If you’ve ever thought about sailing off into the distance, living aboard your yacht, experiencing adventures beyond your wildest dreams, but don’t know where to go or how to start, then the Raymarine stand SO98 is the place to visit. On Sunday 7th January, from 11am-2pm Canadian sailors Paul and Sheryl Shard will be talking about how they changed their lives forever.

The Shards have been living aboard their 37 Classic sloop Two Step for 17 years, and in that time they have travelled over 45,000 miles and visited over 40 countries and colonies in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Mediterranean, and the Middle East. Spending their summers travelling aboard the boat and the winter back in Canada, the Shards produce documentaries, videos, books, magazine articles, web sites and podcasts about their experiences. Their award winning travel adventure series Distant Shores is aired weekly across the UK, Europe, Asia, South Africa, the USA and Canada.

Highly acclaimed as lively and entertaining speakers, Paul and Sheryl will be on the Raymarine stand to talk to visitors about their life and adventures, as well as to provide useful, practical and knowledgeable information about what equipment to have on board, how to kit out a boat for living aboard, and which areas to visit.

Two Step has been fully equipped with Raymarine communication, navigation and electronic equipment. Having experienced long distance sailing, on occasions through war zones and other potentially unsafe areas, Paul Shard says having the latest modern electronics and communication equipment on board is vital.

He explains; “We can show how long-distance cruising has become easier and safer for couples and other short-handed crews thanks to the development of modern marine electronics especially chartplotters,” says Paul. “The integration of all our Raymarine equipment including the SmartPilot is nothing short of brilliant.”

With a new two-level stand at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show, Raymarine offers the ideal place for visitors to learn about the challenges and adventures experienced by the Shards, as well as pick up practical hints and tips about modern electronics and how to choose the best systems for your use – whether day or weekend sailing, racing, living aboard or blue water cruising.