Speakers
Route Briefing Track
If you're thinking about how nice it would be to cruise The Bahamas but the large and vast series of island chains might bring forth a larger trip that your desires or interest, consider an alternative. The Bahama Sea of Abaco, surrounded by the Abaco Cays, offers stunning waterways with spectacular islands and towns in relatively protected waters. This session will outline a three- to four-week trip in some of the prettiest saltwater cruising grounds in the world, the Sea of Abaco.
Location: Hibiscus Hall C
Aubrey and Terri have over 45 years of boating and cruising together and now reside on the Chesapeake Bay with their powered catamaran, the Shorebilly Too, docked in their backyard. Aubrey got his first sailboat when he was 8 years old and was an avid sailor up until the mid-90s when he converted over to power. His marriage proposal to Terri was aboard an O'Day Mariner.
The Smoots traveled the Great Loop with the 2023/2024 fleet, crossing their wake on April 26th. Their trip encompassed 8,239 miles with multiple side trips including Quebec City, both shores of Lake Michigan, Chattanooga, Florida Keys and the Bahamas. They traveled with their Vizsla, Yudee, on a 2022 Aspen C108 power catamaran.
Eager to take on the next adventure, the Smoots embarked on the DownEast Circle Loop June 2025 and completed September 24th of the same year. This route was 4,317 miles long encompassing the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Canadian Maritimes and the U.S. Northern Coastline.
These days they spend their time running around the Southern Chesapeake enjoying the small towns, tiki bars and restaurants that line the water. Loopers are always welcome at their dock and encouraged to stop if able.