This was the maiden voyage for HOMER J our 1972, 35' Morgan, at least the maiden voyage with us.
We started on October 10, 2003 in Palatka FL at Gibson's Dry Dock in the St. Johns River, where HOMER J is kept. It was
a plan my father and I had for the two of us to hang out aboard ship and get to know each other again since I recently
departed from the U.S. Air Force. We haven't spoken since the trip. Actually, we had a lot of fun
and are planning another trip as soon as possible. The trip lasted eight days, which were full of
new sites, relaxing and the occasional close-call (only two helicopters were called in to rescue us).
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| Dad playing Captian on Day 2 |
We started a little late our first day after a few last minute preperations
and dad running his truck into a tree, while trying to find a "safe" place to leave it for up to two
weeks. But we were finally off around noon and made really good distance (20 miles) that day to Toccoi Cove.
The wind was strong but coming right at us, so we were constantly tacking to and fro, but it was
fun just to be on the water.
The second day we headed north again, but this time the wind was coming from the west, which made it
easy sailing all the way to The Crab Shack, just south of Shands Bridge in Green Cove Springs. We would have
went under, but the boat would have sunk, so we decided against it waited for the tide to go down to give us
more room. See, our boat has a 45' clearance, and at high tide on this specific day under
the bridge there was only 44'. That last foot is really important.
| | Main St. Bridge lifted for the boat behind us |
We were successful going under
the bridge the next morning and covered lots of land (actually, water) throughout the day. In Jacksonville, we
went under our first lift bridge: the Main St. Bridge. The bridge operator called me captian -greatest day of my
life. Jacksonville is a bit busier than the easy going, river sailing we're used to, but seeing the big tankers and city
was new and exciting. We actually went past the Mayport jetties and made it out to sea for the first time, but
imediatelly turned around because it was too rough and headed back to the Florida Intracoastal Waterway and bunkered-down
after a long day. When dad was peeing off the side of the boat that night, I blasted the airhorn and he almost
fell over board.
| | Looking at the beach from out to sea |
The next few days we snaked
up the Intracoastal to Cumberland Islands GA, where wild horse run and ancient ruins still exist. After a few days here
we headed out to sea to make our return trip back to Jacksonville's St. John's entrance: the Mayport jetties. The ocean was big and beautiful this day so we sat
back and enjoyed the wind as it pushed us south. Five hours of calm, straight sailing will relax anyone. It was dark by
the time we arrived back in Jacksonville, so we docked at the Landing to wait for the Main St. Bridge to open in the morning.
The return trip south of Jacksonville was nice and easy and the tide was just right to slip under the Shands Bridge. All in all,
it was a wonderful trip and I suggest it to anyone who has the time.
Additional Pertinent Links:
Weather, Coast Guard, Navigational Charts
Contact the Crew of the Hommer J
Christopher W. Wrenn ©
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