If anything’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen out there!
Disclaimer: This blog post may read like an advertisement, but it isn’t. We have no affiliation with Island Packet Yachts beyond being happy owners of one of their sailboats. All impressions are simply our own experiences and appreciation for the boat and the people behind it. A little over a year ago we bought our…
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Today was haulout day. The kind that sneaks up on you even though you’ve circled it on the calendar and talked about it for weeks. We knew it was coming, but still… when the marina crew rolled up at 8:30 sharp, it hit us. That’s it. We were already up since 6:00, hauling the mattress…
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So here’s the deal: apparently “sailing” doesn’t count as exercise. At least not according to my primary care physician, who every time I proudly announce that my fitness routine consists of hoisting sails and dodging boom swings, grins like he’s just heard the punchline of a dad joke. “Markus,” he says, “I know your kind…
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Sailing the Florida Keys wasn’t only a scenic escape. It was a masterclass in courage and self-confidence. From St. Petersburg through the Everglades and the Keys, and up to the Chesapeake Bay, we navigated unfamiliar waters, made real-time decisions, and trusted our instincts. It reminded me of the very essence of my previous job in…
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Coffee is a strange love. If we’re being honest, black coffee is sharp, bitter, almost abrasive. It’s not the liquid luxury we imagine in glossy ads unless you smother it in milk foam, caramel syrup, or sugar so thick it could stand a spoon. Yet here I am, looking forward to it every morning, as…
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Anchored in the Chesapeake Bay at sunset. No luxury resort, no curated itinerary, no overpriced restaurants, no designer cocktails or status-symbol coffees—just a sailboat, still water, and the kind of quiet beauty you can’t buy. And this isn’t a vacation. It’s just life. Our life. Real happiness doesn’t look like what we’re sold. It’s not…
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Big news—we’ve got a new crew member aboard Koko. Meet Kokole. Kokole is a stuffed gorilla with a winning grin and an appetite for adventure (and bananas). A gift from Dennis and Emma, she didn’t bring sailing credentials, but she brought an irresistibly friendly smile—and the kind of cheeky charm that makes you hide the…
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One feature on our boat that never fails to stir up strong opinions is the full-foil keel—a signature design element Island Packet Yachts are known for. People either love it or raise an eyebrow so hard it might fall off their face. It’s one of those designs that doesn’t sit quietly in the middle. It…
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Another memorable day—the last stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway. Today’s leg would bring us to Portsmouth, right next to Norfolk, where the ICW officially begins at mile zero, marked by the iconic railroad bridge. But before we could enjoy that milestone, there were still a few hurdles ahead. One particularly tricky one—a bridge near our…
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With two of the three crossings behind us, today was the big one—the queen of the North Carolina crossings, Albemarle Sound. In fair conditions, it’s a peaceful, enjoyable open-water passage, stretching about three hours with plenty of room to breathe and take in the horizon. But in bad conditions? Uncomfortable at best, dangerous at worst….
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