Family Trades Traditional Life for Year at Sea, Finds Home is Where the People Are
A family from Tulln, Austria, embarked on an extraordinary journey, spending a year living and learning aboard a sailboat – a transformative experience that redefined their understanding of home and family. From July 2021 to August 2022, Stefanie and Michael Jirgal, along with their then 13 and 15-year-old children, navigated the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean around the Canary Islands, proving that a classroom can be anywhere life takes you.
From Sailing Newbies to Ocean Voyagers
The Jirgals were, by their own admission, total sailing beginners. Stefanie Jirgal, now settled back in their “new” house in Tulln – purchased after their adventure – reflects on the preparation. “We taught ourselves to do this beforehand, made the training. I also did the radio license,” she explained. Their former life was intentionally left behind, a conscious decision to embrace the unknown. The family’s sailboat, aptly named “Hakuna Matata,” became their home, adorned with mementos of their journey – a coffee ox with an anchor motif and a small glass sailing boat now displayed in a showcase.
Distance Learning on the Waves
Adapting to life at sea meant reimagining education for their children. The Jirgals enrolled their son and daughter in an American online school, allowing them to continue their studies while anchored in European ports. Eighteen-year-old Emilia Jirgal recalls the experience as a unique learning opportunity. “It was a project lesson, I did an extremely large number of creative things or math tasks and went through my school so that I don’t miss so much,” she said. The unconventional setting fostered resilience and adaptability, skills unlikely to be honed in a traditional classroom.
A New Kind of Family Connection
Life on a sailboat, while idyllic at times, also presented unique challenges. Confined to a small space, the family discovered a deeper level of connection. “It is a small space, you grow together extremely,” noted a family member. This intimacy extended to their work lives as well. Both parents are self-employed, and Michael Jirgal was able to continue advising companies remotely. “In pandemic, some home office did, I did boot office. There were customers who did not notice that I was not in Austria because you have a great mobile phone network in the Mediterranean,” he explained, highlighting the surprising feasibility of remote work from the open sea.
Orca Encounters and the Return to Land
The journey wasn’t without its perils. The most formative experience, according to Stefanie Jirgal, was an attack by two orcas. “They attacked our helms,” she recounted, “we then switched to the reverse gear, then they can no longer bite the back at the back.” They also weathered storms, rain, and hail, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of life at sea. However, the most challenging aspect of the entire experience proved to be the return to everyday life. “I completely underestimated that,” Stefanie Jirgal admitted, describing the difficulty of re-establishing a residence in Tulln and readjusting emotionally. “Our life was so different for a year than that of family and friends. We first had to find the starting points. For me it took a year and a half until everything was normal again.”
A Lasting Impact and Future Voyages
Despite selling the “Hakuna Matata” after their year-long adventure, the Jirgals haven’t abandoned their love for sailing. They have already purchased another boat, planning to anchor in Spain for future vacations. The experience instilled in them a profound realization: family is where the people are. As Stefanie Jirgal eloquently stated, “For me, the most important realization was that we were not missing things. For me it was no problem to let go of the house because family is where the people are.” Their story serves as a powerful reminder that adventure, connection, and a sense of belonging can be found anywhere, as long as you have the people you love by your side.
