A Genteel Sport! (Day 168)

From: Brickhill River North Anchorage, Cumberland Island, GA MM696.1
To: Jekyll Harbor Marina, Jekyll Island, GA MM 684.3
L/L: 31 02 76N 81 25 36W
Distance Traveled: 13.2
Hours Underway: 2.5
Hours Motoring: 2.5
Hours Sailing: 0
Elapsed Time: 2.5
Average Speed: 5.3mph

Weather: Overcast; temp range 48 to 63; light wind out of the east clocking to the southeast; showers in the evening

The Jekyll Island Croquet Club on the lawn and in action

Comment: Most of our 13.2 miles was accomplished into a foul current. After fueling and pumping out the holding tank, we tied up to the face dock at the marina. Once secure, we borrowed two marina bikes to ride to the Jekyll Hotel where we watched members of the Jekyll Island Croquet Club (JICC) on the lawn in front of the hotel. The participants were dressed in their sporting whites. There were four teams on the lawn with two matches being contested. After watching for a few minutes, it became apparent to us that they were not playing according to the “California Croquet Rules.”

A good stroke!

The JICC had the lawn reserved for their competition from 12 o’clock noon until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Anna Marie and I will not be able to get lawn time during this brief stopover.

61 Trips Around the Sun Completed! (Day 167)

From: Palm Cove Marina, Jacksonville Beach, FL MM 747.4
To: Brickhill River North Anchorage, Cumberland Island, GA MM696.1
L/L: 30 53 33N 81 27 14W
Distance Traveled: 53.8
Hours Underway: 9.6
Hours Motoring: 79.6
Hours Sailing: 0
Elapsed Time: 79.6
Average Speed: 5.6mph

Weather: Sunny; the bubble temps were most comfortable, ranging from 50 to 81 degrees; the outside temp ranged from the mid 40s to the low 70s; wind was out of the east @ 10 knots

Warship 28 in dry dock

Comment: We’re on the move again! We left Palm Cove Marina at 0815 hours. Our destination was Cumberland Island, but it was only 1430 hours (about the time we entered GA) when we arrived so we decided to fight the current and push on to the Brickhill River. The wind turned favorable for motorsailing and the current turned in our favor just as we made the lower end of the Brickhill River.

The extra run will give us an easy day tomorrow, as it is only about 12 miles to Jekyll Island. We’ll have our traditional stop for breakfast at the Jekyll Island Club before leaving on Wednesday.

Fernandina Beach, FL - Pulp

We saw two Canada Geese today. We haven’t seen them for months. A couple of days ago, we saw two Willets. Willets are our favorite spring shorebird. They vociferously tells us that warm weather is on the way.

Sub tied to dock in Kings Bay

I reached yet another milestone, as I completed my sixty-first trip around the sun today. It’s great to make the annual trip! All of the kids and grandkids called to wish me a happy birthday. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone during Easter break!

Weather Induced Lay Days (Days 165 & 166)

Saturday & Sunday, March 28 & 29, 2009 Days 165 & 166
Lay Days – Palm Cove Marina MM 747.4

Weather: Overcast and windy on Saturday and Sunday morning, mostly sunny on Sunday afternoon, March 28, with severe thunderstorms in the area on Saturday night into Sunday morning; temp range high 60s to low 80s; wind south gusting to 35 knots

Comment: SUNSHINE’S crew has been busy becoming reacquainted with the Jacksonville Transit Authority (bus service). We took the bus to the beach on Saturday. Bill’s knee has been sore, a problem being caused by the uncomfortable helm seat, so there was no beach walk on this visit. We did manage to visit Joe’s Crab Shack. The Jax Beach Joe’s is our favorite. We had another great time there watching the surfers whilst sipping our beverages and eating our snacks.

In the evening, we went to the Captain’s Lounge in hopes of watching the Villanova/Pitt game. The winner advances to the NCAA’s final four. As luck would have it, the TV was commandeered by a child, Logan, a fellow boater who was watching a series of SpongeBob Square Pants episodes while waiting for the Kid’s Awards show. I had a most enjoyable time chatting with Logan. He and his parents are just returning from the Bahamas. They plan to leave the boat in Deltaville and return home to Ontario by the middle of April.

When Anna Marie and I arrived back at the boat, we were able to catch the last few minutes of the Villanova game. If the last five minutes are any indication, it was a great game. ‘Nova won 78 -76 on a last second shot.

On Sunday, after eating breakfast in the Galley Restaurant (on the marina premises), we boarded the inbound (K2) bus. We had heard that the brand new Super West Marine Store was located in or near the new St. John’s Town Center Mall. The bust driver didn’t know anything about West Marine, but he told us where to get off so we could connect with another bus (S1) that would take us to the corner of the Town Center.

We found the West Marine, after a long walk. They had a very comfortable helm seat, so we splurged and made the purchase, hoping that a new seat would help my knee. Anna Marie had her eye on a set of nesting, stainless steel pots and pans. She wanted nesting ones to save on storage space in the galley. These will fit the bill.

Since we were traveling by bus, the manager of the Palm Cove West Marine, John White (who was helping out in the new store for the grand opening), offered to deliver the chair to us after his work day was concluded.

After he delivered the chair, we spent about an hour installing its new pedestal. We’ll do a more permanent installation when we get back home.

Friday, March 27, 2009 Day 164
From: Ft. Matanzas Anchorage, FL MM 792.4
To: Palm Cove Marina, Jacksonville Beach, FL MM 747.4
L/L: 30 17 42N 81 25 83W
Distance Traveled: 48.6
Hours Underway: 7:20
Hours Motoring: 7.3
Hours Sailing: 0
Elapsed Time: 7.3
Average Speed: 6.7

Weather: Mostly cloudy, then overcast; late afternoon shower; temp range mid 60s to high 70s; wind generally out of the SE @ 10 knots, builds to 15 knots by late afternoon and then calm after the shower

Bald Eagle perched atop AIW mark 55 near Crescent Beach Bascule Bridge

Comment: Bummer! The anchor dragged last night, just as the current changed direction. Even though we were in bed, we weren’t yet asleep. We felt and heard the anchor become dislodged.

In a series of quick moves, we managed to lower the engines, get them started and then move away from the shore line. We were in 5 feet of water and perhaps about 10 feet from the shore grasses. We were lucky it was high tide!

Anna Marie was able to untangle the kellet, trip and anchor lines so we could bring them all onboard. It took some time, but we were eventually ready to reanchor. Finally, after three more tries, we felt comfortable with our position. We watched our movement for an hour. After feeling comfortable until the next turn of the tide, we hit the sack (after setting the anchor watch alarm) about three hours after the ordeal began!

We arrived at the Pine Island anchorage at 1230 hours, too early to stop, so we continued on to Palm Cove Marina for a night. We like this marina because it is reasonably priced, has a bus stop right out in front. We could bus to Publix, WalMart or the beach and have in the past. Tonight, we’ll probably just stay onboard!

Paddlewheeler Dock (Palm Valley Canal)

Daytona Beach Ashore (Day 163)

From: Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona Beach, FL 830.7
To: Ft. Matanzas Anchorage, FL MM 792.4
L/L: 29 3 01N 81 14 40W
Distance Traveled: 40.1
Hours Underway: 6:10
Hours Motoring: 6.8
Hours Sailing: 0
Elapsed Time: 6.8
Average Speed: 6.0

We don't see many houseboats cruising on the waterway

Weather: Mix of clouds and sun; temp range high 60 to high 70s; wind SE Building to 20 knots by evening

Comment: Daytona Ashore (http://daytonabeach.com/whattosee.cfm)

The Airport Area is home of the Embry-Riddle Aeronactical University which specializes in aviation degrees which usually lead to airline careers. I know a fantastic young lady who graduated from Embry-Riddle a few years back. She's already made a name for herself in aviation circles.

On the western edge of town is the Daytona International Speedway. The places goes bonkers for weeks surrounding the Daytona 500. For years, they used to race on the beach. In 1959, they moved the race to the speedway. In the early 1900's Louis Cheverolet and Henry Ford found the hard packed sand, gentle slope and a wide expanse of beach to be the perfect venue

for auto racing.

There is also a noted school for professional baseball umpires. We have a nephew who attended the school and is working his way up to the majors.

The Olde Daytona Beach Street, within walking distance of the marina, is totally renovated with pedistrian walkways, riverfront parks, shops and restaurants. There are lots of museums in the area and many free activities.

Daytona boasts a very good public transportation (Votran) system. For a $1.25/person, one can reprovision at the Publix, and have access to malls and shops, all easily accessible by the bus which runs until 2100 hours.

Halifax Harbor Marina http://www.halifaxharbor.net/index.htm) makes a good stop over port.

Northerly Migration (Day 162)

An 18' live aboard vessel in the Titusville, FL anchorage

From: Titusville, FL Anchorage, MM 878.1
To: Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona Beach, FL 830.7
L/L: 39 12 19N 81 00 78W
Distance Traveled: 48.7
Hours Underway: 8.25
Hours Motoring: 8.25
Hours Sailing: 0

Elapsed Time: 8.25
Average Speed: 6.0

Little Toot and big Toot

Weather: Mix of sun and clouds; temp range mid 60s to 80; wind light to start then builds to 20 knots out of the southeast

Comment: The anchorages in Daytona are exposed to the 20+ known southeasterly we are experiencing today. Since we have some business to attend to on tomorrow, we pulled into Halifax Harbor for the night. Our choice gets us out of the “lumpy” anchorages for the night.


This RR bridge, maintained by NASA, is the best maintained RR bridge on the waterway

We enjoyed an easy day on the waterway. As the wind built, the waterway developed a healthy chop. It wasn’t uncomfortable since it was on our stern most of the day.


We passed Ponce Inlet on our way to Daytona Beach

Amusingly, we were with a cohort of 9 boats today, three trawlers and six sailboats. We’re pretty amazed that the spring migration seems to have started. Several of the group were flying the Maple Leaf and headed for Toronto and Montreal.

A Word about Speed (Day 161)

From: Dragon Point Anchorage, Indian Harbor Beach, FL MM 914.2
To: Titusville, FL Anchorage, MM 878.1
L/L: 28 37 31N 80 48 23W
Distance Traveled: 36.7
Hours Underway: 5.3
Hours Motoring: 5.3
Hours Sailing: 0
Elapsed Time: 5.3
Average Speed: 6.9

Weather: Mix of clouds and sun; temp range mid 60s to high 70s; wind out of the east at 15 knots

Comment: Previously, I mentioned that the trawler “Adios” gave the title of slowest boat underway to “SUNSHINE.” Since we weren’t in a hurry, we graciously accepted the award. The truth is, when powering into a foul current, we do not push the 9.9 HP outboard engines that provide SUNSHINE’s auxiliary power. We are happy to take what the conditions allow so as not to overburden the power plants.

Today was a different day. Much as we did yesterday, we enjoyed motor sailing on a broad reach. We unrolled the genoa as soon as we exited the Banana River and rounded Dragon Point. We paced ourselves against a 40’ monohull who unrolled his genoa at the same time as we did. It became quickly apparent that we were motor sailing faster than him. We set our sights on another monohull about 8 miles in front of us.
"Freyja" from clear ahead to clear behind!

It took four hours and twenty-seven miles, but we dusted by “Freyja” without a problem. Anna Marie called “Freyja” on the VHF to ask for clearance to pass to his starboard. We did so without incident and made our way through the Addison Point Bascule Bridge (NOTE: the east span of the west bound lane was opened for repairs and the span was opened about 90%).

We continued on toward the Titusville Swing Bridge and, by this time, we were sufficiently in front of “Freyja” that we each had separate openings.

On the day, we averaged 6.9 knots, which includes the time it took to haul the anchor in the morning and set it in the evening. Take that, “Adios!”