Dungeness Ruins, Cumberland Island

Somehow I haven`t found time to update the blog regularly, even though we have been here for three days. I don`t know where the time goes. I did have time to upload some pics in the photo gallery, though.
We left Charleston Tuesday (Nov 9th) morning for an overnight hop down the coast.
We headed out Charleston harbor, a slow trip against the incoming tide, but clear of the jetties, we bore off to the south-east for Florida. We had three possible destinations; St Augustine, St John`s River (Jacksonville) or Fernandina (just on the Georgia border) depending on wind. Without wind we could only reach Fernandina before dark the next night. And there was little wind. Through the day we read and enjoyed the warm weather and the respite from traffic on the ICW. As night fell, we chatted with one of the five other boats that left with us, learning that they had exactly the same plan as us. And it was obvious that Plan C, Fernandina was the right choice, so we altered course and motor-sailed through the night.
At dawn we were about 10 miles from the entrance to St Mary`s River, and one of the heaviest fogs we have ever encountered set in. So with furled sails, we edged in, running from buoy to buoy at dead slow and periodically announcing our presence with a `Securitay`announcement on the VHF. A few boats ghosted in and out of our sight in our 100`world. With radar and electronic navigation, we were safely in the harbor and decided to head up to Cumberland Island for the night. Just as the anchor went down, about noon, the fog lifted to reveal a bright sunny day.
The dinghy was launched and we had a great walk stretching our legs for the first time in two days. We landed and walked down to the ruins of Dungeness, the mansion built by Thomas and Lucy Carnegie. Then down to the beach and back aboard for a beautiful evening.
In the morning we called Seabird on the SSB only to learn that they had just come in from an overnight sail from Beaufort (pronounced Bew-fort) South Carolina. So we agreed to meet in St Marys, a small village on the Georgia side of the river, about five miles away. Anchored in the river, we spent the day exploring the pretty village.
Friday morning we raised the anchor and sailed another five miles to Fernandina, Fla. We anchored and went ashore for a walk and arranged for a rental car for the weekend. Its time to do some major provisioning for the Bahamas, so we decided to tyake advantage of the convenience of the good grocery (read wine) stores here. Friday night we re-connected with friends, Jim Bissle and Beth Lusby from Halifax (Madcap, a Bayfield 35) and Steve Swanson and Sandy Eberle (Princess, a Hinckley Bermuda 40), and Bruce and Nancy Montgomery (Seabird, Bristol 35.5). It was great to catch up, learn everyone`s cruising plans, and have a great meal (pulled pork) for dinner. Saturday was grocery shopping and touring. Sunday we went to church at a local Presbyterian church then more shopping.
On Monday our plans changed as Jeannie felt a tooth bothering her. So we got a dentist recommendation and had a visit. The good news was that they could attend to it, but not until today. But its now done, and while she was having that attended to, I finally completed the stereo replacemen, a project that started two years ago with the purchase of a new one, installation started last month, and finally completed today! My job list has one thing left... replace port screens with no-see-um proof screening. Soon...
I have begun listening to Chris Parker for weather. He broadcasts on the SSB radio and gives weather forecasts for the Bahamas and Caribbean. It sounds like we may have a good weather window next week to cross to the northern Bahamas. We will leave from Lake Worth, so tomorrow we`ll start south again. We have gotten stopped here, having been in the area for five days, so time to move on. But Fernandina is a beautiful small town and we have enjoyed it.