We Made an Offer! Boat Life Decisions & Florida Thrills

Connor and the crew of Sailing Big Lost departed their Airbnb to catch a Bahama Air connection from Freeport, Grand Bahama to Georgetown, Exuma. Because direct flights between the two islands do not operate, the family routed through Nassau, New Providence before touching down in Exuma to inspect a catamaran that could become their next floating home.

The sudden boat search began after the sale of their Leopard 62 catamaran developed unexpectedly. Prospective buyers had messaged them through Facebook regarding a sister ship in Barbados, initiating discussions that quickly culminated in their existing catamaran going under contract. Having previously encountered a Vision 444 while anchored at Saniel Key, Connor had contacted the owners through No Foreign Land to tour the vessel. While an earlier sister ship located in Fort Lauderdale sat roughly 150000 dollars beyond their target budget, the cruising community connected them with another Vision 444 owner preparing to sell.

Inspecting the Vision 444 at Emerald Bay Marina

Arriving in Georgetown, the family checked into a bungalow at Paradise Bay Villas for a stay of 2 nights. When local cab drivers declined the short transit, Connor, Finn, and Maddie set out on foot, walking 15 to 20 minutes down the road to Emerald Bay Marina to meet the sellers.

The Vision 444 immediately aligned with the family’s technical cruising priorities. Built in South Africa with a lightweight foam core build, the vessel features narrow hulls and fine entry designed to improve upwind sailing over conventional production catamarans. Inside, the three-cabin owner layout dedicates the starboard hull to an owner stateroom with generous storage and a large head. On deck, the deep cockpit sits sheltered beneath a solid hardtop, while lines route directly to a raised sport helm station. Reflecting on the configuration, the crew noted that “the owners version layout gives you the entire starboard hole as your own little retreat” and emphasized that “all lines lead back to the helm so it’s easy to sail singlehanded.” After completing the tour, the crew reached an agreement with the sellers, confirming, “We found ourselves under contract again pending the results of the survey.”

Family Interlude at Universal Studios

With the purchase agreement finalized, Connor and the family pivoted from boat acquisition logistics to spend dedicated family time in Florida. Taking a break between contracts, they surprised the children with a weekday visit to Universal Studios.

The theme park environment offered a stark contrast to the quiet anchorages the family frequented. Finn embraced the high-speed roller coasters, seeking out high-g loops and weightless inversions. Maddie chose to keep things calmer, declining inverted tracks after earlier rides proved intense. When Saturday park crowds and summer heat mounted, the family escaped the outdoor congestion by booking a double feature at an air-conditioned movie theater equipped with leather recliners.

Preparing for Survey in Fort Lauderdale

Following their stay in Orlando, the family moved south toward Fort Lauderdale to stage their upcoming transition. After enjoying breakfast at The Diplomat and walking along Hollandale Beach, they prepared to move into a month-long Airbnb rental to work through administrative tasks, provisioning, and survey preparations ahead of their May 6 haulout and marine inspection.

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