December 06, 2000 -- Fernandina Here We Come

December 6, 2000 -- Fernandina Here We Come We got up at 1000 GMT this morning in order to watch for a large shrimper to follow, and to try to talk to one of them to get some additional local knowledge. At 1100 GMT, we tried calling the shrimpers on VHF channel 9. We were now 3 hours out of low tide. On our third call, the Shirley Anne came back to us. He instructed us to stay approximately 100 yards off the green buoys. He assured us that we would have plenty of water. He also offered to give us Loran coordinates, which we gladly accepted. Unfortunately, we were unable to convert the Loran coordinates to latitude longitude coordinates. We can accept Loran-C, but not Loran. He then told us that he draws 9 feet, and can go in and out of Sapelo in all tides. With this knowledge in hand, and our course appropriately replotted, we headed out of Sapelo Sound. We never saw less than 4 feet under us! This was much less stressful than entering had been! The rest of the trip was quiet and uneventful. As we came into the St. Mary's inlet, we saw a sub leaving. We dropped anchor in Fernandina Beach at 1830 GMT