Sailing La Vagabonde is a YouTube channel run by vlogging couple, Elayna Carausu and Riley Whitelum. The couple chronicle their adventures sailing on the La Vagabonde boat, which has traveled over 30,000 nautical miles by sail. As of 2024, Sailing La Vagabonde has a net worth of $2 million.
Background
Riley Whitelum is from Kimba, South Australia and was born on May 26, 1984 (39 years old). Elayna Carausu hails from Perth, Western Australia and was born on July 30, 1993 (30 years old).
Before the two met, Elayna worked multiple jobs saving up for her plan to travel the world. On the other hand, Riley worked in the mining industry at an offshore drilling rig for four years and saved up $100,000 to buy a boat.
After buying the original La Vagabonde, a monohull, Riley sailed to Greece. There, he met Elayna, the Australian brunette who was working as a guitar player at the time. Despite the 10 year age gap, the pair discovered they had a lot in common. Not long after, their romance blossomed and traveled the world together.
YouTube Career
In 2014, the Sailing La Vagabonde YouTube channel was created. The idea sparked when Elayna found a camera lying around the boat and began filming adventures. At first, they made videos for friends and family back home. But the videos attracted more attention than expected.
The sailing duo created a Patreon page, which helped them purchase the second La Vagabonde, a catamaran worth £500,000 (around $634,000). This became their most recognized boat and helped them reach different countries and attract over 1.87 million subscribers.
Other Endeavors
Elayna and Riley have done one Pacific ocean crossing and four Atlantic ocean crossings. Among their travels is the iconic voyage across the North Atlantic with environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
This publicity stunt helped beef up their following on YouTube and Patreon. With this, they announced a plan to purchase a third sailboat.
The first La Vagabonde is currently listed for sale and their current ride may soon have the same fate. As of 2023, the next sailboat, a Rapido 60 trimaran, is under construction.
Net Worth and Earnings
The couple makes an estimated $167,000 in YouTube ad revenue annually. These earnings are based on over two million views every month. The fact they’ve built a loyal fanbase helps make them steady income from repeat views.
YouTube isn’t their primary income source, the couple rely mainly on Patreon. With over 3,800 Patreon fans, Elayna and Riley earn $2.27 million per year from the platform. They also have a merch store that pulls in a tidy sum and sells a $49 sailing guide.
Despite the hefty earnings, it is expensive to operate a sailboat! As a result, they do brand deals with select companies such as AkzoNobel. This is why the globetrotters have a $2 million fortune.
Personal Lives
Perhaps one of the main reasons that Carausu and Whitelum keep upgrading to a bigger boat is a growing family. They are raising two young boys, Lenny and Darwin, on the yacht. Nowadays, La Vagabonde are still sailing around the world after a spell in Australia. Riley and Elayna are not married and remain in a de facto relationship.
