OUTWARD HOUND!

           

Finally, we cast off the lines and were underway—destination, St Augustine.  Two hours from the dock we turned Jenny off (Jenny being the iron jenny or motor).  We were making a consistent 6.5 knots or a rousing 7 ½ miles an hour!  After an hour or so at that speed, we had to shorten sail and slow down since we didn’t want to arrive at St A at 3:30 AM.  Even so, we would arrive on an outgoing tide which I wanted to avoid.

            Eight thirty the next day found us at the inlet for St Augustine.  The water was very choppy due to the outgoing tide, but thankfully it was nothing like a washing machine.  By 9:30, we were tied up to a mooring ball right in front of the St Augustine historic district and enjoying our celebratory rum and ready for a nap.  Bruno wasn’t happy, but he held his water, for a while anyway.  Foolishly, we opted not to go ashore and that last drop of water filled his little bladder to overflowing and he let go.  He chose to ignore the “tinkle turf” that we’ve tried so hard to train him to and peed in the salon.

            Overnight, the blow that was forecast blew in with a fury.  Forty knot winds gusting to gale force rocked the boat.  The rigging was howling and halyards slapped the mast and spreaders.  The wind blew for 30 hours.  During the storm, a trimaran broke loose and was blown into the Bridge of Lions.  Somehow it was forced under the bridge and the current later swept it back against the bridge.  It was a total loss.  A couple of days later, Sea Town floated the boat and towed it to the scrap yard.

            Our stay at St Augustine was pleasant.  We assembled the dinghy so we could go ashore at our convenience.  Bruno liked that!  We went to Sailors’ Exchange and found several things we needed for the boat (You always need something, even if you don’t know what it is!).  We had a nice lunch with some tasty sangria on St George’s Street.  St Augustine is one of the most photogenic cities anywhere. 

It gave us several good images of doors and windows and some nonsense as well.

             

            Unfavorable winds and seas for the next week dictated our course.  We would not be able to go to Ft Pierce on the ocean but would have to go down the dreaded ICW.  Actually, the calm waters on the waterway and well marked channel have made the trip rather pleasant.  So, we arrived at New Smyrna Beach to spend a couple of days. 

Friends, Bill and Jesse, from Brunswick tied up next to us.  They were taking Jim and Ellie’s boat s/v Finnirish to Ft Lauderdale.  We hope to see Jim and Ellie when we get to Ft Lauderdale.