Sunday, December 12, 2010

Fernandina Harbor Marina is near the mouth of the Amelia River on the Georgia, Florida border. It is on the intersection of the ICW and the outlet to sea. Unlike the last time we were here, the traffic is much greater. We have seen no boats heading north. Walking the docks the past few nights has been fun just learning the ultimate destinations of most boats. Most just say "warmer" weather. Few have a specific spot. That is a good since the fronts appear to be fairly regular and strong. We are expecting a good blow tonight and it looks like that will happen.
The huge ship to windward and across the dock from us is blocking the wind crossing a long fetch. So, it also blocks waves that are breaking over the dock. For the moment at least we are not critical of that wall of steel blocking our view. The Captain leaned over the docking bridge rail and suggested that because of the wind block we owe them a beer tomorrow. I thought about asking him to move the ship about 20 feet forward so as to completely block the wind but decided to take what we can get. Since our mast sticks up above her bow we are still heeled over 5 degrees tonight as I write this. The wind gusts are hitting 45 knots and that will make for boat movement equal to a night at sea. We get the boat motion without standing watches. We are taking mist on the dodger that is forming sea salt crystals as if we were at sea. I doubled all dock lines and fitted the enclosure so that we keep the salt mist from the cockpit, or maybe not. In short, this is as cold as when we started the cruise in January. We need to get south but it would have to be over 500 miles to see any warmer temps. To heck with it, we will stay here.