Living on a boat, especially a small 35 ft monohull, is a practice in minimalism and simplicity. With limited storage space, we had to make hard choices about what to bring and what to leave behind. A lot of what we wanted to bring, we already had - snorkels, fins, exercise gear, First Aid supplies, camera equipment, etc. But, never having lived on a boat before, we had to guess at what other things we might like to have onboard. Would we use a small cooler for beach picnics?

In our third week of sailing, we made the 70-mile trek to Dry Tortugas National Park before backtracking north up the Keys. The Dry Tortugas did not disappoint, wowing us with spectacular beaches, history, and marine life. We enjoyed five blissful days off the grid before returning to civilization to ring in the New Year at The Perry Hotel & Marina. Day 15: Marquesas Keys to Dry Tortugas National Park I slept fitfully, worrying about our anchor and the fishing boats crowded o

We’ve received a lot of questions about what it is like to sail with our dog, Lulu. Does she get seasick? Where does she go to the bathroom? How does she get exercise? We had a lot of the same questions before leaving home and found it very helpful to read about the experiences of others, so we thought we’d share some of our reflections on what is working well. If you’re planning a sailing trip with your pup, read on for some tips! Food & Water Lulu does best with structured

Our second week of sailing was filled with extremes - frighteningly stormy weather contrasted with gorgeous blue-skied days; utter solitude in Everglades National Park followed by holiday hustle and bustle in Key West; sheltered slips traded in for rough, rolling seas. It was also a week of emotional ups and downs as we settled into the reality of life on Cristina. There were moments of boredom, anxiety, relief, joy, calm, and frustration. We hoped to spend Christmas at The P

Had you asked me a few months ago what I thought I’d be doing in December 2021, I most certainly would not have guessed “living on a sailboat.” Yet, here I am, typing away, on a 35-foot Beneteau sailboat, a few days into one of the biggest leaps of faith I’ve ever taken. Here’s the backstory. Four months ago, in my wedding vows to Tyler, I told him it was my intention as his partner to make space for his dreams, to encourage his passions, and to maintain a commitment to trave