#196 - What does it really take to walk away from a peak career, point your bow into headwinds, and chase a goal so big it scares you? I sat down with Malaysian sailor Fabian Fernandez, who circumnavigated the globe on his own terms—eschewing the easy “milk run” to round the Cape of Good Hope and steer straight into the kind of weather that makes legends and humbles egos.

Fabian’s story isn’t a montage of perfect beaches. It’s a masterclass in planning, patience, and purpose. He breaks down how years of engineering and manufacturing shaped his voyage like a mega-project: route windows, finances, maintenance, and timing all choreographed to create momentum without gambling safety. He shares why he stopped often, how he used seasons to his advantage, and why the planning was harder than the sailing. You’ll hear a frank take on destinations—why French Polynesia felt overrated, why the Cook Islands and South Africa stole his heart, and why he scouted the Beagle Channel only to choose the Panama Canal after weighing joy against endurance in subpolar cold.

At the core is a spiritual journey. Thirty-two days alone across the Pacific stripped away the “white noise” of modern life and surfaced a simple truth: meaning grows when you give back. Fabian talks about faith, the courage to quit a prescribed path, and the cruising community’s radical kindness that ignores borders, race, and creed. He also honors the ocean’s cost, recounting the loss of a careful solo sailor friend—a reminder that respect and preparation are nonnegotiable.

We wrap with what comes next: talks on mental resilience, a short documentary, and a book that reframes adventure as an inner stretch, not a postcard. If you need a push to set your own big, hairy, audacious goal—and the practical playbook to make it real—this conversation will nudge you from someday to start. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone who’s ready to trade comfort for courage.

To learn more about Fabian check out his website www.destinydawnsailing.com and give him a follow on Instagram @destinytwelve.

Be sure and check out my Instagram for clips from the show and some snippets into my personal journey @journeywithjakepodcast.

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