations: "You’re late again." "You don’t help."

Say how you feel: "I feel alone. I’ve held everything. I need a break."

💬 This opens the door for dialogue and prevents escalation.

4. Create Conscious Connection Moments

Even from afar:

• Personal voice notes

• Photo of the day or memory

• Handwritten letter left behind

💬 These are tiny seeds of connection that nourish love across distance.

A Seafaring Life Must Also Be Navigated as a Couple

This lifestyle isn’t always easy, but it’s not a lost cause.

It requires:

• Awareness 

• Communication 

• Support — sometimes from outside

That’s what I offer in my guidance work:

Immersions aboard SIWA in Etel, South Britany (solo or couple)

A full day to pause, reconnect, and realign as a team.

• Intuitive coaching in nature 

• Reading of your birth energetic blueprint (Human Design) 

• Emotional release with EFT 

• Couple LaHoChi healing session 

👉 More details: Immersion onboard

1:1 Mentorship (3 months online)

For seafaring couples who can’t travel but want deep, customized support from a distance.

👉 Learn more: Mentorship

See you soon - at sea or on land !

Take care,

Marion