Morning comes clear and crisp. 46 degrees and a strong enough north wind that I tie in a single reef. Sail off anchor 7:20. Working against the ebb tide I round up and shake out the reef. Making 4.2 leaving the Amelia River. I notice the red navigation markers are back on the right side to starboard.
7:50 making 4.6 are the river curves to the south. Less wind and against the tide, gps shows 2.8 kts.
8:35 pass the railroad trestle and slip under the bridge. Quickly see I've crossed the head of the tide and making 5.0 with the now helpful ebb tide.
I see the tug LINDY LOU coming up on my stern. I radio the captain and identify myself. I can't get out of the channel, there is no room, so I tell him I'll sail as close to the red side as I can. He responds, says "I'll give you a slow pass." I thank him.
Passing Red 28 making 5.5 kts with wind and tide at my back. 8:55 strong gusts. There is a barge and tug coming up from the south, not enough time to reef so I round up, bring down the main and tie it to the boom. Plenty of wind, who needs a mainsail? Making 5.7 mizzen and jib.
10:05 enter Nassau Sound. 10:20 deep enough water that I can cut across the shoal to head south.
10:25 the water is boiling as tides collide at the mouth of Clapboard Creek. In the creek. round up and drop anchor in the mouth of Gunnison Creek between a shoal and the marsh. Raise a single reefed main, raise the anchor and back out on Clapboard Creek. Making 3.3 against the opposing ebb tide.
11:00 see a ketch, the MORGANA out of New Orleans. She seems to just freeing herself from a shoal. I am almost even with the boat when she becomes free and could easily pass her. But I worry that she'll be on my stern the length of the creek. I turn to port to let her get ahead. The captain thinks I'm coming over to say hello but I just wave to him to keep on going, I want to be behind her as I figure she'll be picking up speed.
12:00 Sisters Creek Bridge in sight over the marsh. 12:50 pass beneath the bridge, 1:00 on the St. Johns River. Making 3.1 against the ebb. 1:25 a series of strong gusts, round up to tie in the second reef. Making 3.2.
1:50 I see a ship heading up the channel behind us. I am far enough ahead that I can cross to the green side and get completely out of the channel. Two more ships and a couple of tug boats pass by, we keep to the south outside the channel, plenty of room.
3:10 shake out the second reef. 3:50 round the bend at Green 57, can see the buildings of downtown Jacksonville. Making 3.0. 4:25 crossing a tide line. Steady sailing south, wind over the port quarter. 5:45 round up at the southern end of Exchange Island and motor into the anchorage. Anchor down at 6:00 just as it gets dark. Tired, hungry.
34.97 NM
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