Chumming Offshore…At Last!

Monday September 19 - Tuesday September 20

Prime Time departed the Beaufort City Docks on Monday September 19 at 0830. We waved goodbye to Ribbit and headed out for the sea buoy. Our plan was to get offshore for as long as possible. In a perfect world, we wanted to make Stuart, FL. It didn’t happen…

Monday was an idyllic day…winds out of the SE at 5-10 miles per hour…seas 3’ chop with 2’-3’ swells. Team Prime Time was really enjoying these perfect conditions. We had decided to go with a 2 hour on and 4 hour off watch schedule. We safely crossed the Frying Pan Shoals and were on our way! Prime Time was really flying…nice and smooth…

Early Tuesday morning the winds picked up to 15-20 knots…gusting MUCH higher. Seas were 6-10’. We were being pounded pretty hard. I tried to eat a bowl of cereal…and didn’t make it...or keep it! Jason was also ill. Being seasick is PROBABLY one of the worst things in life!

Prime Time made it past South Carolina and Georgia on Tuesday. It really wasn’t a lot of fun. Finally after 42 hours and 350 nautical miles, Team Prime Time needed a break. We decided to tuck into Fernandina Beach, FL. Jason and I were both ecstatic! Even Mark was pretty beaten up.

The inlet to Fernandina Beach is pretty tricky…especially at 0100 on a moonless night/morning. Mark skillfully guided Prime Time to the fuel dock at Florida Petroleum around 0200. We tied up…secured the boat…and immediately fell asleep.