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🌊 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

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