Jason Bradley

⸻ Cast off lines at 1100 hours for our first family voyage aboard the new vessel. Winds were forecasted to be light out of the southwest, but with fair skies and calm seas, it was a good window to stretch her sails. We raised the reacher and took her out across Biscayne Bay, wind at our back. She made a comfortable 5 knots downwind across the channel. Once clear of the open stretch, we furled the reacher and motored through the narrows, catching sight of two dolphins off our port side — a fine omen for a maiden family sail. Beyond the channel, we raised the main and reacher again. But as quickly as the canvas was set, the wind died — down to 4 knots, barely a breath for a boat her size. With a storm line building on the western horizon and our speed dropping below a knot, we made the call to strike sails and motor back toward the anchorage. That’s when it hit. A sharp squall line swept across the bay, clear as glass marching on the water toward us. We were rounding into Biscayne Bay, weighing whether to drop hook or ride it out with slow circles in the open. We hadn’t zipped the mainsail, and with gusts now clocking 30–40 knots, Lisa went forward and wrestled the sail bag closed — not a small task in that wind. But she got it secured tight. We made for the same anchorage we’d used two days prior, but as we were setting up for anchor, another vessel rudely cut in and took our line. No courtesy, no concern. We diverted to a nearby anchorage and dropped the hook — calm water, good hold, and a welcome swim to shake off the tension of the squall. By late afternoon the winds had gone still, and we motored back to harbor. Jason brought her in smooth — textbook docking — with Lisa and Owen handling dock lines like pros. A solid first sail. We logged time under every sail, rode through our first weather, anchored under pressure, and made it home in one piece. She’s seaworthy. And so is the crew. — Captain’s Log, Signed and Sealed

We set a course south for Elliott Key, but the wind and time weren’t in our favor. Realizing we wouldn’t make our intended run, we swung her around and dropped anchor off Key Biscayne. The water was warm and inviting — we dove in, letting the sea wash over us. The little deckhands found a new thrill: swinging from the boom and launching themselves into the blue like wild dolphins. Spotted a sea turtle off the port side — always a good omen. On the homeward leg, we unfurled the Genoa and caught a steady 14-mph southeast wind. She pushed us along at a steady 6 to 7 knots — smooth sailing all the way back to harbor.