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With Brio

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

With Brio
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The Messy Middle (in Beaufort, SC)

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Leah
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I read something once about the good stuff being in the messy middle of the story. That the middle is where the learning, the struggles, the juicy bits really come to life. Gotta say, living through the messy middle ain’t … Continue reading →

Settling in for the Long Haul? (in Beaufort, SC)

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Leah
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I realize that as soon as I say something like “for the long haul” I probably jinx any semblance of a plan. Not that anyone is making plans these days! We’re pretty lucky in that we’re already used to working … Continue reading →

Brio (the original) is for sale! (in Beaufort, SC)

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Leah
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UPDATE 3/26: Brio has sold! ** Yes, yes, I realize we have the absolute *worst* timing for trying to sell a boat. But hey — if you’re looking for a way to hunker down, be self-sufficient, live offgrid in a … Continue reading →

Making Valentines Memorable — AKA: Those who have, and those who haven’t yet… (in Swansboro, NC)

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Leah

They say there are two camps of sailors — those who have run aground, and those who just haven’t run aground yet. To make this Valentines especially memorable, I moved us into that second category not once but TWICE today. … Continue reading →

Everyday Life on the ICW (in Dowry Creek, NC)

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Leah
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A few snapshots from the journey to the ICW… Deltaville, VA — my first week working from the boat an anchor The fuel pump that went up in a big puff of smoke as we crossed the Potomac River Weather … Continue reading →

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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!

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🏴‍☠️🎃 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
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