We spent last night at the Tobago Cays behind Baradal Beach, a place made famous by its cameo in the opening scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean and renowned for its incredible snorkeling — as it is essentially a reef sprinkled with a handful of tiny islands.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Beryl left its mark here, and with the Cays lying wide open to the Atlantic, the wind turned the night into a rather… energetic experience. Let’s just say it felt less like anchoring and more like sleeping at sea in a washing machine.

Thankfully, a few curious turtles and a spectacular morning view helped restore morale.

Swimming, however, was not exactly ideal for the boys, so this morning we moved a few minutes into a narrow channel — shallower, more sheltered, and basically one giant turquoise swimming pool.

It’s a bit busier with other boats, but honestly… still pure Caribbean magic. And who knows — we might just have found our Christmas spot. Time (and the wind) will tell! 

At least the rich and famous seem to love it here… judging by the slightly insane number of superyachts anchored around us. Still, when they hit the beach, I’m pretty sure they get sand in their bum cheeks just like the rest of us — although I suspect the way they get rid of it later might involve a crew member, a teak deck shower, and significantly more champagne. Some things money can’t fix… it just makes the clean-up fancier