Migration

Yes, the snowbirds have flown the coup and we're heading south to Florida.

We left about a week ago and are sitting at Cumberland Island right in the state line between GA and FL.  This will be our third day here. It has been 3 years since we stayed to enjoy the island and walk the massive beach each day.

Similarly, we spent 2 days at Charleston to enjoy the city for the first time in 3 years.  We stayed across the river at Patriot's Point.  Enjoyed the Market on Saturday and took an historic tour of the city and Fort Sumter on Sunday.  

After that it was starting to get cold at night, the weather was right, so we did an overnight sail and traveled 145 miles from Charleston to Cumberland Island.  The weather didn't turn out as predicted (what's new), but we were able to sail with the new sails for the first time and test them in all types of wind.

All I can say about the new sails is WOW.  We were doing our usual thing and sailing dead downwind with our Code 0.  Then as the 8 knots of wind speed turned onto our bow, we rolled up the Code 0 and raised the main planning on motor sailing.  That was when we noticed that we were already sailing  a couple knots just under mainsail.  We unfurled the head sail and starting making 5 knots.  This is closehauled in 8 knots of true wind speed!!  Never thought this boat would ever be a light air boat upwind.  Thank you Haarstick!

 Picture from Charleston across the Cooper River to our marina at Patriot's Point.  We were adjacent to the USS Yorktown and a submarine, the USS Clamagore (behind Carrier).

 The Citadel at the military college in town.

 They have a giant class ring at the entrance.

                                    Fort Sumter

Part of the original structure.  The start of the civil war was right here on 4/12/1861.

 The stiffness of the sails help to generate lift without spilling air over every wave.

Our sunset on our first overnight sail of the season.