Couple who sold everything to sail around the world lost it all when their boat SANK after two days at sea
Within 20 minutes, the couple lost everything as their houseboat sank along John's Pass, near Tampa, after the keel was ripped from the base of the boat
A COUPLE who jacked in their life on land to sail around the world had their dreams scuppered when their boat capsized just two days after setting sail.
Devastated Tanner Broadwell, 26, and Nikki Walsh, 24, from Colorado, USA, sold off all their belongings so they could head off on their waterborne journey of a lifetime.
However, just 48 hours after leaving dry land their new boat hit something in the waters off the Florida coast, tipped over and sank.
Within 20 minutes, the couple lost everything as their houseboat disappeared beneath the waves at John's Pass, near Tampa, after the keel was ripped off.
Just two days earlier the couple - along with their pet dog - set off on their planned globe-trotting journey.
Nikki said: "We planned for a year to buy a sail boat, live on it and sail to the Caribbean. Our long term plan was to sail the world.
"We sold all of our belongings and car to buy our 28ft sailboat and moved into it with our two year old pug Remy.
"We finally got the boat ready for our trip to Key West with food and supplies for months and we went to anchor somewhere in Treasure Island and ran into a submerged object in the water and our dreams and hard work sank beneath us so fast.
"We lost every single one of our belongings with no insurance, but we all made it to land alive and we are not giving up on our dreams! "
Now the couple are looking to so their dream can live once more.
Nikki told the Sun Online: "We are trying to raise money to pay to get the boat out but we are already excited to get another boat.
"This is just a part of the adventure. I believe it’s a blessing in disguise though we’ve lost everything we didn’t lose the dream."
Describing how she felt as the boat went down, Nikki said: "I’m just standing there in awe. I just lost everything I ever owned. I see my things floating away and I can’t get to them."
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Now, they face what could cost them up to £8,000 to get the boat out of the water, with no money and no insurance.
The couple had any boating experience and hey named their 49-year-old boat "Lagniappe" - which is pronounced lanny-yap and Creole for ";bonus."