Chasing Bubbles - The Documentary 

I come back to this video once in a while. Please never remove it. ❤

I WATCHED THIS AND FOUND MYSELF STARING AT A PAUSED SCREEN FOR 30 MINUTES. THIS WILL REALLY MAKE YOU CONTEMPLATE IF YOUR ARE LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST. ALEX YOU HAVE INSPIRED MILLIONS. REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND. WOW..

***SPOILERS*** Alex and I met in French Polynesia, 2010. He was like no one else, and everyone loved him. We all did. He was one of those people, the center of everything. When news spread of his passing, it impacted everyone who knew him. 14 months after his death I went to the hotel where he passed, spoke with the hotel manager and heard the tale. It hurts humanity to lose a human being like Alex. We all miss him just being part of our world. We would talk about our experiences of losing a parent early on. He really did connect openly. Sometimes the party person can have a vapid and vacant interior, but not Alex. He was fun and full of depth, caring, and joy. His joy was pervasive and infected us all. I certainly won't ever forget Alex. And that shot in Niue or Cook Islands (?) where the wave gets... maybe it's Jim or Alex. Classic Bubbles. To be honest, I was expecting a montage of all Alex's naked-backside-at-the-top-of-the-island pictures. Oh, he had so many of those, arms to the sky, embracing it all. Every time I saw a new one I laughed just like every time I was in his presence. He could make you laugh a world away. Sail on, Captain Alex.

Been living on our boat since 2015. Living life to the fullest. I can't lie Alex was my inspiration and continues to inspire me. I just watched this again to kick myself in the butt to leave this marina and get back out on the open ocean. ❤❤❤❤

Yeah, ok, I'll watch a few minutes of this . . . 1 1/2 hours later and I'm drying my eyes . . . a story of life that draws you in.

4 years after watching this I have just bought a 1979 Ranger Yachts Ranger 23 Sloop. Thank you!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

This documentary played a part in completely changing my life (ended up doing vanlife and also sailing 2000km too). It was the only year of my whole life that I actually lived. Thank you for making it and rest in peace Alex you legend.

There's some documentaries that cannot be replicated or are just so meaningful and deep it's hard to come close. This is one of those.

At the end of the documentary is a pencil sketch of Alex. I had to snip it to print out a copy, so I can be inspired by this young man. I am 59 years old and bought my first sail boat. I have no intensions of sailing outside of Galveston Bay. After watching Alex, maybe I'll do something good for others that may never have the chance to sail. God Bless the young people that are chasing their bubbles. Thanks Brady for sharing this link.

Alex Rust, the only stranger I've ever felt a strong loss in my heart for. I wish so much that he had gotten a chance to generate income from RU-vid, so he might not have felt he had to sell Bubbles and go "home". Indiana wasn't his home, it was only where he was from, it seems his home was on the ocean. Watching the sadness coming out of him while he's answering questions is like a kick in the nuts. Same for his friend near the end when Paunu Aalto said 'Alex is a remarkable example of what you can do with human life' he began to cry and the producer gave him a hug. I cried. Only the good die young.

I just came across this documentary by chance. Thought I’d watch a few minutes which i did and became hooked. It transports you into another life, careless, daring, exciting, exhilarating, sometimes what could be described as stupid BUT It deliverers an alternative to the mundane and leaves you in floods of tears. Thank you Alex for sharing your life’s adventures with us.

To the editor/producer. You did a wonderful job. Myself, as someone that has done a documentary - I know it's not easy to deal with 100 of hours of shaky cam footage, and piece things together - most people will never know the pain and suffering it takes. (and something like 95% of all docs never get finished.) Hats off to you to sticking with it to the end. You rock. Thanks for telling such a great story. Docs to me....It's really all about letting people walk in another persons shoes for a while, and you pulled that off very well. Thank you. Nice story telling.

I've been watching sailing movies for the past year starting with Delos. I decided I had to get a boat and get out to see the real world and really live. Now a year or so later, I've got a boat, a sailing license and a dream of living another way. Having stumbled early this morning on this movie has just reconfirmed my decision. If I can only experience just a bit of what this wonderful being has lived I will be fulfilled. From one Alex to another, thanks for changing the world one soul at a time.

Touching story. Alex lived a 1000 lives. An inspiration to many.

It’s better to burn out than fade away … my dad lived a full life like this … he gave so much to people … what a beautiful human. Fly with the angels … your life made a difference ♥️

This is the best thing I’ve ever watched on RU-vid.

Best documentary I have ever seen about sailing. So personable, relatable, exciting, anxiety, real, happy and a great adventure. I cried, laughed and fell in love with the places they explored and the crew. Thank you for sharing!! Now I will share on Facebook because everyone needs to see this!

because of his inspiration im setting sail 8 months from now

Around the 1 hour mark I was getting the feeling that the way died was going to turn out as a suicide. I can definitely identify with the listlessness he went through after the journey concluded, but on a somewhat lesser scale. My final semester in college was spent abroad, and it was a definite high point in my life. Seeing new places, meeting new people, exploring the larger world. Experiences I knew I may never get to do again until many years later, if at all. After that semester ended, I was also done with college, and moved back home, also losing the connection of the friends I had there. The crushing reality of working a desk job in a small upstate New York town after seeing the world was incredibly bleak. For me, it ultimately ended up with a very bad drug addiction. This man touched many more people than I could even dream of. RIP Alex.

This film is one of the best sailing documentaries we have ever seen. You've perfectly captured how a love of sailing can transform a person's life and the lives of those around them. The clips from Alex's travels and the crew's passionate, tear-jerking stories about their many adventures with him will help his legacy live on forever. Thank you so much for sharing Alex's story with the world.

Who in the FFFF would give this a thumbs down!!! I love this!!!

touching documentary, a tear-jerker for sure. He lived 200 years in his young lifespan.

I've watched this ten times and I am moved each time. I feel his struggles and can relate to his inner turbulence. His expression of pain seems to be to explore, help people and make everyone feel welcome and special in their own way. Good guy. RIP

I have put 35000 miles under my keel...leaving again in 6 years...for good...your story inspires me to keep on keeping on....Thank U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely amazing documentary. The one quote from one of his friends that I love most was, "He's the smartest idiot I know". Being back with his father again, he is probably finally at rest with his mind.

Today I talked to a friend over the phone and he told said I got to watch this movie. I've just finished it and I'm grateful for Alex to have been alive. Changing the world happens in all kind of ways. I truly believe the greatest change is done if you live the life that you want it to be, only then you can tap your full potential. What might have started with his dad sending him to Brazil has gone a long way and reached out to hundreds or thousands of people and from them it's carried on and on, who can really tell the number. I myself am 33 of age, have only ever set foot once in my life on a sailboat. A month ago I bought a 23ft yacht that lays in the north of Germany at the bay of Lübeck. In 4 days time I will move onto the boat with all my stuff that's left. It's time for me to live life again. Thank you Daniel, thank you Alex

Man this really hit me. I didn't really know what to expect. I had just been brought here by internet waves because I watched an episode from 10 years ago when Delos and Bubbles crossed paths. I lost alot of friends that pushed it too far. I am in no way trying to compare. This just brought so much inside of me. Snowboarders who died in avalanches that I lost. Surfers getting reefed and smashed up. We all tried to push it. Some times something pushes back. It's the adventure of the risk that we're addicted to but I can only speak for myself. I never knew what happened and just began to re-discover my love of sailing during pandemic times. So, it led me here and I needed to see this doc. Great job! I am really torn up from it; really happy to watch it and really sad as well. God bless his soul! I want to circumnavigate the globe as well.

This is an incredible story and fabulous documentary. My father sailed around the world after being rejected from serving in the Vietnam war due to a bad back. His high school buddy and him spent two years building their own catamaran and sailed down to the southern tip of Mexico. There my father joined a larger sail boat on a voyage around the world. His buddy stayed back due to joining a local village tribe in Mexico..My father says he fell in love with the daughter of the village's chief.. :) His stories of being welcomed with exotic fruit on the bow of their boat when waking up, from villagers and tribesman who had never seen a mainlander, is so very memorable to him. This is the late 1960s.. Having returned home with 10 cents left in his pocket, he had to start over from scratch being that his parents had fallen on hard financial times. He went on to become a very successful entrepreneur, no doubt from the mental strength provided by his journey. His experiences at sea shaped him as a person more than any other event and lives in him to this day at 72 years of age. I know the spirit you have inside you will serve you well in the next journey you decide, regardless of what society deems proper..

Two years ago I saw a few clips of Alex Rust and his adventure here on RU-vid. I got enspired and started reading books about sailing around the world. I still can't imagine what can be bigger than sailing around your home planet experiencing cultures and meeting all kinds of people. Today Im sitting in front of my computer and a link to this documentary appears. I am currently 4 months into preparation for my trip around the world which starts next july. THANK YOU BUBBLES, TANK YOU ALEX RUST !

Bought a sailboat a number of years ago with a good friend, rebuilt the whole thing, had no idea how to sail or even rebuild a boat, figured it out, learned serious lessons at the helm, made a lifetime of stories and we are still sailing our boat to this day. She isn’t pretty, but she cuts through the waves, holds well under sail and she’s ours...and we really know all the in/outs of her too. This story had many similarities. Very much enjoyed it. Thanks and enjoy your adventures out there. Get out and do something fun. Even if you are starting from scratch!

That is a blow your hair back movie. What a story, what a man, what a life, what an adventure. I’m in tears.

Topher, thumbs up to you and those involved in putting this together and allowing us the opportunity to know Alex's story and a chance to see who he was. The emotion is completely understandable, I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, but rest assured that you've honoured him with this film. It's compelling watching and not that I know anything about such things, it should be considered for an independent film award and submitted as such. Good work. Will raise a glass to Alex tonight.

He can put belgium on his checklist now 😊! He has reached me. Shared it on facebook.Saw it, loved it. Big heart. I saw his struggle, i hope he has found peace now.Bigg loss for the world.My bests for the family "Big ships get the glorie but small ships make the sailor" He got both!

I like how all the people talking about Alex are not upset when remembering time spent with him but are all smiles. Not alot of people have that ability. Amazing glimpse it to an amazing person.

It appears that Alex shared a lifetime of adventure, meeting, greeting, caring and loving into a short space of time. Thanks for sharing this journey and RIP Alex.

How, or why are there 42 down votes to this video? Such a great story, great life, good man. See how one good person can change so many others. Life is what you make of the hard times, don't let them get you down; use them to bolster your resolve for your future.

This has permanently changed my life I see so much Beauty in life now

“I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone.” - Red, Shawshank Redemption Rest In Peace Alex...you showed many of who timidly dream what it is to really live.

I would rather do this for 5 years and die right after than to live the life I'm living at the moment and die at 75.

I found this documentary through SV Delos. I haven't watched a move in so long that hit me with such raw emotion. It sounds to me like Captain Alex Rust was a giant amongst men. What a powerful film.

Delos sent me here. When I first saw how long this was, I had a quick thought that it was too long. After watching it for ten minutes found myself sad that it was only as long as it was. This was beautiful. Before I found out he passed, I wanted to contact him and tell him how inspired I was by his story. Sad to hear the news, but am so happy he was able to accomplish what he did. I'm sure he touched so many! Wish there were more like him in the world.

I loved times I spent sailing..no plan except waking up & saying well...how’s the wind? Let’s go THAT way! But Alex did that ALL THE WAY. I was just going to watch this for a minute...couldn’t believe how unprepared he was...then just dropped all that concern & judgement and went along with him on his adventure...like his mates did...With an open mind and love of taking up anchor for the next place. Utterly fantastic, tinged with an underlying sadness, figuring it wasn’t going to end well. But in a way it did. We got to know this incredible person, and see the world with him. All..the humanity and acceptance in him....and the love. Thank you! A beautiful movie.💗💕

I've been in a state of "Shelter in Place" in Minnesota (thanks COVID-19) for over a week and I'd thought I'd come to the end of RU-vid...Boy, was I wrong. This documentary had me hooked from minute one. Amazing Man, amazing adventure, and an amazing story. Thank you! Be safe all!

I think your Dad would be very proud of You Alex

I'm disabled for past eight years and stuck in bed dreaming of sailing to Hawaii from my home port of Los Angles .I grew up in and around the ocean but know very little about sailing .. I live for videos like this to see how it really is out there .cant believe the courage Alex displayed on his journey .was only going to watch a few minutes but got sucked into a mind blowing journey with a great cast of characters . was not expecting it to end like that but super glad the guy lived his life and is never forgot by those he touched .that's how you live forever .would hope to see a follow up video to fill in some blanks ..where is bubbles now ??why dose one of his friends look like he is in jail??what are the crew up to after their journey with Alex ?? and maybe go and talk to some of the people he touched along the way ? my hart goes out to the Rust family and may Alex rest in peace .

I love this dude, even tho I never met him. Our paths were similar, And at times, crossed (chronologically, geographically). I too was in Varanasi at the same time.as Alex , and after a log journey, also should’ve died. It’s why I come here again and again to watch his doc, and pay my respects. What a great spirit!

He reminds so much of my late brother who was just like Alex; a dream chaser and sadly also passed away in 2013. This guy was/is a tremendous legend and he took me back to the days i had adventures with my late brother. Just recently, approx 2 months, i have started reading about sailing and enrolled on my day skipper training to chance my dreams. PS: Ad eternum inspiring people to chance their dreams. What a great legacy. Thank you and RIP

Wow! This was a beautiful documentary about a beautiful soul. It was inspiring with a narrative that kept me glued to the screen wondering where they would go next. The revelation at the end was both sad and a reminder that none of us know how much time we have left and that we are capable of doing amazing things with the time we do have. A very moving piece, and a fantastic tribute.

This is the very best documentary I ever seen in my life. I believe that everyone should see this if they have a wondering soul. The ending will surprise you. Alex was a member of his FFA in school.

For someone who wanted the ocean travel, this is a guy who can't be alone. This documentary was really well done.

Alex is my idol. The confusion he felt when he got home kills me. I don't know the first thing about movie making but whoever edited this movie is a genius. It's assembled perfectly. The music, the timing, everything is just incredible. It's so hard to watch the clips of Alex in Indiana with the bleak snow cold background compared to on his boat. In Indiana he's out of breath, out of control, confused, just miserable. Alex, you touched my life, thank you.

Crazy gets you places. What an amazing person and an amazing life. I remember seeing the best of bubbles clips on youtube a while back and loved them. Fantastic documentary guys.

Also thanks SV Delos for the link

"May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face, and the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars."...George Jung You did it!!! Thanks for sharing this journey Alex. Inspirational. Today I will see the world in a new light.

Great video! What an inspiration!

That was the most beautiful documentary I have ever seen. Alex you did change the world..Thank you for showing me. Love Michelle Red in Connecticut.

If you can find some time to sit down and watch this movie you will not be disappointed.

I love it when he realises sailing adventures alone are deadly boring.... So he does something about it and gets a crew. I think many people faced with the same tedious journey (myself included) would treat the boringness of it all as a challenge and fight the tedium all the way.... Possibly missing the beauty and poetry of it all

I just started this, I'm 31. Never been on a boat in my life and really have been wanting to go get a sailboat and try sailing around. I can't swim, I'm from Wisconsin, my wife hates the idea but I'd really love to do this. This story is so inspiring it's crazy.

Wow, probably one of the most powerful documentaries I've ever seen! I'd give anything to be able to go on a life changing experience like this, What a truly inspirational adventure! Definitely feel like my life thus far has been a waste of valuable time.... A quote that comes to mind for me is “The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.”― Lao Tzu. Thank you so much for sharing this story... Rest in peace Alex.

i see now that my life is a waste and i need to spend the time i have left exploring the world and seeing new things , i have no one in my life and a stupid job so its time to go explore and see what i can see before its to late . thanks SVDELOS for the link to this amazing story and thanks to Alex for opening my eyes to what the world is and the people in it i want to sail around the world as see all that i can thanks Alex for your story god bless you and all that knew you

Have been watching sailing channels and crews travel for years. This experience really touches you. The journey is what's important. It's like photography- the camera doesn't matter. It's all about the subject. A remarkable story and editing.

Same with long thru hikes! The withdrawals and depression are very real when you’re finished with your hike. It breaks your heart 💔

That was a hell of a journey. Well done to all the filmmakers it's a worthy testament.

He ‘s like the raw diamond for all the sailing channels out there. Amazing guy.

i think yesterday was the 16th time i watched this documentairy since it came out. Still enjoyed it from beginning till end.

I was looking on a crew website because I would like to have a grand adventure like this. One of the skippers looking for crew mentioned Bubbles and said that is their ethos so I had to come and check it out. A life well live! My heart aches for the folks who he impacted directly. The young man who served as crew for the longest is probably absolutely devastated still to this day. I wish him all the love in the world and I hope whatever he needs he gets and finds. What an inspiration he is. You folks that put this together did an amazing job and I thank you. He will continue to change lives! Sending love to you all! Preston

Incredible story. The best doc I've seen in a long time.

Thank you SV Delos for linking & sharing the gift of this story.

Thos documentary changed my life. I started living in my van after watching this and bought a 38 foot steel boat. I come back to it when i need some motivation. Capt. Rust, you are and will always be my hero.

I just want to say thank you so much for making this documentary. its the best thing I've seen in such a long time.

well... *clears throat*.. that didn't end like I thought...

S/V DELOS....thank you for leading me to this video. A year or so ago I found Bubbles RU-vid site and enjoyed it, wondering why there weren't others. Now I know. What a wonderful video and tribute to one heck of man. This video was inspiring.

Why would someone put a thumbs down on this? RIP Alex.

This just randomly started to play on my TV and I got sucked in immediately. Bravo to all who put this together. Really Amazing! I could listen to your stories all day captain...RIP ⚓️

Most people die without living. He Lived.

That's the best thing I've seen in a long time. What a tremendous job all of you did putting this together as an example of how one man can bring so many together. Thank you for this.

Just watched this for the second time and I'm a mess, again. The editing is very well done. Tears streaming down my face in the latter part of the film for obvious reasons, and by the end, the clips woven in the credits, leaving me with a smile on my face. Genius way to piece this story together, but the most important thing I want to say is, just imagine a world full of Alex Rusts. What an amazing place it would be and the world would be a far greater place because of it. His spirit of adventure but also and more importantly, his openness to people and community is remarkable and unique. His legacy is evidenced in the way others speak about him. Such a shame that his passing was due to something that in the west we would probably see as a minor complication, yet it is so easy to overlook that such infectious diseases take the lives of so many every year around the world in countries with less developed infrastructures. Alex, you grabbed life by the scruff of the neck and made the most of it during your short time. We all should learn from his story and not be so complacent. Rest In Peace.

I have been watching sailing videos for over a year now, just recently heard of this and so glad that I did. Truly the most amazing, beautiful documentary I have seen. If I accomplish half of the happiness and fulfillment he did, I will leave this world proud. Thank you for sharing this amazing story, sail easy ♥️⚓

This, for me, is one of those 'Life Altering" discoveries. Emotions ran deep as my heart exploded with joy over realizing --- this is just life, how we choose to live it is entirely up to us. I wish our souls to meet 00 out there --->

I could not close this site without saying thanks for sharing this beautiful story of a man and his boat and their trip around the world.I felt sorry how it ended but in a way his life story made sense. I have learned true life lessons thank you !!

Best sailing video ever. What a chance meeting Ross Gerber in a random Irish dive har in Savannah, GA. I cannot wait to get our boat and begin the adventure. Ross...you will always have an open invite to sail with us. What an amazing story! Ty for sharing this with Lisa and myself.

How does this not have more views?! Honestly the best documentary I have ever seen - If you're out there Adam you're an inspiration

Amazing movie. I wish I could of done half what he did in his years by the time I was his age. I did do a lot of sailing but nothing more than 500 miles at a time. Everyone that put time into making this movie has honored this young man more than they realize. Thank you so much for sharing and thank you SV Delos for the link.

Thank you for making this documentary and sharing with us the adventurous life of Alex Rust. His spirit for life and his hunger for adventure and to really absorb cultures was amazing. I will always remember his story.

This has popped up on my RU-vid feed I'm sat here now thought I'd give it 5 minutes ended up watching the whole thing and now filler with such mixed emotions what an amazing fella and what an amazing journey.

Thank you so much for this documentary. It is big part of what me buy my current sailboat and I am doing a complete refit of it. Each time I lack motivation or I go through hard time I look at this documentary and it reminds me why I am doing that, why I am living in a small sailboat while doing a refit of it. Why I can accept to get all my stuff wet when it rains and when everyone tells me I am crazy. I am not 10% as crazy as Alex but I am doing my way and trying to live my life at the fullest. So thank you so much for that once again, you are all people that makes other peoples lifes better.

That smile is contagious. What a great documentary and a incredible man Alex was. Rip taken to soon

Awesome production Topher, and what an amazing story you had to tell. This really made my day and I'm going to remember this story always. :) Thanks to the Delos crew for sharing the link to this also. ;)

Amazing, inspirational, emotional story. Some people live more in a few years than others live in a lifetime. Just a gem of a documentary. I feel lucky to have come across this by chance and watched.

I found the link to Chasing Bubbles a couple of years ago, when it was on Vimeo . Am really pleased to realise you have uploaded to RU-vid. It’s an amazing story and really shows what can be done , if you just do it ! The world is out there and with some work and focus you can make incredible things happen . I find Captain Alex’s (and the crew) journey really inspiring. Long live adventure !!

Wow...I hoped that this would get completed at some point and it absolutely DID NOT disappoint. What a great tribute to a life well lived. Thanks to all that helped put this together. You did a fantastic job. If you haven't already considered it, you should enter this in some film festivals. You don't have to be a sailor to enjoy it. It's about so much more than that. This is now one of my favorite films of all time. And, of course, a huge thanks to Alex for sharing the story. He's a genuine inspiration.

Thanks SVDELOS for the link. What an awesome story, its very inspiring. If anyone is interested I have a small 25 foot sailboat in Ventura CA if you would like to go out for a day and try your hand at sailing I would be happy to take you out, no charge just friendship and goodtimes. Hit me up if interested.

We limit ourselves. So true. I realised, watching this documentary that there really is nothing, apart from myself, holding me back from getting out there and doing stuff on my own boat. No more excuses! Thank you for those of you who put this great story into a documentary. Thank you Alex for being that story.

Oh, boy... Undoubtedly the best movie I have watched in a while... Found this movie via recommendation on Sailing page of FB and didn’t quite know what to expect... My emotions went from initial pure fun and excitement of watching just another sailing life to a true appreciation and understanding of Alex’ life impact on the lives of hundreds of other people. I know that I will return to watching this movie again and again and again...

OMG what an emotional and inspiring movie ... Alot of people want to know what the meaning of life is. If ever there was a meaning it's what Alex Rust achieved ..... Not just for himself but bringing along other to experience the meaning as well .. RIP my friend. Your an inspiration to many ...

Wow, a very poignant and touching film. Thank you for sharing his story. In this world of constant negatives and trigger outrage, it is wonderful to see this light. -Cheers

A must watch. Classic. My favorite documentary of all time. Showcases the beauty of the human soul, human experience, and spirit. Alex Rust is a remarkable individual sure to inspire

Just want to say to you, I love you and I wish you all the best. Showing this movie, sharing, it was not easy. Please know I appreciate your gift and He, Alex, has made a difference. Thank you