About Us

We are Eric and Tracy Roelofsen, a South African couple with a passion for adventure, exploration, and stepping outside our comfort zones.

Born in Durban and Cape Town, respectively, our journey together has been anything but conventional.

Our story began in the fast-paced world of the motor and restaurant industries. After crossing paths in Durban, we became a couple on September 9, 2001—a date forever marked in history. Life moved quickly as we built a blended family, raising three wonderful children: Michael (1999), Connor (2001), and Makyla (2002).

Career opportunities led us to Stockholm, Sweden, in 2005, where Eric took on a Managing Director role in the automotive industry. Two years later, during the financial crisis, we made a bold decision—to buy and run the business ourselves. Over time, we grew it into a successful multi-brand dealership group with 10 stores across Sweden.

By 2014, with our children heading to boarding school in South Africa, we found ourselves drawn back to our roots. A spontaneous discovery of a breathtaking property filled with roaming wildlife led to the creation of Intle Boutique Hotel—a place that embodies the beauty of Africa. While we still own the hotel, its day-to-day operations are now expertly managed by Authentic Retreats.

In 2023, after years of running high-paced businesses, we decided it was time for a new chapter. With our children now grown, we stepped away from the corporate world and sold our Swedish dealership group to embrace a life of adventure at sea.

The only catch? We had never sailed before.

We had chartered a fully manned catamaran in Greece for a week—and loved it. That led to another fully manned charter in Croatia, and before we knew it, we were dreaming of a boat of our own. But we weren’t about to dive in blindly. As a family, we enrolled in a three-week sailing course in Spain, agreeing that if we could survive three weeks together at sea without mutiny, we’d buy a boat. We did. And so, our sailing adventure began.

This website is our way of sharing our journey—the highs, the lows, and the incredible places we discover along the way. We invite you to sail with us, whether in spirit or in person, as we navigate this exciting new chapter of our lives.

Welcome aboard!