We left Ossabaw Sound yesterday morning at 1000, way ahead of schedule for our outside passage. We were anxious to get going! It wasn't like the exodus from Sandy Hook with some 15 boats, nor was it like the small flotilla we had with Diana and Gilbert and Michel and Caroline when we left Beaufort. It was just Jorge and Kim! We had 2+ kts of current helping us leave the sound. We thought we would have a gentle sail to Fernandina Beach as the winds were supposed to be 5 to 10 kts but we started off with no wind! We motored most of the day and were so far ahead of schedule, we put Plan B into effect - head for St. Augustine, Florida instead, adding 10 hours to the trip. The winds continued light all day and night and into this morning. The seas held true as predicted 2 to 3 feet. It was a perfect weather window (although no wind). The skies were blue, temp was a comfortable 18 - 20C, the sun was shining, simply wonderful! We were able to motor sail late in the afternoon as the wind did pick up some until about 2300 at which time we had to bring the geneo in. The night was extremely dark as there was no moon, only stars. 

Sunset looking towards Georgia.

Ditto.

 

We had an uneventful passage with the exception of some dolphins swimming next to the boat during Jorge's night shift making noises with their blow holes. Also at 0330 this morning when outside of Jacksonville, Florida, we encountered not one but two ships heading into the inlet. Boy were they big and moving fast. We were trying to cross the mouth of the inlet and decided evasive maneuvers were the best course of action so we back tracked a bit to give these guys lots of room. We lost probably an hour.

We got into St. Augustine Inlet around 1000 with a very strong current (3 kts) against us making travelling into the harbour very slow.

The anchorage was busy and we tried unsuccessfully a few times to set anchor, it wouldn't grab so we opted to take a mooring ball for $20.00 a night which included water taxi service, showers, trash disposal and laundry. Sounded good to me!

CS'ta Time performed wonderfully during the 24 hour passage, she didn't skip a beat!

 

Lunch on the patio at OC White Restaurant, St. Augustine, Florida (Christmas music playing in the background, just didn't seem right.)

Where's the snow?

 

I did groceries after lunch and stopped in a marine canvas store to confirm the directions I was given (which were wrong.) Cindy was very helpful in directing me, correctly, to the store. I gave her a bit of our story seeing as how she was in the marine industry. While doing groceries, she showed up in the store and offered to drive me back to the marina! Having been a cruiser herself, she totally understood the situation. Unbelievable generosity.

 

Jorge finished a pink job today (laundry) while I did the groceries. We then took the water taxi back to the boat, had supper and crashed!