We arrived in Staniel Cay on February 23rd. We were welcomed by our buddy boat Driftwood, and were thankful to snag a spot right next door.
Finally, we were able to slow down and start exploring. Our first adventure was to Three Islands—which, at high tide, are all separate. As the tide recedes, sandbars appear and connect the islands, creating a shallow, calm swimming pool in the middle. It felt like creation showing off a bit, revealing hidden paths just beneath the surface, reminding us that God often connects things in our lives in ways we don’t first see.
Next, we took a dinghy trip to the Thunderball Grotto, the famous cave featured in the James Bond movie. We found a spot just outside to drop the hook and swam in. The grotto itself was incredible—a natural cathedral complete with a skylight. Tropical fish and colorful coral filled the space like stained glass.
But the best part wasn’t the grotto at all—it was watching Declan, call sign Wave Rider, really come alive. Outfitted with fins, mask, snorkel, and life jacket, he was off, his head underwater the entire time as he kicked around the cave, soaking in every detail. Since then, Declan has been suiting up at every opportunity—jumping off the back of the boat, sprinting into the surf, or plunging off the paddleboard. Watching his confidence grow has been such a gift. It’s one of those moments where we can almost hear God whisper, “This is who I made him to be—curious, brave, and full of wonder.”
After the grotto, we cruised past Pig Beach. We had no desire to swim with the enormous pigs, so we kept our distance to observe from afar. But one big pig had other plans—it started swimming straight for us. Each time we nudged the engine to move away, it followed. Eventually it realized it was far from shore, tired out, and turned back. Even moments like this make us laugh and appreciate the wild and surprising creativity in God’s world.
We explored Cruiser’s Beach next, complete with a swing and climbing tree. The boys made full use of both—probably well beyond what an old island swing was meant to handle under the tropical sun. Their laughter echoed across the empty shoreline, one of those pure sounds that makes us pause and give thanks for this season of life.
The following day we set up on Dog Beach, unpacking new sand toys and the paddleboard. The kids had a blast paddling around the shoreline—at least until Mom had to take the board back to the mothership to get bread proofing in the pans. As soon as she returned, the boys were back on the board again, full of energy and joy.
We loved our time in Staniel Cay, but eventually it was time to move on. We took the dinghy into the Staniel Cay Yacht Club for diesel and gas, then pointed south toward Little Bay on Great Guana Cay. Upon arrival, our buddy-boat neighbor, Frank, hopped in the water and helped me scrub the hull. We set up our forward sunshade for the first time before Pamela and the boys paddled to shore to explore, while I stayed back to tackle a few boat projects in the quiet.
We are really beginning to fall into the rhythm of sailing life. Staying in one place for a bit has been refreshing and grounding. In the stillness, it’s easier to see God’s fingerprints everywhere—from the changing tides to the boys’ growing confidence, to the simple joy of unhurried days spent together. We feel incredibly grateful—and deeply blessed—to be exploring such extraordinary places with our boys, shaping memories that will guide them as they grow into the young men God is forming them to be.
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