GETTING CLOSE TO GEORGIA

Saturday, April 25

After a nice night on the mooring, surrounded by dolphins, we moved into a slip at St. Augustine Municipal Marina - primarily so that I could get some work done on the boat. First on the list was to replace both start batteries for the main engines. Caught a ride over to the auto parts store and, after a little futzing around about battery sizes, ultimately got 2 new batteries installed. This solved the electrical problem we had been having, and it was nice having the reliability of two brand new batteries.

Next on the list was to replace a 12 volt outlet (like a “cigarette lighter” outlet) up on the bridge. We use my iPad for back-up navigation and to access an ICW guide, so it is nice to keep it on and charged up. The 12 volt adapter we had been using in the outlet did not give adequate amperage, so I replaced the whole unit with a 12 volt double USB outlet which will keep the iPad going all day, and leave an extra port for phone charging, etc..

Since the forecasted rain and thundershowers didn’t materialize by afternoon, I kept going on the list and started installing the cell signal amplifier. This is a three-part system consisting of an external antenna, the 12 volt-powered amplifier and an internal antenna. There are restrictions for placement of the external antenna relative to other antennae, so I decided to replace the old Sirius satellite antenna (which we don’t use) with the cellular one. I also got the amplifier installed and wiring run to connect it to the external antenna, but then ran out of energy.

The new cell amplifier antenna

Elaine’s suggestion of heading into town for a cold beer was too tempting. We ended up having a couple of cold ones, walking around a bit then stopping at a Cuban restaurant for dinner, complete with Sangria. Luckily that gave me time for a short nap back at the boat before the Warriors/Pelican game came on in the marina lounge.

Sunday, April 26

A leisurely start saw us leaving St. Augustine around 9AM. We set a relaxing “trawler” pace of 6-8 knots for the first few hours before stopping for fuel at Palm Cove Marina near Jacksonville.

Elaine doing Physical Therapy on the bridge

We then upped the speed, but fought a strong headwind and unfavorable currents for the whole day. At Fernandina Beach we had to make a decision whether or not to proceed across Cumberland Sound or anchor out for the evening. It was already 4PM, we were tired from the sun and wind and the Sound had pretty rough water conditions with no place to bail out for about another 15 miles, so we pulled into Bell’s Creek and anchored in semi-sheltered water. The only protection around is vast fields of marshes which do calm the water, but don’t do much for protection from the wind.

Bell's Creek anchorage

Plan for tomorrow is get an early start to, hopefully, cross Cumberland Sound while the wind/tide conditions are right, then keep on heading north. The rest of the PDQ Catamaran group is now about a day ahead of us, so I kind of doubt we will be catching up soon, but that’s okay - we have no deadlines…