Delayed Crossing: Easter Week Aboard Our Sailboat in Coconut Grove

There’s a certain irony to preparing for a major offshore sailing passage: sometimes the biggest delays come from the smallest details.

For us, it was a missing dog vaccine.

After weeks of preparing our sailboat and waiting for the perfect weather window to cross from Florida to the Bahamas, we discovered our dog Kramer was missing one required vaccine for Bahamian entry. Normally, not a huge issue — except this specific vaccine requires a booster two weeks later before a veterinarian can officially sign the international health certificate.

So instead of writing this from the Bahamas, we’re still anchored in Coconut Grove, Florida… embracing patience, flexibility, and the unpredictable rhythm of cruising life.

The Reality of Preparing for a Bahamas Crossing

One thing many people don’t realize about sailing to the Bahamas is how much preparation happens before ever leaving the dock.

Crossing the Gulf Stream safely requires:

• Favorable weather windows
• Calm sea states
• Boat readiness
• Provisioning
• Immigration paperwork
• Pet permits and vaccinations
• Mechanical reliability
• Offshore safety prep

And sometimes, despite checking every box you thought mattered, one overlooked detail changes the entire timeline.

Ironically, the weather itself hasn’t cooperated much either. Strong easterly winds have created rough conditions across Biscayne Bay, making life onboard extra rolly and every dinghy ride a soaking wet adventure.

Still, we’re learning one of the biggest lessons of sailing life:

You move on nature’s schedule — not your own.

Sailing With a Dog to the Bahamas

Traveling internationally with a dog on a sailboat adds another layer of complexity to cruising life.

To bring Kramer into the Bahamas, we needed:

• Updated vaccinations
• A Bahamas pet permit
• A veterinary health certificate completed within 48 hours of departure
• Government approval paperwork

What we didn’t realize was that one vaccine had never been officially documented in his records.

Now we wait for the booster appointment and approval process before we can legally clear into the Bahamas.

Kramer, meanwhile, remains deeply unimpressed with rough dinghy rides.

Easter on a Sailboat

Even while delayed, this week brought something special: Easter onboard.

Like Christmas aboard our sailboat, the celebration was simple and humble — but meaningful.

The kids used bucket hats as Easter baskets, decorated the boat with handmade artwork, listened to conference talks, played bingo during sessions, and received new books as gifts. We ate powdered mini donuts, talked about the Savior, and answered the important question every cruising parent eventually faces:

“How does the Easter Bunny find us on a boat?”

Apparently, the Easter Bunny has excellent navigation skills.

Living minimally on a sailboat has changed the way we celebrate holidays. There are fewer decorations, fewer distractions, and somehow more focus on what actually matters.

Boat Projects Never End

While waiting for our next weather window, boat projects continued nonstop.

Josh has been making major progress on our custom solar arch — drilling, waterproofing, mounting plates, and preparing the frame assembly. Like most cruising projects, everything takes longer on a boat, especially while living aboard full time with kids.

We also got our headsail up, which was a huge milestone!

At the same time, we’ve been:

• Deep cleaning the boat
• Finishing laundry
• Grocery provisioning
• Ordering last-minute parts
• Monitoring weather models daily
• Preparing for offshore passage

Cruising life often looks glamorous online, but much of it is project management, logistics, weather forecasting, and adapting plans in real time.

Life in Coconut Grove and Biscayne Bay

Despite the delays, we’ve been able to enjoy our extra time in Coconut Grove and Biscayne Bay.

We celebrated one of our fav holidays, Swedish Våffeldagen on Mar 25! A Swedish holiday tradition we have celebrated for the last several years.

The kids have spent nearly every day at Regatta Park or Peacock Park making new friends and organizing pickup soccer games with whoever happens to be nearby. Watching them adapt socially to this lifestyle has been one of the most rewarding parts of full-time sailing.

We’ve also enjoyed:

• Paddle boarding in calm mornings
• Swimming off the boat
• Getting ready to move to No Name Harbor
• Preparing to visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
• Reconnecting with fellow cruising families
• Visiting Salt and Straw (the best ice cream)

One of the unique aspects of the cruising community is how interconnected it becomes. Boats leapfrog each other across anchorages, weather systems, and countries, forming friendships that feel fast but genuine.

Waiting for the Right Weather Window

Offshore sailors talk constantly about weather windows because they determine everything.

Our current plan is to move to No Name Harbor and wait for calmer seas before crossing to Bimini. The Gulf Stream can become dangerous quickly when strong winds oppose current, so patience matters.

The sea doesn’t care about reservations, schedules, or timelines.

Learning to wait has probably been one of the hardest and most important parts of this journey.

Lessons We’re Learning From Life Aboard

This week reminded us that cruising life is rarely about perfect execution.

It’s about:

• Flexibility
• Patience
• Family
• Simplicity
• Faith
• Problem solving
• Embracing uncertainty

Even when plans fall apart, life aboard continues:
Books get read.
Laundry gets done.
Kids play soccer.
Storms pass.
Projects slowly get finished.

And eventually, another weather window opens.

What’s Next

If all goes according to plan, our next update may finally come from the Bahamas.

Or maybe not.

At this point we’ve stopped predicting anything because every time we do, the universe seems to laugh at us.

But whenever the crossing happens, we’re grateful for the journey — delays, storms, vet paperwork, wet dinghy rides and all.

Because this is the real version of sailboat life:
beautiful, messy, unpredictable, exhausting, meaningful, and unforgettable.

As always, living our motto…Ride the tsunami.

Ride the t, Capt. Josh, Admiral Sam & the Nobad Crew

Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NobadWeatherFamSailing

Find us here!
IG: @nobadweatherfam
TikTok: @nobadweatherfam
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@NOBADWeatherFam