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

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 catamaran also made in St. Francis, South Africa, "Ke Nako". We impressed the crew of SV Viento, sailing

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

Sailing through the Berry Islands in the Bahamas offers a rare chance to escape the noise and distractions of everyday life. This Christmas, we found ourselves surrounded by turquoise waters, untouched beaches, and the quiet presence of nature. Our days were filled with hiking on deserted shores, trail- running on Whale Key (a private island with an airstrip, inhabited by a flock of peacocks), free-diving for fresh seafood, and sharing moments that reminded us of what truly

Doctor's orders - get in your workouts!

9.4 knots woohoo!

Final sunset at Anchorage near Coloosa Cove Marina where we spent a few nights waiting for supplies to come in and getting out a little bit for some wing filling practice. We were up early this morning to move the boat to marathon boat yard to have the masthead stay replaced and troubleshoot what seems to be a faulty sensor a generator amperage indicator. It’s always something. In the meantime, we’ve met some lovely people through Crewbay who are recreational and some semi pr

Finally got moved from the one Anchorage over to the other side of the bridge to Long Key and it’s much calmer, much more beautiful and Rob was able to climb the mast and go and inspect all the riggings, replace the Halyard line and then put a new spliced continuous in boom furling line. then we had a nice sunset and cleaned out the bilges together. The family that does boat repair together, stays together! So excited only dropped one tool in the water.

Had a rough night with a surprise squall with winds up to 24 miles an hour near channel 2 in Islamorada, with the current ripping, dragging and swinging our boat over multiple lobster pots, which caused our anchor to become fouled. We realized at 11 PM that we were drifting dangerously close to the channel marker. And of course, everything happens at night… in the rain. So yours truly was on the front of the boat pulling the anchor and Rob repositioned the boat trying to nav

Who doesn't dream of spearing a giant wahoo while free-diving? Our good friend, Paul, did just that recently and agreed to take us out to his favorite spots off of Key West. We got a late start for various reasons but Rob and I dropped in the water at a little after 10 am. Visibility was fair, perhaps 40-50 feet. I maxxed out my depth at 55' and Rob was right behind me, but I only got a glimpse of a wahoo in the distance on two dives down and they were far too far away to at

So excited to begin our journey!