Sailing La Vagabonde

Early Life and Background

Riley Whitelum, born May 26, 1984, grew up in Kimba, South Australia, a small outback town. Raised by parents who loved the outdoors, he developed a passion for fishing, camping, and football. He worked on oil rigs for eight years, saving enough to buy his first sailboat with no prior sailing experience. Elayna Carausu, born July 30, 1993, was raised in Geraldton, Western Australia, by a family of mixed heritage. She fell in love with scuba diving, music, and travel after high school, working as a musician. The two met in 2014 on the Greek island of Ios, where Riley was sailing his new boat, and Elayna was performing. Their shared sense of adventure led Elayna to join Riley’s sailing journey, sparking their YouTube career.

Rise to Fame

Riley and Elayna launched their YouTube channel, “Sailing La Vagabonde,” on December 10, 2014, with their first video, “Ep. 1 Sailing Croatia - Getting La Vagabonde Ready,” posted in July 2014. Initially a way for Elayna to share their adventures with family, their channel took off with videos like “Our TINY HOME on the Ocean Ep. 199” (over 7 million views). Their 2019 trip sailing Greta Thunberg across the Atlantic for the UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid brought global attention. By documenting their life on boats—from a 2007 Beneteau Cyclades to a 2022 Rapido 60 trimaran—they became the top sailing YouTube channel, with their Instagram (@sailing_lavagabonde) and TikTok growing through sailing clips and family moments.... Show More

Early Life and Background

Riley Whitelum, born May 26, 1984, grew up in Kimba, South Australia, a small outback town. Raised by parents who loved the outdoors, he developed a passion for fishing, camping, and football. He worked on oil rigs for eight years, saving enough to buy his first sailboat with no prior sailing experience. Elayna Carausu, born July 30, 1993, was raised in Geraldton, Western Australia, by a family of mixed heritage. She fell in love with scuba diving, music, and travel after high school, working as a musician. The two met in 2014 on the Greek island of Ios, where Riley was sailing his new boat, and Elayna was performing. Their shared sense of adventure led Elayna to join Riley’s sailing journey, sparking their YouTube career.

Rise to Fame

Riley and Elayna launched their YouTube channel, “Sailing La Vagabonde,” on December 10, 2014, with their first video, “Ep. 1 Sailing Croatia - Getting La Vagabonde Ready,” posted in July 2014. Initially a way for Elayna to share their adventures with family, their channel took off with videos like “Our TINY HOME on the Ocean Ep. 199” (over 7 million views). Their 2019 trip sailing Greta Thunberg across the Atlantic for the UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid brought global attention. By documenting their life on boats—from a 2007 Beneteau Cyclades to a 2022 Rapido 60 trimaran—they became the top sailing YouTube channel, with their Instagram (@sailing_lavagabonde) and TikTok growing through sailing clips and family moments.

Streaming Career and Content Style

Sailing La Vagabonde is a YouTube channel run by Riley and Elayna, now joined by their sons, Lenny (born 2019) and Darwin (born 2021). Their weekly vlogs capture life aboard their sailing vessels, covering destinations like the Caribbean, Pacific, and Japan. Videos like “BOAT LIFE: Our Morning Routine Onboard” show sailing challenges, from storms to repairs, alongside family milestones, like their kids’ first steps on their Outremer 45 catamaran. Elayna’s music background adds original songs to their content, while Riley’s technical know-how shines in sailing tips. They film with DSLRs and GoPros, editing for a cinematic yet real feel. They run Vagabonde Adventures, a sailing charter and school, and Vaga Bella Swim, a swimwear line, sharing their journey on Instagram and TikTok.

Achievements and Recognition

The channel earned a YouTube Gold Play Button, with standout videos like their Greta Thunberg voyage and Pacific crossing hitting millions of views. In 2019, Forbes and The Guardian covered their Thunberg trip, praising their eco-conscious sailing. Their 2023 American Sailing online class, From Zero to Full-Time Cruiser, turned their SLV Essential Sail Guide into a hit course. Vagabonde Adventures, led by their friend Jack, has earned praise for its Greece and Bahamas flotillas, with Jack winning a 2022 American Sailing Outstanding Instructor Award. A 2024 Nautical Channel feature called them “sailing’s biggest influencers” for inspiring nomadic lifestyles. Despite a 2024 collision with a Japanese fishing boat damaging their Rapido 60, they’ve kept fans hooked with their resilience.

Personal Life

Riley and Elayna live aboard their boat, currently a Rapido 60 trimaran, with no fixed home base, sailing through places like Vietnam and Japan. They’re not married, despite their long-term partnership, and have two sons, Lenny (5) and Darwin. Riley is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs about 80 kg, with blonde hair and blue eyes, while Elayna is 5 feet 6 inches, weighs about 55 kg, with blonde hair and green eyes. They love healthy eating, meditation, and exercise to stay balanced at sea. Elayna’s passions include singing and scuba diving, while Riley enjoys fishing and boat tinkering. They’re close with their families, often mentioning Elayna’s mom in videos, and prioritize mental health, as shared in a 2023 American Sailing interview.

Impact and Future

Sailing La Vagabonde has inspired countless fans to embrace sailing and adventure, showing how to live freely on the water. Their honest vlogs, from pirate scares to parenting at sea, make the lifestyle relatable, with Yachting World noting in 2021 that they’ve influenced a new generation of cruisers. They’ve tackled sustainability, like their zero-emission Thunberg trip, and share practical tips through Vagabonde Adventures. Despite setbacks like their 2024 boat damage, their grit shines through. Looking ahead, they plan to sail to new destinations, possibly Asia or the Arctic, grow their sailing school, and expand Elayna’s swimwear line. With their knack for storytelling and community-building, Riley and Elayna are set to keep leading the sailing world, encouraging others to chase their dreams.