Jessica Thibodeau

Calm conditions. Just a smidge of wind. We made good time. We went to anchor out, but we’re having an issue with our windlass and the chain wouldn’t drop. We took a morning ball at the Fernandina Marina. I’m happy- I would like to get a real shower in tonight. This is also a cute little city to walk around in.

Tranquil motor from Daytona Beach to St. Augustine. Very quiet for a Saturday until about noon. Plenty of people out enjoying the water. We will spend two days on a morning ball here and then head outside to Fernandina.

Wonderful day on the ICW (mostly) enjoying the abundant marine life along the way. Stopped in Daytona Beach (never thought I would come here😂) before we head out to St. Augustine tomorrow.

Serene travel northward up the ICW. Saw a pod of dolphins, which never ceases to delight me. Saw Pete and Laurie (from Vero Beach) on Shadaroba. A little bit of motorSailing close hauled starboard tack. Nothing too exciting but we were trying to avoid excitement (squalls and large seas on the outside currently).

Horrible conditions outside with northerly winds and big, choppy seas so we motored from Ft Pierce to Vero Beach. Nice to be back!! So many dolphins swimming around 💕 Rafted up with Waldo on Three Sheets for the night.

Very wet rainy start-we both were soaked through and visibility was poor. Then clear skies rain flattened the waves a bit. Mostly broad reach on a port tack-made some good headway with some northerly current off the Gulf Stream. We watched the radar and managed to dodge the worst of it. The engine did not overheat coming into Fort Pierce channel or the marina-thank goodness! Going to stay here for a bit and have some land time.

Lumpy and not as much wind as promised. We tried out our crisp new staysail which was fun. Gorgeous blue skies, beautiful blue water. No squalls. It was an easy crossing.

Just inches of water under our keel as we got close to Cat Cay. Winds of about 14 were predicted, but we only saw 11 at most. Generally under 10. Seas were pretty calm though. Motor sailed with the mainsail out. No squalls, thunderstorms or waterspouts so we’re not complaining! Arrived before sunset to anchor

Lovely winds with a beam reach on starboard tack. Until… Huge barge towing a line, ? Fishing? They has AIS off until we were almost on top of them. Would not answer us hailing them on 16. We didn’t see the line until we started to pass behind them- unsure how long the line was so we did a pretty wide diversion. Seas built up and quite rolly. Then winds inexplicably died for a bit-squalls all around us, were affected by 3 squalls, only one directly. Waves seemed huge. 5-6, some seemed bigger. None broke over the stern when we had following seas after we altered course to Chubb Cay for refuge. We had issues furling our genoa. Whipping lines broke an end cap on standing rigging cover and would probably have broken glass in our dodger window if had not already been replaced with Lexan by the previous owners. Safely anchored and being hit by another squall as I write this.

Hit a coral head close to Nassau. Was following magenta line on Aquamaps. Took us right over the head! Navionics did not show the hazard either. I guess we should have shelled out for the Explorer Chartbook. Other than that it was a pleasant sail, especially earlier in the day when we had some decent winds.