I am Adrian Birrer, a former Sales Director in the financial software industry, now enjoying my well-earned retirement since 2022. My passion for sailing led me to an incredible opportunity: participating in the Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race. Naturally, I seized it without hesitation. With my sailmaking skills, I joined the team as a circumnavigator and permanent race crew member, managing and maintaining the yacht’s eleven racing sails.

Beyond the meticulous planning of the sailing adventure itself, I had to consider a significant logistical challenge: managing my budget and currencies throughout the race. Circumnavigating the globe meant stopping in various countries, remote islands, bustling cities, and tiny villages - all requiring different currencies, many of which I’d never use again after the journey.

I needed a solution that could handle my expenses - laundry, food, snacks, and drinks - efficiently and without delay, particularly since we often arrived outside standard banking hours. Most importantly, the solution had to be mobile-friendly, as my phone was always with me and unlikely to get lost.

The YAPEAL Yapster private account with a virtual card proved to be the perfect answer! It gave me the financial independence I needed, eliminating the hassle of carrying multiple currencies or waiting for banks to open. With just one card, I could handle various currencies at favourable exchange rates. Even my crew benefitted: in Costa Rica, after grueling days on the Pacific, we arrived early in the morning. Everyone rushed to the nearest bar for a well-deserved cold beer, but I was the first to have a functioning card. It was my pleasure to buy the first round for the crew!

In addition to its low operating costs and competitive exchange rates, I also discovered that YAPEAL offers excellent security and responsive customer support. While we were in Vietnam, an issue arose during a payment process. The app’s advanced security protocols detected the irregularity, blocked the transaction, and temporarily froze my account to prevent fraud. Though initially inconvenient, I contacted support via email and received an immediate response. The account was reactivated swiftly - an issue that would likely have taken days to resolve with a traditional credit card. I now fully appreciate these robust security measures; they’re indispensable when fraud can strike anywhere.

Ultimately, our team won the race by a narrow margin! While my YAPEAL card didn’t directly contribute to crossing the finish line, it certainly made the journey smoother, more enjoyable, and worry-free for me and my crew. YAPEAL has become my trusted travel companion, and I wholeheartedly recommend it - not only for personal adventures but also for business travel.