Influencers and boating: the age of maritime content
The Rising Tide of Nautical Influencers
The role of influencers in the nautical world has surged with the growth of social media. Between 2020 and 2024, searches related to nautical activities jumped by nearly 25%, reflecting a growing thirst for escape and maritime adventures. Brands, from marine equipment to luxury yachting, are now collaborating closely with these creators to reach a wider audience. Personalities like The Yacht Guy and Sailing La Vagabonde exemplify this transition, making the maritime world accessible to diverse communities.
Iconic Figures of Nautical Influence
Sailing La Vagabonde: Family Adventure
With 1.9 million subscribers on YouTube, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu embody the spirit of maritime adventure. For nearly a decade, they have shared their life on their catamaran, blending intimate stories and maritime challenges. They have become a model for young parents or travelers wishing to explore the world by sail. In 2024, their content remains cutting-edge, with educational videos on navigation and environmental initiatives, such as reducing their boat’s carbon footprint.
The Yacht Guy: Luxury Embodied
A reference in prestige yachting, The Yacht Guy has over 900,000 followers on Instagram. He reveals the secrets of the most luxurious yachts and collaborates with brands to promote exclusive experiences. His content helps democratize virtual access to the world of luxury, appealing to a diverse global audience.
Jared Watney: From Crew to Entrepreneur
A former crew member, Jared Watney has reinvented himself as an influential content creator. With over 178,000 subscribers on YouTube, he offers an immersion into the world of luxury yachting through technical videos, documentaries on life on board, and collaborations with brands like TWW Yachts. Jared illustrates how yachting can blend opulence and authenticity, while attracting a younger and more diverse audience.
Julien Hubert: The Aesthetics of Yacht Spotting
With an expert eye and nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram, Julien Hubert, a photographer, is a key figure in yacht spotting. He combines the art of photography and the exploration of the most prestigious yachts. His publications attract design enthusiasts and sailing fans alike, offering a unique artistic perspective on the nautical world.
Skippers: Captivating Sports Stories
Professional skippers embody a new form of influence in the nautical world, especially through major competitions like the Vendée Globe. Their presence on social media, particularly on Instagram, plays a key role in popularizing offshore racing. Alex Thomson, a renowned skipper, has over 100,000 followers on Instagram, where his spectacular publications capture attention far beyond the circle of enthusiasts. His videos of extreme, often acrobatic, sailing generate thousands of comments and shares, making him a digital icon.
Violette Dorange, a rising star of French sailing, also has thousands of engaged followers. Her authenticity and communicative energy attract a young audience, drawn to her stories and advice for getting started in sailing. During the last Vendée Globe, Boris Herrmann, the first German skipper to participate, mobilized an international community with his 181,000 followers, sharing both his technical prowess and messages about marine ecology.
In an era where digital influence is becoming a powerful lever for uniting and mobilizing, the “1 click = 1 heart” initiative has linked this dynamic to a charitable cause. As Samantha Davies, her successor in this adventure, explains, the goal was not to ask for direct donations, but to make the public react through a simple click. Each new subscriber on the Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok pages generated one euro donated to the humanitarian association by the boat’s sponsors. An innovative model that exploited the power of digital influence, allowing more than 800,000 subscribers to be mobilized before the start of the Vendée Globe. This strategy had a tangible impact: thanks to this online mobilization, 394 lives were saved, each operation costing an average of 12,000 euros. The ultimate goal? To save 500 children by the end of the race. Sam Davies emphasizes the importance of this project in her journey: “Every time I look up, I see this child who is the symbol of the association’s fight. It motivates me and helps me through difficult times.”
Races like the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe illustrate the impact of these skippers on social media. Each publication, whether photos of their boat or videos taken at sea, is picked up by their fans and generates thousands of reactions. Their real-time stories, often accompanied by technical data or personal reflections, reach a mixed audience, blending amateur sailors and sports enthusiasts.
In the World of Sliding: Between Ocean and Adventure
The trio behind Lost in the Swell has stood out with content blending surfing, sailing, and ecology. With nearly 50,000 subscribers on YouTube, they sail to isolated islands or surf spots inaccessible otherwise. Their commitment to the environment is reflected in each video, raising awareness of ocean protection and promoting a sustainable maritime lifestyle. These modern explorers show that sliding can be an eco-responsible adventure.
In the same vein, Kyllian Guerin illustrates the interconnection between sailing and surfing. Using sailboats as a mobile base for his expeditions, he unveils incredible maritime landscapes while establishing himself as an inspiring figure of the new generation of surfers. His collaborations with eco-responsible brands reinforce his message, linking performance and sustainability.
Women in Nautical Sports
The place of women in this field is equally influential. Athletes like Lakey Peterson, a figure in professional surfing, or Alana Blanchard, followed by 1.6 million fans on Instagram, use their notoriety to promote positive values and the image of an inclusive sport. In France, Laury Thilleman, a former Miss France passionate about surfing and ecology, is also a prominent voice, sharing her maritime adventures with thousands of followers.
In disciplines like wakeboarding, Carro Djupsjö, an international champion, also inspires a global audience with her unique style and performances. Their diverse profiles reflect the richness and variety of nautical sports, attracting new practitioners and valuing the role of women in this traditionally male universe.
A Limitless Horizon, But Challenges to Overcome
Nautical influence continues to bring communities, brands, and enthusiasts closer together. By blending inspiration, education, and ecological commitment, these creators prove that nautical activities go beyond the simple framework of a practice: it embodies a true philosophy, both accessible and universal.
However, this enthusiasm is not without challenges. The highlighting of luxurious yachts can encourage overconsumption, while some content struggles to deepen its environmental message. To remain relevant, influencers must find a balance between aspiration and responsibility, highlighting a nautical world that is both sustainable and inclusive.
Nautical influence continues to grow, bringing communities, brands, and enthusiasts closer together. By mixing inspiration and education, these creators demonstrate that nautical activities are not just a practice, but a philosophy accessible to all.
Through their publications, they invite us to discover a universe where the oceans become both a playground for adventure and a space for reflection, thus encouraging a more intimate connection with the sea and its essential issues.
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