The Wake of Bubbles: How One Sailor’s Legacy Is Enabling the Next Generation

At Dockwa, we believe the best stories don’t just happen on the water, they grow from it. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to partner with The Chasing Bubbles Foundation, an organization whose mission and spirit feel right at home with our core belief that life is better when people spend more time on the water, connected to nature and each other.

This is the story of S/V Bubbles and Alex Rust, a modest boat with a mighty legacy, and the sailor who dared to take a leap that would ripple far beyond his own wake. It’s a story every boater should lean into, because it reminds us what’s possible when you say yes to adventure, make room for others, and chase something bigger than yourself. 

The Wake of Bubbles: How one Sailor's Legacy Is Enabling the Next Generation
By Joe Rust, The Chasing Bubbles Foundation

The first time Alex Rust set sail, he had no idea what he was doing.

He was in his mid-20s, landlocked by upbringing in Indiana and his occupation on the Chicago Board of Trade. The office air was stale and Alex needed out. So he bought a boat on a whim, picked up a copy of Sailing for Dummies, stepped aboard, and pushed off. From Fort Lauderdale all the way through the Caribbean Islands, to South America, Alex learned as he went. When seasons shifted and the crew departed, he realized it wasn’t enough to island-hop. He wanted to see the world.

So, he sold his first boat and bought Bubbles, a Fast Passage 39. She wasn’t glamorous, but unlike his starter boat, she could go the distance. And she did. For three years, Bubbles carried Alex and his revolving cast of crew across oceans and around the entire world.

Alex and Bubbles 

A Boat, Crew, and Way of Life

The circumnavigation itself was as chaotic and extraordinary as you might expect. Alex taught himself how to sail by just doing it. He visited some of the most remote places on Earth, weathered storms, and learned that with enough epoxy and a little optimism, he could fix pretty much anything. More than 130 people crewed Bubbles over the course of the circumnavigation. Some stayed for days, others for months. Many were strangers who became family. No one left unchanged.

When Alex crossed his wake, completing his circumnavigation,
dozens of  past crew members joined to celebrate the epic adventure.

Beyond the Horizon

Wherever he sailed, Alex naturally gravitated toward the people on shore, especially the kids. He didn’t just pass through places; he immersed himself in them. He visited schools, orphanages, and community centers, handing out supplies, sharing stories, and teaching what he could about the sea. At the time, he may not have realized just how central those moments were. But looking back, it’s clear: they were the heart of his journey.

Alex getting kids out on the water during his circumnavigation

At the end of the day, it wasn’t the miles or the mishaps that made Alex’s story resonate—it was his spirit. He made space for people. He welcomed the curious, the uncertain, the in-over-their-heads, because that’s exactly who he’d been, too. To learn more about Alex's impact on the communities he visited, and the circumnavigation itself, watch the Chasing Bubbles Documentary here.

The Legacy Sails On

After returning from his circumnavigation, Alex didn’t settle back into life ashore… not really anyways. The rhythm of the sea had become something deeper, something that tugged at him even after the sails were down. He’d spent much of his voyage connecting with kids, and that thread stayed with him.

He sold the boat and headed to India, hoping to put his energy more directly into working with children in underserved communities. He had plans. And like most things Alex did, they were bold and wide open. But his time there was cut unexpectedly short. He passed away in India in 2013, leaving behind an unfinished chapter, and a ripple that spread quickly through the sailing world.

For those who had crossed paths with him, aboard Bubbles or somewhere far from the dock, his loss left behind more than grief. It left a quiet urgency. A feeling that the story he started wasn’t finished.

Bubbles on a downwind run, Alex on the spreaders, en route around the world

In 2019, that momentum found form in the Chasing Bubbles Foundation, created by Alex’s family, friends, and former crew. The organization's mission is rooted in the same values that had carried Bubbles around the world: openness, courage, and a belief that young people deserve the chance to chase something bigger than themselves. Not just in words, but through real opportunities, real mentorship, and real time on the water. 

(Re)Enter, SV Bubbles

As the foundation began to find its footing, Bubbles reappeared. Just when it mattered most.

SV Bubbles the Fast Passage 39 that brought Alex and his crew around the world,
and continues to make waves with the Chasing Bubbles Foundation today.

For years, no one knew where she had ended up. She’d quietly changed hands, weathered time, and taken a hard hit during Hurricane Irma. When the Chasing Bubbles Foundation finally tracked her down, she was moored in the U.S. Virgin Islands, stripped of her mast and sails, her future uncertain. But her hull was intact. Her story hadn’t gone anywhere.

On June 14, 2022, Alex’s birthday, the foundation officially purchased Bubbles. It felt meant to be. What followed was a labor of love. Volunteers flew in. Former crew stepped up. Donors and strangers alike contributed tools, parts, and support. Piece by piece, she came back to life. The refit took years, but eventually, Bubbles was ready to sail again - with purpose.

SV Bubbles in her "second act" expanding access to the water

Flash forward to today, in partnership with the Virgin Island Sailing School, Bubbles now serves as an ASA-certified training vessel. She’s at the center of the foundation’s youth programs, helping kids across the Virgin Islands (many of whom have never stepped aboard a boat) learn to sail, build confidence, and see their home waters with new eyes.

In this second act, Bubbles hasn’t changed much. She still brings people together. She still opens doors. She still moves forward. Just like she always did for Alex.

Learning to Sail Aboard SV Bubbles with the Chasing Bubbles Foundation

You’re Invited: The Chasing Bubbles Regatta

Each spring, Bubbles leads the Chasing Bubbles Regatta, a laid-back, three-day rally through the British Virgin Islands that welcomes sailors of all kinds. There’s no formal race committee, no protest flags, just a fleet of boats chasing the same route, stopping in the same anchorages, and sharing in the same sense of adventure that Alex cherished so deeply.

The 2024 Chasing Bubbles Regatta, with SV Bubbles in the lead

If you’re cruising the BVIs this April, you won’t want to miss it, and there's still time to join in on the fun. And if you see the fleet passing by and are curious to learn more, there’s always room for one more dinghy at the post race raft-up. You can learn more about the itinerary and register to participate in the 2025 regatta here.

About the Chasing Bubbles Foundation

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

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