Wednesday 19th December St Augustine

I decided over the weekend that Tuesday would be the best day to leave with West to North West winds of 10-20 knots forecast, so had a last walk around St Marys; 

White Pelecans St Marys

Jack in the Graveyard at St Marys

Marce and Jack left on Monday and went down the intracoastal, I sat tight through a blustery (South winds) afternoon and evening, Tuesday started with winds 15-20 gusting 25 so I decided to see what it was like once we got to the entrance at Cumberland sound and if it was still too windy head down inside on the intracoastal waterway. Raising the anchor at 1pm (the tidal currents run up to 3knots) to get best use of the outgoing tide, we made good time with just the jib out 

leaving St Marys

and at the Sound the winds were down to the forecast 10-20 knots from the North West so we had a fine sail for awhile until the wind eased too much; we averaged just over 3knots for the 20 hours of the journey, there was very little swell and a fine if chilly, once the moon had set at 11pm, clear night.

Sunset off Jacksonville

Fishing boats off St Augustine at dawn

The only worrying time was off Jacksonville where three cargo boats were closing on me at the same time, two coming out and one going in, but we made it through without incident only using a little more fuel and arrived at the entrance to St Augustine at 8am and after carefully feeling our way in through the shallows which are only sparsely marked, picked up a mooring beside the Bridge of Lions at 9am with Jacks very welcome help; having secured the boat and inflated the dingy I went ashore to register and take a welcome shower (included in the cost of the mooring) on a glorious sunny day.

Moored off the Bridge of Lions

 

Thursday 13th December St Marys Georgia

Today is a cold overcast and wet day, so I am sheltering in the visitor centre which is pleasantly warm and has wi-fi. A couple of ago Marce and Jack hired a car and asked if I would like to take a trip down the coast to St Augustine, which was a lovely day out; since this will probably be my next stop I was able to look at available moorings, as anchorage space is very limited; otherwise I have just been hovering keeping warm and dry.

Farmers market St Marys

St Marys

St Marys

St Marys

Anchorage St Marys

White Pelecan St Marys

Christmas lights St Marys

Marce and Jack St Augustine

Saturday 8th December St Marys Georgia

With some favourable wins forecast I  decided it was time to leave consequently I arose at 5am on Thursday 6^th and raised anchor, to make best use of the outgoing current, raising the main before leaving Charleston we made good time getting out of the entrance, avoiding a tug and towed barge taking up most of the channel. The swell was behind us at 2-2 ½ m with 15 t0 20 knots of wind also North East, giving 4-6knots of speed, however with the wind here meant I could not use both sails and opted for the main, but with the seastate we were screwing about and after a couple of jibes the gooseneck parted (about midday) so the main was dropped and tied up and the jib pulled out and speed was maintained. The wind was forecast to ease overnight and Friday, however it did not cooperate and with the autopilot overheating I was at the helm most of the time, it did mean that we were approaching St Marys entrance by 10am on Friday, after a very dark night, the only bright side the dolphins who kept reappearing most of Thursday afternoon and overnight. The coast was wreathed in mist and making out the entrance channel was impossible until well into it, keeping out of the main channel I was passed by four Coast Guard cutters on the way in, and was very relieved when we finally came round the last bend in the St Marys river and found the anchorage with only a few boats (about 1.30pm) dropping the hook, digging it in, making a cuppa, ensuring the anchor is holding and turning in, this leg certainly took it out of me and I slept well, which is rare on first landfall. After replacing the gooseneck this morning, and inflating the dingy, I have come ashore and found a small farmers market on the riverfront and the library about 2miles out of town, to log in; I will post some picks next time.

Tuesday 4th December Charleston

Just been for another walk around Charleston, every street brings different aspects to this interesting town which encourages one (well me anyway) to walk a bit further.

 On the way back I was honored with an osprey catching his supper a short distance away.

Sunday 2nd December Charleston

Well I have been here for a few days now, everything in this town is a long way away from the anchorage, however every street is different and photogenic;

Anchorage

 I got a chill a couple of days ago and spent a day and a half in bed, but am up and about again, moving a bit slower for a while. Last night (Saturday evening) there was a parade of boats which was spectacular in its size and spectacle, but photography from a boat at night doesn’t work; today there was a Christmas parade in town which was quite a spectacle.