Wind Star Log Date Thursday and Friday 12&13 November 2009

Albert and I and a friend of his who came for a visit helped ready WindStar for its stay in JAX. Tommy the mechanic came to listen to our vibration problem and will begin working on it Monday. May be a transmission issue. Friends from Ft Lauderdale and also have a condo in Ponte Vedra came over for dinner Thursday night. Friday, Albert and I did more cleaning and prep work. Also walked around to the other nearby marinas and West Marine.

We fly back to Atlantic City Saturday. It will be very nice to get home for a while. Patti and I leave in a few weeks for Tahiti and a cruise on a Star Clipper for about 10 days to Bora Bora, Morea and the Society Islands. We return in early December and will spent the holidays in NJ.We will return to JAX and head further South in early January. Plan is to spend some time in Ft Lauderdale, Biscayne Bay and the Keys. So I think this is the last entry till we return.

WindStar's home till January

Wind Star Log Date Wednesday 11 November 2009

Departed Fernadina Beach at 7:30 AM on the last leg of the trip to Jacksonville. Had a minor encounter with the bottom despite being in the channel….made a sharp turn to port and found the deeper water. Some gloom and rain and sun. Seemed longer to get here than we thought it would be. Will have a mechanic on board tomorrow to go over some maintenance issues, including the vibration at low RPMs.The trip up the St Johns River and past downtown was slow in part due to going against the tide. But we are much better off than friends stranded in NC due to the weather from Ida.A fried of Alberts joined us tonight for dinner.

Cruise Ship that does ICW from Baltimore to JAX

Veterans Day in downtown JAX

Wind Star Log Date Tuesday 10 November 2009

Fort Federica early today prior to our departure.

Got under way at 7:30.Only a short day today to Fernandina Beach, FL and tomorrow when we arrive in Jacksonville. This is our goal for now. A day of sun and clouds. After a slow trip thru Jekyll Greek at low tide with shallow water and the Homeland Security training team of a dozen boats we entered St Andrews Sound and a rain squall with winds in the upper 20 knots. Arrived at 2:30PM and walked around town and purchased 4 dozen oysters as our appetizer prior to going to Arte's for pizza.We also unexpectedly met the daughter-in-law of the people we had dinner with back in SC.

Albert on the phone and the boat behind us.

A boat we passed

The nice town of Fernadina Beach

AND NOW THE OYSTER FEST

Wind Star Log Date Monday 9 November 2009

Departed Isle of Hope, Ga bound for St Simons Island and the Frederica River at the anchorage at Ft Frederica. Not much to see in the Georgia ICW.But we did spot a bald eagle at marker R183 sitting a top a dead tree. This was the highlight of the day. The GPS said we had 56 miles to do …but that is in a straight line. Turned out to be a 78 mile day. We did at times exceed the manufactures recommended RPMs.We also worked hard using both sails to our advantage as well. We ran 10 hours and 48 minutes at an average of 7.2 miles an hour with a top speed at one point of 10.4MPH.Our top speed on the trip was 11.4 for a short time in Elliott Cut south of Charleston.

We arrived at the anchorage at 6PM doing the last 3 miles in the dark with the aid of the GPS and radar. IT WAS TIME FOR AN ADULT BEVERAGE!!!! Had a nice dinner and a calm night’s sleep.

Ft. Frederica is an interesting place. Visited in the past. Founded by James Oglethorpe in1736. The founders of Methodism Charles and John Wesley preached in Christ Church just down the road.

 Not much to see in the Ga ICW

So this is an island with goats and cows and no house we could see.?????

Wind Star Log Date Sunday 8 November 2009

If you can not see the entire photo...click on it

WindStar at anchor in Beaufort,SC on Sunday AM

Woke early and dropped the dinghy for the first time and went ashore for breakfast at Blackstone’s. GRITS and SHRIMP with cheese. GREAT. Made contact via VHF with a friend we met on the first trip, Bill, at Port Royal, SC.I and promised to make that a stop on the return trip. Saw lots of dolphin today and shrimpers. Passed Hilton Head. Fueled and tied up at Isle of Hope, SC. Had a nice duck dinner on board and some more wine.

W

The Masthead

Pelicans near Hilton Head

Wind Star Log Date Saturday 7 November 2009

A 66 mile day to Beaufort, SC. We arrived late and anchored out again. Very nice along John’s Island.

Wind Star Log Date Friday 6 November 2009

If you do not see the full picture..click on it


Short day to Charleston.30 Miles. We finally did laundry, maintenance and boat clean up. Enjoyed 2 dozen oysters each in town and dinner at Hyman's. As we were going into Charleston we  saw a friend Mike on Jack of Hearts, a Great Harbor(Red Hull) from NH. Talked with him...He stayed at Toms River YC a year ago . Sorry we were not able to get together with him.

Charleston and Aircraft Carrier

Charleston Skyline

Jack of Hearts

Wind Star Log Date Thursday 5 November 2009

Another nice and uneventful day!!!! Anchored out in Graham Creek. A 55 mile day. Pix of Along the Waccamaw River and a local ferry.

Wind Star Log Date Wednesday 4 November 2009

Just South of the Calibash Creek....Mrs. Calabash was from here. Remember that?

A short day to the Wacchamaw River from Calabash, SC and a visit with friends that live in Murrells Inlet. Rested in the afternoon then joined them for cocktails and dinner. A nice warm day. We spent the night at the Wacca Wache Marina. Photos of  dinner ,the river and the marina.

The Gambling boats that go out the Little River Inlet

The Waccamaw River

That is a hazard in the water..a big log

Dinner

WindStar at the dock