We were all loaded up with fuel and ready to head for Vero Beach and wouldn't you know we got delayed. There was a barge blocking the channel out of Stuart's place. It was putting in pilings. He assured us he would be gone by noon. We lost three hours of cruising but pressed on as far as we could. We stayed at the Ft Pierce anchorage... We could not make Vero Beach.

The next morning we were listening to the radio and the talk show host mentioned it was Friday. We were supposed to meet Ginny in St Augustine on Saturday. Somehow we had lost a day. I did a quick replan and calculated that if we hurried to Titusville, and left from there early Saturday morning we could make St Augustine in the Afternoon. Marion called Ginny and apologized.

"Marion," I called to her, "Come up and see. I think that sailboat just lost a mast."

She came to the bridge and got the binoculars. "I can see a sailboat with a short main and no jib."

"That's it.. " I explained, "a minute ago there was a tall sail that suddenly fell. It was like a ketch loosing the main mast and leaving only the mizzen standing."

"It has a short looking rig... boat is not moving... its not a mizzen," she reported.

When we got to the scene we could see that the sailboat, a 38 foot sloop named Shadow had hit the #92 ICW red day beacon  under full sail. The starboard shroud had hung on the 16 foot tall marker and the resulting stress had broken the mast at the spreader.

The boat was hung on the day beacon by a tangle of shrouds. The jib and the fore stay were in the water.
It was a mess, but no one appeared hurt and the boat was not sinking. We circled and asked if he wanted help. No reply. He just kept moving about trying to tidy up the mess. Another powerboat came and offered assistance. No reply. It was clear that the other powerboat intended to remain on station so we resumed our trip.

About 45 minutes later we heard the powerboat call the sailboat's marina. He reported  that Shadow was returning to port under motor and partial sail. He requested assistance in docking.

We made the 68 miles to Titusville before sunset, dropped the dinghy in, and went to dinner at Dixie Crossroads. They are famous for rock shrimp. Rock shrimp are as much work to eat as crawfish. But quite tasty with drawn butter.  Rating *** $$$ Quantity ++++.

Three years ago I was visiting Cape Canaveral almost weekly, working on the upgrade of the Shuttle Launch Control Center.  I never imagined we would be cruising by on a boat such as Remedy. It's still hard to believe.
 
 
 

Titusville to St Augustine We were underway at first light. This would be a long day.  The cruise through Mosquito Lagoon showed us some beautiful sights. The spoil bank islands were overgrown with low scrub, and watched over by stately palm trees. These islands extended like a string of pearls for fifteen or so miles, until we reached the ICW land cut.

We buzzed by a lot of scenery that day: New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach and Palm Coast. We made it to St Augustine and were greeted at the dock by Marion's sister Ginny.  We spent two nights at the Conch House marina.

The first evening we had dinner at the Gypsy Cab Co. Its an artsy kind of eatery with a great menu selection. Marion and I both had the Escargot Appetizer. It was sautéed in butter and olive oil with minced garlic and shallots and served over a small helping of angel hair pasta. Wonderful! It was time for some Beef  so we all had the NY Strip, Angus, Med Rare, Yummy Yummy... Fresh Veggies instead of potatoes.
Rating****, Price $$$, Only problem - Wait for table #@*&#  Too Successful. Too many customers on Saturday night.
 
 
 

Next morning I took advantage of the floating docks to wash down the boat. We had been sporting a brown stained bow ever since the Louisiana ICW. Oxalic acid rinses it right off.   Marion and Ginny went to town for provisions while I worked. My good works were noticed by several others on the dock. When the ladies returned, Bob and Cherie Watson invited us over for Sunday morning Margaritas.  They were just relaxing dockside by their boat.

Their sons, Bobby and Max, were catching fish every few minutes. We told them about our trip, and they told us about their love of the water, and how they came to move to Palm Coast. Cherie not only does Margaritas, she is a Country and Western singer as well.  She gave us a CD of her performances.  It's nice and easy, slow dancing kind of music. We promised not to pass by Palm Coast without stopping to see them.

That afternoon we went with Ginny to the La Leche Chapel Shrine.  It's located in the waterfront park where Pedro Menendez came ashore in 1565 and founded the city of St Augustine. We attended Mass in the park.  It was a special celebration honoring the Right to Life runners. The Knights of Columbus were there in full regalia as honor guard. After mass we strolled the park and then went to dinner.

Dinner was at A1A Brewery and Grill; it's in town by the Bridge of Lions.  Food **  View *** Price $$$  My Glazed Grouper over teriyaki vegetables was so over spiced with ginger, that it bordered on unpleasant.

As dinner wound down, a storm came rolling into town. High winds and an inch of rain. I got the car and picked the ladies up curbside. We all got pretty wet. At the marina I ran to close up the aft deck enclosures. Fortunately the wind and rain was right on the bow and the rain did not come in the open aft curtains.

That evening after Brandy on the poop deck, I retired.  Marion and Ginny continued to visit into the late hours. They had lots of catching up to do.

Thrilling Departure

Next morning Ginny drove back to Augusta and we prepared for our short trip to Jacksonville Beach. The winds were still up around 20 Kts and at a right angle to the fairway. I called the harbormaster and requested assistance on leaving the marina.  He sent two of his most able hands.

We were docked in a corner with port to a long dock and bow into the slip. We faced into the North wind. (See picture above) The fairway headed East. There were two options. One, we could slide back down the dock and then pivot the bow to starboard and power out. That could swing the swim platform against the long dock if things didn't work well.

The second option was what we actually did. With a spring line on the starboard midship forward cleat we let the boat drift back on the wind. This line was looped around a dock cleat at the end if the finger pier. It provided a pivot for the boat. Using a combination of port engine reverse and starboard engine forward the boat pivoted counterclockwise and into the fairway.

As she came broadside to the wind there was a heavy load on the pivot cleat and the spring line began to break at a frayed strand. The dock hand released the spring line. We were about two thirds through the turn and in danger of being blown down on a large powerboat on the opposite side of the fairway. Anticipating this problem one of the dock hands had run to the bow of the big powerboat and positioned himself to fend us off, if this was required. For a moment I was afraid we would become victim to the wind and be blown down. More power forward on the starboard brought the stern around and away from the powerboat. We were now headed straight for the long dock. Now a burst of power on the port to reverse. That stopped the forward motion and got the 90 degree turn completed. Whew! We were headed in the right direction. With momentum on our side, the wind did not have as much effect on steerage and we backed on out of the fairway.

Once out in the open harbor I took a moment to get collected... we had not hit anything... that was good.

"Conch House Marina, Conch House Marina, This is Remedy." I called on VHF 16.

"Remedy, go to 68", came back.

On 68 I said, "Conch House, this is Remedy. We are safely in the harbor, thanks to expert advice and line handling by you dock crew. Thank them for me. They did a super job."

"I will tell them, thanks for the call, Remedy, and you have a safe journey."

I was two miles up the ICW before my adrenelin levels returned to normal. The trip on up to Jacksonville Beach was routine. We enjoyed the bright sunny day, but kept the enclosures closed on the flybridge to stay warm. We plan to stay at Beach Marine for the month of March and do excursions in the surrounding waters. Marion will be off to Norway on a Grandmom Mission. I will sit the cats and the boat and do Income Tax.