"THE OCEAN IS SO LARGE...AND MY BOAT SO SMALL!"

   When I last blogged, we were in Hilton Head, SC, enjoying a really nice marina and drinking the "free" wine provided by the dock hands. Maybe it was the wine or the dreaded anticipation of a tedious  3 day motor(sail) through Georgia (where the ICW meanders like a really large snake, occasionally actually heading the southbound boat NORTH as it winds around the low country streams), but the night of our arrival, Diane pretty much decided that she was ready to head offshore once again and tackle an overnight run from Hilton Head to Fernandina Beach, FL. A distance of right at 110 miles, this could not be done in a single day and would take about 16 hours. Since I wanted to arrive at the Fernandina Beach channel during daylight, we needed to leave Hilton Head around 2-3 pm. Added to her anxiety, the channel leading to sea from Hilton Head is just a bit tricky and should only be attempted during the day. Still, it was totally doable and Diane was determined to go, especially since there was a small weather window where the winds and seas would be very low, a bright full moon to guide us and an easy, straight shot between ports.

Moonrise in Atlantic

   We checked the weather one last time as we cast off our lines and our last excuse not to head offshore was gone...the weather remained perfect! Even the "tricky" run to the main channel offshore was a non-event and we quickly set course for Florida. Since both of us knew it was crucial I get some sleep during this overnight, I set watches to ensure I was in the cockpit during potentially critical times and still would be able to rest.  As the sun set and moon rose over the horizon, my first mate served a wonderful, hot dinner of homemade turkey noodle soup...it really hit the spot as the temperatures began to drop! In the distance, we would both see and hear (on the radio) several other sailboats, all headed in the same general direction. This gave both of us a slight sense of security, knowing we really weren't alone on the Atlantic!
  The only part of the sail where I had any concern was our nighttime crossing of the main shipping lane for the city of Brunswick, GA, about half way to Fernandina Beach. I'd checked and only 1-2 ships transit that channel every day, so I had no problems having Diane on duty in the cockpit when we would approach that channel. OOPS! Of course, the only ship of the day just happened to be headed to Brunswick just as we were approaching the channel! Diane did the right thing and called me to the cockpit early to help us figure out both what those strange lights in the distance were. Both of us were totally baffled for quite a while. Even with a good radar fix on this ship the lights were confusing. I finally called this "unknown" ship on the radio....of course with no answer! However, a few seconds later, a boat delivering the channel pilot to this ship came on the radio and informed me what the ship was doing and gave me advice on how to avoid. After that it was a non-event as this really large automobile carrier slipped by behind us. Just another day (or night!) on the water!

A smiling Diane at end of offshore trip!

   As predicted, we neared the entrance to Fernandina Beach just as a crimson orange glow in the east signaled the start of a new day. After a bit of maneuvering around several working shrimp boats trailing nets a very long way behind, we made it to the city mooring field and after securing the boat and eating a hearty breakfast....crashed until mid-afternoon!
  We spent 3 days in this, the most northern port in Florida and had a ball! F-Beach has great restaurants, very nice people and even the oldest bar/saloon in the state. Of course, that saloon allows smoking and every time we tried to go in, were beaten back by the smell of stale cigarette smoke!
  Magic is now in St. Augustine, FL where we have spent the last 4 days. This is, by far, our favorite stop of the trip and we have spent a lot of time exploring the city, shopping and, of course, sampling the local food and adult beverages. More in my next blog!
  The best news right now is the temperatures have risen into the 70's and we are sitting around in shorts and t-shirts most of the time! We both feel like we've really arrived and are looking forward to our continued journey south.