tracking URL

 Here is the tracking URL for the winter trip from Charleston, SC to Palatka, Fl.  Or copy and paste the link below.  Track should go live the first couple of days in February, depending on weather.

https://maps.findmespot.com/s/3J3R

the polar vortex is broken, again

The polar vortex is back at it again.  That ring of frigid air that that normally sits over the arctic has slipped south over Canada.  The disturbed weather pattern sends blasts of cold air to the south now and then.  It was freezing weather that caused me to cancel my January trip down south last year.  Fortunately, I plan to begin the sail out of Charleston in early February.  Forecasts show temperatures should be back up in the 50s by then.  Let's hope so.

From The Washington Post:  

The first cold wave will reach the East Coast on Thursday, followed by another surge of frigid air this weekend and a third next week, which may be the most severe of the trio.

Not even Florida will be spared. There, freezing temperatures are expected Friday as cold air plunges across the Gulf of Mexico toward Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

 

The masts are now on the porch, the sails in a spare bedroom and the nice rope fenders made by my friend Howard are hanging on the bow sprit.  Cockpit is repainted, and fresh anti-fouling paint on the hull.  Time to start putting gear back in place.

maintenance, surprised

Installing new bits of line and pieces of bungee cord that hold things - duffel bags, foul weather gear, boom tent, etc - in place on SPARTINA.  Finished repainting the cockpit a couple days ago.  Anti-fouling paint coming next. 

Also trying out a new camera system, an iPhone 17 Pro using the ProCamera app which has an easy interface for interval shooting.  I do hope to experiment with the camera (phone) set in remote spots on the upcoming trip.

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Looking over my most recent winter sail in 2024, I was surprised to see that I completed the sail in 18 days.  And that included weather days in Hilton Head, Kilkenny and Doctor's Inlet.  There are a couple of places I have bypassed on earlier trips, so I might take a little more time and visit those places this year.

Palatka????

Why do I end my winter trip in Palatka, Florida?  I have been asked that several times.  Maybe it is the salty oysters on the half-shell at Velchoff's?  Or because it is on the beautiful St. Johns River?  I do like the oysters and the river, but the simple fact is that Palataka, about 30 miles southwest of St. Augustine, has three things I need: a marina to dock SPARTINA, a hotel where I can get cleaned up and get a good night's rest and, most importantly, an Amtrak station.

The train station is just a few blocks from the waterfront.  For $54 I can catch the Silver Meteor (scheduled for 2:30 pm but I don't think I have ever seen it arrive on time) and be back in Charleston by 10:000 pm.  Another good night's sleep and then the five hour drive from Charleston to Palatka to pick up SPARTINA.  It works out very well.

The marina situation in Palatka is a bit fluid.  There is the Boathouse Marina where I tied up on my first successful winter trip.  The next year, the marina was full and a gentleman named Bobby was kind enough to let me tie up at his dock.  And then last year a municipal marina was open, but not really in service.  I was told I could tie up there, which I did, but it was kind of at my own risk.  The docks were fine and they are right at the boat ramp, so it was ideal.

I do need to check on the marinas before heading south early February.

 

day thirty - "Welcome back!"

Sail off anchor to catch what is left of the morning flood tide.  Pretty morning.  Slow drift in light airs out of the wind shadow on Southeast Creek.  8:45 on the Chester and find a little wind.  Cold morning, slip on foul weather bibs and boots.

A few slow tacks the width of the river at 2.7 rounding Hollow Marsh Point.  9:35 on Devils Reach, but with light wind, the devil is not home this morning.  Less wind, 2.1 at 9:50.

10:10 round Primrose Point and see the SULTANA out for an education sail.  I tack behind their stern.  Forrest, the captain, shouts "Welcome back!"  

I tell him I am very happy to be back. Stronger wind on the nose toward the marina, and it feels like the tide has turned.  Several tacks on the last stretch to the marina.  Sails down.  Docked 11:15.  The trip is done.

4.58 NM

Postscript: The weather forecast proved to be all to accurate.  By midweek the winds had pushed the water up into the parking lot at the marina.  That evening had gale force winds and heavy rains.  I reached out to friends Penelope and Rob, and was graciously given a warm, dry place to sleep that night, plus an excellent dinner.

The weather cleared quickly and made for an excellent Sultana Downrigging Festival.  I was told that Saturday of the festival was the largest crowd to even attend the event.  Blue skies, good sailing, beautiful tall ships and some wonderful small boats.  It was a great weekend.

 

day twenty-nine - up the Chester River

 

Cold night.  Again.  Take my time in the morning.  Hot tea.  Very little wind.  Sail/drift off anchor at 9:50.  A slow tack past the marina.  Then no wind.  Under power out of Davis Creek.  

10:15 sailing, 2.0 out of Lankford Creek.  11:00 on the Chester River.  11:25 Spaniard Point to starboard as the river narrows.  12:00 struggling to sail near Deep Point, 0.5 kts.  Under power.  A power boat slows down to reduce wake.  I tip my hat in thanks.  

12:40 a little wind and sailing at 1.4.  Wind swings around, 2.0 with wind over the port quarter.  1:20 light, shifting wind at Melton Point, working against the tide.  Motorsailing for a few minutes, then sailing again.  Decent wind at 2:20.  2:55 sail into Southeast Creek.  Calm water, quiet, peaceful.  Anchor down 3:25.

Quiet is broken by the sound of breaking branches.  I look to the shoreline to see three or four deer walking along shore.  Set up the boom tent, relax.  Enjoy the last full day on the water.

10.74 NM

day twenty-eight - one more nor'easter coming

Morning.  Cold.  My weather apps tell me it feels like 39 degrees.  My slipping out of the sleeping bag confirms this.  The weather apps reiterate that the sail is done, there is another nor'easter coming.  If I want to get into Chestertown, and I have made a commitment to be there for the festival, then I need to get in before the storm arrives.

Hot tea and peach cobbler for a leisurely breakfast, no rush on the chilly morning.  Light northwest wind and clearing skies.

Put on the wool sweater, foul weather bibs and boots against the cold.  Sail off the mooring 9:30.  A pleasant 1.3 under blues skies as we leave the Corsica at 10:25.

11:00 less, maybe no wind. and drifting.  Aimless meandering on the Chester.  Only other boat in sight is a deadrise trolling for stripers.  Trolling, I note, not catching.  11:30 a little breeze.

12:25 put out a trolling line.  No signs of fish, no breaking baitfish, not gulls hovering low over the water.  It strikes me that it has been this way for much of the trip, usually I see birds feeding and schools of coppery baitfish.  Not this year.  Finally see a few birds feeds about a half mile away.  Light winds so can't get there before they scatter.

2:00, just four deadrises and me, otherwise the river is empty.  A cool overcast moving in.  3:00 tacking up the channel into Langford Creek.  Surprise to see another small sailboat coming out of the creek.  More surprised to see it is friend Jim Arthur.  We exchange greets.

3:30 anchor down Davis Creek.

11:31 NM