6 January - Day #35. My brother John and I have a been ribbing each other. He'd very much like me put the first scratch in Nellie's new paint job while I intend to deliver her to Naples unscathed. John almost got his wish today, not once but twice. Leaving the dock in Brunswick, GA there was both wind and current to contend with. No sooner had I backed out and had Nellie heading down the fairway, when the current pushed close to the end of the dock we'd just left. Fortunately, Bicki's quick action with the boat hook kept us off enough to slink out slowly. Not my best display of seamanship--but hey, no scratches! Our second attempt at marring the hull came as we left the fuel dock here in Fernandina Beach. Naturally, a 10kt wind and wind driven waves, waves big enough to soak the deck through the freeing ports, pinned us to the dock. In situations like this there's a tried-and-proven technique called springing-off where the engine is used in conjunction with a single dock line to get either the bow or stern away from the dock. Problem is, this exposes the bow, or stern, to being scratched by the pilings. No way, not on my watch. Instead we manhandle Nellie 40' backwards, against the wind, waves and current, to the end of the dock. We thus escaped possible injury by backing clear. Dinner was a treat as we caught up with Bill and Heidi, pictured above, from S/V Act III, and enjoyed a good seafood restaurant ashore. At the nice, calm, and now windless achorage in Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, FL. 36nm today and 792nm total. DBH
