↓

With Brio

Life is too short to say later. And winters suck.

With Brio
Home Menu ↓
Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Who?
  • Where?
  • Brio II

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Bye-bye Backstay Adjuster (in Golfito, Costa Rica)

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Leah
6

When we were in Bahia Samara, trying to figure out WHAT to do about our backstay, we had a loooong look at all of the spare rigging pieces we had… And while we hved lots of good stuff (“treasure”, Jon … Continue reading →

Scared at Sea (passage from El Salvador to Costa Rica)

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Leah
19

We left El Salvador on Wednesday, with almost no wind… the forecast when we left was great, very light winds, flat seas, a perfect time to cross the notorious Gulf of Papagayo (off the coast of Nicaragua). Wednesday, Thursday and … Continue reading →

Non-Essential Projects That Make Life Better (in Bahia del Sol, El Salvador)

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Leah
2

Our time in El Salvador is coming to an end… too quickly! I was trying to think of a way to sum up what we’ve been doing for the last week (since dad and Jess left), and I decided that … Continue reading →

Frozen Onions (in Bahia del Sol, El Salvador)

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Leah
5

“I hate it when the onions freeze,” said nobody, ever, on Brio. Nobody ever until NOW, that is 🙂 Because after carting the darn brand new fridge around for over a year (stored in the bathroom because where else would … Continue reading →

Misty Mountains & Memory Miles (road trippin’ in Honduras & El Salvador)

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Leah
Reply

My dad and sister have been visiting for the last week (they leave tomorrow but I’m thinking of hijacking their passports — as we speak, dad is helping Jon install challenging boat projects and Jess is sharing her frozen lemonade … Continue reading →

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Welcome to With Brio!


We've been sharing bits and pieces from our life aboard since we bought our first boat -- Brio, a 1981 Nor'West 33 -- in Mexico in 2011.

After cruising Brio through the Panama Canal and then living aboard through three winters in Maine, we added crew (Zephyr was born in April 2018), changed boats (Brio II is a 1988 Sabre 42 Centerboard), and are currently cruising the Caribbean!

Feel free to poke around, read some of our recent thoughts, or drop us a note -- we'd love to hear from you!

Don’t want to miss a post?

Get new posts by email:

leah_withbrio

🏴‍☠️🎃 Happy Halloween! Our little skel 🏴‍☠️🎃 Happy Halloween! Our little skeleton-pirate declared this “the best Halloween ever!” (and decided the boat was a bit too much to actually carry around 🤣). Cruising the trick or treat scene with cozy care bear Auntie Jessie was the icing on the cake! 🎃🏴‍☠️
Can’t help but wear half his costume early 🙃 Can’t help but wear half his costume early 🙃 This little character’s current costume request is a skeleton-pirate-dog, with a boat 🤷🏻‍♀️ #wheresmyhotgluegun
Happy Thanksgiving! 🇨🇦 The good years we do Happy Thanksgiving! 🇨🇦 The good years we do double Thanksgiving (the bad years we accidentally miss them both 🙈) so I’d say we’re off to a good start. Missing some key people (👀 @sailboat25 and @jessicakruger55) but a special family-filled day nonetheless! 💕
Three years ago we moved onto Brio II and started Three years ago we moved onto Brio II and started the next chapter in boat life ✨ In hindsight we kept the little Brio for too long — we’d outgrown her and didn’t want to accept that — but Brio II has been the best. We set out looking for a ready-to-cruise aluminum lifting keel and ended up with a *giant* project centerboard cruiser, but she’s fast, she’s pretty, and three years in I wouldn’t make any different choices. One month until we’re back aboard!
34 was the year that went completely not according 34 was the year that went completely not according to plan 🙃 (Wait… do any of them go to plan?!?) 

But so much ✨living ✨ happened in the last year, my birthday wish was just for more like this. Exploring beautiful parts of this continent with family and friends; finally feeling like the (many, many) months of boatyard life were worthwhile; enjoying the quirky, thoughtful, adventurous little guy that Zephyr is becoming; making plans and then changing them and then changing them again; and then somehow magically finding ourselves living *next door* to my sister in a completely unplanned land break… 🤯 Life is a funny roller-coaster but I am thankful to be here for it all and I won’t even START to guess what the next year might look like 🤣 #reflections
Zephyr’s first camping weekend was a lake-swimmi Zephyr’s first camping weekend was a lake-swimming, marshmallow-roasting, tent-sleeping, bacon-eating, dog-playing, smoky success! 🙌 Thanks Auntie Jess and Uncle Juan for making it possible!
Watching these guys sail away today… 🥹 Jess a Watching these guys sail away today… 🥹 Jess and I won the parental lottery with these two, so while we’re super sad to see the stern of Synchy, we’re also just incredibly proud of their continued pursuit of life over the horizon. It’s been 24 years since they last pulled out of Vancouver and “hung a left”, but you wouldn’t know it looking at this beauty! Travel safely guys, and we’re looking forward to a raft up in Mexico this winter! 💕 #parentswhosail #cruisingfamilies #boatlife #sailingfamily
One million photos that could be shared, but this One million photos that could be shared, but this one is my fav 💕 Just me and my baby sis, before she became a Mrs and I sniffled through the entire ceremony (…okay, and reception 🙃). 

Despite the bee that stung mom’s face and the makeup artist who got covid and had to bail a few days before the wedding, the whole thing was absolute magical perfection. So fun to spend time with people who love you guys as much as I do! #jessfoundthejuan 
@thestubbornbaker @juankcortes
Follow on Instagram

Looking for something?

Keep in touch!

Follow by Email
Instagram
Facebook

Recent comments

  • Leah on Building a New Dodger – Stamoid and Makrolon and Sailrite Woes, Oh My! Sailboat Dodgers are Fun?
  • Leah on Building a New Dodger – Stamoid and Makrolon and Sailrite Woes, Oh My! Sailboat Dodgers are Fun?
  • Flyingpumpkin on Building a New Dodger – Stamoid and Makrolon and Sailrite Woes, Oh My! Sailboat Dodgers are Fun?
  • Flyingpumpkin on Building a New Dodger – Stamoid and Makrolon and Sailrite Woes, Oh My! Sailboat Dodgers are Fun?
  • Leah on Finally exploring our “backyard” (in the San Juan Islands, Washington)

Archives

© 2025 - With Brio Site by LMK Designs (that's me!)
↑
 
×

Loading Comments...