Now that Americans can legally travel to Cuba by boat, we jumped at the opportunity to organize a voyage to the island for more than 100 of our fellow Ocean Reef Yacht Club members. Our flotilla of 17 boats began at the Stock Island Marina Village in Key West, where the staff and facilities are Read More
Visiting Cuba – How to Have Fun and Stay Safe
As you prepare to explore Cuba, the most important questions you should answer is how will you get there, where will you stay and what do you want to do? The assumption for readers of Marinalife is that you probably want to take your own boat. If so, you will likely chart a course to Read More
Cruising or Live-Aboard – Finding the Right Boat
After many years of cruising our Nautilus 36 Pilothouse Sailboat in the summers on Lake Ontario, my wife (and co-captain), Erica, and I decided to avoid the Canadian winters and try out the live-aboard lifestyle in southern Florida. As we all have learned, it’s easy to purchase a boat, but the real challenge is in Read More
Why Spanish Cay Marina Will Always be Special to Us
Summer had arrived, and, as is our tradition, we were on our way to one of our favorite places: the Bahamas. We readied the boat and traveled deliberately down the coast of Florida. At first light we would make the crossing through the Gulf Stream and head straight to Green Turtle Cay in the Abaco Read More
35th America’s Cup Chooses Caroline Bay, Bermuda
Bermuda offers visitors pink sands with transparent turquoise water, lush flora and an incredible yachting destination. Although this small Atlantic island (21-square-miles) isn’t known for its size, it certainly receives recognition for its personality, charm and adventurous water-based activities with 181 islands and 64 miles of coastline. By water, Bermuda is 645 miles South of Read More
10 Destinations to Catch Your Dream Fish
We’ve put together a list of 10 spots worth a look whether you simply want a change of venue or are looking to cross a species off your “bucket list.” Keep in mind some of these same locales have dedicated seasons, size and bag limits for the species noted and some also require a fishing Read More
Cruising the Spanish Virgin Islands
It’s a bit painful for me to write this — painful the way it is when you’ve got a really good secret and don’t want to divulge it but know you must. Because here’s the thing: A trip to the tropical isles of Culebra and Vieques — nestled between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, and Read More
Exploring the Exuma Cays
Surrounded by enticing turquoise waters in the Exuma Cays, the 2-square-mile island of Staniel Cay sits roughly 75 miles south of Nassau and 250 miles from southeast Florida. It is also home to Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a premier resort marina in the heart of the Bahamas. Rewinding back to the late 1950s, the property Read More
Cuba – The Last Great “Undiscovered” Cruising Destination in the Caribbean
The United States maintains an economic embargo against Cuba. Tourist travel to the country is not allowed by Americans as of this publication date. However, there are opportunities to travel to Cuba by personal boat, charter, cruise ship or airlines if you meet the criteria as set forth by the United States Office of Foreign Read More
The British Virgin Islands – A Top Charter and Cruising Destination for Sail and Power Boaters
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