When Rob and I were heading from Tuamotus to the Society Islands, it was bittersweet. We knew we had a limited time in French Polynesia with cyclone season just around the corner. We also had some of our friends coming to meet us in Tahiti to sail through Society Islands with us. As luck would have it, our friends had to reschedule and we had a delay in Tahiti since one major boat part had not yet arrived. Thus, we were back in best sailing mode: no schedule to follow and the

Look what Sheri caught for dinner! We had a calm weather window to sail over from Tikehau to Makatea, the only island in the Tuamotu archipelago that is not an atoll. The passage from Tikehau to Makatea was eventful with Sheri catching a huge Mahi, that will feed us and our friends for weeks. 47 inch female Mahi Mahi is our biggest yet. We were interested in visiting Makatea since it has a very different landscape than the other Tuamotu islands, with sheer cliffs dropping off

South Fakarava Pass When it comes to sports, Rob and I prefer to be in or on the water. What better place than in the Tuamotus Archipelagos of French Polynesia. This interesting and diverse system comprises 75-80 "atolls" or low coral islands spanning 1500 km, between 185-500 miles northeast of Tahiti. The water is crystal clear and coral heads abut the sandy beaches and shallows as well as in the anchorages, requiring use of moorings or floats to keep anchors off the coral.

Nice Yellowfin Tuna! Rob and I love to fish, but usually it is spearfishing. While we were in Panama, I bought Rob a new two speed Shimano Reel for his birthday, since the rods and reels we had were outdated. We also have handline equipment to use when we are sailing and cannot easily stop or back the boat down. I was hoping that this equipment would make Rob more likely to fish with hook and line while we were underway across the Pacific. It only took one fish to pay off th

I hope that this blog does not bore many of you, but I find it quite interesting to learn about other cultures and how they treat and prevent diseases. In French Polynesia, the locals still use many of the natural treatments their ancestors used. They do not use pharmaceutical drugs, and for the most part in the outer islands they do not vaccinate (nor get exposed to advertisements for drugs or vaccines on TV!). They do not have the degree of chronic diseases that we have in

Travel through Marquesas Islands: hiking, biking, snorkeling and visiting with locals

My Captain and Me We flew a spinnaker for much of our Pacific crossing...so much for that beam reach! The major crossing event has begun and we are finally underway for French Polynesia. This has been a trip Rob and I dreamed of and discussed for ten years, but I would not leave my practice when my patients really needed me during the Covid "crisis" and aftermath of the vaccines. (That is another subject for another blog/substack). I delayed my retirement for over five years

These darling seals are everywhere close to the docks and on fishing boats and private yachts. They are like dogs sleeping much of the day and pooping on your boat at night, but not our boat. Lessons learned: Be careful what you think because it can affect outcomes. Yes, karma is real, and I have list of people who it seems to have forgotten about, (starting with Anthony Fauci). I thought less of yachters that were not fully prepared with extra parts of all equipment and ever

My "Crew" for the Panama canal crossing: Barb, me, Rob, Kevin, Colleen and Marcelo Our adventure began when friends from Florida came to enjoy the excitement of crossing the canal. The first crossing that Rob and I did was a two day crossing with 10 sailing yachts in each lock, rafted up 2-3 boats across in the lock system and an overnight stay with four catamarans sharing one large mooring ball. A bit chaotic, but no boats were injured in that overnight fiasco. Rob and I cr

The San Blas Islands, known locally as Guna yala, offer a unique glimpse into a vibrant indigenous culture that has thrived for centuries along the Caribbean coast of Panama. This archipelago is not only a stunning natural wonder but also a living example of indigenous self-governance, rich traditions, and a deep connection to the land and sea. Understanding Gunayala’s history, government, land ownership, religion, and culture reveals how the Guna people maintain their identi

Quarantine flag ritual: Customs and Immigration did not come aboard and search the boat like they did in Providenciales. Pretty simple check in and check out on Sailclear and in Douade The Dinghy Dock: Gateway to Shopping and Restaurants: $10/week dinghy dock access fee well worth it. I do not think I have ever wanted to see land any more than I did when we saw the outline of Bonaire in the distance. Sure, we do our sail-planning using apps like "Predict Wind", etc, and these

Would have loved to jump in the water with these whales, but we were underway headed for Bonaire. Ragged Islands: Bona Vista Cay Nothing beats sailing into an anchorage and coming right up to soft sandy beach. That's what we found on the west side of Bona Vista Cay in the Ragged Islands. There were two other sailboats already there and another two catamarans joined after we anchored, but the anchorage was big enough for us all. One was a sister ship to ours, a 60 foot catamar

Medical Leave had some good company with a couple of megayachts sharing the quiet anchorage with us. Conception Island was on our radar as a beautiful place to scuba dive as part of the Conception Island National Park managed by the Bahamas National Trust. It is a small, uninhabited island located in central Bahamas between Rum Cay to the south and Cat Island to the north. It is just over 2000 acres and rises to the highest point about 25 meters above sea level. The park it

Dolphins Playing on the Bow Dolphins have fascinated humans for centuries with their intelligence, playful nature, and graceful movements. Encountering these remarkable creatures in their natural habitat offers a unique experience that stays with you long after the moment ends. This blog post explores how to make the most of dolphin encounters, what to expect, and how to create lasting memories while respecting the wild environment. Why Dolphin Encounters Are So Special Dolph

LOBZILLA: A FEAST FOR FOUR... Notice NO SPEAR MARKS ON ANY LOBSTERS YOU SEE US HARVEST! I am not much of hunter, though Rob certainly likes to hunt very mean deer and elk, etc. I do, however, have a reputation as the "Lobster Lady", "Crustacean Queen", or (excuse the slang) "Bug Bitch", due to the uncanny way I have of coaxing these spiny buggers into my gloved hands, no spear and no snare. I do not feel attached to underwater vertebrate fish, like I do mammals and other an

Medical Leave happily anchored in 8 feet of crystal clear water over sand by Bell Cay Rob amongst the school of spotted eagle Rays that frequent the anchorage and channel at Wardwick Wells Cay Beautifully colored, gracefully gliding spotted eagle rays are quite curious. The swim with the spotted eagle rays in the channel anchorage right near the ranger station is a treat. The easiest time is during slack tide when there is no major current and these beautiful creatures come g

Walking the beach on Ambergris Cay, escorted by two ospreys, guarding their nest. We departed from Stirrup Cay anchorage, not even needing to start the engines to pull the anchor and sail out of the anchorage. That is our challenge now: to not use the engines unless absolutely necessary. It is also why we have almost full fuel tanks since leaving Marathon 12/19/25 (over 2 weeks ago). We have had a busy few days free-diving, exploring and meeting new friends. Got to meet some

White Cay One of several anchorages near Hoffman and White Cay: anchor hold can be tough due thin sand over rock White sand beaches abound in several areas on Hoffman Cay Exploring hidden natural wonders often brings unforgettable experiences, but sometimes those adventures come with unexpected challenges. Our recent hike into the interior of Hoffman Cay to reach the famous blue hole was one such journey. What started as an exciting exploration quickly turned into a dramatic

Rob's beautiful yellow jack and huge male lobster. Got the jack right before the shark came out to play. Free-diving around the Bahamas offers an incredible chance to explore vibrant marine life and catch fish like snapper, grouper, hogfish, cobia, and yellowfin jack. However, beneath the crystal-clear waters in the Tropics and Subtropics lies a hidden danger that every diver and fisherman should know about: ciguatera toxin. This naturally occurring toxin can cause serious he

Bonding at Bond Cay We arrived at Bond Cay in the dark after attempting to sail from Whale Key, against the 5 knot winds. It was dead low tide and we attempted to get into the anchorage farther north, but the water was too shallow. We anchored off a sandy beach where there was an abandoned resort and a shipwreck on the shore and a few coconut trees with low-hanging fruit. We dinghied over to some small islands about a mile away, where we were delighted to find several BIG lob