{"id":1230,"date":"2015-12-08T17:26:33","date_gmt":"2015-12-08T17:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.idylltime.com\/?p=1230"},"modified":"2015-12-18T18:18:09","modified_gmt":"2015-12-18T18:18:09","slug":"fernandina-to-stuart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.idylltime.com\/?p=1230","title":{"rendered":"Fernandina to Stuart"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fernandina to St. Augustine:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Looks like we will be motoring on the ICW today.\u00a0 We had hoped to head offshore again this morning but the seas are not cooperating.\u00a0 It is actually 20 miles shorter on the ICW.\u00a0 We just dislike this route due to the shallow depths and also the heavy boat traffic with everyone going south.<\/p>\n

The tides are cooperating with us today.\u00a0 It looks like we will have mid to high tides for most of the day.\u00a0 With a five foot swing, this makes getting through the trouble spots much easier.\u00a0 The dolphins join us once again and entertain us with their antics.\u00a0 Our Active Captain computer app is invaluable.\u00a0 Not only does it locate all the problem areas, it also has comments from other boaters as to what they actually found and advice on where the deeper water is located.\u00a0 What did we ever do before Active Captain?<\/p>\n

We are following a sailboat through one of the problem bends of the river.\u00a0 Our Active Captain says stay well away from the red markers which we do and see plenty of water under our keel.\u00a0 The sailboat however must not have gotten the message or is not paying attention.\u00a0 He not only goes near the red marker but actually crosses it and is now out of the channel. Jeff and I are both in disbelief as we see him do this.\u00a0 We say to each other \u201cHe is going to get stuck\u201d.\u00a0 One second later his boat lurches upward and he is hard aground.\u00a0 Not a good day for him.<\/p>\n

Later in the day, we spot this boat partially sunk.\u00a0 It gives us shivers up our spine. \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0179\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/p>\n

After crossing the St. Augustine Inlet, the familiar St. Augustine Bridge of Lions rises into view. \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0184\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n We are able to duck under the bridge with inches to spare without an opening by lowering our antennas.\u00a0 Our mooring ball assignment #40 is soon snagged.\u00a0 We couldn\u2019t ask for a better location.\u00a0 We are close to the dinghy dock and also on the inside row with a clear view of town. We are also out of the current with no other boats beside us. We lucked out on this one. The mooring field is huge and some of the balls are over a mile away from town.\u00a0 The city does a great job with the marina and moorings.\u00a0 They offer complementary launch service and also have a pump out boat that will come out to your mooring site.\u00a0 We enjoy our four day stay here while visiting with family.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Total Miles Today: 54<\/p>\n

Total Miles This Year: 2669<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

St. Augustine to Daytona Beach:<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We unleash our mooring tether at first light.\u00a0 High tide is quickly approaching and we need to get through several problem areas with as much water as possible.\u00a0 Looks like everyone else has the same idea.\u00a0 We take our place behind about 10 other sailboats also heading south.\u00a0 \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0201\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n We had hoped to make an overnight run to Stuart but the seas are not cooperating once again.\u00a0 On the ICW, the run will take four days compared to one overnight run had we been able to go outside.\u00a0 With 6 foot seas, it is a no brainer to stay on the ICW.\u00a0 The day goes quickly and we are soon tied up along the face dock of Loggerhead Marina in Daytona.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Total miles today: 54<\/p>\n

Total Miles This Year: 2723<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daytona Beach to Eau Galley<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We are once again up before sunrise doing our engine check and preparing IT for the long day ahead.\u00a0 One of the two bridges that we need an opening for does not open between 7:30 to 8:30.\u00a0 We push away from the dock at 7 AM and are to the bridge by 7:15 for an opening.\u00a0 We soon catch up to many of the sailboats also heading south.\u00a0 One by one, we radio them for a slow pass.\u00a0 Not a one of them answers our calls.\u00a0 We are used to this by now. \u00a0We have found most sailboats never have their radio turned on.\u00a0 The dolphins are again playing in our bow wake and keep us entertained all morning. \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0234\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/p>\n

We had an unusual experience this afternoon.\u00a0 Three sailboats appeared to be traveling abreast, as they were heading directly towards us.\u00a0 Two of the sailboats passed by uneventfully while the third remained on our side of the channel in a head on situation.\u00a0 After many attempts to hail the sailboat on the VHF, we execute an evasive maneuver out of the channel to avoid a head on collision.\u00a0 As we got closer to the sailboat, we see that he is anchored in the middle of the channel.\u00a0 Once alongside, we yell at the sailboater and ask what is going on.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why are they anchored in the middle of the channel and not answering the VHF?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The wife is sitting at the helm with her radio in hand. We tell her to answer us on the VHF.\u00a0 She then answers on Channel 16 and says that they are having engine problems.\u00a0\u00a0 The Coast Guard overhearing our calls, radios the sailboat and requests information from them regarding the nature of their distress.\u00a0 Sailboaters do some crazy stuff.<\/p>\n

Just before sunset, we ease out of the ICW and anchor off Eau Galley.\u00a0 Manny is given another try at marking our anchor.\u00a0 It seems our modifications to him were good.\u00a0 He is now happily floating upright. \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0222-copy\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/p>\n

Total Miles Today: 83<\/p>\n

Total Miles This Year: 2806<\/p>\n

Eau Galley to Ft. Pierce<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

It is another gorgeous day on the ICW.\u00a0 Where are all the boats today?\u00a0 We have seen very few on the water. \u00a0\u00a0This section of the waterway is relatively problem free with few depth or navigational issues so we can relax and enjoy the day. \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0197-copy\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/p>\n

Around noon, just as we pass a small Coast Guard boat, his flashing blue lights come on and he is motioning at us.\u00a0 Well at 10 mph, we know we were not speeding, so it must be a routine boarding.\u00a0 In all of our 20,000 plus miles of cruising, this is the first time we have ever been boarded. The officer tells us to maintain speed and heading while the little boat comes alongside IT.\u00a0 Once the officer is aboard, he ask to see our registration papers.\u00a0 We have everything readily available in our red book.\u00a0 He is impressed that all of our documents are so well organized. Next, he ask to see the holding tanks.\u00a0 He is checking to make sure nothing is dumped overboard.\u00a0 He brought along some tracer die which he puts in the tank to see if it shows up in the water once the heads are flushed.\u00a0 With our 100 gallon holding tank, this is not an issue for us.\u00a0 The Officer is very nice and we enjoy talking with him.\u00a0 Sorry there is no picture of this.\u00a0 I asked, but the Officer preferred that I not take his photo.<\/p>\n

The remainder of our day was non eventful.\u00a0 Our anchorage tonight is in Ft. Pierce behind a group of condos just off the ICW. \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0192\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Total Miles Today: 52<\/p>\n

Total Miles This Year: 2858<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ft. Pierce to Stuart:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today is a very short 24 mile trip.\u00a0 We time our departure so that we will reach the problematic \u201cCrossroads\u201d leading into the St. Lucie River and Stuart at high tide.\u00a0 Just last month, a boat load of Haitians grounded here and the boat was there for several days.\u00a0\u00a0 We reach this area just as planned, a few minutes before high tide.\u00a0 Our depth sounder is screaming at us with only six feet under the keel.\u00a0 We make it through without contacting the sandy bottom but I sure wouldn\u2019t want to go through here on a low tide.<\/p>\n

Sunset Bay Marina will be our home for the next month.\u00a0 \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0004-2\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n This is Krogen central. Many of the Krogen owners spend their winters here or use it as a staging ground for the Bahamas.\u00a0 The large city marina is jammed full of boats.\u00a0 Reservations are made at least one year in advance to secure these coveted slips.\u00a0 With the large concertation of boats here, many marine contractors call Stuart home.\u00a0 While here, Idyll Time will be getting a totally new interior (new rugs, cushions, pillows and drapes).\u00a0 Scotty, our boat guru, has several projects to complete.\u00a0 Two coats of varnish on our cap rail is also on the plan.\u00a0 It will be a busy and expensive month aboard IT.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! \n\t\t

\n\t\t\t \t\n \"dsc_0005-copy\"\n\n \t<\/a>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Total Miles Today: 24<\/p>\n

Total Miles This Year: 2900<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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