ADVENTURE ISLAND ODYSSEY

Erin Carey and her young family cruise the Leeward Islands and discover the region’s distinct cultures and topography

- Erin Carey

As we pulled anchor on Roam, our Moody 47, we waved goodbye to the superyachts and their teams of staff, busily polishing the spotless hulls of the multi-million dollar vessels. Our time in Saint Barthélemy, better known as St Barts, was a reminder of how the other half lived. Convertible cars driven by impeccably groomed women, complete with a headscarf and oversized glasses, zipped past us as we wandered the manicured streets. We were quite the spectacle, my three young boys with their sun-bleached locks and flip-flops, sauntering in and out of boutiques and designer shops, the price tags comparable to a month of our cruising budget. But for a few days, we enjoyed the change that the luxurious island had brought and reminded ourselves that we shared the very same bay and watched the very same sunset as the rich and famous on their superyachts.

With only four hours ahead of us to Saba, my children lazed content in the cockpit, comfortable with the motion of the boat and with the cruising life to which they had become so accustomed. As we passed the uninhabited island of Redonda, the overhead fishing rod trailing from the back of Roam sprang to life, whizzing and zinging in excitement. My three boys snapped to attention, giddy with excitement and anticipation, while my husband Dave sprung out of the cockpit and began reeling in his catch. Considering the size of the little tuna, he put up a mean fight, and we rejoiced when it finally landed on our deck, knowing sushi would now feature on the menu for lunch.