The Winter Watchman

While we settled into our long winter’s nap at home, Sharkie stayed aboard to make sure Agra2 remained safe and sound in her winter PJs (also known as the winter tarp). He took his job very seriously even if he did snooze through most of it.

Sharkie has been on every sailing adventure with us — from our early days on the Shark 24. Our sassy first sailboat who was speedy but lacked some comforts that I truly needed when sailing. Sharkie was there through all the growing pains of learning to sail.

Sharkie also traveled to Kingston with us, for that magical weekend aboard Tuscan, the 42‑footer whose owner graciously invited us along for a weekend adventure. He was too elderly to sail alone and we were joining him on his last sail before he sold Tuscan. We went on that weekend to give Tom a new experience sailing but it accidentally sparked my love affair with bigger boats.

He came with us as we upgraded to our Chrysler 26. Our gentle Sea Turtle who always got us where we were going, but we were the slowest boat on the water.

Sharkie even made the trip to Racine, WI to be part of our crew on Agra2 from day one.

He was a little camera‑shy during our Great Lakes adventures and prefered to keep watch over Agra2 from the comfort of the cabin. But he’s informed me that he’s ready to be more involved on our journey out East. Apparently, he’s rested, refreshed, and full of opinions.

Sharkie is a Build‑A‑Bear creation.  Build‑A‑Bear will always hold a special place in our family’s hearts. Many moons ago, when our youngest started competitive dance, the very first hotel we stayed at had a build your own bear workshop. Without knowing what the future held, we took the girls and each built our first bears. That was the beginning of a family tradition while the girls were young: every new place we visited, if there was a Build‑A‑Bear, we went and made a new friend.

Now that the girls are grown, we buy fewer bears, and in my empty‑nester home that isn’t quite empty (our oldest moved back home), there isn’t room to display them all. Many of them are enjoying long naps in storage until the basement renovation gives them a proper home again.

Shortly after purchasing our Shark 24 — our first Agra — it happened to be Shark Week. Build‑A‑Bear released a special shark, and of course our Shark 24 had to have Sharkie. He’s been part of the crew ever since.

Now that Sharkie has awakened from his long winters nap, he’s ready, and has a lot to say about our upcoming adventure to the East Coast.  Sharkie wants to reintroduce himself to friends who are new and to friends who may not remember him. As he dreams of leaves the cabin, he wants to be part of the adventure and is looking forward to this trip and you joining us for our adventure.