Vero Beach

Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}27|39.604|N|080|22.311|W|Mooring|Vero Beach{GEND}

Malabar

There were very few boats on the ICW today. Maybe it is because most folks do not go out in this weather and take 15 to 20 knots on the nose, or maybe it is just because most folks are already where they planned to be for Christmas. In any case, we do not mind a smaller crowd and we learned not to make plans about where to be on any date. All we want for Christmas are fair winds and/or a good anchorage!

Only one draw bridge today, all the others were fixed with 65' clearance. For a few hours we had a little of the jib out, sheeted inside the rigging. It gained us half a knot.

For tonight's anchorage, we tucked in behind a spoil island just south of Melbourne. The wind is still blowing strong and the islands protect us from the fetch. There are only about four other boats anchored in this area. We just finished a nice steak dinner and are hoping for a solid night's sleep before we press on tomorrow. We can hear the ocean from here, must be quite a sea breaking.

Love to all,
Dena

Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}27|59.357|N|080|32.817|W|Heading South|Malabar{GEND}

Titusville at Sunset

Several times today we gave thanks to God our timing was such as to be able to duck into Ponce de Leon inlet when the winds went contrary on us. I say that because last night and today the winds were 15 to 20 out of the SE, almost exactly our intended direction on the outside. Going into the wind on the ICW is much more manageable!

We also thanked God that we did not run Hold Fast aground working to get to our anchorage in the wee hours of this morning. We do our best to keep rested during our off watch, but once at anchor this morning and in our regular aft cabin bed, we slept solid from 5 am until about 9 am. Then we heard calls on the radio about a sailboat that was aground on the very corner we were negotiating just before 3 am. It was low tide around 9 am, by the time we had coffee, discussed next destinations and pulled up anchor, the sailboat was free and on its way.

Our miles made today were better than we imagined, although slow going due to the wind on the nose. We got the anchor down off of Titusville just before sunset. Now it is time to make some well deserved dinner and get a more reasonable amount of sleep.

Love to all,
Dena

Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}28|37.793|N|080|48.582|W|Heading South|Titusville{GEND}

Rockhouse Creek

Hey all we anchored in Rockhouse Creek at 4:00am ouch!
Oh well, down the ICW.
Myron
Posted via wifi.
{GMST}29|03.663|N|080|55.896|W|Heading for Ponce|Rockhouse Creek{GEND}

Heading For Ponce Inlet

Well it was a great ride while it lasted. The winds have moved to the south east so we are heading for Ponce and the ICW.
Myron
Posted via wifi.
{GMST}29|15.964|N|080|43.830|W|Heading for Ponce|Bahamas Bound{GEND}

(no subject)

We got off the dock this morning at 6:30 made good time to Mayport.
Myron
Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}30|18.984|N|081|18.977|W|Heading South|Bahamas Bound{GEND}

Home in Jacksonville Again!

What a pleasant stay at Cumberland Island. Just as we were assembling the dingy to go to shore for a hike, we saw our new friends Don and Sharry cruise by in their boat. We met up with them at the docks and the four of us hiked the island for about four hours. The wild horses were indifferent to us, although one colt was curious.

From Heading South - October 2011

Toward the end of the hike we spent time investigating the ruins of the Carnegie mansion. Lucy Carnegie employed more than 300 people. She was set on making the estate self-sustaining, including crops and farm animals. She had houses built for each of her children as they grew older and/or got married. When Lucy died in 1916, the estate was left unattended and in 1959 it burned and was never replaced.

From Heading South - October 2011

Our hike left us hungry and worn out. After dinner we quickly dozed off, but at 3 am we were awakened by the arrival of a cold front. Cold, raining and windy. It set off our anchor alarm like a radio clock. We weighed anchor at 6:45 this morning in order to make the Jacksonville main street bridge before the 4:30 pm closure. It was still dark as we worked through the Cumberland Sound. Myron noted that we should be seeing a red buoy soon, but I was concerned about an unlighted fixture off our bow. Then we realized the light on the red buoy was extinguished and we were heading right for that target in the dark. Crisis averted! We made such good time across the sound that it was still dark as we came upon Fernadina Beach, just as well, there is a lot of industry in that area. For several hours, we ran the ICW as usual.

Just after entering St. John's River from Sister's Creek, Myron mentioned that two individuals driving in a small boat toward us sure looked like Paul and Shari. In fact, it was them! "Pirates" Myron yelled as they raced up on us. We got them aboard and towed "Gretyl." Poor Shari was wet from the ride. It was a welcome treat to just see them - beyond that Paul insisted on taking the helm to give us a break, so we said he was our harbor pilot. Shari brought Publix sub sandwiches for lunch. I realized how hungry I was and felt suddenly ashamed after I gobbled down my food. They brought their stuffies (Bearette and Geofrey) to see our stuffies (Patches and OT), but that is a different story for another time. Since they had seen us off at this point and now caught up with us upon our return five months later, the whole event was surreal. And pretty cool too!

From Heading South - October 2011

We made it to the main street bridge in time, got through just to see the FEC Railroad bridge closing in front of us, trapping us between the RR and the main street bridges for at least 15 minutes. Paul departed on Gretyl for the marina, Shari stayed on board so we could continue our visit. Glad she did too as another pair of eyes were helpful in getting through the Ortega River Bridge. It is under construction and has only one leaf open. A 25 foot span to squeeze a 13 foot beam vessel, in wind and current. Myron made it look easy. As we came into the Ortega Yacht Club and Marina (OYCM) we received a warm welcome from our dock family and dock master. Even Otis (RJ's dog) gave us a big smile and welcome. It was as if we had been gone for a long time, but never left. Either way, it was good to be home! Fred took us to Moon River to address our five month craving for that infamous pizza.

We are full, happy, secure and ready to sleep for a day.

Love to all,
Dena

Posted via wifi.
{GMST}30|16.507|N|081|42.960|W|in the slip|Jacksonville{GEND}

Back at Cumberland Island

We were quite tempted at Wrightsville Beach to head offshore at Masonboro Inlet. We watched Southern Passage, a tall masted catamaran, head out from there, but we stuck to our plans of heading offshore from the Cape Fear Inlet. As I noted in our last blog, the tides worked well for us and we probably gained an hour with the Cape Fear Inlet route.

When I wrote Monday night, we had only let a little out on the jib, more than a T-shirt, but not by much, and we were making five knots. The wind subsequently died and we were at the mercy of disorganized seas with no wind to stop the rock and roll. At dusk, the wind came in from the north at about 30 knots, a little more than forecast. The stiff wind and new direction made it a little more rowdy during the night and we saw up to 8.4 knots. It took several hours for the seas to surrender to their new marching orders. "Windy" did well for the most part, but needed some assistance to surf the conflicting seas. Myron mentioned that it was probably just as well that we could not see the seas. I recalled that comment when I came up for my watch Tuesday morning and witnessed the seas breaking white all around. When dealing with collision avoidance with vessel traffic off of Charleston, the cargo ship captain said he spotted us among all the white caps. During his night watch, Myron was disappointed that Windy was not driving Hold Fast better, requireing Myron to hand steer. Come daylight, he discovered that the pin from one of the pulleys was gone and all Windy's input was never making it to the rudder. The pin was replaced and Windy was back at work in short order. It was a good thing too because we were having quite a run, regularly surfing at 7 or 8 knots, occasionally seeing 9 knots, and at one point I surfed at 10.6 knots. That sort of action was fun, because it was during daylight.

On Tuesday night we lost the wind again, then it filled in from the NE, at first 15 knots later excelling to 30 knots, producing the unfortunate affect on the seas. The good part about the high winds is that we made better time than planned. We could see St. Simon's Island at sunrise on Tuesday. After a wild ride into St. Simon's inlet, during which time we saw Southern Passage heading out (they must have beat us by a day), we poked around the planned anchorage about 12 noon. As much as we wanted to stop, take a hot shower and scarf down a good meal, the anchorage was not agreeable to either of us because it was rough and had poor holding ground. We both agreed to press on another five hours to Cumberland Island, even though that meant working through the St. Andrews Sound in dicey seas. It was only a short amount of pain to gain a really fun romp down the beautiful Cumberland River. We are transforming Hold Fast back to the anchor arrangement verses her offshore set up, pining for our hot showers and salivating for our dinner. Hold Fast is covered with salt from the rowdy ride. We were so pleased to have the hard top and enclosure during our cold and wet ride.

I think tomorrow will be a day to take a break and go for a walk on the island. We have not been off Hold Fast since we left Bath last Wednesday, October 26th.

We cannot express how excited we are to be so close to Jacksonville.

Love to all,
Dena

Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}30|45.674|N|081|28.410|W|Anchored Cumberland|Cumberland{GEND}

Allmost There

Just a quick position update all is well should drop anchor around noon.
Myron

Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}31|08.905|N|081|12.759|W|underway|Allmost There{GEND}

Passage update

Just a quick position update all is well.
Myron

Posted via Ham radio.
{GMST}32|38.300|N|079|24.634|W|underway|At Sea{GEND}