s/v Far Niente - Cruising Log

Spring 2015 - The Florida Keys

11 March 2015 | Marathon, FL
19 February 2015 | Marathon, FL
09 January 2015 | Vaca Key - Marathon, FL
10 December 2014 | West Palm Beach, FL
01 December 2014 | West Palm Beach
20 November 2014 | West Palm Beach, FL
05 October 2014 | Port Royal, SC
24 February 2014
17 February 2014 | South Carolina
01 June 2013 | Port Royal Landing Marina
16 May 2013 | Anchored Cocoa, FL
26 April 2013 | Marathon, FL
21 December 2012 | Harbour Cay Club, Marathon, FL
07 December 2012 | Mooring #30, St. Augustine Municipal Marina
31 August 2012 | Dataw Island Marina, SC
13 June 2012 | Conch House Marina, St. Augustine, FL
08 June 2012 | New Smyrna Beach, FL
03 June 2012 | Harbour Isle Marina, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA
29 May 2012 | Old Bahama Bay Marina at West End

Our Winter 2013 Southern Tour Begins

07 December 2012 | Mooring #30, St. Augustine Municipal Marina
Jeff
Our Winter 2013 Southern Tour Begins

Departure/Arrival: 1:25 PM Dec-5 Port Royal / 2:20 PM Dec-6 St. Augustine
Distance: 172 nm (130 nm offshore, 42 nm ICW)
Time: 24:55

It appeared as if we had a 24 hour window to make our way to Florida. If we missed it we ma have found ourselves in SC for another week or more.

So we left. Which is what you always need to do if you want to go somewhere.

Timing was perfect (as I had planned) and we caught the Beaufort River ebb tide and roared toward the mighty Atlantic Ocean at 8.5+ knots, although Yani the Yanmar had a lot to do with that. Wind you ask? What wind? The river and Port Royal sound were glass smooth and we trekked along we saw countless porpoises feeding in the ebb.

South of Tybee Island about 9 miles off shore we dodged a few freighters headed to Savannah. The sea was still very calm, the sun set and we had a nice warm meal in the cockpit before the dark rolled in. Cloud cover built and blocked out the moon.

Motoring south we employed our radar to make way as it was so dark no horizon was visible except back north. It was just like sailing in the fog.

Around 2:00 am we were 92 nm out of Port Royal and the ocean swells began to build. We had a bit of wind now, sporadic in speed and direction. Somewhere out of the S or SE to ESE and from 5 -10 knots. Yani kept plugging along. The swells started with about 2-3’ and 7-10 sec period. As we progressed south toward the St. John’s River (Port of Jacksonville, FL) the easterly swells (on the beam I might add) built to 3-6’ and the period shortened. It made for a very lumpy ride.

Approaching the St. John’s River we heard 2 freighters call Jacksonville Pilots. We eaves dropped on the conversation and learned both of these freighters would board pilots and enter the channel at 7:30 am. Which of course was our ETA. So we headed out to sea and slowed down planning to enter the channel right behind these freighters.

As we entered the St. John’s River channel, which passes the Mayport Naval Air Station, we encountered the river ebb tide. Meanwhile the sea swells proceeded on our stern (we had turned to the west) and collided with the ebb tide to create some impressive steep, short waves. Yani was full throttle and making 5-6 knots while the 13 ton Far Niente was being tossed about. To the rear of us I spotted what appeared to be a U.S. Navy Vessel about 2 miles behind us. Who needs a roller coaster?!

Once inside the jetty things calmed down and we motored up the St. John’s toward the intersection where we jumped in the ICW and headed 35 miles south to St. Augustine.

We made the 2:00 pm opening of the famous Bridge of Lions and were secured to a ball in the mooring field of the St. Augustine Municipal Marina.

I fast forwarded to 5:00 and we cracked open a couple Coronas. It was sunny and St. Augustine with a nice 68 degree breeze. Time to relax and get caught up on some lost sleep.
Comments
Vessel Name: formerly - Far Niente
Vessel Make/Model: formerly - Island Packet 45 (#33)
Hailing Port: Beaufort, SC
Crew: Marjorie and Jeff Graham
About: CRUISERS June 2010 to May 2015.
formerly - Far Niente's Photos - Main
A collection of photos from spring in the Bahamas
6 Photos
Created 1 April 2012
4 Photos
Created 26 January 2012
A collection of photos taken along the way as we made our way from the Chesapeake to South Carolina
17 Photos
Created 9 November 2011
Pictures of the newly installed cockpit grate.
10 Photos
Created 7 July 2011
Photos of JFK's Presidential sailing yacht, Manitou
10 Photos
Created 26 June 2011
Photos of the various places we are stopping as we make our way back north for summer 2011.
3 Photos
Created 28 April 2011
A collection of photos, including some from the Turtle Hospital.
5 Photos
Created 26 March 2011
Pictures of a variety of projects underway or completed on Far Niente
3 Photos
Created 7 March 2011
Photos from the Florida Keys.
19 Photos
Created 19 February 2011
Photos from Florida 2011
10 Photos
Created 1 February 2011
First batch of pix from our stay in Beaufort and a few from our previous stop, Charleston. Maybe the 2 best stops the entire journey.
18 Photos
Created 2 December 2010
We really like Georgetown.
12 Photos
Created 10 November 2010
A couple photos taken by Tom Jones (original owner of Far Niente when it was Christiana) Tom was on a fall delivery on a Grand Banks Eastbay 38 from the Great Lakes to Annapolis. On a very windy, cool early Sunday morning 50 miles north of Annapolis, they were motoring south on the Chesapeake at 23 kts and just happened to spot us exiting the Sassafras River headed for Annapolis for the sailboat show. What are the odds? A chance but great encounter none the less.
2 Photos
Created 1 November 2010
2 Photos
Created 17 October 2010
Photos from our stop at Cape May, NJ
10 Photos
Created 27 September 2010
Photos from our stop in NY and NJ (Liberty Landing)
5 Photos
Created 14 September 2010
A selection of photos from our stay in Troy and Catskill, NY including stepping our mast.
18 Photos
Created 10 September 2010
10 Photos
Created 20 August 2010
5 Photos
Created 19 August 2010
A couple of pictures of our ongoing excellent dining experience and the Credit Village Marina we are staying at
10 Photos
Created 11 August 2010
A few photos from Port Dalhousie.
6 Photos
Created 9 August 2010
Pictures from our transit of the Welland Canal, down bound from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario
11 Photos
Created 9 August 2010
Photos from our leg from DeTour to Lake St. Clair
8 Photos
Created 27 July 2010
A couple pix from our stop at DeTour.
2 Photos
Created 24 July 2010
Photos from the Mack Island and the after regatta party
7 Photos
Created 20 July 2010
Collection of photos from June 22 to July 17 from our travels around Charlevoix, Beaver Island and Mackinaw.
17 Photos
Created 18 July 2010
A few photos of some of the things we changed/added to Far Niente in the summer of 2009.
3 Photos
Created 3 April 2010
5 Photos
Created 21 March 2010
Interior photos for friends and family who have not been aboard....YET!
18 Photos
Created 22 February 2010
Pix from the summer 2009 sailing season
8 Photos
Created 21 February 2010