The Out Islands of The Bahamas—February 2022

A Three-Hour Tour

If those words and the first image below strike a memory cord, then you can understand my excitement stepping onto Gilligan’s Island for three hours of beach bumming. How tiny and close to civilization the island really is. Of course, this iconic image was only used for the sitcom’s opening scene and the show was filmed in a studio. After six weeks this winter at an intensive yoga retreat, I wanted to spend some time on water before leaving The Bahamas. Enter the 125 ft. Liberty Clipper of Boston, a tall ship that makes Nassau its summer home for island-hopping windjammer cruises. I went from asanas, meditation and yoga philosophy classes to a week of hoisting sails alongside the crew and exploring the Out Islands of The Bahamas with amazing unobstructed sunsets over the water.

My favorite position on the Liberty Clipper was in the bow, especially when this island came into view.

Listen to the mustn'ts, child.

Listen to the don'ts.

Listen to the shouldn'ts,

the impossibles, the won'ts.

Listen to the never haves,

then listen close to me.

Anything can happen, child.

Anything can be.

— Shel Silverstein

Apparently it's good luck to hang the tail of the voyage's first catch from the ship's bow and the crew was more than happy to oblige.

Apparently it's good luck to hang the tail of the voyage's first catch from the ship's bow and the crew was more than happy to oblige.

Liberty Clipper is an 1800's era tall ship replica based in Boston out of which she runs tours in the summer, then heads down to the Bahamas for winter season island hopping like this trip.

Liberty Clipper is an 1800's era tall ship replica based in Boston out of which she runs tours in the summer, then heads down to the Bahamas for winter season island hopping like this trip.

There were many avid readers aboard and, for the most part, the seas were calm enough to enjoy the pastime.

There were many avid readers aboard and, for the most part, the seas were calm enough to enjoy the pastime.

Daily excursions to uninhabited islands allowed for exploring bays by kayak and snorkeling with sea life like this Southern stingray.

Daily excursions to uninhabited islands allowed for exploring bays by kayak and snorkeling with sea life like this Southern stingray.

Look closely at our beach yoga session photo and you'll understand why this tiny atoll is known as 'Lizard Island'.

Look closely at our beach yoga session photo and you'll understand why this tiny atoll is known as 'Lizard Island'.

Liberty Clipper at her Home-Away-From-Home summer port, Providence Island, Bahamas.

Liberty Clipper at her Home-Away-From-Home summer port, Providence Island, Bahamas.

Not a reader.

Not a reader.

A leather sailmaker palm is worn for repairing sails and splicing lines.

A leather sailmaker palm is worn for repairing sails and splicing lines.

Splicing a line.

Splicing a line.

Taco Tuesday calls for weekly avocado pit batting practice off the side of the ship.

Taco Tuesday calls for weekly avocado pit batting practice off the side of the ship.

One sun, countless sunsets.

One sun, countless sunsets.