Adventures of the Yacht White Pepper: The Milk Run to Vero Beach

White Pepper has made the run from the St. John's River to Vero Beach, FL perhaps 5 times. Actually, I've lost count. However, the trip retains its charms: Jacksonville Municipal Marina near the Jaguar's stadium, Pine Island anchorage, St. Augustine mooring field, Daytona Beach anchorage, Titusville mooring field, Dragon Point anchorage near Melbourne, and then the Vero Beach marina mooring field. With White Pepper's powerful new motor these legs only take several hours apiece, instead of all day as with the old motor. However, we had reasons to stop at each place.

At the free dock at Jacksonville Municipal Marina we took on free water and washed the deck down. By coincidence we met with friends Carolyn and Pierre from Obsession and spent a wonderful evening together. The tides and currents were unfavorable the next day so we stopped short of St. Augustine at the reliable Pine Island anchorage. This day was high lighted by seeing a bald eagle sitting on a log next to the Palm Valley canal. The sighting happened too quickly to get a picture. The next day brought only a short 11 n. mile hop to St. Augustine, where we picked up a mooring near Ken and Connie on Oz. Ken and Connie are our oldest cruising friends that are still active. Regrettably, they are taking Oz north to sell her and will likely “swallow the hook” which means to move onto land. Daytona Beach is a long haul from St. Augustine and has several safe spots to anchor. White Pepper quickly polished off the 50 n. mile run to Titusville. During the last two hours of this leg we were able to sail under genoa between the Haul Over Canal Bridge and Titusville.We could have gone further but needed fuel. We took a mooring ball. The next morning we went into the marina for fuel, a shower, a few groceries and breakfast. Titusville is great!

Haul Over Canal and Bridge is the start of the Indian River

Titusville in the distance

Aphrodite surveys the sunset from Dragon Point

That day we got to Dragon Point about 2:30 pm the next day which is ridiculously early to anchor. Dragon Point is at the southern tip of Merritt Island. It reminds me of a poor man's Palm Beach with beautiful people jogging, bicycling or rowing along the protected waters of the Indian River. However, Vero is another 35 n. miles south and just barely out of White Pepper's range at that hour. There are no really safe anchorage between Dragon Point {Melbourne, FL ) and Vero Beach. We arrived at the Vero Beach Marina early in the afternoon and took a mooring ball in the north field (#25). We were surrounded by numerous old friends who were migrating north from the Bahamas as we were heading south.

The trip took a total of 40 engine hours. The guide book records 240 statue miles between the intersection of Pablo Creek and the ICW, and Vero Beach. The trip for White Pepper evolves with each try. This time we had familiarity. It is not quite the familiarity of a trip to the home Wal-Mart, but still there are no longer surprises or novelty. The same derelict wrecks are in place as are the beautiful mansions and scenery. Each curve in the route and each bridge is familiar. There is more of a sense of nostalgia. Jan and I are constantly telling each other “remember when this happened in 2010?” or “did that happen in 2012 or 2013?”

Vero Beach is full of nostalgia but good times as well. We saw Pete and Diane of Pearl, John and Joan on Jessie Gray, Chuck and Sandy of Second Wind, Brad and Anne of Anne Teak. We renewed old friendships with couples that we had met at Vero—Sandra and Davido of Utopia, Joe and Sherry of Narsilium.

Skip Hardy took me golfing again at his club. Jan and Harriet Hardy went shopping.

When not visiting the days are filled with chores. We are fitting a new stack pack for the main sail, the fuel tank and the stuffing box needs maintenance. A new antennae had to be mounted at the masthead and running lights had to be fitted on the bow. Jan fitted a new mattress pad into the forepeak. Brother-in-law Charlie Mitchell flew in to help with the stack pack and enjoy a mini vacation. The weather has been beautiful and the days pass too quickly. It is going to be tough to leave “Velcro” Beach.