“WHEN you live on the ocean, every litre of water and every bolt on your boat matters. You learn to repair, conserve, and respect what the sea gives you.” With this simple but powerful reflection, Captain Gaurav Gautam (Retd) opened his talk, immediately drawing the audience into the uncharted life he and his family have chosen aboard their sailboat Reeva. Hosted on Saturday evening at the Institute of Engineers, the event was organised by Rotary Club of Nagpur Fort in association with Rotary Club of Nagpur South East. The hall was packed to capacity, with listeners following every story and image in his presentation with rapt attention. The turnout was excellent, and the mood throughout remained one of excitement and wonder.

 

From the outset, Captain Gautam made clear that his family’s choice was not about escape but about embracing a life of meaning through minimalism, conservation, and courage. After serving the Indian Navy for 25 years, Captain Gautam decided in 2022 to step away from the structured routines of service and land life. Together with his wife, Vaidehi Chitnavis, and their daughter Kaeya, he embarked on an unconventional voyage: selling nearly everything they owned and reducing their possessions from 6,000 kilograms to a mere 120 kilograms to fit into their new floating home,a42-foot sailboat named ‘Reeva’. Explaining the “important W’s” - Why, When, Where, and till When, he shared that the family’s choice was born of a desire to live freely, to learn continuously, and to contribute to ocean awareness. They bought ‘Reeva’ in Southeast Asia and have since travelled across Thailand, Malaysia, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, often spending long stretches away from marinas.

 

Central to his message was the art of minimalism. “When you live at sea, everything has to be pared down to the essential,” he explained, describing the tough choices involved in giving up possessions, including family heirlooms, for the sake of mobility and purpose. This minimalism, however, is coupled with responsibility: the family advocates for ocean conservation and sustainable practices, sharing stories of marine life, plastic pollution, and the fragile ecosystems they encounter. He also addressed why very few Indian families take to such a lifestyle. Cultural habits, financial concerns, and lack of familiarity with sailing traditions in India, he suggested, often discourage people from seeing life at sea as a viable option. One of the most striking aspects of the talk was the way the family has chosen to raise their 15 year old daughter, Kaeya, on board.

 

Home-schooled with online resources, she also receives a living education from the sea itself: learning about navigation, marine biology, and diverse cultures encountered along the way. “Education is not confined to classrooms,” Gautam said, as the audience listened with admiration. The presentation blended technical details, such as specifications of Reeva and the mechanics of longterm sailing, with deeply personal reflections on resilience, adaptability, and family life. Every story carried a message of hope and possibility. Audience members were visibly energised, many expressing awe at the family’s courage and curiosity. Jayant Warankar, President congratulated Capt Gautam with a bouquet and Devayani Tak, Secretary proposed the vote of thanks. As the evening closed, Captain Gautam left the gathering with a thought that summed up his family’s voyage: “The ocean teaches you to be humble, resourceful, and alive to every moment. We are not just sailing seas, we are sailing life itself.”