5 Best Things to do in Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas
Our next Bahamian stop was Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands, a 7-mile-long island nestled between Freeport and Nassau. We had a pretty bumpy crossing, but we made the 65-mile trip in about eight and a half hours. And, lucky us—we got a personal tour of the place from fellow boating friends Ken and […]
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS in Freeport (guided tours won’t take you here!)
Today we’re setting sail on an adventure around Grand Bahama, but we’re not just chasing the destination. Our goal is to learn how to sail and to enjoy the journey. We’re taking it slow and steady, with no rigid schedule or corporate agenda to follow. We started our day with a morning workout on the […]
Swimming with SHARKS & Stingrays in the BAHAMAS
We’re so ecstatic to finally be able to say: Welcome to the Bahamas! It’s like we’ve crossed the finish line after a really long race. Part of us feels exhausted, and the other part feels more energetic than ever. Years of hard work, dedication, and preparation have all led up to this very moment. In […]
Sailing the Gulf Stream from Florida to West End (Grand Bahama)
Every time we embark on a new journey, we get that same nervous flutter of anticipation and excitement. It’s a combo of hope and fear that can’t be captured by a camera lens—a testament to the power of stepping outside your comfort zone and into the unknown. Today we left the U.S., in our own […]
Exploring Loggerhead Key, the most REMOTE lighthouse in the US
A shipwreck. A lighthouse. The ghost of a marine lab. And turtles—sometimes. Today we’re visiting Loggerhead Key, the biggest island in the Dry Tortugas. This 49-acre stretch is a little slice of paradise, with beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, clear waters, winding trails, and breathtaking views. From 1904 to 1939, the Carnegie Marina Biological Laboratory conducted […]
Exploring Sand Key Lighthouse: One of Florida’s Oldest Landmarks
In this new video, we sailed seven nautical miles to Sand Key Lighthouse, one of Key West’s oldest historic landmarks. The original inappropriately-named lighthouse was built on a sandy shoal, but a hurricane destroyed it in the 1840s. Today there’s no sandbar left; instead, there’s a beautiful reef that we couldn’t wait to explore. Our […]
Boats, Babies, and Backpacks: Thoughts on the Cuban Migrant Crisis
Our recent trip to the Dry Tortugas and the imposing Fort Jefferson ended up being more than a touristy day out or a history lesson in coastal fortresses. The whole experience was a reminder of the plight of Cuban migrants, the present immigration crisis, and the uncertain future these people face. Why was it so […]
Breaking News: The Conch Republic is Alive and Well
If you watched any of our Hurricane Ian series, you’ll know that this hurricane season hit way too close to home. We’re thrilled to say goodbye to that aspect of 2022, and today in Key West, we’re on our way to a celebration of the end of hurricane season. The Conch Republic Navy even holds […]
5 best things to do in Key West!
The best thing about this lifestyle: there’s always another adventure downwind. In this episode, we dropped the lines, said goodbye to Cabbage Key, and began the 17-hour trip to Key West. We had calm seas at first, but with 12 hours to go, the wind picked up. It was the roughest passage we’ve had yet. […]
The Adventure Begins: We Leave the Dock!
We’ve made it! It’s finally time to leave the dock and set sail on the adventure of a lifetime. After one last family goodbye—to Cole’s mom and stepdad—we spent the evening before our departure on final chores. With a few more goodbyes at Regatta Point Marina (check out what our neighbors Tom and Cheryl gave […]
Final goodbyes before we leave on our BIG adventure!!
Earlier in the week we traveled to Chiefland, Florida to say goodbye to Cole’s family. Now it’s Emily’s turn for tearful goodbyes: we packed our bags and boarded a plane to Nashville, Tennessee. We wanted to make the most of our time in the city, so we were thrilled when Emily’s cousin arranged dinner at […]
We got our captains’ licenses & we are ready to set sail!
Safety is at the forefront of our minds as we get ready to set sail on our adventure, especially as we’ve spent two full weekends at “Sea School” in St. Pete. As we worked toward obtaining our captains’ licenses, took the test, completed a first aid/CPR course, and worked through the paperwork, it gave us […]