We sailed through the cape cod canal and anchored just on the other side. We caught the current and made it through super quick.

We sailed from Boston, MA to Sandwich, MA. It was an absolutely beautiful day.

We left our safe haven in Portsmouth, NH to head to Boston, MA. The route we sailed was much farther out from shore than we had originally planned because even though the hurricane was past us the sea was still being affected. We saw massive waves crashing into the shoreline for most of this trip. The water was turbulent, and the wind was 20+ knots. It wasn’t the most comfortable trip, but we made it to Boston right after sunset.

We left the mooring ball at Portsmouth after swimming under the boat to check the bottom and propeller. The harbor was calm compared to the large, rolling waves we encountered which were remnants of Hurricane Erin. We motored into the wind until we reached the point at Gloucester and able to sail on a close haul/close reach to Boston. Saw several pods of dolphins and a sunfish along the way. We later learned of a sailboat thrown onto the rocks at York, ME in the same day and just North of our position.

We woke up extra early on this day to get the heck out of here. It wasn’t all that bad unless you were counting what should be an illegal amount of lobster pots in a perfectly good anchorage, but I digress. We thought this place would be a good spot to wait out hurricane Erin, but right after we pulled in the night before we knew that wasn’t going to be the case. So, before we had to start work for the day, we pulled up the anchor and headed to Portsmouth, NH in the hopes that it would be a more protected spot to wait for the hurricane to pass. Thankfully it was a great place, and the hurricane didn’t cause us any issues. What I learned from this experience was that even being this far north doesn’t mean you are in the clear for hurricane season, as I naively thought. It’s important to plan ahead, do your research, and trust your gut.

After showman the night on anchor at Stage Island, we decided it was not the place to shelter from the coming hurricane. We left early in the morning and headed to Portsmouth, NH which was much better protected.

Left Wood Island Harbor with a good wind on the beam. Sailed to Stage Island to wait out the passing Hurricane Erin. Lots of lobster pots and ultimately not comfortable with the anchorage.

As we were leaving Portland, ME I had to take several pictures and videos of the Portland Head Lighthouse on our way out. It was a beautiful day for it. When I was looking up the name of the lighthouse, I discovered it is considered the most photographed lighthouse in the WORLD! Why is this relevant? I think a big part of the draw to sail isn’t just about sailing. It is about constant learning, growth, and development. We are experiencing new things almost daily and a lot of that comes from going to new places, experiencing the culture, the food, the architecture and the history of each place. In my case on this particular day it was learning a random fact about a lighthouse that I may have never discovered, if not for being there.

Left Portland with light winds and had to motor most of the way. Arrived at sunset and set the anchor just before dark.

For some unknown reasons I became super nauseous about 6 hours into this sail. It was a beautiful day for a sail and good conditions. This almost never happens to me. I usually only get nauseous when I have been off the boat on land for several days and then get back on the boat and even then only about 50% of the time. I have learned to be prepared for this because being nauseous on a boat that you can’t get off of for hours on end may be one of the most miserable things I have experienced. Things I keep on the boat to help with nausea are: ginger ale, ginger tea, ginger chews, ginger gum, less drowsy and original Dramamine. I have nausea wristbands. I also have a couple different prescription medications that I keep around to help if all other methods fail and those are Scopolamine patches and Ondansetron.

Pulled up anchor and motored for half the trip without any wind. Circled around Egg Rock to look for Puffins, and saw one floating near the island. Wind picked up as we rounded Pemaquid Point and sailed the rest of the way to Portland. Set anchor just North of bouy #6.

After a night on anchor and visiting Turner Farm, we motored-sailed to Rockland. Saw a pod of short-nosed dolphins along the way. Set anchor in Rockland just South of the main mooring field.

We liked it so much the first time we came here we decided to stop here again on our way back down south. When we arrived we were having trouble getting our anchor to set. We have needed to add more chain, and the spot we were in was just a little too deep for the amount of chain we currently have so it wasn’t catching as we were trying to set it. We pulled it up and moved more towards shallow water and it set perfectly. Struggling to set anchor in deep water with too little chain drives home a simple but critical lesson: preparation matters. Anchoring isn’t just about where you dropped the hook. It’s about having the right gear for the conditions. Without enough scope, even the best anchor can’t do its job. It’s a reminder that cutting corners are hoping for the best doesn’t work at sea. Plan ahead no your depths and always carry enough rode. The ocean doesn’t forgive oversight it just keeps you drifting.

This was a short after work sail. It was perfectly clear all day until right when we started pulling up the anchor the fog rolled in. Most of the sail was in the fog which was a little disappointing because we wanted to see the beautiful landscape. There were patches where it would clear up for a few minutes and you could get a quick glimpse of some of the islands. Something I have learned from sailing in the fog is that it taught me patience, presence, and trust in our instruments, our instincts and each other. When visibility is stripped away, you’re forced to slow down and focus, navigating not by sight but by sound, feel, and intuition. It has been a powerful lesson in adapting to uncertainty, staying calm under pressure, and moving forward even when the path ahead isn’t clear.

A thick wall of fog blew in just as we picked up anchor. As if it would not be difficult enough to navigate the narrow passage between the islands while dodging lobster pots... Let's do practically blindfolded... We stay in our course as much as possible and dodger most of the lobster pots. The fog cleared up just as we reached out anchorage at North Haven Island.

Left Bar Harbor and motored straight into the wind. Lots of lobster pots to dodge and spotted a few short-nosed dolphins along the way. There is a shallow bar at Bass Harbor with a narrow channel close to shore and right next to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Anchored at Swan Island just after sunset. Beautiful anchorage with good protection.

We left Yarmouth in the evening with wind on the beam at 10 knots. Full moon have us plenty of light only small rolling waves through the night. We were greeted by a pod of Fin Whales after sunrise. We timed our passage to navigate through the insane number of lobster pots as we neared Bar Harbor. The main anchorages are filled with private mooring balls and had to find another location to anchor. Anchored around the other side of the sand bar at Bar Island. Good holding at 10 feet low tide and 10 foot tide difference.

We did a lunchtime Canoe trip around South Harbour. Located near Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

We got to see Puffins! Super cute birds. They are smaller than I expected.

Went to Peggy’s Cove in the morning then drove down the road for some afternoon paddle boarding!

Had a wonderful night sail from Maine over to Nova Scotia.

Left Rockland with Westerly winds which lightened through the night. A small whale breached in front of the boat as the sun was rising. We came across a huge Basking Shark, several pods of dolphins, a Sunfish, and also a floating whale carcass (bleh) Arrive in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, tied to a mooring ball and checked into Canada (Yay!!!). WE MADE IT TO NOVA SCOTIA!!!

Left Salem at sunrise and motored in the fog till the wind filled in from behind. Saw a small whale breaching with visible injuries as it tried to get away from at least one shark which we saw nearby. Anchored at Jewell Island for the night before continuing to Rockland. Lot of lobster pots to dodge the entire way. Saw a small-nose dolphin, several seals, and a sunfish along the way. Anchored in Rockland just outside the mooring field.

Sailed from Plymouth, MA to Salem, MA. Getting into Salam was chaotic there are so many boats in this area! We also hooked up to a mooring ball for the first time ever!

We went from Stonington, CT to Plymouth, MA headed to Salem tomorrow. It was a great day. We even listened to and finished a book during the trip.

After cleaning the bottom of the boat it was time to head to shore to meet up with family for some much needed ice cream!

This was one of the coldest trips we have done so far and it’s probably going to continue being cold as we keep heading up the east coast to Nova Scotia.

This passage was timed with the currents and some shifting wind. Started out a bit rough but the water smoothed out as the sun was setting. We'd seen lots of crab pots and debris which makes for a nervous night watch. Always great to greet the sunrise and we anchored shortly after.

Departed Ellis Island after waiting for a favorable current to sail along East River to Port Washington. Made really good time and fun to see the city from the water.

After a super calm night on anchor near Deleware City, we left early in the morning towards the mouth of the Delaware Bay. Things got really scary when we had a hard grounding in a jetty which was not marked on the charts. Stopped to assess the damage and even jumped in the water to check under the boat. Luckily Nauti Dream is fine. We continued on our path and had really great conditions the entire day and through the night. Encountered a storm about 15 minutes before reaching the anchorage next to the Statue of Liberty which delayed our arrival as we waited in the channels for the storm to clear up.

After anchoring overnight in Chesapeake City, we refueled before continuing through the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Thankful there was not a lot of shopping traffic and timed it to motor with the current. Anchored outside Deleware City where we picked up crew for the next passage around to NYC.

Left Still Pond with the wind pushing us North. Was overtaken by a strong storm which was intense for about 30 minutes and then just rained the rest of the passage. Had to dodge a lot of logs and debris coming down the channel. Set anchor in Chesapeake City just as the sun was setting.

The rain stopped just as we picked up the anchor to leave Pasadena. Got a view of the collapsed Baltimore Bridge as we headed up the Chesapeake Bay. Had to motor-sail with not much wind and into a strong opposing current. Crab tape everywhere, so had to stay alert. Managed to cook steak and asparagus for dinner in-route. Anchored at Still Pond Anchorage just before the sun set.

Try to get through the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal by the end of the week, we are breaking up the distance into smaller evening sails. Windy conditions for some great Close Haul sailing have us a nice boost. Foggy conditions made visibility reduced to several miles, but nothing too concerning.

We spent an additional week after our Hatteras crossing to recover and wait for boat parts to be delivered. Departed Hampton in the evening with following wind and waves. The waves died down through the night as we sail farther up the Chesapeake Bay. Saw dolphins and Cow-Nosed Rays. Wind shifted several times and ended up motor sailing much of the passage. Annapolis was very chaotic when we arrived, but were able to set anchor and rest.

Our fiberglass deck was joined to the hull with fiberglass on the inside and 5200 on the outside. This joint extended along the transom, below the waterline. We decided to fiberglass the joint on the outside and also add a small step below the swim platform to aid in getting on and off the boat when the platform is raised. We used closed-cell foam to get the overall shape, then fiberglassed between each of the layers to the transom before the outer shell of fiberglass. We used Total Boat Epoxy, Fairing Compound, Gelcoat, and Antifouling Paint to complete this project. We have now been able to sail with this DIY upgrade for about a month now and am really happy to say this has become one of our favorite and useful DIY projects so far.

Rounding Cape Hatteras was not on our bucket list of places to sail. Getting around Cape Lookout and then to the point of Cape Hatteras went much as we had anticipated. Very challenging conditions, but we made good time. Then came the hurricane-strength winds as the sun went down. We had just started to point Northward. It was the most terrified we have been and did not know if Nauti Dream would hold up through the storm. At one point the bimini started to come apart and Lynn's inflatable life jacket deployed because we were getting soaked by the pelting rain and waves crashing over the deck. We made it through having hand-steered for 30 hours.

Our canvas dodger with isinglass has already been restitched several times and the isinglass replaced, but continued to fall apart. So we started building out a hard dodger using closed-cell foam and fiberglass. Although it is not quite done, we are looking forward to completing it in the next several weeks. We will use tinted plexiglass and the center pane is designed as a hatch we will be able to allow the air to flow into the cockpit area. Can't wait to get this one finished.

Had to dive on the anchor to free it from being tangled in some wreckage before getting underway. Departed Charleston with winds from the Northeast. Battled the current and winds till the late evening. The sea state calmed during our night sailing and the wind died off completely the next morning. Caught 7 Bonita and 1 Mahi along the way.

This is our shakedown sail after being hauled out for 11 months. Sail started off calm and blissful with dolphins in our wake. A massive storm blew in and we got drenched. It cleared up just in time for us to enter the channel and set the anchor. Overall, a great first passage to our next adventure.

It’s the little things that make all the difference. We had a freezer inset into our counter that no longer worked and we decided not to repair it. We already bought another freezer that we store under our salon table. After our three month trip to the Bahamas last summer we decided we really wanted to add a washing machine. So, we bought a very small portable washing machine and made the decision to rip out the broken freezer and replaced it with our new washing machine. It all seemed fairly straightforward. Yet it turned out to be anything but straightforward. Tearing out the old freezer was a battle on its own. After that, we had to modify our little washer to fit in the space. Modifying it included cutting off the base, cutting off most of the side casing, moving the water inlet, rewiring it, reconfiguring the sump pump, and making a mounting base for it out of starboard. After all that extensive prep work, we installed it in its new home by running all the new wiring and plumbing needed. After running all the necessary test to make sure everything was working correctly. We closed up the space. I am happy to report that it has been working great and makes being a live-aboard a little more relaxing.

It's been to long with Nauti Dream out of the water and all the boat work. We really needed to get back on the water. So we met up with Captain Jack and his wife for a beautiful day sail on the St. John's River. No wind to start out, but picked up later in the day.

Stayed at Harbor Island for 3 weeks. While there are convenience stores and fuel available, we needed to restock on provisions. So we sailed overnight to Nassau. Very peaceful downwind sail at 7 knots. Since we don't have a spinnaker or whisker pole, we have found it better to sail on a broad reach rather than running straight downwind. We always reef the sails as the sun goes down. It may be slower, but don't have to worry about getting overpowered during the night.

Left West Palm Beach for overnight sail to Miami. Had to stay close to shore to avoid Gulf Stream. Could not get engine started at sunset, so sailed through the night with no autopilot. Generator was also not working. We hove-to around 2am to get some rest. Continued around 4am. Able to start the motor after the sun came up and motor sailed the rest of the way. Entered Biscayne Bay through Stiltsville. Fixed the generator while in Miami.

After leaving Port Canaveral, it was slow motoring directly into the wind. Stayed close to shore to avoid the turbulent Gulf Stream in these conditions. Arrived to the Ponce Inlet as the sun set and grounded on the shallow sandy bottom. Able to get free and navigate through the channels to our final anchorage of this month-long journey from Puerto Rico.

Left Freeport at sunrise with an original intent to sail to Fort Myers. With the Southerly wind and Gulf Stream pushing us at 9 knots with very smooth conditions, we opted to sail through the night to Cape Canaveral. We had to slow our pace to arrive in Cape Canaveral in daylight and after the draw bridges and lock were opened.

Left Goat Cay before sunrise to finish the sail before a predicted evening storm. Storm began just before we entered the harbor in Freeport. Stayed in the bay for a week while a major storm passed by. No anchoring in the channel, but we did find a marina with available space.

Left Palm Cay Marina after my sister, Mel, headed back to Oregon. Now just myself and girlfriend, Lynn for the rest of the journey. No wind with water like glass and can't tell where the water ends and sky begins. Motored to Clifton Bay in preparation for our next big passage.

We had to motor straight into the wind and waves. This was not a comfortable ride and we arrived after dark. Several of the channel markers where not lit or marked. Almost hit several. We stay at Palm Cay Marina which has really nice amenities, close to stores and restaurants. My sister, Mel, who has been part of the crew since Puerto Rico has to fly back home since she has to get back to her home in Oregon.

After exploring Staniel Cay for several days, we sailed to Shroud Cay. Arrived after dark and anchored. We spun our dinghy prop at Staniel Cay. Still usable, but only very slow.

Departed Clarence Town and sailed to Calabash Bay. Anchored in the bay at night with good light from the moon. Uneventful sail and really wish we could have spent more time in Calabash Bay.

Left Majors Cay for downwind sail to Clarence Town on Long Island. Nauti Dream was surfing down the waves and we saw a top speed of 12 knots. Anchored in the bay. All sorts of sharks at the marina

Winds shifted and incoming storm means our protected bay is not longer going to be protected. Departed for Crooked Islands for better shelter. Winds pushed us towards the shallows of Crooked Island and we had to push directly into the waves to avoid a more dangerous situation. Probably the scariest sail we've had so far. Arrived at anchorage during the night, but plenty of light with the full moon to set the anchor. Very rolly spot, but better protected than where we left.

After checking into Turks & Caicos, we refueled the boat. Stayed the night anchored away from the beach. Not well protected, but enough to get some rest. Departed in the evening for an overnight sail to Grace Bay. Anchored in Grace Bay for one night before moving to the marina.

Crewed on the boat Satisfaction, Morgan 41 with Captain Geoff and 3 other crew. Motor-sailed from Marco Island to anchorage near Charlotte Harbor. Completed ASA 104.

Crewed on the boat Satisfaction, Morgan 41 with Captain Geoff and 3 other crew. Motor-sailed from Shark River Anchorage to Marco Island. Stayed overnight in marina.

Motor-sailed from Islamadora to Shark River Anchorage where we stay the night. Completed ASA 103.

Crewing on the Satisfaction Morgan 41 with Captain Geoff and 3 other crew. Day 1 we motor-sailed to the Alligator Reef Lighthouse and back around to the North side of Islamadora where we anchored for the night.

Returning to St Lucia after the shake down sail. Perfect conditions for sailing when we left the harbor. We got caught in a squall just before reaching the northern tip of St Lucia which was pretty intense.

First time taking the boat out on a day sail from St Lucia to Martinique. It rained with low visibility for the first half of the trip then opened up to warm and sunny. Great little trip and anchored in Martinique overnight.