Brandon Freeland · NautiBFree
Captain. Lifelong water baby. Curious builder.
Still learning what it means to live on my own terms.
01 / The person behind the name
A nickname that became a way of looking at life.
The “Nauti” comes from nautical. I've been a water baby since I was an infant. My dad was a captain. My grandfather was president of a shipyard, and he took me boating every chance he got. The water has always felt like home.
BFree has been my nickname for years. It's a piece of my name and a reminder to live on my own terms: keep learning, take responsibility, and make room for the people and experiences that matter.
These days, that means time on the water, building my businesses and apps, and discovering a simpler, more intentional way to live.
BFreeA few chapters along the way
The early years
My grandfather taught me to drive a boat when I was very little. One day, while docking in a crosswind, the wind caught me and I backed out. I told him I needed help. He looked at me, chuckled, and said, “No, you don’t. Just back out, look at the conditions, and dock the boat. You know what you’re doing.” It’s a lesson that has stayed with me.
Racing & exploring
I started racing sailboats at nine. By fourteen, I was ranked number one in the U.S. in Optimist dinghies. In 2001, I represented Team USA in Peru, Canada, and China.
A life at sea
After studying at the Coast Guard Academy and the University of South Florida, I began my yacht career in 2007. It has taken me on dive trips through the South Pacific, along the eastern coasts of North and Central America, and into the Caribbean. I’ve spent the past 15 years as a captain, running boats from 68 to 157 feet.
02 / A different kind of freedom
Something I've learned.
Something I'm still living.
You have the power to change your life.
I believe that because I've experienced change in my own life. For years, anxiety made things that looked simple from the outside feel difficult. Reading, breathwork, meditation, yoga, and freediving became part of learning how to work with my mind and respond differently.
It hasn't been quick or easy, and I'm still learning. I share my story because everyone goes through struggles, and we don't always see what someone else is carrying. If being open helps someone feel less alone—or makes it easier for them to speak honestly about their life—that matters to me.
My idea of freedom is changing, too. More choice over my time. Meaningful work. Friends, faith in God, and time in nature. A peaceful home. Being comfortable just being.
I'm discovering who I want to become, one choice at a time.
Friendship, faith & moving forward
What's ahead can be beautiful.
Sometimes the next chapter starts with reaching out.
When I was having a hard time with a breakup, I reached out to a childhood friend I'd grown up sailing with since we were nine. He invited me to come watch his boys play ice hockey so we could catch up and chat. After that, we all ended up doing public skate. That led to buying new skates… which led to signing up for a men's Learn to Play program… which led to a conversation with another good friend I happened to be working next door to at the time… which led to us joining his D League ice hockey team, buying our gear, and having our first game two weeks later.
Now we've moved up to a new team in a new league. It's been a lot of fun—and something I didn't see coming when I first reached out.
And it hasn't stopped at hockey. He's been teaching me how to build software with AI, helping me turn ideas I didn't know how to create into apps I'm now building. He's also helping me with AeroSea. We grew up sailing together, and all these years later, that same friendship is opening up possibilities I never expected.
I see God's redirection in that. A door closing can be deeply painful, and I couldn't see what was ahead while I was going through it. But reconnecting with my friend has brought new joy, new interests, and new possibilities into my life. It's a reminder to keep moving forward and discover what God has planned. What's ahead can be beautiful.
03 / Curiosity, put to work
I wanted to be a programmer and game designer when I was younger. Building with AI has given me a way to pursue that curiosity again—and create tools for needs I know firsthand.
Reflection into action
Seeing a therapist was an important part of my growth. Interactive journaling filled the gap between sessions, giving me a place to unload my thoughts while they were on my mind.
Life OS grows from that experience. It isn't meant to replace a therapist. I'm building a place where people can unload their minds, organise their thoughts, and be reminded of their accomplishments and how far they've come.
I believe seeing a therapist is important. For me, the journal offered somewhere to reflect between our conversations. That's the role I want Life OS to support, alongside practical help with everyday tasks, decisions, and goals.
I want it to help people look back, recognise their progress, and carry what they've learned into what comes next. Continuity and control over personal information are central to what I'm working toward.
I'm still building it. This is the beginning of the story.
Organisation behind the scenes
A tool I'm creating to help run AeroSea: keeping the business organised and supporting growth with a lean team and manageable overhead.
Building in the real world
My hydraulic, hose, and fittings business. Another place to apply hands-on experience, solve practical problems, and build something of my own.
04 / Keep in touch
I share moments from life on the water, things I'm learning, and a little perspective along the way. You're welcome to follow along.