Nov. 29-Dec. 1 - Nothing much of interest to report. Shopped for food, did laundry and did some legal work. Plan to leave on the outside for Fernandina Beach tomorrow morning.
Dec. 2 - Wind and seas are down and we motor (next to no wind and what there is is on our nose) on the outside to Fernandina Beach. What pleasure not to have to worry about depth. Pass Fort Clinch at the mouth of the Fernandina Inlet. Reputed to be in exceptionally good shape because it was never involved in any fighting. One not so hot picture attached. Wow, Fernandina Beach on the ocean may be nice, but the minute you get in the inlet and start South down the ICW there are multiple huge factory facilities on the East side of the ICW right by Fernandina Harbor Marina spewing tons of horrible smelling exhaust into the air. It’s really awful. Turn up into Bell’s Creek opposite the marina and find a perfect anchorage (except for the sight and sometimes smell of the factories, and settle down for the night.
Dec. 3 - Get up early and make the ICW trip to St. Augustine without any remarkable events. I am afraid of transiting the Sister’s Creek Bascule Bridge into the St. John’s River due to the fact that we would have a strong following current and the approach is around a sharp bend making it blind, but we contact bridge the operator early, and as we had been told by people we met at Brunswick Landing, he’s a pro and makes it easy for us. Similarly, was afraid of crossing St. John’s River to continue down ICW because of swift outgoing tide across our course, but as we were also advised by some fellow cruisers in Brunswick, no big deal. I almost miss going around the sea buoy (critical to avoid going aground) coming into St. Augustine because of other sailboat making very erratic manoeuvers back and forth in front of us and then passing against us only to then turn around and overtake us for no apparent. Anyway, realize my error at the last minute, make the adjustment and then have to find the channel markers coming into the harbor with the sun starting to set right in my eyes. Not fun, but it works out and we’re safely on a mooring at St. Augustine Municipal Marina.
Dec. 4 - Get up even earlier and start off for Daytona Beach. We’re part of a trio leaving at the same time and we play a little “leap frog”. I pass the lead boat that was too slow for, and then we’re passed by the boat behind us. Swift current behind us near Matanzas Inlet (we’re doing over 8 knots) and I actually slow down to insure control. As we get to Ormond Beach we see some very gaily painted houseboats in very good condition, and then we pass this derelict tug that is anchored and is being used as a home for someone. Picture of tug attached. Sun is out, it’s finally getting somewhat warm and all is well, until we pass under the Ormand Beach Bridge and at half-tide, we gently come to a halt in less than six feet of water in what I think is the channel. Visually we’re where we’re supposed to be, but when I raise the resolution of the plotter it shows we needed to hug the green # 31 closer and we are out of the plotted channel. I had been relying less of the “magenta line” over the last few days because in some of the closer places it was putting me on land rather than in the channel, but I now learned that for these longer open stretches between markers in these shallow “bays” I should increase the resolution, slow my speed and follow it religiously (at least until it turns out wrong and we change or approach because we have another mishap). I could probably have powered our way off, but didn’t want to tax the engine and pick up too much silt, and since we have a towing contract, I called Towboat US instead. Operator was nearby, was to us in about 15 minutes, and easily pulled us back into deeper water. It seems I just hit a little uncharted sandbar because right next to me where the Towboat was it was 8 ft. of water. Anyway, much chagrined and quite unnerved, we slowly continue our way into Daytona Beach where we fuel up and stay at the Halifax (the name of the river we’re on) Harbor Marina. I need a rest from getting up so early and from the stress of trying to stay afloat, so we plan to stay two nights. Marina is nice and it’s right downtown.
Dec. 5 - It's finally sunny and warm and we do a bunch of chores and then walk around town in the afternoon. Both of us toddle off for a nap when we get back to the boat. This traveling really gets to you after a while. Tomorrow we head to Titusville, which is near Cape Canaveral and the Space Center.
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