Overview of cruises

While living aboard we cruised the southwest coast of Florida, from Tampa to the Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas. In 1997 we crossed the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas and sailed down the Exuma Cays to Georgetown. Six years later we retraced our path, this time beyond Georgetown to Long Island and Cat Island.

In 2005 we undertook a two year cruise from Florida to Trinidad. We sailed through the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and down the the Leeward and Windward Islands to the coast of South America.

 

Our first cruise to the Bahamas

The morning was cool and breezy under a clear blue sky. We awoke aboard Delphinium, our Pearson 365 ketch, calmly afloat in our marina at St. Petersburg, Florida. We climbed outside, excited and anxious, to study the weather.

For more than five years we had waited for this morning. We had studied and practiced; we had repaired and improved the boat; we had sailed weekends and on vacations. This morning we would let loose our dock lines and begin a journey.

We had quit our jobs, sold our car, and released our marina slip. We were headed away from Florida for the first time, to the remote Exuma Islands of the Bahamas. More ... Bahamas 1997

 

Beyond Georgetown to Long Island and Cat Island

The last few days were like drifting through a thick fog, a blurry crossing from civilization to nature.  Suddenly we have no car, no jobs, and no busy routine.  Roads and buildings, alarm clocks, crowds, noise, fumes, telephones, and the daily grind of modern life, fade into a new world.  A world of quiet solitude where time slows down and priorities are upended.   A world of birds and sea life, of the open sea and islands, where life becomes more fundamental.  A world of the white cays and blue seas of the Exuma Islands. More ... Bahamas 2003

 

 

Florida to Trinidad, a two year adventure through the Caribbean

We followed the red dinghy into Luperon Harbor. At the helm was one of the permanent liveaboards. He had come out that morning to guide the new arrivals past the shoals. We found an open spot and dropped our anchor.

Nalani floated wonderfully quiet in the calm harbor. We were exhausted, but excited. It was three months to the day since we had left Bradenton, Florida. The last 24 hours we had been at sea with no sleep. Our tired smiles barely concealed our glee; we had made our first truly foreign landfall. We hauled up the yellow Q flag, declaring quarantine, and waited for El Commandante. More ... Caribbean 2005

 

Florida's Southwest Coast, Tampa to Key West

While living aboard at marinas we had many opportunities to cruise the Southwest coast of Florida. Toss the lines, go up river and drop the anchor, was a familiar weekend routine. Simply getting away from civilization to float off a beach and enjoy the seabirds, dophins, and fish was relaxing and fulfilling. The more days we had, from 4-day weekends to two week vacations, the further south we ventured.

Charlotte harbor was a favorite destination. It usually meant a sail through the night to anchor at Cayo Costa. This is one of our all time favorite places. For longer trips we ventured to Sanibel, Fort Myers, Naples, Key West, and into the ten thousand islands of the Everglades. Read about our first shake down cruise to the Dry Tortugas.

From weekends to weeks, vacation cruises were a wonderful way to enjoy the Gulf of Mexico and its shores. They also tested the boat and us, and often presented opportunities to learn new skills.