The idea was simple: escape the Chesapeake Bay’s scorching summer heat and humidity by heading north. We would explore Long Island Sound and Buzzards Bay, perhaps even make it as far as Boston. Along the way, we would check out classics such as Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Cuttyhunk, and Plymouth. And, of course, we would cruise through New York, with the Manhattan skyline rising right next to us.

And so we did.

We covered 1,211 nautical miles (that’s 1,393 miles or 2,242 kilometers), sailed through seven states, and spent almost two months living aboard. On the move, we averaged 5.7 knots, and when the wind really found us, we peaked at 8.6 knots under sail alone. Our top speed was 11.8 knots, obviously helped by a considerable current.

We enjoyed leisurely sails on a beam reach under clear skies. We weathered nasty squalls and fought our way through the Atlantic swell along the Jersey Shore. We savored fresh seafood and made do with canned veggies. And the people we meet while cruising are always a big part of what makes it so much fun, exhilarating, and rewarding.

This time, though, the real icing on the cake was having our son Dennis join us for four days and nights. Sharing the excitement of cruising with him was super special, and we felt proud showing off our wonderful next-gen Island Packet ‘Koko.’

But all this only scratches the surface of what we actually experienced out there. For the full story, come along and relive our 2026 summer cruise in the video below.

(A cautionary note: on this cruise, we stopped chasing the perfect shot to simply cherish the journey. We wanted to soak in the moment rather than getting lost behind the camera. Back home, we went through the random clips on our phones and pieced together whatever footage we had. It’s not as polished as we’d like, but putting the camera down and living in the moment gave us memories that will stay with us forever.)

So, get your popcorn ready. This is a long one, told in two parts.

Part B of the video is coming soon. But for now, we’re sticking to our “fun first” rule—making more memories rather than spending our summer editing videos.

It’s hard to believe that we started sailing Koko only about a year and a half ago. Since then, she has carried us 3,457 nautical miles (3,978 miles, or 6,402 kilometers.) from St. Pete, through the Everglades down to the Keys, then up the East Coast to the Chesapeake Bay, and now all the way to Boston. Every mile has taught us something, and every passage has added another memory.

After spending so much time aboard, Koko no longer feels like just a boat. She feels like home.

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