Off the Florida Coast!!!
24 November 2006 | 30:331N 081:04W
Jim Lea
I can't make degree symbols, so when I write 30:33N, that means 30 degrees, 33 minutes North latitude. But what's more, it also means we're off the FLORIDA COAST!! And it's warmer! I forgot to mention that we were in South Carolina for a record setting event... the earliest snowfall on record! But that's all past now. Just a fading memory. Its 2:45 am, and I'm on watch as we work our way in a generally south-westerly direction. Looking at the coast from South Carolina to Northern Florida, you will see that it sweeps in a large arc to the west. By going offshore we accomplish a few thing; first the distance is shorter, not that much, about 20 miles. But the ICW in Georgia is not well maintained, and has many shallow spots. Many cruisers report running aground in mid-channel unless they wait for high tide. And the tides are another thing to be avoided. Georgia has much higher tides than the rest of the coast. Not like the Bay of Fundy, but a 9' tide is normal. And high tides mean strong currents. And the last benefit of offshore is that we can travel at night. That's not possible on the ICW as it is a narrow channel that winds its way round and round. One offshore benefit we aren't enjoying is sailing... its flat calm, so we're motoring again. Time to change the engine oil again! And now the port (left, red) running light is out. I fixed the starboard one last month, and its fine, and I imagine that the port is suffering the same problem... connections that have corroded off. Just a short job, but not one to be done at night and at sea. Since we left Beaufort (the exit is referred to as Port Royal Sound), we have been following another sail boat who is obviously going to St Augustine too. We have stayed just over 3 miles behind him all night. I can follow his stern light, and also see him on the radar, which we run constantly at night. It is also useful in the daylight if you are near any commercial traffic. By using a plotting feature, it's possible to track targets relative to your position and determine how close you will pass. It can be done with a hand-bearing compass, but the radar is easier (and neater fun!). With the compass, an unchanging bearing means you are on a collision course! So it had better change as you come closer. But we have only seen two commercial ships today, both anchored about 15 miles off Savannah. A while ago, I was looking at some bright lights glowing obviously on shore (we're about 30 miles off at the moment)and assumed they were the lights of Brunswick, Georgia. so I took a bearing and plotted it. Wrong! Brunswick was near, but not nearly so bright. These lights were coming from a submarine base at a place called King's Bay, just inside Georgia above the Florida border. When we left Port Royal Sound, we passed by a Marine Corps base. The military installations are everywhere along the coast. We finished our Thanksgiving turkey dinner, complete with stuffing, and it was fun. Then I went to bed about 8 pm, and Jeannie took the first watch to midnight. I then take the midnight to 5 am watch, and go back to bed for a few hours. Then we'll be on approach to St Augustine, so we'll both be up. Once anchored, another short nap, then up for the day. We do it that way because, if there's anything I'm good at, it's sleeping. I can nap, and that means that interruptions aren't a problem. When traveling for business, I could often be asleep before the plane took off. But for going into St Augustine, we will both be on deck, as it can be a tricky entrance. It' like many of the inlets in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida are shallow, and the channel changes constantly, so the charts don't show the details, as they would probably have changed by thr time the chart is printed. So the buoys showing the channel aren't shown on the chart. We have a booklet that talks only about the inlets, but it still cautions you that you really have to figure it out when you get there. The best plan is, if possible, to follow someone else (assuming they know the route). But we will be arriving at high tide with no wind (and consequently, we hope, no waves). That's the other problem with these inlets... if the tide is running against the wind, short steep waves can quickly build in the shallow water, making them impassible. But our entry tomorrow should be straightforward. Based on our current speed and position, we'll be off the entrance about 10 am. At least that's the plan. Can you tell that I have time to kill???