It’s bad luck to sail on a Friday. Mariners say this is so because Christ was crucified on a Friday. But doesn’t it make more sense that mariners made that up to get another night ashore? Sun’s over the yardarm. Five o’clock somewhere.
No matter. We have to be in Hilton Head by Wednesday. So, Friday it is.
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Just after sunrise this morning Katie, I, and her artificial turf square took a last pass through the marina ‘hood. Good dog! Your grass! Treat! An hour later, though, she jumped ship during line-handling. She was making for the border by the time she realized I still had treats. She reluctantly returned.
IH was underway at 0745 to catch the ebb for the 25-mile run down the St. John’s River. I drove. So proud. So excited to pass one last time through the skinny CSX Railroad Bridge and the narrow little Ortega River Draw, both of which terrified me the first time we came through here, in 2021.
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It’s also bad luck to sail with women on board. But here we are, Katie on her lookout bench and me at the helm while Pete stows lines.
I twisted the boat into the fairway (so proud!). Into the river (So excited!) Into a dead stop after 200 yards to let the CSX bridge close and two trains whistle past while I spun donuts for half an hour in that ripping ebb current.
Friday. Women.
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So far today, the port engine gauge showed overheating (it’s not). The aft head door slammed shut so hard I was locked out (vice grips, screwdriver). The chart plotter shut itself down a dozen times (restarted, don’t know why). The iPad won’t charge (using more power than it’s getting).
Our intended anchorage will be taking a 15-knot beam wind by midnight, so we’re going to keep going. Fernandina is full due to the Shrimp Fest. St. Mary’s, too. Instead, we’re heading for Jekyll Island for two nights instead of one. That means crossing a windy, rough, low-tide St. Andrew’s Sound late in the day.
Katie will have gone eleven hours without a walk. Good dog! Your grass!
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Still. Our huge ugly salon sofa is history. I have an actual writing desk with a window. Katie’s new yard is rolled out on the bow, her potty square zip-tied to one end, and she seems to love watching the scenery from the lawn. Sniffing the shrimp docks, Snuggling her bone..
And bad luck? Just another day underway. We’re already over the Georgia line and should be in Jekyll by cocktail hour. Happy Friday!
Irish Hurricane 