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By Sophia I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I actually know. And my mom asked me what do I think i learned from all this time on a boat? Do I think that i changed a lot or just a little from a girl i was before. And abviously i grew a bit im a little older. But what did i learn ? Not just school stuff , though I do school too, at the cabin table or in the cockpit or in my cabin, usually with the boat rocking and Bolt asleep somewhere nearby. I mean the other things.

Sailing the US Virgin Islands as a Family | Our Time in the USVI

The Unexpected Skills Sailing Has Taught Us Living full-time on a sailboat teaches you how to sail… obviously. But some of the biggest lessons we’ve learned have had nothing to do with trimming sails or reading charts.Somewhere between weather routing, fixing things that break at the worst possible moment, homeschooling aboard, and learning how to adapt to life in constantly changing places, we realized this lifestyle quietly teaches skills we never expected to develop.Not ju

Lessons Beyond the Classroom From Life at Sea

One of the best parts of cruising as a family has been the people we've met along the way. One of the things nobody really tells you before you start cruising as a family is how much of this life becomes about the people.Before we left land life behind, I think I imagined cruising mostly as anchorages, islands, sunsets, snorkeling, and sailing from place to place. And yes—it is all of those things. But somewhere along the way, the friendships became one of the biggest parts o

Life on a sailboat has a rhythm to it now.Not a rushed rhythm. Not a loud one either. More like the slow movement of the water around us — changing constantly, but somehow familiar at the same time.People often imagine boat life as endless sunsets and tropical drinks, and yes… sometimes it really is that beautiful. But most days are made up of small routines. Quiet moments. Tiny tasks that somehow became the parts of life we love the most.And no two days ever feel exactly the

A look at life at sea. A few thoughts on growing up between islands, a little older now—what’s changed, what hasn’t, and a different kind of childhood. Hey… I know it’s been a while since I last wrote here. A lot has happened since then. I’ve grown up a bit—not just getting older, but getting more used to this life. And we’ve been to so many new places that sometimes it’s hard to believe we’ve actually seen them. Sometimes I can’t believe how far we are. When I wrote my last

Best Marinas on the U.S. East Coast and Caribbean we'd return again

🌊 Sailing the Mona Passage: Our Real Thorny Path Experience After everything it took to move along the Dominican Republic’s north coast, we finally found ourselves in Samaná. This place felt calm and protected, a welcome respite. Crossing the Mona Passage is considered one of the most challenging legs of the Thorny Path for sailors heading from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. For a long time, it was the part we feared the most. But Samaná, surrounded by lush green hil

Our Favorite Stops Along the U.S. East Coast/US East Coast Cruising the Intracoastal Waterway is a completely different experience from sailing the Bahamas and Caribbean.The water isn’t always clear, tides and currents play a bigger role, and anchorages can be tighter and more crowded. It’s a different kind of cruising—one that requires more awareness, but also offers its own kind of beauty. Over time, we’ve found places along the ICW that stood out. Not just convenient stops

⚓ How to chose safe anchorage/ Real Tips from crusing sailors Safely anchored SVBogumila Wind, Depth, Comfort & Real-Life Decisions as a Sailing Family Choosing an anchorage isn’t just about dropping the hook in a beautiful place. For us, it’s one of the most important decisions we make every single day.Because where we anchor affects everything—our safety, our comfort, and how we experience each place as a family.Over time, we’ve developed a simple but intentional approach.

Discover our favorite anchorages in the Bahamas and Caribbean—from Exumas to Dominican Republic. Real family sailing experiences, protection tips, and hidden gems. As we get ready to leave Puerto Bahía Marina and head toward new islands, I find myself thinking about the anchorages that made us stay longer than we ever planned. The places that weren’t supposed to be more than a stop—but somehow drew us in and became part of our story.Over the past 3 years aboard SV Bogumila ,

Sailing with Kids: From Age 4 to 12 on our family boat (Real Family Sailing Experience & Practical Tips) ⛵I still remember the very beginning of our sailing journey with Sophia. She was just 4 years old, and at that time we were not yet sailing at sea. We were sailing on lakes, learning everything step by step in a calm and controlled environment. Now she is 12, and we have experienced everything from peaceful inland waters to full cruising life at sea. Looking back, it feels

We continued our journey north from Eleuthera , leaving behind the more exposed anchorages and stronger currents, and heading toward the Abaco Islands . After navigating cuts, timing tides, and carefully choosing protection along Eleuthera, arriving in the Abacos felt like a shift into calmer, more forgiving cruising grounds. The crossing brought us into the Sea of Abaco, where conditions immediately softened. The water became more protected, the sailing more relaxed, and the

We reached Eleuthera on our way north from the Exumas, leaving just north of Shroud Cay and crossing over toward Eleuthera. It felt like a clear transition—moving from the protected waters of the Exumas into a place where wind, swell, and timing begin to matter much more. Sailing through Eleuthera in the Bahamas feels different from the rest of the islands. The island stretches long and narrow, with the deep blue Atlantic Ocean on one side and the calmer banks on the other.

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