
Where The Wind Has Taken Us

Florida to the Bahamas
Our first big passage was a three-night sail from Bradenton, Florida, to Bimini, where we checked into the Bahamas and officially kicked off this adventure. From there, we made the overnight sail to Highborne Cay to wait out some weather, then explored the winding creeks of Shroud Cay—yes, we took the dinghy to the Washing Machine, and it was totally worth it. Next up were Big Major and Staniel Cay, followed by a wild week anchored at Black Point, riding out winds that hit 35 to 40 miles per hour. After things calmed down, we stopped at Little Farmer’s to visit friends, then made our way to George Town on the outside route. We ended up spending three weeks in George Town soaking up everything it had to offer—from hikes and beach time to a legendary St. Patrick’s Day party at Da Bar. It was the perfect final stop before we caught the right weather window and set sail for the Dominican Republic.
Bahamas to the Dominican Republic
After a few weeks in George Town, we set sail for Long Island and anchored at Salt Pond for a couple of nights. We used the time to rent a car, grab some groceries, and check out of the Bahamas, planning to sail straight to Luperón, Dominican Republic. But, of course, Kismet had other plans. We left at 5:00 AM to catch the Comer Cut at high tide, a narrow, shallow pass that demands your full attention, especially with a 5-and-a-half-foot draft. Everything was going smoothly until we passed the Crooked Islands, heading toward Great Inagua… and then the engine made a spudder and quit. Turns out, we had the dreaded diesel bug. We spent two hours drifting around in open water troubleshooting and finally got things running again. That little hiccup turned into a stopover in Matthew Town for two nights. The second morning around 2:30am, we set off for Luperón. The passage started beautifully with calm seas and light winds, but once the sun went down, the storms rolled in. It was a rough night, but as dawn broke, we saw the mountains of the Dominican Republic rising on the horizon. It was one of those moments that makes it all worth it.
