Mac Get-Together Jacksonville, FL 5-6 Sept

[jcasale]

I have now had my boat for 1.5 years and have seen at least 5 Mac X/M's in the area but have never seen one on the water (except C130 Kings Konig). Where is everybody? Jacksonville is littered with FREE boat ramps, a city marina with 40 FREE slips, downtown shopping and entertainment district with FREE waterfront docking, the St. Johns River (over a mile wide, 100 miles long and no low bridges), the ocean, the ICW and wind all year long. I want to try to arrange an event but have only met a few locals that trailer sail. There are several marinas, public parks with mooring fields, campgrounds and loads to do. All this is easily accessible from I-95 or I-10. Anyone intersted?

John
Atlantic Beach, FL
2000 , Honda 30hp

[c130king]

John,

I agree, Jacksonville is a great place to sail.

I arrive on 30 August for 10 days of mods/installs and sailing. I thought you were moving to Atlanta?

Jim

[jcasale]

Jim

Yes I still plan on the move but I am not sure when. Unfortunately the job market is not what it used to be, even for me. I'll pm you with the details but I should still be here in August so you and I will have to get together. Let's help pass the word about Jax!

John

[Inquisitor]

I'm in the north burbs of Atlanta and would certainly be interested in that kind of gathering!!! Something similar to the B.E.E.R. cruise (http://bellsouthpwp2.net/b/s/bs_allen/beer_2008.htm) in Pensacola... would be a real blast. Having someone with local knowledge and can recommend an itenerary means everything to the non locals. Having never been in that area, I had no idea it could be another Meca.

[jcasale]

Inquisitor

I will start to compile a listing of local resources and post it to the list. I would like to arange something for the middle of August to coincide with C-130 Kings return (sounds like a Hobbit novel). I know this is short notice but better late than never. If not the St. John's is not drying up anytime soon so maybe next year. By the way, I am planning on moving to Atl later this year, I will be up there to scope out Lake Lanier next month, maybe we could schedule a meeting and you can give me some insight.
Thanks

John

[Dell Anne]

Jacksonville is a great town. I have taken 2 trips on my M in the area. The first trip was from St. Augustine to Cumberland Island mostly along the Intercoastal. We went off/near shore a few times given that the weather was good. The Intercoastal in this area is narrow and not real good for sailing in my novice opinion. The other issue I had was, anchorages I never got comfortable with any of the posted anchorages and elected to stay in Marina's - insert $$$$$$$$$$$'s here. Being mostly a lake sailor I had some difficulty with the tides and properly docking my boat that led to some scratches on the hull.

The good news is that St. Augustine, Downtown J-Ville, Fernandino Beach and Cumberland Island are just absolutely fantastic stops.

Our 2nd trip was from Sisters Creek Park, (intersection of the St Johns and the ICW) to Astor, Fl along the St Johns River. Here again we stayed in Marinas along the way. On this trip we sailed probably 50% of the time. The river is wide to very wide most of the way. The economy has hit the river traffic hard and affected to communities and facilities along the way. Many palces are closed or have reduced there operating schedules. We managed without any problems and the people we did meet along the way were always very helpful.

I would do either of the trips again. I will be watching for more info and happy to share any specifics I can.

Regards,

Ron

[jcasale]

Ron is correct. The ICW is entirely too narrow to sail but the river and close ocean access make up for that. The tidal changes in this area are rarely more than 2 feet and I have not had a problem spending a night on the hook either in the ICW or the river but with so many affordable marinas (free - $3/ft) you can't go wrong. At this point a trip from Jax to Fernandina or Jax to St. Augustine would probably be the most easy to coordinate. Keep in mind both destinations are tourist traps and marina fees/restaurants/etc.. reflect that. I'll see if I can create a google map with some visual information and maybe we can collectively create an intinerary. I'll start working on it tomorrow.

John

[Inquisitor]

Inquisitor

… By the way, I am planning on moving to Atl later this year, I will be up there to scope out Lake Lanier next month, maybe we could schedule a meeting and you can give me some insight.
Thanks

John

I’d be glad to do that. However, I may not be Lake Lanier’s best proponent.

I’ve gone to Pensacola and Charleston a couple of times and every time I come back, I am so disappointed to have to put it back in Lake Lanier.

Winds – I am so envious of how winds are on the coasts. At LL, its 0-5 mph and many times ZERO. Even when there is anything over 10, its always gusty and shifty caused by the hills and trees… seeing wind shifts of 100 degrees isn’t abnormal. Also, thunderstorms are always a possibility especially when the winds are predicted to be above 10.

Traffic – On the weekends it’s a real zoo! Traffic lights are needed. And by early afternoon all the large cabin cruisers, house boats and speed boats have waves several feet and short spacing and from many directions. Makes for a real uncomfortable experience… especially if the wind is below 5 and can’t keep the mast from slapping back and forth through 100 degrees. Many are drunk and not all yield right of way to sailboats.

Slips – I’ve been told that $500 per month to slip is about the norm. Even the clubs charge a thousand to be a member and then thousands more to slip. Even putting on the hard is expensive. I can’t afford it so I trailer and keep it at the house.

Places - I only know of only one hamburger/beer joint that can be reached by water. Most get-togethers are of the house boat, speed boat rafting, jet ski, hard drinking variety.

Anchoring ashore on an island is possible, but can fill up also.

Water levels have been way down over the last couple of years, to the point, that many of the ramps are closed because they’re out of the water completely. The ones open (about 10%) may have tree obstacles to avoid. This year we’re actually doing pretty good… we’re only about 5 feet off normal. Last year we were nearly 15 feet below normal… trees, pilings… rumor has it a covered town was exposed.

I’m looking for my exit strategy FROM Atlanta… I want to sail!

[paj637]

I'm in St Marys, GA, just north of Fernandina Beach, FL. We are 6 miles inland on the St Marys River. Small town with a nice waterfront park. Good anchorages with a relatively inexpensive commercial marina if you want dockside. I sail my M around Cumberland sound and a little offshore. Our fledgling yatch club with about 40 members has been talking about a trip to St Augustine or downtown Jax. St Marys would be an ideal rally point, plenty of parking, two good ramps, a few good resturants within walking distance of the waterfront, not too touristy or crowded.
I have seen a couple of Macs sail thru, even old "James V" and Lynx on his way back from the FL and Bahamas. A good east coast get together for trailer sailors sounds fun. I would be interested in participating and helping to make arrnagements.

[jcasale]

Paj
Keep me posted of your clubs itnerary. Maybe I can get someone to sponsor me for the trip (hint, hint). I am glad to hear so many responses from people interested in this. I am not familiar with Cumberland Sound so you will be the resident expert on that front. I have all of Jacksonville's resources well mapped out in my GPS so expect some information regarding that within the next few days. St. Augustine has the best access to the ocean but limited protected water sailing.

C-130 King, if you are reading this send me your CO's email and I press him to grant you an additional 15 days R&R.

It is frustrating to hear about Lake Lanier although I am not surprised. I will still try to keep an open mind when I visit but I am thinking it might be better to keep my boat in Jacksonville, on my mooring, and visit frequently.

More to follow...

John

[c130king]

John,

I would love to participate in any sort of 'gathering' that can be arranged. I arrive on 30 Aug and hope to spend 4-5 days doing mods/installs and then the rest of the time sailing. But in a pinch I could sail first and then do the mods...but since I am putting in an autopilot I would prefer to do that first.

I fly back to the UK on 9 Sept.

And then I will be back on 19 December for my annual Xmas sailing...but right now I am planning to trailer to Biloxi, MS for 2 weeks.

Cheers,
Jim

[c130king]

Status check???

Anyone else able to be in the NE Florida area the weekend of 5-6 September?

I will be in Jacksonville...but could trailer somewhere nearby.

Cheers,
Jim

[jcasale]

First let me apologize for my lack of involvement. As it turns out even the medical industry is not impervious to this economic downturn and I have had my attention focused elsewhere.
The weekend of the 4 – 6th of Sept. is just over a month away and I would like to arrange a meet and greet of Mac sailors. Destinations can include St. Augustine, Fernandina or just a few days up and down the St. Johns with the occasional stops downtown, up river or anywhere in between. There are plenty of FREE public ramps and FREE overnight slips available. There are also quite a few places to spend a quiet night on the hook. If you are interested PM me or email me directly at speed bump 74 (one word) at yahoo dot com.

John
Atlantic Beach, Fl
2000 , Honda 30hp

[jcasale]

Greetings,
As it stands right now there will be three Macs meeting up in Jacksonville Florida the weekend of Sept. 5th and 6th. I will be arriving at the Landing (Downtown Jacksonville) on the evening of the 4th. The cruising destinations are TBD at this point pending feedback from other members but as of right now most of our sailing will be done in the St. Johns with a possible coastal exursion via the Mayport inlet. Due to time and budget restrictions our mooring will most likely be limited to the municipal marina and the actual riverfront plaza (both free of charge). There might also be one night on the hook in a small protected mooring on the ICW. This area is known as Johnston Island and located just north of Atlantic Blvd along the ICW (zip code 32233). For those looking for more luxurious accomodations there are tons of hotels and full service marinas either downtown or a mile or two up river.
I have arranged for a friend of mine to assume the role of chase/photo boat. His 78 mph jet boat should have no problem fullfilling this role. It would be great to have as many Mac's (old and new) get together for a photo-op. More details to come, if interested pm or email me.

John

[Inquisitor]

I'm trying to get down there with my Mac. School starting up and things are a disorganized. Will non Mac's be allowed? I'd like to ask a friend who has a Hunter 260.