Welcome to The Black Sprayhood, a sailing life that’s a bit off course (by design).

We’re Stephanie and Luciano, a couple, and two cats, who are not what you’d call traditional sailors. No maritime lineage, no yacht club credentials. We learned to sail just before the pandemic, bought a boat in the nick of time, and set off not long after the lockdowns lifted. No fanfare. Just a deep breath, a push off the dock, and a strong sense that we’d figure things out as we went.

And that’s pretty much what we’ve been doing ever since.

Our boat isn’t called The Black Sprayhood, the name came from a mix of pirate lore, punk rock culture, and not taking ourselves too seriously. A sprayhood (or dodger, as our American friends call it) is the canvas shield over the cockpit. Ours is not black. The name reminded us of Black Sails, and with a bit of Spinal Tap energy, The Black Sprayhood was born a kind of anti-hero homage to the grand names of pirate ships and characters, with a wink to rebellion and the black sheep.

On this site, you’ll find stories from our travels, real experiences, not the polished version. We share the beauty, the chaos, the charm of the places we visit and the people we meet. Sometimes we offer tips. Sometimes we ramble. Always honest.

Cheers for stopping by. If you’re into offbeat sailing stories and a bit of salt with your soul, you’re in the right place.