More storms and: more engine problems

We left Jekyll Island early in the morning (Sunrise) to go with the tide to Cumberland Island. Andy the captain we met in Jekyll told us that the sea markers in St Andrews Sound were removed because they kept moving. We were on high tide and the poor sailor in front of us went aground and we couldn’t assist him at all as it was too shallow for us to approach. He was on falling tide and Boat US wouldn’t make it for at least an hour. I was surprised that he hadn’t dropped his anchor when he was talking to us! He was so near shore.

There was a green buoy on the beach just by him but I didn’t get it in the picture. Cumberland Island is beautiful with loads of wild horses. The barmaid in Fernandina told us they did nothing to interfere with them. She wanted to have them vaccinated and cared for but the park service let nature take its course. I was concerned about that little deer I photographed as the mother wasn’t around and it looked tired. but I guess that’s nature.

That night just as I was starting to cook dinner the storm came over us. A gust heeled us over and our anchor stated dragging. We were quite near the shore at the time and you can see how close in the GPS.

It was a hairy hour as we drove into the storm and tried a couple of times to drop anchor again. Gusting to above fifty. The feeling is amazing as you are totally focused and I must say Race was fantastic. This was his first real storm and his response were immediate and calm. Once the storm is over there’s a beautiful light and this time a rainbow which I didn’t capture in time.

Our dinghy flipped over and the engine was still attached. Eouf. we just had to watch it fly around and hope for the best when the wind died down. Believe it or not it was still attached and as I checked it today… still working.

You can see from the picture of Pat and Race what wonderful crew they are looking out for hazards everywhere but where we are going! (For those of you who know the story of the angel in Jordan I think that was Race)

We managed to get a swim in after our walk through Cumberland and headed off to Fernandina. The submarine base is here and I was hoping to catch sight of a sub coming in but no luck just a lot of coast guard and then our engine started alarming. We had to drop anchor and I called the coast guard to let him know we weren’t suspicious spies. Tow boat again! and we went into Fernandina marina to get a mechanic and some rest. We are still waiting for the mechanic and the rest was very short lived. Our dock is on the outside of the marina and getting the full blast of the sea as (Its been reported) up to 60 knots of wind have been banging it against the dock.

We thought our fenders were good enough but they caught under dock and our rub rail has been ripped off.

As we sat in the boat there were times the hull bent inward and I thought that maybe it would crack. At midnight the wind died down and we got out to see the damage. Everyone else was out of their boats and looking to see if anyone needed help. I can’t tell you how warm I felt as so many people were joining together to help each other.

Pat and Race didn’t realize I was taking the first photo of us waiting below in the storm and you can see what posers they are as soon as they realized. It doesn’t look like we will be going anywhere today. I’ll keep you posted .