Tom Frick

@Tom

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Escapist

Hobe Sound, FL

I’m Tom, a Florida native and water enthusiast. In 2023, my wife and I made the leap and sold our home to live aboard with our two dogs. I’m always down to surf, wakeboard or foil. We regularly update our blog so our parents know we’re alive: WillfulEscape.com

Kicking off the weekend with a half-day & motor sail over to Calabash Bay. The ocean was a bathtub with 5-10 kts of wind and a long period swell. It wasn’t a great sailing day but it was exactly what we needed to get back in the groove. The Exumas were incredible! George Town has been home base for a whole month. 🤯 We hosted my parents and sister, who all flew down from New England. It was the first boat life experience for all three of them. Everyone survived and nobody got seasick, so we’re pretty stoked. Our last guest flew out on Wednesday and we’re thrilled to be on the move again.

Calabash Bay, Bahamas • Apr 11, 2025

Distance

29.4nm

Avg. speed

6.3kts

Duration

4h 38m

Off to Calabash Bay!

Bahamas • Apr 7, 2025

Distance

6.4nm

Avg. speed

6.4kts

Duration

Monument Beach

Bahamas • Apr 7, 2025

Distance

7.6nm

Avg. speed

7kts

Duration

1h 5m

Browns Marine run

Bahamas • Apr 7, 2025

Distance

7.5nm

Avg. speed

5.3kts

Duration

1h 25m

Back to Jolly Hall

Bahamas • Apr 7, 2025

Distance

9.4nm

Avg. speed

6.6kts

Duration

1h 26m

Move to red shanks

After a short trip to a secluded anchorage and some successful diving, we are back in GT. We have one more day of fun planned tomorrow before our guests fly out. It’s so special to share all our favorite aspects of this way of life with family. 🥰

Bahamas • Mar 23, 2025

Distance

16.4nm

Avg. speed

5.8kts

Duration

2h 49m

Back to George Town

It’s been a long time coming! Finally snagged a true Bahamian sized lobster 10 days before season closes 👌 @Nina

Bahamas • Mar 22, 2025

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Hosting the Frick parents on the boat for the first time and ditched the GT crowds for the weekend. Had to keep a motor going with such light winds but it was an easy first ever sail for our guests. Not a bad little slice of 🇧🇸 paradise for the night!

Bahamas • Mar 22, 2025

Distance

17nm

Avg. speed

4.9kts

Duration

3h 28m

Family motor sail

We found all the humans 😬

Bahamas • Mar 8, 2025

Distance

5.7nm

Avg. speed

6.3kts

Duration

54m

Took the dink over to check out George Town for the first time. Posted up at the “antisocial” anchorage for now. A lot going on here. We haven’t seen this many boats, people, trucks or food in a few months. It’s a bit overwhelming. Made a pit stop at the yacht club with much more to come 🤙

Made it to George Town and the fridge is stocked full of fish. The blackfins were thick today and even scored a rainbow runner too. With visitors flying to town soon, figured we’d get the lay of the land before they arrive. Any recommendations are much appreciated!

Bahamas • Mar 7, 2025

Distance

22.6nm

Avg. speed

5.8kts

Duration

3h 53m

Fishy Friday 🐟

Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas • Mar 2, 2025

Distance

5.1nm

Avg. speed

8.3kts

Duration

37m

Afternoon trip

Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas • Mar 2, 2025

Distance

4.2nm

Avg. speed

8.9kts

Duration

28m

Afternoon trip

The schedules dictated the move today, despite light winds on our nose. We motored on the outside to Lee Stocking. Made some water though and excited to spend the weekend in a new area. Any recs on dive spots around here? Our trolling efforts have not been rewarded in quite some time and the frozen protein stash is looking sad.

Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas • Feb 27, 2025

Distance

20nm

Avg. speed

5.9kts

Duration

3h 25m

Motor move

Quick sail to Little Farmers

Bahamas • Feb 23, 2025

Distance

8.8nm

Avg. speed

4kts

Duration

2h 12m

Easy sailing to Little Farmers Cay this morning. Decided to squeeze in on the east side of the sandbar at dead low tide… because why not spice things up. 😂 An inch is a mile, right? Made it in without any issues but will probably wait for a higher tide to get out just to have a bit more margin.

Morning move to Great Guana

Bahamas • Feb 20, 2025

Distance

9.7nm

Avg. speed

5.1kts

Duration

1h 53m

Staniel was great! Had a tasty meal at the yacht club, enjoyed drinks with new friends @aurora on Loon and watched the SpaceX launch and booster landing. So cool! Spotted the YCA burgee at SCYC too 👀 Decided to post up in Little Bay for the blow coming but will definitely head over to Black Point too.

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On the move early and dropped anchor at Staniel before work. Warderick Wells was beautiful and no ankles were sprained climbing the volcanic rock hills in flip flops. 👍🏼 Excited to visit SCYC and the surrounding shops. Haven’t had a meal off the boat in two months so this will be a welcomed treat.

Bahamas • Feb 17, 2025

Distance

17.2nm

Avg. speed

5.2kts

Duration

3h 19m

Light winds to Staniel

A couple hours of speedy sailing to start the morning then pushed upwind as well as we could before finally motoring into the anchorage. Excited to explore Warderick Wells for the weekend. 🤙🏼

Bahamas • Feb 14, 2025

Distance

18.9nm

Avg. speed

5.4kts

Duration

3h 31m

➡️ Warderick Wells

Bahamas • Feb 12, 2025

Distance

9.7nm

Avg. speed

4.7kts

Duration

2h 4m

Morning trip

➡️ Shroud for the YCA Floatchella!

Bahamas • Feb 9, 2025

Distance

8.9nm

Avg. speed

5.6kts

Duration

1h 35m

Quick morning motor from Norman’s to make water and get over to Shroud. Ready to blow up the Sunchill and have some fun! Norman’s was great. We did tons of snorkeling, wing foiling and exploring the beaches with the pups!

Spent the last few days outside of Highborne finishing up work. Nice spot to refuel and grab a few fresh groceries but hard to enjoy with the influx for mega yachts and charters everyday at 4pm. Made a move a few miles south to explore Norman’s and get some space. Very much enjoying that our closest neighbor is a half mile away 👌

Bahamas • Jan 31, 2025

Distance

6.5nm

Avg. speed

4.2kts

Duration

1h 33m

Escaping to Norman’s

Another beating on the banks

Bahamas • Jan 26, 2025

Distance

48.8nm

Avg. speed

5.1kts

Duration

9h 34m

Wish we could have waited another day to make the jump to the Exumas but trying to make the most of the weekends. It was a rough day but the skunk is finally off the boat! We caught a beautiful mutton and a nice cero while dodging the marked coral heads. Can’t wait for the fresh fish dinners ahead! 🤙🏼

Pleasant Bay, Bahamas • Jan 23, 2025

Distance

28.3nm

Avg. speed

5.6kts

Duration

5h 5m

Still no fish…

Made an early morning move to get some northerly protection for the next couple days. Morgan’s Bluff was great! If you ever stop by, be sure to visit Jay and Kizzie at Below Deck. They are so sweet and welcoming. Also, a special thanks to @turtlecrossing for the fresh veggie delivery last night! This community is just the best. 🥰

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What a difference a day makes. Sailed off anchor and through Northwest Channel to Morgan’s Bluff. Had high hopes for a fish dinner, given the opportunity to troll the deep water. With or without fish, it was an awesome day!

Bahamas • Jan 19, 2025

Distance

49nm

Avg. speed

5.4kts

Duration

9h 8m

➡️ Morgan’s Bluff

Finished out the work week rolling around Bimini and Cat (pun intended). Picked up anchor in the pouring rain and with 25kts sustained and gusts into the 30s. It was a salty day. Stopped on the NW corner of Andros in desperate need of a good sleep. We will keep moving east tomorrow. Excited to make it out to the Exumas!

Bahamas • Jan 18, 2025

Distance

63.3nm

Avg. speed

5.6kts

Duration

11h 13m

East to Andros

Decided to change up the anchorage now that the northerly wind stopped. We got to cruise past the SS Sapona to Cat Cay but not much else going on. Trying to get into a good spot for a weekend sail east!

Bahamas • Jan 16, 2025

Distance

8.2nm

Avg. speed

5.6kts

Duration

1h 28m

Morning Anchorage Change

It’s been 11 years since we first came to Bimini on a bareboat charter. Our very first sailing experience was the crossing from Fort Lauderdale and we clearly caught the bug. It’s a crazy, full-circle feeling to be back now on our own boat! We cleared in at Big Game today and then anchored off South Bimini for the next few days. Feeling so happy to be back. Since we have nothing remarkable to share about this trip, here are some photos from our unforgettable trip to Bimini in 2014 with the best crew ever. And, we actually caught fish, unlike the last three crossings. ⬇️

The Bahamas • Jan 13, 2025

Distance

52.4nm

Avg. speed

4.6kts

Duration

11h 28m

Hello, Bimini! 🇧🇸

Miami-Dade County, FL, USA • Jan 12, 2025

Distance

30.4nm

Avg. speed

4kts

Duration

7h 31m

🇧🇸 Ready!

On the move again after 10 days of being antisocial in Card Sound. We got a lot of chores done though, including a much needed bottom scrub. Luckily, years of surfing in Rhode Island prepared @Tom for this! It’s been pretty darn cold, by Florida standards. Yesterday, we stopped by Black Point Marina to pick up a final restock of fruits and veggies, waited for a pretty strong frontal boundary to push through, then continued on to find an anchorage for the night. Today, we moved up to No Name for one last stopover before we’re Bahama bound tomorrow! 🤞🏼for a full moon wahoo!!!

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Had a great New Year’s Eve anchored between Long and Fiesta Keys. Treated to a beautiful last sunset of 2024 and first sunrise of 2025. Today was an upwind motor NE, through Angelfish Creek and into Card Sound. What wind we had, died in the morning but I have zero complaints because there’s no better way to kick off the new year than on the water. This time last year, we were over a week away from splashing and a month away from pushing off the dock. A lot can change in a year and I’m so grateful to be here! Let’s get after 2025! 🤙🏼

Miami-Dade County, FL, USA • Jan 1, 2025

Distance

49.7nm

Avg. speed

5.7kts

Duration

8h 46m

Kicking off 2025!

After a few weeks of hanging around Bahia Honda and Marathon, we’re excited to be making moves toward the 🇧🇸 crossing. We hosted my parents for a visit (with the worst possible weather), topped off on diesel and stocked up on food in Marathon. It feels so great to be back at anchor tonight! Happy New Year to all you Sea People!

Monroe County, FL, USA • Dec 31, 2024

Distance

25.2nm

Avg. speed

5.7kts

Duration

4h 28m

NYE move to Long Key

Quick little move ahead of the weekend. Decided to stay on the outside for protection from this NW wind tonight. Hopefully we can move between the bridges tomorrow. Can’t wait to get in the water! 🐟🦞

Monroe County, FL, USA • Dec 20, 2024

Distance

8.6nm

Avg. speed

5kts

Duration

1h 43m

➡️ Bahia Honda

What a difference a day makes. We had 15-20 knots on our back quarter until the last hour and managed to dodge hundreds lobster pots. Dolphins swimming along with us will never, ever get old. For my whole life, I’ve come down to the Keys at least once a year for fishing/diving trips, usually to Marathon or Big Pine. We didn’t get down here in 2023 while hauled out for the refit. It’s a whole different experience bringing your entire home with you instead of trailering a little center console!

Monroe County, FL, USA • Dec 7, 2024

Distance

42.8nm

Avg. speed

5.6kts

Duration

7h 41m

Made it to Marathon!

Took advantage of a half day to make it to Tavernier. Crossed over to the Atlantic side through Angelfish Creek and it was just as calm as the bay. There was hardly a breath of wind so we motored, made water and baked bread. Planning to sail down to Marathon tomorrow so we can play on Sunday.

Monroe County, FL, USA • Dec 6, 2024

Distance

28.8nm

Avg. speed

6kts

Duration

4h 45m

➡️ Tavernier

Set out to find some wind protection for the approaching cold front. There’s nothing better than being all alone in a gorgeous place like this. Seems like Tully also approves. 🤙🏼

Miami-Dade County, FL, USA • Dec 1, 2024

Distance

9.5nm

Avg. speed

4.3kts

Duration

2h 11m

Easy like Sunday morning

After two days of running at least one motor, a quiet day of sailing felt good. We cruised downwind with headsail only to Elliot Key. Time to enjoy this incredible weather and explore the island a bit.

Islandia, FL, USA • Nov 30, 2024

Distance

15nm

Avg. speed

4.5kts

Duration

3h 20m

Easy downwind morning

Anchor was up at 4:30 this morning. Had pretty light winds but more than yesterday. It was a beautiful motor-sail to Key Biscayne. Pretty sure every single center console between West Palm and Miami was out on the water. Trolled through the areas deep enough to justify it but no luck. Looking forward to exploring the bay and park this weekend and getting away from the craziness that is a weekend in Miami. 😬

Miami-Dade County, FL, USA • Nov 29, 2024

Distance

74.9nm

Avg. speed

6.4kts

Duration

11h 38m

➡️ Key Biscayne

Palm Beach, FL, USA • Nov 28, 2024

Distance

33.2nm

Avg. speed

5.2kts

Duration

6h 23m

Turkey day motor

Motored down the coast to West Palm for a night. Stopped for a swim about midway to check the bottom and clean off the transducer. Spent an extra hour or so hanging outside the inlet while @Tom got the water maker running. We pickled it for the summer and that flush process always takes longer than you expect. Happy Thanksgiving to all you Sea People celebrating today! Feeling extra thankful this year for our health and this amazing life on the water.

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The swell calmed down and we finally broke out of St. Augustine. This trip brought us back home to the waters where we grew up, between Jupiter and Stuart. We also spent eight months in Manatee Pocket for the lightning refit last year and started calling ourselves “pocket rats” when it felt like we’d never get out. The pocket rats have returned to the pocket… for now. Being here may bring out a little residual ptsd. It’s totally fine 🤪 Looking forward to visiting a few favorite haunts, as well as catching up with family and friends after nearly six months away.

Port Salerno, FL 34997, USA • Nov 18, 2024

Distance

183.2nm

Avg. speed

6kts

Duration

1d 6h 20m

Old stomping grounds

Made the most of this weekend!

St. Augustine, FL, USA • Oct 27, 2024

Distance

57nm

Avg. speed

6.1kts

Duration

9h 20m

Took advantage of the calm seas to continue pushing south again today. We left Fernandina in the dark, watched a gorgeous sunrise over the ocean, and thoroughly enjoyed the calm sea state and great company! Thought it was going to be another zero wind day but it filled in to 15 knots this afternoon. Nearly 100 miles covered this weekend and the next jump will get us home to the treasure coast. 🫶🏼

Started off at SSI with 0.0 viz but turned out to be a great day for a motor. Not much wind to be had but can’t complain about the sea state on a Saturday. Slowing making our way back south.

Nassau County, FL, USA • Oct 26, 2024

Distance

36.9nm

Avg. speed

6.6kts

Duration

5h 37m

Southbound to FL

It’s been a few months so a bit slow to get started but ran great. Pulled up to a nice public dock for a walk before the sun goes down.

Glynn County, GA, USA • Oct 23, 2024

Distance

4.5nm

Avg. speed

2.9kts

Duration

1h 32m

Stretching out Milton

A quick trip off the dock and around the corner to SSI. While marina life treated us well, it’s so nice to be back out on our own. Planning to wait out the weather here for a little while before heading outside for the first hop south. @Tom

Glynn County, GA, USA • Oct 20, 2024

Distance

9nm

Avg. speed

7.4kts

Duration

1h 13m

✌🏼 BLM

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Our mast makes us very ICW unfriendly but we actually got to go under a bridge for once. The Sidney Lanier Bridge has 185ft clearance so it wasn’t even close but still cool! Going to see how we get on with marina life for a little while. It’s been over 4 months since we last tied the big boat up at a dock. With some upcoming travel for work and a few boat jobs to do, there’s plenty to keep busy. We’ll see how long we last. Now, time for a very, very long shower! 😊

Brunswick, GA, USA • Jul 13, 2024

Distance

8.5nm

Avg. speed

4.2kts

Duration

2h 2m

➡️ Brunswick

Quick motor up to St. Simons Island on lake Atlantic today. Baked a loaf of bread and made a bunch of water though. Got a great tidal push out of St. Mary’s and then had the tide pull us into our destination inlet. Thinking of everyone down in Beryl’s path. Stay safe out there! 🙏🏼

Glynn County, GA, USA • Jun 30, 2024

Distance

37.4nm

Avg. speed

6.7kts

Duration

5h 36m

➡️ St. Simons Island

Running north after Invest 92, pirate ships and birthday celebrations

Nassau County, FL, USA • Jun 23, 2024

Distance

62.2nm

Avg. speed

7kts

Duration

8h 55m

We waited out Invest 92 in St. Augustine and feel so glad to finally be out of tourist town. Made the next run north to Fernandina Beach today. Outsmarted a few storms but got stuck in a good one right at the inlet. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m not sure why it says we averaged 7 knots today… definitely should be more like 5.5-6 but I can’t figure out how to see or adjust the timing.

Kissed by a flying fish in the Gulf Stream

St. Augustine, FL, USA • Jun 9, 2024

Distance

200.4nm

Avg. speed

6.8kts

Duration

1d 5h 40m

St. Lucie ➡️ St. Augustine was our longest trip yet and first overnight passage on our boat. All the forecasts were wrong but such is life. We had more wind than expected and absolutely flew up the Gulf Stream, then the weather turned against us. Crazy part: At 11 pm, while sitting at the helm, a flying fish jumped out of the water, in front of @Tom‘s face and hit me directly on the cheek. Just lucky I guess? Grabbed a mooring for the week and will ride out this front coming our way. Excited for a fresh water wash down and to head to our favorite St. Aug spots.

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Back where we started. We didn’t plan on crossing back to our hometown but work and family obligations made it the obvious choice. Left West End under the full moon, had almost zero wind the first six hours then finally got to put out a sail to help the cause. Nearly got spooled by an XL billfish. It broke off before we got close enough to determine if it was a marlin or sailfish though. Had a pod of dolphin swim with us for about 30 minutes and even got to catch up on work. It was a really great day! Heading into a holiday weekend, the traffic in the Pocket has us overwhelmed already. The 💩 brown water doesn’t help. Can we go back now? But really, it’s time to enjoy a little time with family and friends before continuing on. Thanks to all you Sea People for the recommendations that made our first Bahamas trip unforgettable!

Martin County, FL, USA • May 24, 2024

Distance

74.2nm

Avg. speed

6.8kts

Duration

10h 52m

Bye, Bahamas 🇧🇸 😭

West Grand Bahama, The Bahamas • May 22, 2024

Distance

4.9nm

Avg. speed

6.4kts

Duration

45m

Sea Glass Beach

This place did not disappoint. When @bri recommended we check this out while at West End, I figured we could add a couple pieces to our collection. Came home with quite the haul. Thanks, Brian! We made it all the way down the beach enthralled by the sea glass search, turned around to find Milton floating away. Nothing like a beach sprint to remind you that you haven’t done a run in two months 😅 Caught up to him well before he got far off the beach though. 👍🏼

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