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A Sailing Guide from North to South When we first sailed through the Exumas in the Bahamas, everything felt different. The water was clearer, the anchorages more abundant, and the sailing itself became more enjoyable. Over time, we realized that choosing the right anchorage based on wind direction, depth, and protection is what truly defines a successful passage. A great way to approach the Exumas is from Nassau, which allows for a comfortable day sail into the chain. We typi

When we first sailed through the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, we didn’t fully understand how important anchorage selection really was. At the time, we were still learning, figuring things out as we went and choosing spots based on what looked good on the map. But the Berry Islands quickly taught us that exposure matters, and that the right anchorage can completely change your experience. Hoffman's Blue Hole I have to say If you’re planning a sailing trip through the Bahamas,

Becoming sailors Sailing to the Bahamas for the first time feels like a big step. For us on SV Bogumila, it wasn’t just another destination, it was one of our first real tests at sea. Our dream was becoming real.We had the excitement, the plan, and just enough confidence to go for it. What we didn’t have yet… was experience. If you’re planning your first time sailing to the Bahamas—especially crossing from Miami to Bimini—this is where most of the learning happens. That first

When Your Dog Loves the Boat… But Refuses to “Go” at Sea 🐾 There’s a moment no one really prepares you for when you dream about sailing with your dog. It’s not the rough seas, the long passages, or even the constant motion of the boat. It’s this: your dog won’t go to the bathroom. Not on the boat, not on a pad, not anywhere that isn’t solid land. And suddenly, your entire sailing life revolves around one simple question— can we get to shore? If you’ve ever watched sailing ch

Letting go of more, finding freedom, and learning what truly matters. There’s a moment when you realize your life no longer looks the way it used to. Not suddenly. Not all at once. But slowly, quietly… until one day you’re standing somewhere completely different, wondering how you got here. For us, that shift happened somewhere between letting go of land life and settling into life aboard SV Bogumila . At first, it felt like a big change—something exciting, something unce

The passage everyone warns you about.. We spent three weeks tucked safely inside Luperón , long enough to settle in, long enough to feel comfortable, and long enough to start feeling that quiet pull to leave. Luperón has a way of doing that. It wraps you in safety. The harbor is calm, protected, almost still compared to what waits outside. Life becomes easy there. You meet people, fall into routines, and before you realize it, days turn into weeks. And yet, something keeps nu

Somewhere between the wind and horizon the ocean began teaching us what really matters. When we first stepped aboard SV Bogumila , we thought we were mostly signing up for adventure.We imagined turquoise anchorages, quiet sunsets, and the thrill of sailing toward places we had only seen on maps. And while those moments absolutely exist, the ocean has given us something deeper than beautiful views. It has become one of our greatest teachers. Life at sea has a way of strippin

Best 3 Anchorages in the Bahamas for Families with Kids SV Bogumila-style cruising guide 1. Staniel Cay & Big Major Spot (Pig Beach) Staniel Cay Big Major Cay Why we love it?! This is probably the most iconic family anchorage in the Bahamas . The protected anchorage has good sand holding and calm water, making it comfortable for boats with kids aboard. The real highlight is nearby Pig Beach , where kids can dinghy ashore and meet the famous swimming pigs—one of the most memo

45 Hours on the Thorny Path: Racing a Front to Luperón We left Atkinson Island  in soft morning light, choosing a lighter wind window for the sail south toward Luperón  in the Dominican Republic . Not bold wind.Not charging seas.Just a gentle weather window — lighter than most sailors would prefer for the thorny path south.We knew we would motor most of it. And we knew we would be out there for a while. Forty-five hours to be exact! long enough for the ocean to change you.

When we chose to live full time aboard SVBogumila , we knew life would be different. What we didn’t fully realize was how deeply it would transform our daughter’s education—not just academically, but creatively, emotionally, and practically. Homeschooling on a boat isn’t simply “school in a smaller space.” It’s a complete reimagining of what learning can look like when your backyard is the ocean and your classroom moves with the wind. “ The rhythms of wind, weather, and anch

When most people picture the Bahamas, they imagine endless stretches of turquoise water, stunning pink sands at sunset, and anchorages so beautiful they seem unreal. What they don’t picture is hauling two overstuffed IKEA bags full of damp, salty laundry down a sun-baked dock. But that’s part of cruising life too. The Bahamas: Paradise with a Laundry Problem Cruising in the Bahamas is nothing short of magical. The water is so clear it almost feels illegal. The anchorages are

For a long time our life looked exactly the way it was supposed to .A regular New England family at least from the outside.We often reminded ourselves how lucky we were and it was true. We had so much to be greatful for. A beautiful home ,Sophia had a big yard to play in ,family and friends around. But there was a quiet feeling we couldn't shake.We weren't unhappy we just wanted more. Somewhere deep down we knew we were making small sacrifices,trading time together for conve

For those of us sailing offshore from New England, the first big part of the new live-aboard journey is the New Jersey Coast. It is a shoreline full of pitfalls with inlets that lack the needed safe water to pass in heavy weather. After you have done it once or twice and picked the right weather, it changes from jumping down to the coast into a quick 24 hr. sail from point A  to point B, and you are able to with confidence, remove the what-ifs from your plans. I recommend to

By Anthony Swiacke In our two cruising seasons along the Eastern U.S. and the Bahamas, we’ve experienced our fair share of breakdowns and equipment failures aboard the boat. Most of these issues are repairable with a little ingenuity and pre-planning. Others, seemingly unavoidable, are often costly—but as the common cruiser saying goes, “It’s a boat.” That’s why we always budget for repairs as part of our cruising plans. During our first season in the Bahamas, our majo

Passages South (Long Island Sound and New York Harbor) New London, CT to New York, NY The Statue of Liberty stands majestically against the New York City skyline, viewed from the waters of New York Harbor. Our cruising plans started one winter day 8 months before our departure. We wanted to escape the cold winter of Connecticut, show our daughter that there is more to life than the hustle and bustle of New England living and work created an atmosphere for the previous 10 year

First Time Provisioning for Cruising the East Coast and The Bahamas   As we eased into cruising lifestyle from doing short jumps of 20-40 nautical miles and having a plethora of food options to heading off to the Bahamas for a couple winters we have loaded up the boat and learned a few tricks that have taught us valuable lessons in meal planning and provisioning. Our provisioning skills started when we motored our Hunter 376 15 days from Shelburn, VT back to New London, CT. We

Hello friends! My name is Sophia. I’m 10 years old and I’m a boat kid. For as long as I can remember my parents have been taking me sailing. I started when I was 3.5 years old I think? Back then we had a a little sailboat we took out on a lakes for a day trips. As I got older our boats got bigger ???? and my parents sign me up for summer sailing classes. I’ve had such a good time meeting kids from all over the state sailing Opti  dinghies and hanging out on a beach. I’ve been