Time&TideTravels: Fernandina Beach and Cumberland Island

April 21, 2013

We left Jacksonville on cold and windy morning and headed to Fernandina Beach. By the time we got there, the winds were blowing 25+mph and gusting to 40+ mph! We tried to get a mooring but the mooring field was full. Anchoring in the wind was not an option, so we headed into the Fernandina Beach Marina. Thankfully they were able to get us on the inside of the break wall. As we approached our slip I noticed it was just big enough that we could fit into it, Gary had to parallel park the boat and he did a great job. The dock hands even shook his hand and told him he did a great job of parking in such bad conditions in such a small space.

We went for little walk through the town. It is a very quaint little place with lots of restaurants and touristy shops; unfortunately there are also two pulp mills just outside of town and the air reeks!! Luckily we were upwind from the factories but apparently it is worse when the wind is from the South. Can’t even imagine!!

This Brazilian boat was taking on water, damaged sails and engine ...
crew were told to abandon ship and they refuse.

US coast guard to the rescue

The next morning we woke up to rain and more high winds. We decided to stay put and even though we had to pay top $$ for our slip, at least we were safe. Unlike a poor sailboat from Brazil who had to be escorted into the marina with ripped and torn sails, apparently they were out in the bad weather for the last 4 days and they were taking on water. The coastguard wanted them to abandon ship but they refused and with the tiller stuck at a 20’ angle they were able to start the motor again and limp into the harbour. Those poor guys!! It took 20 people to try and get them on the dock and tied off. They had not eaten or slept for 2 days and were looking forward to a hot shower. It is going to take them a month to repair everything but they are happy just to be alive.

April 23, 2013

With the bad weather behind us, we moved on to Cumberland Island. Once owned by the Spanish and then the British in 1844 it became the property of Thomas Carnegie who built a mansion on the ruins of a home called Dugeness. The Carnegies lived there till 1898 and donated it to the National Parks Foundation in 1971.

Horseshoe crab

Wild Horses around the ruins

Dungeness Ruins

Picking up sharks teeth in the spoils that are used for road filler

Jungle man

New addition to the wild horses on the Island

Tall ships anchored with us

US SUB

Maritime forest

April 24, 2013

Today we decided to get some distance in and headed north with MV Paddy Wagon. We passed Jekyll Island but promised ourselves we would stop there on the ways south in the fall.

We had dinner with our friend on Teaghlaugh and said a sad goodbye to our cruising buddies. We left the Bahamas with them but they were now eager to get back to Canada while we were hoping to take some more time to get north.