JAX Nor'easter Blues

[forsailbyowner]

Anybody else sitting out this noreaster near Jax? 3 days of gale force winds. Dinghy is FULL every morning, had water moccasin trying to climb boarding ladder yesterday. I flipped him away with boathook and he just kept coming back. On the bright side getting a lot of projects done.

[Hudson Force]

I've heard of all this nasty weather back home. I'm on a Morgan OI too, but three weeks out of Jacksonville and now at the north end of the Chesapeake. Good luck, Aythya crew

[rwhit323]

Stuck in Palm Coast trying to return to JAX from a 2 month trip down in the keys. Almost beat the weather home but it caught us and we've been stuck inside the boat for three days.

Kellytime

[forsailbyowner]

Little news from Jax area, early this week near st augustine there was a serious power boat sailboat collision. 4 people hospitalised much damage to both boats. How was your time in keys? We stopped at marathon on our way up. Had lot of breakdowns coming down west coast, stopped there for repairs. We also haven't been off boat for three days. I have a little canvas job to do on st johns next to ferry, customer said river is rougher than it was during Faye last year. If you come up outside and like to fish, try trolling between ft pierce and cape. We ran into school of tuna that kept us very busy. Caught nice 30 lb wahoo also. 3 1/2 silver spoon on surface.
Hope ya see sun soon

[rwhit323]

The Keys were great. Spent most of our time in Marathon as well. Heard about boats breaking loose in St Augustine during this blow. Not a good place for N or NE winds. We are not going to head that way until winds slacken and clock to the east. Hoping to move north tomorrow but we are not in a big hurry. We have a good spot and no sense trading it for a poorer spot until the weather subsides.

[spanky44]

Hi All
headed back to our boat on the St. Johns at Ortega river tomorrow. curious as to how our boat handled the rough weather the past few days. will be on board for the next few days. Capt Force, keep on truckin....back home.

[Islandmike]

We are here at beach marine, we too had to bail the dinghy every day. Unbelivable amounts of rain. However, this morning, Friday, it almost looks like the sun may come out. On the bright side it looks like Fl is out of its drought.

[rwhit323]

Things look a lot better this morning. Drought has to be over. Raising anchor and moving up to St Augustine this morning. On to JAX Saturday.

Kellytime

[ksmith]

West coast is catching rain also. I have had to bail the dingy a couple ot times. Made me wonder how rain fall is measured. Sure seems like a lot more when bailing a dingy.

[imagine2frolic]

I am at Reynolds Park, and we have taken a lot of water. The river has probably raised at least 3 feet. It dropped a wee bit yesterday. Leaving for work, and returning home I have had to do some adjusting to the bumpers, and dock lines. The weather did look a little bit benign this morning, and the streets a little dry. Looks like the rain will continue through the weekend, but not as much. I did learn one thing. My new dock lines stretch a WHOLE LOT more than the old ones!......i2f

[Steve W]

Just saw a report on the Lats & Atts Gregs Pub bulletin board that Steve & Michelle on Island Witch, a Hunter 38 are aground near New Smyrna Beach. According to the story, they were headed to St. Augustine from a trip to the Bahamas and lost engine power and a sail at 1:30am. Called the CG for help, anchored the boat and the anchor line parted and boat went ashore in the high winds. Sorry I can't post the pic or article, dealing with computer problems. They had berthed their boat at Whitney's Marina, now known as Fleming Island Marina in Orange Park, FL for a few years, spending that time upgrading and learning their new boat. They had talked about relocating to a St. Augustine marina, not sure if they had done that yet. Report says they are ok. Note to Capt. Force: Island Witch was berthed next to Fred's Catalina 30 at Fleming Island Marina, you probably knew them. Hopefully, someone without computer issues can post a link to the pic and article.

Steve W
S/V Slowdance

[gonesail]

i live in JAX and indeed i will remember this week as being one of the worse. it seemed more like an extended weakened hurricane except much colder. wow sorry to hear Island Witch got caught out in it!! but yes we needed the rain.

[Hud3]

Here's a LINK to the article Steve mentioned about the Hunter 38 being washed up on the beach.

photo credit -- http://www.news-journalonline.com/do...boat052009.jpg

[imagine2frolic]

What worries me is that they continued on by passing Ft. Pierce, because the weather looked fine. Hopefully that is a miss print, but even decent weather is on the vhf. The sails look alright. Why wouldn't someone just turn south with a scrap of headsail? The good news is the pretty still looks pretty healthy from the pic, and they are safe.....i2f

[Hudson Force]

'sure I know Steve and Michele,-'hope they manage to recover! We won't be back to Fleming Island until November,- in Long Island Sound now. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew