Founders James Abbott, Karsten Korr, Gerald Schombs, and Tommy Westlin came up with the idea because they wanted to sail around the world. Abbott is the founder of KoHub, another co-working space option in the tropics. The four found a catamaran to retrofit into a space that allows digital nomads to really embody the mantra of work hard, play hard.
Related: Tom Dixon transforms a 17th-century London church into a chic co-working space
Sustainability is another huge goal; the four aimed for a “zero carbon footprint.” The 82-foot catamaran will be powered by solar and wind, and the clean energies will also provide water for those aboard through desalination. They’ll obtain the Internet via satellite on the open seas and via 3G and 4G networks close to land. There will be seating inside and outside so people can work wherever they please.
Coboat also plans to provide plenty of options for times when people aren’t working. From fun activities such as yoga classes and scuba diving to professional development through workshops and skill sessions, they aim to allow people to boost productivity and think differently while sailing.
As they finish their catamaran, Coboat will charter other boats to give digital nomads a taste of adventures to come. They’re currently in “Pirate Beta mode:” they chartered a 50-foot catamaran that will sail from Greece this month and travel throughout the Mediterranean. They have yet to announce where the catamaran will sail next, but intend to sail through November.
Breezy ocean living on Coboat isn’t exactly cheap: it costs 1,180 Euros, or around $1,340, per week. That price includes accommodation, three meals a day, non-alcoholic beverages, the Internet, water sport equipment, and port fees. It appears the “scores of people” who have already signed up think the experience would be worth it.
+ Coboat
Via TreeHugger
Images via Coboat
