"2003 An Easy Pass the Morning after Thanksgiving" Fort Matanzas Travelogue by grandmaR

Fixed bridge next to the San Sebastian River

We get down the San Sebastion River and go under the fixed bridge there before 0800.

A sports fish called JACKPOT wakes everyone (that is rocks them with his wake) and I hear other folks complaining on the radio. He doesn't know how to give folks an easy pass with little or no wake, or he doesn't care.

Crescent Beach bascule bridge

When we got to the Crescent Beach bridge, we go through by ourselves(there is a significant amount of current against us) after another boat about a mile ahead called KALUHA.

Houses on shore south of the Crescent Beach bridge

There are two or three boats behind us, and the bridge makes the first two of them wait and go through together.

A sailboat from Florida with the US flag flying from the spreaders (not correct flag etiquette - should be from the backstay or from a flagpole at the stern - flags that fly from the spreaders are courtesy flags of a country you are visiting, or yacht club pennants etc.) comes north and she makes him wait for the next opening.

Fort Matanzas from the ICW

We hear a commercial fishing boat reporting to the CG in Mayport that a sportsfish is taking on water and dragging toward the Matanzas Inlet bridge from the ocean side.

Since it has be dredged, this inlet hasn't been as troubling for us. People still tend to follow us (even though we are slower than they are) so that if anyone is going to go aground, we will do it first.

Kayakers near the inlet

We can't see anything of the inlet from the ICW, as we go inland around the delta of shallow water at the entrance of the inlet. We do see kayakers along the shore. It is a nice day, and it is a holiday weekend so a lot of people are out and about.

Launching boats on the ICW

We also see people launching boats along the river, and we pass the inlet without incident.

SEAFOX, a large power boat with a tent/cabana on the top aft deck and a mural below that passed.

Old Marineland complex and stadium

As we passed the old Marineland about 1000, Bob said that he saw a dolphin jumping in the old stadium. I didn't see it.

The stadium and marina closed down before our 2000 trip, but I have heard rumors that they might reopen.

Next: passing Palm Coast.