About Agora

We’re Barrett, Susanna, and our twin boys – four adventurous hearts aboard Agora, a Beneteau First 47.7 sailboat and our floating home. In 2023, we bought Agora with the dream of slowing down, sailing wide, and sharing in a life full of love, learning, and deep-blue horizons.

Who we are: A lifelong sailor and data wiz (Barrett), writer and educator who fell for the sea and never looked back (Susanna). We traded in our land life for salty air and stowaway Hot Wheels. Our twins are growing up with tide charts, dolphins for neighbors, and the world as their classroom.

Why Agora: Greek for social gathering place, Agora is our reminder that time and togetherness matter most. Serendipitously, it’s also the name of the coffeeshop in Houston, TX, where we had our first date in 2013.

What we share: On this blog, you’ll find our cruising logs, practical tips for sailing with kids, reflections on life afloat, and honest moments about navigating storms – both literal and figurative.

Whether you’re a sailor, a dreamer, or just here for the stories and sunsets – welcome, and we’re grateful you’re here.

Latest From Instagram @sailing.agora

We’ve officially been hunkered down for colder weather with beanies above deck, extra blankets below, and more hot chocolate than we’re willing to admit. Agora’s getting her winter tune-up with projects big and small – from the “quick fix” variety to the ones that somehow take weeks.

How quickly the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months. Nowhere has that been truer for us than in Jekyll Island, GA. We pulled in for a little breather… and suddenly, fall melted into winter. The twins found their favorite walking paths, we found our favorite sundowner friends, and Agora found a snug place to rest.

We’ve been cruising full-time for eight months now, and Jekyll Island, GA, has been one of those stops that catches you by surprise in the best way. Between a cozy dock slip and a quiet anchorage, we’ve slipped into a rhythm of nature walks, beach views, and playground hangs under the mossy oaks.

As summer turned to fall, we made a quick return to land life and visited family and friends in Texas. There were birthday celebrations, driveway playdates, poolside catch-ups, and long-overdue stops at our favorite old haunts. Haircuts, dentists, and doctors appointments. We said hello again and a final goodbye to our last land vehicle.

Stop #8 on our Bahamas run: Spanish Cay! 🦈🦈🦈 Every spot gave us its own magic – this one brought rainy days, generator issues, new friends, excellent snorkeling, and a fish-cleaning station that set a new bar of exciting encounters.

Brunswick ended up being a sweet little stopover after months on the move. Though we were there for only four weeks, we stepped out, got settled, and found a rhythm: work, school, play, repeat.

Stop #6 on our Bahamas run: Nunjack (aka Manjack) 🐢☀️🤿 Every stop had its own kind of magic, and this one was unforgettable for its quiet anchorages, wild natural beauty, and the remarkable number of sea turtles darting around the mangroves at high tide.

When we chose Brunswick, GA, for our hurricane-season dockage, we didn’t quite know what to expect. We also didn’t arrive as early as we’d hoped (what are plans in this life, anyway?), but we pulled in with shaggy hair, sun-kissed skin, and a real yearning for land.

Stop 7 on our Bahamas run: a return to Green Turtle Cay! 🐢😍 We had fun around a pool table, met some fabulous fellow travelers, and hand fed rays and turtles. We loved it so much, we went back for this second visit (also, we needed some groceries). One of our favorite stops for sure! @tbearonaboat @susannafontenot #sailingagora #sailingwithkids #liveaboardlife #cruisingfamily #sailingwithtwins #cruiseabacos