We set off from a small dock into the waters of Africa’s Zambezi River, headed toward a small island in the distance. Suddenly, we saw what our guide, Johan, had spotted a few moments before us: a small herd of elephants, including a young calf, swimming from the island back to the mainland. As our Read More
While doing the Great Loop, we learned to keep advance planning to a minimum. We like to think that a lack of schedule helps us embrace spontaneity and explore unfamiliar waters. While on the Great Loop, we learned that there are a staggering number of historic, out-of-the-way places along the route. Waterfront towns we had Read More
When asked where the British Virgin Islands were, Sir Winston Churchill is rumored to have said, “I have no idea, but I should think that they are as far as possible from the Isle of Man.” Whether Churchill truly said it or not, it is the perfect starting point for exploring this one-time backwater of Read More
A WEEKEND BOATING GETAWAY in the Abacos may seem a bit of a misnomer, given that Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island is about 250 nm from Palm Beach, Fla., and it is necessary to cross open ocean passages to get there. However, once a boat is in Marsh Harbour, it is the perfect starting Read More
The Indonesian language is a simple one, with no complicated plurals, gender identifications or multiple-sound enunciations for a single letter. Take the word child for instance. In Bhasa, it is anak. If you have more than one, it is anak anak. Just repeat the word and you have a plural. Simple. Five years and two Read More
Both Sanibel and Captiva Islands are marketed with the motto “Naturally, you’ll love it here.” That tag line sets the tone for both of these Southwest Florida winter destinations on the Gulf of Mexico. They are sanctuary islands that are committed to the preservation of their flora and fauna, limited growth and development, and both Read More
Fishing – and winning the top three places — at the renowned Ernest Hemingway International Billfish Tournament held each May or June in Havana, Cuba, seemed like the best way to celebrate the Stuart Sailfish Club’s 75th Anniversary. Tom Dyer, the club’s president, came up with the idea last year as the highlight of the Read More
When I’m asked about my cruising adventures in the Pacific Northwest, most people nod appreciatively when I say I love cruising the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands. They know something about the natural beauty, the wildlife, the charming island towns and marinas. But when I mention the amazing cruising grounds of the Broughton Archipelago, Read More
Our journey started as we pulled out of Waterford Harbor Marina in Kemah, Texas, in May aboard our sailing vessel Fidelity, a 42-foot Valiant. My husband, Kevin, Windy, our Boston terrier, and I were excited to cross the Gulf of Mexico and explore the many towns that dot the shores of Florida with hopes of finding Read More
Chased out of the Florida Panhandle by November’s slowly declining temperatures, we sought refuge in the warmer, sun-drenched latitudes of Florida. We all know the shortest distance between two places is a straight line. The Great Loop’s straight line across the Gulf of Mexico from Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs is a distance of 170 miles and Read More