Fernandina Harbor Marina

Our plan was to leave St Mary, GA and travel to St Augustine today. Unfortunately we realized it was 70 miles and the currents and tides would not let us go that far before dark. You do not want to travel the ICW in the dark. So we waited in St Mary's until after high tide, 9:30 AM, so we could get off the dock easily.  there is up to a 4k current to work against.  Our dock mates, Mick and Tony from Australia, pushed off just before us. They are headed outside to Ft Lauderdale. Their boat cannot travel inside due to mast height. Eventually they will go through the Panama Canal and cross the Pacific to Australia.

Ahquabi leaving to dock

Safe travels to Australia!

We left the dock next without any difficulties. The trip out the St Mary's River was right at high tide and the current was with us so the first 6 miles or so were very easy.
As Ahquabi continued out the river we turned to starboard to head south toward Fernandina Beach. The outgoing tide caught up with us and we quickly went from 8mph to 2mph. The entire trip, about 8 miles took us 2.5 hours. This was our first time on this part of the ICW since 2009. Two years ago we spent Thanksgiving here and remembered well the paper plants. Back then we said, never again, but here we are!
We will leave at first light, about 6:30AM, and with the rising tide to travel the 60 miles to St Augustine.
There is a rocket launch tomorrow morning at 10AM so we should clearly see it.

Paper plant

Boats from Monrovia and Nassau
loading up 

The American Cruise Line now comes to
Fernandina harbor Marina