Welcome to paradise! White beaches, blue skies and even bluer water is what you have to look forward to for the next week. Oh, and maybe a little fishing, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and hoisting the sails. The Bahamas [along with the Turks & Caicos] form the Lucayan Archipelago which covers an area in excess of 14,000 km and over 29 islands, 660 cays and nearly 2,400 islets making the Bahamas a true sailor’s paradise. The archipelago was named after the first known inhabitants the Lucayans, an indigenous people who were the first Americans to come into contact with Christopher Columbus. The most western reach of the Bahamas is Bimini which is 80 km from Florida while Cay Sal Bank is only 50 km from the coast of Cuba, making it closer to Cuba than its nearest Bahamian island neighbour. Our trip starts in Marsh Ha...

We’ve got an early start today this morning to as we set sail to the Berry Islands. We’ll be sailing for approx 50 nm which will take around 6-7 hours. The Berry Islands are known for their abundance of fish, known as the ‘Fishbowl of the Bahamas’ and ‘the Billfish Capital of the Bahamas’ so we hope to thrown a couple of lines out here and catch tonight’s dinner. The Berry Islands are made up of over 30 cays, with a total land mass of 31 square kms, which offer some of the best snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and beachcombing in the Bahamas. A number of the islands in the group are private islands and it’s said there are more millionaires per square kilometre than any other place in the world! The main attraction in the Berry Islands is the game fishing, with a number of tournaments held yearly, however the be...

Andros Island is the largest island of The Bahamas, fringing the Andros Barrier Reef the 3rd largest barrier reef at over 300 kms long. The reef run parallel to the east coast of the island and slopes down to a vertical cliff 20 metres below the surface and drops to over 2000 metres to a deep ocean trench called the Tongue of the Ocean. Andros Island is also home to more ‘blue holes’ than anywhere else in the world. With the reef and blue holes, there region is teeming with a huge variety of exotic fish and marine life including marlin, green turtles, reef sharks, tuna, snappers and if we’re lucky Humpback whales during their migration [Humpbacks used to be very common and found around The Tongue of the Ocean however their visits are now less frequent]. The islands are covered in a vast area or wetlands and mangroves which ...

Located 50 kms north of Cuba Cay and separated by the Nicholas Channel. The US coast guard regularly monitors the bank as it was once a landing point for Cuban refugees. The remains of a settlement can be seen but the draw to Cay Sal Bank is it’s diving - please note diving is not included on this trip and as we are on the move daily there won’t be time to join a live aboard – however the snorkelling is pretty amazing. There are number of blue holes, spectacular virgin coral reefs that teem with marine life, and the wreck of the M/V Cork. We’ll be travelling with snorkelling equipment, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, which will be available for you to use throughout the trip.

Bienvenido! Welcome to Cuba. With Spanish, African and Creole influences, modern Cuba is home to a fascinating tapestry of cultural influences. This is evident in the music, dance and food that the charismatic Cuban people are happy to share with visitors. It’s well known that Cubans loves music and dance – with everything from Afro-Cuban rhythms to classic melodies permeating the atmosphere of clubs, bars, restaurants and street corners. The modern arts are also embraced here, with ballet, modern dance and film also rising in popularity, so much so that Havana is now home to many internationally recognised film, literary and music festivals. Living in a Communist country means Cubans sometimes go without the luxury items that many Westerners take for granted, with certain foods and products not available to the Cuban pub...

We hope to set sail first thing in the morning however we will need to go through the customs and immigration process again so we won't have an exact time of departure. The distance across the Straits of Florida to Key West is 86.4 nm or 160 kilometres and depending on the sailing conditions we hope that we can do the crossing and arrive in Key West by mid to late afternoon. On arrival we will again have to go through the customs and immigration process. Please note, all nationalities, whether entering and/or leaving the US by private yacht MUST obtain a visa in advance. Visitors cannot enter the USA for the first time under the Visa Waiver Programme. However, if you've already entered the US on ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorisation] or visa waiver program, and it is still valid [they are normally issues with a 2 ...

The next three days are free days. You can use your time to explore the sights and sounds of Key West or maybe do some overdue laundry. Or, if you've been missing the creature comforts of home you may decide to book yourself into a hotel room for the night - we won't be offended if you do. The Florida Keys are a coral cay archipelago that extends from the southern coast of Florida [24kms/14.9mi from Miami] in a south west direction. Key West is the southern most inhabited city on the Keys and is also the southern most city in the continental USA. It's actually located closer to Cuba, approx distance 160kms/99.5mi, than it is to Miami, approx distance 240kms/150mi. The coral cays were once underwater reefs however when the water levels started to drop some 25,000 years ago they emerged as low islands and overtime mangroves sta...

Set sail well before dawn, mostly likely around 4 am, to the Dry Tortugas (approximately 70 nautical miles). Leaving this early will help make the most of your time. The plan is to spend two nights here, but this is flexible. If the weather deteriorates, the boat may return to Key West early. There are no services out on these remote islands – this is the most isolated and least visited national park in the United States – so the group will be completely self-sufficient. Perhaps head ashore on Garden Key and tour the Civil War-era Fort Jefferson National Monument which was converted into a prison. Snorkel the surrounding reefs in search of sea turtles, coral and colourful fish. You might also like to go ashore on Loggerhead Key or Hospital Key for a cookout (just be sure to clean up well and minimise your footprint). Bush K...

Depart the Dry Tortugas early in the morning and sail to the Marquesas (approximately 44 nm). You will arrive before dark, so you’ll be able to take in the beauty of these uninhibited islands in full colour as you approach. Enjoy the tranquility of the turquoise lagoon and sandy beach. The swimming here is excellent. The abundance of marine and bird life is due in no small part to the 300-foot no-motor zone which was established by local authorities to protect creatures such as nesting turtles and birds. Keep your eyes peeled (and your camera ready) for red, blue and masked boobies

Depart the Marquesas and sail to Key West (26 nm). Stop along the way for some fantastic snorkelling by mooring to the dive buoys on the reef. You will spend the night at Key West Bight Marina or anchor out in Man of War Harbor. Perhaps check out some of the bars, restaurants and cafes that this ‘end of the road’ destination has to offer. Stop in at La Te Da to catch some local cabaret; or, for something more relaxed, head to Porch or Virgilio’s for a drink. Accommodation

There are no planned activities today. Today the crew will be re-provisioning the yacht, scrubbing the decks and refuelling in preparation for our onward journey.

Please note as a combination trip there may be other travellers joining the group this afternoon.

One of the benefits of sailing is that each day is unique. While we do have a destination to reach, if the weather changes or a detour takes the group’s fancy, the trip itinerary is flexible. Your skipper will make the final call regarding the route you take (according to safety and berth availability), but over the next couple of days you should visit the following sites: Looe Key Part of the National Marine Sanctuary, Looe Key is a U-shaped groove and spur reef that was named after the British ship HMS Looe that ran aground here in 1744. The seas here are generally calm and the visibility excellent, creating prime snorkelling conditions for novice and experienced snorkelers alike. Home to reef sharks, rays, moray eels and more than 150 species of fish (yellow-tails, angelfish, parrot-fish, barracudas and sergeant majors) p...

For some our trips comes to an end today in Key Largo, the northernmost island in the Florida Keys. With the Everglades National Park to its west and continental USA’s only living coral reef fringing its east, Key Largo is a hotspot for diving, sport-fishing, bird watching and kayaking. The destination was also made famous by a film of the same name, which starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and each year Key Largo hosts the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival. There will be time for the crew to refuel and provision the boat before we head off again across the Straits of Florida. We will have another skipper join us for return sail to Marsh Harbour. The distance is just under 200 nm and we hope to be back in the Bahamas late evening or early the following morning.