Fernandina Beach, Florida

Jacksonville Beach to Fernandina Beach


We decided to move closer to the Georgia line on our unplanned and unscheduled cruise up the Atlantic Coast. The voyage was a short one but there were some anxious moments. For one thing, the cruised guides are loaded with warnings of blind spots, huge tides and currents and fast commercial traffic on the St. Johns River near Jacksonville. When we approached the intersection of the ICW and the SJR, we noticed the tides/current predictions were on target. We had to cross and go upstream to the Sisters Creek bridge at the opening of the ICW to the north. The current was just under three knots opposing but fortunately, there were no ships in sight. The southern approach to the river is lined with many buoys marking various channels and can be somewhat confusing. It would be really tough without a chart plotter in low visibility. If one misses the channel, there are really big rocks to help one toward a shipyard and a new bottom.

The rest of the short sail to Fernandina was spectacular, and we enjoyed a cool, dry morning underway. In fact, it was cooler here yesterday than in New York. Just a small respite from the muggy summer Florida coastline was quite a surprise. So far, we have been also amazed at the lack of bugs along the way. In the areas of Texas with salt grass marshes, bugs develop stealth, aggressive tactics. Not so here so far. We are told that they are waiting just north of the Florida/Georgia line.

We arrived at Fernandina Harbor Marina around 1300 and were met at the slip by three dock crew to catch our lines. I wonder if we showed up in some database as one boat needing that many folks to protect the dock. This is a wonderful, historical place built on the just inside St. Mary’s Inlet on the Cumberland Sound on the Amelia River. We think those names really sing. This is the inlet from sea for the boomers of Kings Bay. Accordingly, the channels from here through the Sound are deep and have respectable currents. By that I mean the currents must be respected. Look down at the charts for an instant too long and the current and eddies will challenge your skills. Docking in two knots astern, with fifteen knot side wind and a downwind slip and you get one chance to get it right. Ah, that is why they had three catchers on the dock. Our ground tackle (anchors) lined up perfectly with the power pylon on the dock. A miss and there would be sparks.

Bear takes more treatments in Jacksonville tomorrow through Friday so we will have time to see (you guessed it) the local fort: Fort Clinch. There are several museums here in town and if I can get Bear warmed up enough, we will visit them all- or not.

Short on signal bars so I will post pics later.