At Dockwa, we believe the best stories don’t just happen on the water, they grow from it. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Chasing Bubbles Foundation, whose mission reflects our core belief: life is better when people spend more time on the water, connected to nature and to each other. Captain Alex Rust lived in a way that calls all of us to dream bigger, explore farther, and build community wherever we drop anchor. His story is one every boater should know. It's a reminder of what’s possible when you say yes to adventure, welcome others aboard, and chase something greater than yourself.
Stories from S/V Bubbles that still ripple through the sailing world today
By Joe Rust, Captain Alex’s youngest brother and the founder of the Chasing Bubbles Foundation
These lessons are from a man who taught countless people the true meaning of living life to the fullest.
That man was Alex Rust, known from the documentary Chasing Bubbles. Raised in the landlocked state of Indiana, he bought a sailboat on Craigslist, taught himself to sail, and circumnavigated the globe. What began as a personal leap of faith became a shared movement around the world.
After Alex passed away in 2013, his friends and family launched the Chasing Bubbles Foundation to carry on his legacy and empower kids to chase their dreams like he did.
That’s why we’re proud to partner with Dockwa. Like us, they believe time on the water changes people, and that more people should get the chance to cast off and explore the world in full color. Here are ten things Alex taught us along the way.
Alex didn’t overthink it or wait for perfect conditions before making his move. He bought a boat before he learned to sail, left a stable job on the Chicago trading floor, and set sail in an old sailboat with nothing but determination and a copy of Sailing for Dummies. He didn’t wait until he took a sailing class. He didn’t wait for retirement. He just went for it—and trusted the rest would follow.
I remember one time sailing with Alex in the Cook Islands. We were trying to check the weather (pre-Starlink), but couldn’t get an internet connection. After a few failed attempts, we finally asked a local who gave us the "all clear," and we went for it! Three days into our passage, we hit gale-force winds. We made it through fine, laughing at the idea of checking the weather ourselves next time.
In his final blog entry, he wrote:
“If I learned anything on this trip it was that with a little luck and a lot of determination (or maybe it’s the other way around) you can make anything happen… just go for it!!”
Alex’s first passage on Bubbles was solo—and nearly his last. A squall hit. The boom swung and knocked him unconscious. He came to, dazed and alone. Later, dolphins appeared at the bow and a rainbow stretched across the horizon. He turned to share the moment—and no one was there.
That’s when it hit him: “What’s the point of something this beautiful if there’s no one to share it with?”
From that moment on, he made it his mission to never sail alone. Over 130 people would crew aboard Bubbles during the circumnavigation—some for days, others for months. Friends. Strangers. First-time sailors.
He realized the best parts of the journey weren’t the places he reached, but the people who were there to experience them with him. Alex learned it’ll make the journey richer—and it might just save your life.
Alex had a gift for turning setbacks into stories. Every breakdown was a chance to solve a new problem and to test his engineering skills. When the engine failed on my first time sailing on Bubbles in the South Pacific, he smiled and said, “Now we get to be real sailors.” We tacked our way into the harbor for hours, navigating by hand while other cruisers watched from shore. When we finally dropped anchor, we didn’t just arrive—we earned it. And the respect from the other sailors? That was just a bonus.
Wind or no wind, engine or no engine—Alex leaned in and enjoyed the ride.
You don’t get to choose the conditions. But you do get to choose how you show up. And that changes everything.
Alex never just passed through—he showed up. In Papua New Guinea, he traded bags of sugar for stories and wood carvings along the Sepik River. He always had an extra beer or a shot of rum for a stranger and found joy in the people who made each place memorable.
In Mauritius, he and the crew hiked down from the peak of La Pouce and stopped for water near a local home. A kind woman welcomed them in for coffee and cookies. That small gesture turned into a home cooked meal the next evening, a visit to Bubbles from her whole family, and eventually an invite to a traditional 3 day Indian wedding. Though Alex and the crew were underdressed by any standards of a wedding, they were welcomed like family.
The best memories don’t come from the map, they come from the people.
Alex loved inviting people aboard Bubbles. Whether it was a wide-eyed local kid or a new friend met at the local yacht club, he’d welcome them aboard his boat. It wasn’t unusual to find the boat overflowing with local island kids checking out the instruments or a bunch of cruisers looking to snag a shot of his madagascar rum. Bubbles was often the destination for the afterparty!
He made people feel like they belonged. Even a quick tour turned into a connection. And for many, stepping aboard Bubbles wasn’t just the highlight of a day—it was the start of a lasting relationship. Alex proved that you don’t need a lot to welcome someone into your life in a meaningful lasting way.
Alex didn’t want to take the fastest route around the world. He wanted to experience it!
He followed curiosity into places most sailors skip. He traveled further up the Amazon River than anyone he knows has ever taken a sailboat. He sailed deep into Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River, navigating around crocodiles and floating logs. He went places where kids have never seen a sailboat, and villagers were amazed by his stories of skyscrapers and cities. When Alex tried to describe an elevator, one man burst out laughing and said, “Oh! You mean the up-and-down house!”
Alex taught us to not just go where others have gone, but to chase the places that interest you. That’s the real treasure.
Alex brought joy into everything: jumping off the spreaders, blasting music in squalls, and hosting full-blown costume ceremonies for equator crossings. He frequently dressed up as a pirate as a way of living out some of his favorite stories from childhood.
That same playful spirit showed up one day mid-ocean, when Bubbles passed another boat he recognized. Naturally, Alex suggested a mid-passage crew swap. They rigged up a halyard and swung across the water like pirates. His infectious joy invigorated everyone he came across.
Life is serious enough. Alex taught us to make it fun!
Alex said yes to things most people would hesitate on. In Panama City, when they were supposed to be prepping Bubbles for one of her longest legs yet, Alex got word that Carnival was happening nearby. They dropped everything, dressed in ridiculous outfits, and spent the night dancing in the streets.
Once, we could’ve taken the direct route to Tonga but Alex decided to make a detour to Palmerston Island after he read about it. The same family has run the island for generations, and they hosted us like long-lost cousins. There was a huge tropical feast, beach volleyball, and impromptu naps under palm trees. It felt more like a family reunion than a stopover—and it all happened because Alex said yes to the detour.
Alex showed us that one simple “yes” can often lead to so much more in life.
Alex gave without hesitation. If you complimented his shirt, you were probably wearing it ten minutes later. On Bubbles he carried extra pencils, notebooks, flip-flops, small toys—anything to share with kids who paddled up in dugout canoes. The happiness in each child after receiving something so small fueled Alex to give even more. When anyone from home came to meet him for a leg of the trip, he would always send a packing list of small toys they could give away.
He didn’t hold tight too much—not things, not time, not even his shirt. He just gave, and smiled.
Alex showed us that when you give, it feels good and you find that you want to give even more.
Alex didn’t waste time chasing stuff. He chased experiences. He gave himself fully to the journey, even when it got messy.
He passed away in India in 2013. But his life wasn’t cut short. It was lived wide open. Across oceans. Through storms. Into places most of us will never see.
He started something big. We’re just here to keep it moving. And it is still moving. In the kids who sail aboard Bubbles. In every person chasing their own version of a wilder, freer life.
Chase your dreams today. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions. And just go for it!!
The Chasing Bubbles Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspired by the life and voyage of Alex Rust, a young sailor who circumnavigated the globe aboard S/V Bubbles and found purpose in connecting with communities, especially kids, along the way. Today, the foundation carries on his legacy by empowering young people to chase their dreams through adventure, mentorship, and time on the water.
Learn more at chasingbubbles.org