Storms on the Gulf Stream

We had already postponed the trip for a week due to rough weather and fortunately it worked out well for work so this time we decided we had to head out somewhere. We decided not to be too ambitious and as we all love a night sail we would head up to Cumberland Island to see the horses.

Although it’s not the fastest route we all decided we wanted to sail out to the Gulf Stream and ride it up to Jacksonville. The Gulf Stream invariably has dolphins, turtles, flying fish and this time a shark swam by. I’ve yet to capture a picture of a flying fish and the shark was too quick but dolphins are always easy. And the stream Carrie’s you along it makes it feel like you’re on a magic carpet.

The night started beautifully with bioluminescence and shooting stars. We started our night watches and as soon as Pat went to bed a lightening storm started approaching so I had to get him up again to reef the sails. From then on I could just watch it as it approached. It is an amazing feeling watching this terrible beauty approach and know there is nothing else you can do to prepare.

It looks like the weather might be pretty challenging all the way.

As we were coming into St Andrew’s sound with Race at the helm it was very challenging. One of the locals we met who was a Capt and knew his way around the waterways said ‘we weren’t rookies then’ 😜 We decided to stay in Jekyll island rather than beat our way to Cumberland. That’s the beauty of sailing. Jekyll island is beautiful and we would have missed it. It has a historic resort where millionaires went to play. The museum was undersold in the pilot book. Full of stories.

It’s still pretty windy so we will stay another night here and get up at dawn tomorrow to go to Cumberland.