From No Name Harbor to the Gulf Stream: Storms, Buddy Boats, and Our Midnight Crossing Toward the Bahamas

We finally moved the boat — and wow, did that change everything. After what felt like forever in one spot, we crossed the bay to No Name Harbor near Key Biscayne to anchor alongside our buddy boat, SV Orion. The change of scenery alone was worth it, but what came next made us realize just how much this lifestyle is starting to feel like home.

A New Anchorage, A New View

The day we arrived was calm, blue, and beautiful. Our buddy boat’s daughter paddled over to play with our kids — they swam, raced on paddle boards, played card games, and snacked the day away on deck while we ate tacos and soaked it all in. It was our first real glimpse of what life with other “kid boats” will look like once we reach the Bahamas, and honestly? It felt like exactly what our family needed.

When the Storms Rolled In

Of course, sailing life always keeps you humble. That same night, we got word that our other buddy boat, SV Chasing Serenity, was planning to jump for the Bahamas early Wednesday morning — it was the last good weather window for at least a week. We weighed the decision hard, but with fuel to top off and packages still waiting for pickup, we made the call to stay.

It turned out to be the right one. Wednesday morning at 4 a.m., a massive thunderstorm rolled through, followed by more storms that afternoon and another big blow on Thursday. No Name Harbor’s protection from the east made all the difference — friends anchored back in Coconut Grove clocked wind gusts up to 52 knots in rough, exposed water. Everyone was safe, but it was a vivid reminder of why anchorage choice matters so much in this lifestyle.

Slowing Down to Speed Up

Once the wind settled, we got off the boat as much as we could. The water around No Name is a gorgeous, almost unreal blue, and the east breeze carries the scent of Key Biscayne right over the anchorage — it’s one of those small details that makes a place feel special. We spent a full day exploring the trails at Bill Baggs Cabana Beach State Park with our buddy boat (and their two dogs), letting the kids run wild until they were ready to spread out blankets, draw, and invent new games together while the adults talked.

Progress on the Arch (and Other Boat Projects)

Big win for Josh this week — he figured out how to fully assemble our new arch while at anchor, which is no small feat. Next week we’re hoping to share the fully assembled frame with you all. Slow, steady progress like this is such a satisfying part of boat life.

Boat Life with Kids: Harry Potter, Cockroaches, and Big Feelings

This week also gave us one of those classic “you can’t make this up” boat moments. Raegan spotted a cockroach hitchhiker in her room (incredibly common on sailboats, but still — yikes). The kids were rattled enough that they all camped out together in Skylar’s room that night until everyone calmed down. The next morning, we turned it into a teaching moment: the kids deep-cleaned their rooms top to bottom, and afterward felt so much better — both about the cleanliness and about facing something scary together.

That same theme of courage showed up again when the kids finished the second Harry Potter book and earned movie night. Anticipating the scary parts might get to Skylar, Finn and Raegan sat on either side of her, arms around her, until she gave the all-clear. She made it through with no nightmares and was so proud of herself. Now they’re three audiobooks deep and counting down to movie number three.

Moments like these are exactly why we love this lifestyle — not because it’s easy, but because it gives us so much room to grow together, lean on each other, and dig deeper into our faith as a family. Watching our kids internalize Old Testament stories and ask thoughtful questions about them has been one of the most unexpected blessings of slowing down.

Decision Time: Prepping to Finally Leave Florida

By the end of the week, our to-do list was simple: grab the last of our packages, do a final provisioning run, and watch the weather. The forecast was pointing to Friday as our window — with one big open question still on the table: do we head to Bimini first, or make a longer run straight to the Berry Islands, our true first destination? As always, the weather and sea state would have the final say.

Leaving Florida Behind

Wednesday changed everything. Our buddy boats were ready, and so were we. The original plan was simple: fuel up, return to anchor, and slip out around 10 p.m. for an overnight sail that would land us in Bimini by morning — giving us the whole day to check in, relax, and recover from the crossing.

Fueling up went smoothly (a huge relief, since it was only our second time docking at a fuel station). We made it back to No Name, prepped the boat, lowered the salon table to build a giant kid-bed for the overnight passage, and got the movie going for the kids.

Then, right as we were about to pull anchor, SV Orion radioed with a problem: their windlass — the system that hauls up the anchor — wouldn’t budge. For over an hour, I held our boat steady in the bay, managing wind and current while dodging other anchored boats, while Josh headed over to help troubleshoot. At one point, I genuinely thought, that’s it, we’re not leaving tonight — and honestly, that felt okay too. There’s always another window.

But Josh and the SV Orion crew got it sorted, and with SV Chasing Serenity already out in the Atlantic on their way from Fort Lauderdale, the decision was made: we were going. Just before midnight, after two months anchored in the safety of No Name Harbor, we pulled anchor and pointed toward the open water.

The moment we cleared the channel, the Gulf Stream let us know exactly what kind of night it was going to be. Conditions were rough — “sporty,” as cruisers like to call it — with bigger waves than forecast. We knew what we were signing up for. So, full steam ahead.

To Be Continued…

We made it to the Bahamas — but this crossing had a few more surprises in store for us, including one that left us managing the boat on a single engine as we approached land. We’re saving that story for the video, because honestly, you have to see it to believe it.

We’re so grateful for this community, for buddy boats who show up when it matters, and for a faith that keeps reminding us we’re never really out there alone. Thank you for following along — we’ll see you on the water (and in the next video)!

Ride the t,

The NOBAD Fam