šļø How to get on the water
Youāve had the sailing dream for years ā hereās how you finally make it real
I canāt fit you all on my own boat, Elixir - but in this video, Iāll give you the exact plan to start your own sailing journey.
šļøĀ How to get on the water
Youāve had the sailing dream for years ā hereās how you finally make it real
I canāt fit you all on my own boat, Elixir - but in this video, Iāll give you the exact plan to start your own sailing journey.
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Let me guess
You feel like sailing is too exclusive, too expensive, or you simply have no idea where to start...
...but let me show you how to break through those barriers and actually pursue that sailing dream.
with my
Bluewater Blueprint
My 6-step blueprint to get you offshore - whether you're buying a boat or joining as crew.
STEP 1
Chart Your Course
Weāll start by stripping away the fantasy, and define your true goal - whether thatās owning a boat or crewing - and set a realistic timeline to make it happen.
STEP 2
The Reality Check
The first step and biggest hurdle. We'll work with whatever budget you have, and build a realistic plan to show you how this life is actually affordable.
STEP 3
Secure the Asset
Whether you're buying a boat or finding a ride, I'll show you exactly how to find hidden gems and avoid the expensive mistakes most beginners make.
STEP 4
Master the Systems
When you're 1,000 miles from land, you are the engineer. I'll teach you the hard skills - diesel, electrical, and rigging - so you can maintain and fix everything yourself, and be an asset to any boat you sail on.
STEP 5
Command the Vessel
Master the seamanship, pilotage, and sailing skills you need to command a yacht with confidence.
STEP 6
Cast Off
The final push. The logistics of departure: paperwork, insurance, and the confidence to untie the lines and go.
Max Campbell
About Max
My Story & Why I started the Untide Sailing Club
I stepped onto my first boat at age four - a gift from my stepdad. I was fortunate to be introduced to the sailing world early, but I appreciate that not everyoneās mum marries a boatbuilder.
For most people, there is no roadmap. No clear starting point. Just conflicting opinions, confusing information, and expensive mistakes waiting to happen.
Figuring it out the hard way is a mammoth task.
Today, after 40,000+ nautical miles, sailing halfway around the world on a Swan 37, living full-time aboard, and earning my Commercial Yachtmaster ticket, one thing is painfully clear:
It doesnāt need to be that hard.
I wanted to create a simple, structured path to remove the barriers of this lifestyle - saving you years of frustration and thousands of dollars.
That is why I created the Untide Sailing Club. It is the resource the sailing world has been missing - so you don't have to learn the hard way.
What's Waiting for You Inside the Untide Sailing Club
The Untide Sailing Club isn't just a course - it is the framework for your freedom, a bluewater blueprint. Everything you need to know to go from dreaming to departing.
The Bluewater Blueprint (Step-by-Step Video Course)
In these 7 Modules, you will find everything you need to take your sailing pipedream from an idea to a reality.
This is a complete, step-by-step roadmap with clear guidance, in-depth videos, real-world examples, and detailed explanations.
Important: On the checkout page, you will find a detailed breakdown of all modules
The Community & Support
You are never doing this alone. The Untide Sailing Club is your 24/7 network for everything:
Ā
- Direct Access: Ask me questions directly. I am active in the group daily to help you troubleshoot problems.
- The Network: Connect with other members who are refitting boats or looking for crew mates. Find your tribe before you even leave the dock.
- Accountability: Share your refit progress and get unstuck when things get hard. We celebrate the small wins that lead to the big departure.
And on top of that also:
The Digital Toolbox
TheThese aren't just generic PDFs. These are the exact spreadsheets, checklists, and systems I use every day to keep Elixir floating and my budget on track.
- Elixir Maintenance Plan & Budget: My complete list of expenses and the detailed schedule I use to keep on top of every system onboard Elixir. Can be adapted for any vessel.
- The Untide 100: My personal shortlist of 100+ solid, reliable bluewater boats that I have reviewed and approved.
- The 'Buying a Boatā Checklist: An engineering checklist you can use when viewing boats. Differentiate between the red flags and negotiating points.
- The 'Crewingā Checklist: Key questions to ask before getting on a boat, making sure you get on the right boat.
- The Power Calculation: Find out how much power you use, and what batteries and solar panels are best.
- Pre-Passage Checklist: The non-negotiable safety checks I perform before every offshore passage. panels are best.
- Offshore Safety Equipment Checklist
- The Untide Library: 30 Essential Books for the Bluewater Sailor.
Weekly "Market Watch" (Curated Boat Listings)
Stop scrolling through thousands of overpriced listings. Every week, I scour the market to find the "Hidden Gems" - undervalued, solid bluewater boats that will make great offshore cruisers. Iāll even help you negotiate the price.
The "Crew Board"
Stop scrolling through dodgy ads and vague posts. This is a curated feed of safe, legitimate crewing opportunities for real ocean passages. I vet the listings so you don't have to guess - just real adventures on seaworthy boats looking for crew like you.
The 7-Day Quickstart Plan
Don't get overwhelmed. I've distilled the entire course into a single, printable 7-day plan. It tells you exactly what to watch, what to read, and what actions to take to get your first major win in week one. No fluff, just momentum.
Access to Max for all your Questions
You can always reach out to me with your questions and problems. You can either ask inside the community, or privately.
My Guarantee to you
I don't want your money if I can't help you. That's why the Untide Sailing Club is based on a monthly subscription and I guarantee you that within 7 days you have clear path to your dream - And if you then really don't want to go on this journey, you can cancel the monthly subscription at any time.
Let's Talk Real Numbers
I've seen it happen dozens of times: a new boat owner buys a vessel and immediately overpays by $5,000.
Why? Because they didn't know how to spot the āred flagā items in the engine room, or, they didn't recognise those āamber flagsā that could help them negotiate $10K off the asking price. Or maybe they simply didn't realise a better, cheaper boat was sitting around the corner.
Inside the Club, you don't make those mistakes. My systems and checklists are designed to catch them before you sign the check. You'll likely save the cost of your membership ten times over on your very first purchase.
Who should join the Club?
The Untide Sailing Club is perfect for you if...
Here is what other's say why I can help you
I didn't only live this life. I also helped other people with their problems:
I stepped aboard Elixir for the first time in 2022. It was my very first experience with ocean sailing; I had absolutely no skills and was, understandably, a little nervous. But Max was incredibly patient. His calm, thoughtful way of teaching immediately put me at ease. Just a few weeks later, I was confidently sailing, standing night watches, and helping with the boatās maintenance. With those new skills, I began crewing on other boats for months at a time and slowly built a true passion for sailing.Ā Four years later, Iām proud to say that Iām now a sailing instructor in my hometown!
Max introduced me to sailing five years ago ā and my life hasnāt been the same since. I instantly fell in love with the sense of freedom and adventure and knew it was my dream to live aboard and travel around the world on my own boat one day. In 2021, I found a crew position online and sailed across the Atlantic to gain experience (something I didnāt even know was possible until I met Max). Later, after exploring the Caribbean and transiting the Panama Canal by sail I met up with Max again and joined him for several weeks aboard his 37 foot Swan Elixir. We made incredible memories ā sailing to remote islands, coast hopping between surf towns and visiting indigenous communities along the Pacific coasts of Panama and Costa Rica. Since then,Ā Iāve been developing my skills through racing (even competing in Fastnet 2025), made incredible sailing friends and become part of a community that I cherish ā and I can trace it all back to that first sail with Max. I am now in the process of searching for my own boat to start my own circumnavigation. Thank you Max for helping me to find my purpose and for providing the inspiration and proof that sailing the world is a possible dream.
Max took a huge leap by inviting me onto his boat, Elixir, when we didnāt know each other at all.Ā That decision changed my life. I spent two months sailing the South Pacific with him, learning sailing in the most real way possible.Ā Maxās emphasis was not based on theory alone, but from daily life aboard, problem solving, and shared responsibility at sea. Max has an incredible ability to teach through experience, and he made something that once felt intimidating become accessible, empowering, and unforgettable.
And this is what the News say about me:
The Untide Sailing Club Membership
Become a member today and learn everything you need to live your dream life, connect with other sailors and ask Max all your questions
Monthly
Founding Member Launch Price: $40/month (Will increase to $49 soon).
$40 $49
Join now the Untide Sailing Club and start your sailing journey
Still have questions?
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