Spring 2025: New Beginnings

Spring has arrived. The snow has melted, the grass is turning green again, and everything feels like it’s slowly waking from winter’s long nap. With that shift comes a familiar energy—anticipation mixed with a touch of nervous excitement.

Tom has been especially eager to return to the boat. For the past month, he’s been at Agra2 regularly, upgrading the batteries to lithium and de-winterizing her for the season. I can’t remember the size of the batteries we had before—only that last year in Racine, we had to do a quick swap and Tom used car batteries that he promised would work. I’m fairly certain one of last year’s new batteries got switched over to the house bank… but don’t quote me on that. When Tom starts discussing batteries, wiring, and systems, my brain tends to politely check out.

This year’s upgrade includes two Eco-Worthy LiFePO4 12V 280Ah lithium iron phosphate batteries with Bluetooth and low-temperature protection. I share that mostly for accuracy, because while Tom can explain every detail, I mostly just trust that it’s all very important.

He went to the boat often as the weather warmed. I, on the other hand did not and am slightly terrified to see it. We did sneak out to Iroquois a couple of times over the winter just to make sure the tarp was holding strong and everything inside was okay. During one visit, I saw Tom fully taking over the space, tools everywhere in a very small cabin. Too much stuff in too small a space overwhelms me instantly; it’s like my brain shuts down and starts looking for the nearest exit.

So I braced myself when I stepped aboard Agra2 after her long winter’s nap. Yes, there were tools scattered everywhere, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d imagined. I had to laugh at Tom’s huge printout detailing the lithium battery system, all its components, and wiring.

This summer, we’ve decided to add solar panels. Somewhere in our future, Agra2 is meant to head south, to the Caribbean. Before that happens, I need lots of practice anchoring in hopes of finally being comfortable enough to sleep while at anchor. And the idea of not constantly worrying about battery levels sounds pretty wonderful. So with all the battery gadgets, new wiring, and upgrades complete, we prepared for Splash Day 2025. As always, Tom did an amazing job getting everything ready.

Thanks to the incredible staff at Iroquois, I felt confident splash day would go smoothly. Still, that familiar gut-punch thought crept in: What if there’s a leak and the boat sinks? (Clearly, watching that one YouTube video about a splash-day disaster was a poor life choice.) Agra2 is 25 years old, not exactly a spring chicken, and with only one year of what I’d call “serious” boat ownership under our belts, we’re still very much newbies.

But Agra2 floated. Her engine started without fail. She did sound a bit rough after her winter nap, something to note and add to the ever-growing list, but she was afloat, and that was everything.

With a storm moving in, we tucked into an available slip and headed home to wait it out. Of course, I spent those days wondering if she was sinking and whether Tom had remembered to close all the through-hulls. Once the weather cleared and our bags were packed, we returned to Agra2 to officially start the season, sailing from Iroquois to our yacht club.

Water levels were a bit low for early season, and I worried we should have waited a few more days. As we left the marina and entered the narrow, shallow channel, my nerves kicked in, but Tom navigated it like a pro, confident and steady, his skills clearly untouched by winter. He even avoided the rock we hit on the way in last fall. We slipped easily back into our routines: Tom the Captain at the helm, and me enjoying the scenery, an audiobook, and keeping a watchful eye on the Captain.

We arrived at our yacht club after a long day of motoring, lucky enough to return to the same slip with the same awesome neighbours.

As we tied up to the dock, it felt like coming home. This will be our second home this summer. Last year was full, packed with learning, challenges, and growth, but this season, I’m craving something softer. Lazy summer days, floating on a pool float, time with friends and family, and once again exploring the Thousand Islands, which still have so much more to offer.

A new season. A calmer heart. And so much still waiting ahead. Fair Winds ⚓💙