Roun' da Island Tour– at St Simons Island, GA (First Attempt)

RECAP: The idea was to bring awareness to the beautiful Golden Isles by circumnavigating St. Simons Island, GA on Stand Up Paddleboards and raise some money for Surf Rider Foundation (Low Country/Coastal Georgia Chapter) and the Wounded Warriors Veterans Project. Many locals say it can't be done, but we think differently, with the right weather, planning, stoke, luck and support it is possible. Hey, mon...it's a complete circumnavigation! 34 Miles around St Simons Island, GA - But dis ain't no Kingston-land clear-water island, bro...it's a south Georgia low-country Golden Isles, mon. It's what we got.. In an adventurous effort to stand up paddle the complete circumference of St Simons Island, GA. Thirty four miles the first attempt was made March 26, 2011. Our credo, it can be done. (Some say it can't, but that's always so.) If you got the guts, you will reap the glory.

 

It was a valiant effort!  The day began with a beautiful sunrise, no wind and perfect calm water. The four of us (Lori Green-Hurley, Danny Johnson, Chuck Hardin and Sandra Van Camp)

stroked out the first 9 miles, from the East Beach boatyard to Fort Frederica in good time, working slightly against the tide and just barely behind schedule due to a late start . After a brief on-the-water break at Fort Frederica the tide began to run in our favor helping us reach the Hampton Marina at the north end of the Island on schedule andwe saw only five gators along the way. Thus far we were extremely confident having paddled a total of 21 miles from our starting point in one tide (7 Hours).  As we enjoyed a much deserved lunch and rest we began to grow concerned about the freshing wind that we had yet to experience on the back side of the island, but we pressed on feeling great and very confident of doing the whole thing. As we rounded the last, northern most trees of St. Simons proper, we got smacked in the face with an unexpected 15 to 25 mph, SSE wind. This wind direction did not correspond with the forecasted Southwest 10-15 winds which we had expected and would have been less of a nuisance. Despite the unexpected wind we worked hard the next 5 miles or so, making it into the north entrance of Village Creek off the Hampton River between Sea Island and St. Simons Island, before a combination of unfortunate events required us to abort the attempt.  It was getting critically late in the afternoon when we mistakenly took a wrong turn into the marsh against strengthening headwinds and currents that put us behind schedule over 25 minutes. Then just as we began the most difficult passage against the unavoidable, powerful out-flowing tide there, Chuck ducked into a small slough to check his GPS and fell off his board right over an oyster bed –OUCH!   Cut his hand badly enough to make it impossible to proceed any further and necessitating the call for the rescue boat.  We were greatly disappointed after coming so far (between 26 -27 miles), but we didn’t feel too bad.  The wind had become the strongest it had been all day, at precisely the worst possible direction, at the worst possible point in the route.  It had also become overcast and threatening thunderstorms prompted the original rescue boat to retreat.  We probably weren't going to make it even to Gould’s Inlet before total darkness and then we would have that final mile and ½ into the open ocean to get back to the yard.  

 

We are  ready for the next attempt...but not quite yet! We know a lot more about what an undertaking this is. (Chuck will not eat oysters until we are successful!)  We’re analyzing the tide charts and other factors to pick a good date and will let everyone know.  Think about joining us!  We know it can be done if we get some better luck with the weather.  It will be done, so stay tuned, our next attempt will be announced soon.

Posted by Danny Johnson at 3/28/2011 8:20 PM
Categories: Stand Up Paddlesurfing, Contest, Outdoors, SUP, Stand Up Paddleboarding, StandUp Paddleboarding, Sup
 

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