September: When Everything Finally Clicked

September arrived with what I imagine perfect summer days are supposed to feel like. Warm, but not punishing. Comfortable enough to linger on the boat without sweating buckets. For the first time all season, we could spend real time aboard and start wrapping up projects that felt like they had lasted forever.

I finally waved the white flag watching Tom struggle with the windlass, and we bought a new one. When Tom installed it, he didn’t just swap parts—he upgraded everything, replacing old wiring with proper marine wiring that should last for years. Slowly, project by project, the boat has been getting the care it deserved all along. Sealant finally worked its magic and stopped the leaky hatch. The arch for the solar panels is nearly complete, and we even enlisted our daughters and their friends to help lift the panels into place and finish the final touches.

My daughters don’t usually visit us on the boat. My oldest, who has autism, doesn’t enjoy it, and my youngest struggles with severe motion sickness. But when friends are involved, they show up—and maybe that’s the secret. I probably should have invited their friends along more often.

The lithium batteries are finally doing their thing and powering the boat. For now, we still rely on shore power until the solar wiring is finished, but it feels like we’re so close. And yet, somehow, it still feels like there was never enough time. Where did the summer go?

We couldn’t let the season wind down without one more weekend with Tina, Michael, and Traci. I had been wanting to get to Camelot Island all summer, and we finally made it—only to discover there were no mooring cans left and nowhere ideal to anchor. Other boaters had beaten us there. Poop happens. We tied up to the island, and Tom took the dinghy out to anchor off the stern. We squeezed in a short hike before heading back to Agra2 for a BBQ supper.

Evenings were getting darker earlier, and we left a little later than planned. I tried not to panic as we motored back in the dark, my mind replaying last year’s nighttime run on Lake Erie. Having good friends onboard helped calm my nerves, along with an extra set of eyes for Tom. Being somewhat familiar with the route made it easier too. In the end, it turned into a beautiful evening motor—quiet, calm, and unexpectedly serene. One we all appreciated.

Another highlight was having Tom’s friend Pat join us for an afternoon sail. Pat had helped us before, hauling Tom up the mast, and this time we finally got him out on the water. He and his wife are taking sailing courses and getting ready to buy their own boat. This winter, they’re chartering in the Caribbean. I ’ll admit—I’m a little envious. That sounds incredible.

With repairs, modifications, solar panels (almost done), and maintenance finally wrapping up, we had to go out and enjoy every bit of this beautiful weather. We sailed to the Navy Islands in the Thousand Islands and dropped anchor—using a working windlass. Woohoo! I even managed to properly set the anchor alarm while coordinating the anchoring process. We arrived early enough that I had time to settle in, get comfortable, and trust that the anchor was set.

Why couldn’t the whole summer have been like this?

Tom pulled out the SUP board and gave paddleboarding a try—standing up for a bit, though he clearly needs more practice. He went fishing and caught a decent-sized one within minutes. Guess what was for supper.

We stayed the night. And I’m happy to report: the anchor alarm never went off. I slept in the aft cabin. I did wake up a few times to check the alarm and Navionics, just to be sure we were still where we should be—but I went back to sleep. There’s hope. This feels like the beginning of me sleeping at anchor. Boat life, a little trust, and the start of a beautiful friendship between me and the anchor alarm.

Too soon, it was time to pull up the anchor—again, with the windlass working perfectly. No breakers popping. No drama. Just smooth and easy. We headed back to the yacht club feeling blissful, not exhausted, not worn down. Almost wishing we could rewind the summer and start from here.

But instead, we felt grateful. Blessed. Heart full.

A beautiful September. ⚓💙