April 27-29 St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach

Remember - it's a Boat - and Boats can be challenging at all the wrong time!  We planned to depart @ 9a, but Navigator first had to secure her dinghy (Ivory Lady had done her's the night before). Unfortunately, it was a VERY heavy dew - so everything with slippery and wet, making the hoist challenging at best.  At then, the boat thing -- a leaking AC water pump and a fouled mooring line! Ivory Lady proceeded to the fuel docks and retrieved the bikes while Navigator addressed the challenges quickly.  Timing was perfect as we rendezvoused and approached the Bridge of the Lions just as the bridge was opening.  This was significant because CB was determined to challenge the bridge’s 20’ clearance with his 21’ (we think) boat height.  Crisis averted, we proceeded on a pleasant cruise up the Tolomato River and through the marshy backlands of Florida.

Approaching Jacksonville on a sunny Sunday afternoon, we were entertained  by scores of boats containing college kids out for a little sun & fun.  Quiet a pleasant sight!  We also had another osprey nest sighting -- this time atop a lovely home!

We had chosen again to split the trip into two days - making each day 31 miles. The approach into Palm Cove was at low tide, which left little excess clearance but we managed to dock without running aground.  The marina is nice with floating docks, a pool, and in close proximity to Publix, Walgreens, West Marine, and a couple of restaurants - though again with a dockmaster ill-prepared for our arrival.  Learning the same lesson over again is always painful - even though the reservation had been confirmed twice, call 30 minutes out and be a pest!

The morning dawned to another beautiful day and we continued up the Tolomato River and more marshlands into the St. Johns River, just West of the Fort George inlet.  As we entered the river, silhouettes of ships docked at Mayport Naval Station could be seen to our East and the DDG 68 the Sullivans was raised in dry dock to our west at Fort George Island shipyard.  An Arleigh Burke class "Aegis" guided missile destroyer, it is named after five brothers who lost their lives together on a single naval ship (USS Juneau) in 1942.  This single tragic act changed the military assignment policy for family members to ensure they remain separated on different vessel and units.

We are truly in the land of rivers and their tidal effects. As we approached Nassua Sound, we enjoyed the benefits of an out-board tide providing an additional 3 knots of speed.  As we entered the Sound, where three rivers (Back, Nassua, Amelia) Rivers empty into the Atlantic, we got a great look at the effect of a tidal flow when Ivory Lady, a hundred yards ahead of Navigator, began to move sideways at about 3 kts.  Needless to say, as we turned and headed up Amelia River we paid back that 3 knots as we bucked the same outbound tide!

For the remainder of the trip, Amelia Island shadowed our starboard side; the southern most barrier island in a chain that stretches thru North Carolina.  Spanish Franciscans established Santa Maria de Sena Mission in 1573 and christen the Island Santa Maria, which by the way is the second oldest continuously occupied city (Santa Maria) in the US behind St. Augustine.  The British “colonized” the island in 1702 and later renamed it "Amelia Island" in honor of Princess Amelia, George II’s daughter.

We arrived at Fernandina Harbor Marina with a swift north-bound tide and strong south wind (coming from the south to north).  A prudent Captain would have docked heading south into it all but the Dockmaster had his own idea and restricted our approach to down tide and down wind. We suspect they do this just for entertainment because we all put on quite a show trying to get into a shallow, narrow channel and tie-up to a long dock with plenty of other boats in the way.  Lesson learned, if you and the Dockmaster can’t agree on how to approach a dock, go someplace else!

One of the many benefits of our speed (or lack thereof) is getting into port in time for a late lunch (complete with a docktail to overcome the docking experience).  The afternoon was spent with chores (grocery, drug store, ordering A/C power, etc).  There are so many treasures along the way - this one is a carousel house!  This is the front porch of a large Victorian house.  We had already learned the difference between a carousel and a merry-go-round in St. Augustine. Carousels go counter-clockwise and only have horses, while merry-go-rounds go clockwise and can have any number of types of animals and riding conveyances.

Tuesday morning dawned cool and clear, so a bike ride by CB & AJ took them to the Beach of Fernandina Beach.  Then mid-day was a leisurely shop through the lovely little town.  By evening, the weather was changing and a significant rain rinsed off the boats!  Dinner that evening was at 29 East, where we were joined by Steve & Bonnie Sawyer from Marathon Yacht Club.  We returned to the boats without using the umbrellas and readied for a departure on Wednesday morning.