On the Wind Sailing Dan & Kika // Sailing Uma Exclusive
Sep 9, 2025
Dan Deckard, an architect and content creator, joins forces with sailing partner Kika to share tales from their adventures aboard Uma. They dive into their chaotic experiences with botched visas and airport jails while highlighting the hurdles of rebuilding their boat. The duo recounts humorous moments living in a shipping container, moving from Haiti’s rich history to navigating the challenges of the marine industry. With a blend of resilience, humor, and candid reflections, they discuss pushing through obstacles in their quest for freedom on the open seas.
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Get A Seafarer's Book For Port Access
- Get an STCW seafarer's book if you work on yachts because it gives legal standing as crew and eases port formalities.
- Use yacht agents to clear ports: they act like high-end concierges and can save time and stress.
Student Project Became A Real Business
- Dan and Kika turned a student architecture project into a real business to extend visa status and fund their early renovations.
- They incorporated, hired interns, and used the course exercise to legally launch Deckard Home Repair.
Airport Detention During Visa Mix-Up
- Kika was detained at a Croatian airport when Schengen procedures weren't updated and was held in a locked room for days.
- Ryanair and local immigration bureaucracy repeatedly refused responsibility and she faced potential deportation before being routed to the UK.