Galley Pirates

If you’re looking for a great southern vacation full of history, charm and ocean living, head down to Fernandina Beach, Florida. It’s on Amelia Island just south of the Georgia border. We go there every year for their Annual Shrimp Festival, a 4+day long fun-filled, gastronomic extravaganza filled with craft shopping and great live music. Here are some photos of the 2015 Festival where we stayed with our friends Scott and Anne. Then we met Gary and Torie on their Hylas 54 and sailed north to Charleston…and of course…ate very well under way!

All the Shrimps boats are dressed up and literally “decked out” for the party. Photos above courtesy of Laura McGuffey.

Getting the stage set for the onslaught of bands. The finale of the event is the Swinging Medallions!

Even the dogs dressed as pirates!

Anne and Jane.

Mike and Laura.

Todd.

doug

My skipper, Doug

night shot

Night time is spectacular!

A beautiful morning greets us for our sail north to the Chesapeake Bay.

I’m having galley oven envy… ; ) Well, let’s be real. I’m having total boat envy of Gary and Torie’s Hylas 54. Take a look at this galley…

Still celebrating the Shrimp Festival, we tried out some great shrimp dishes. First one was Shrimp Scampi on Angel Hair Pasta. We had this underway off shore in a sweet enclosed cockpit…a luxury we don’t have on a J42. We served this with a crisp salad of arugula and greens with a Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Once in port at Charleston we continued the shrimp recipes with this light and fruity Shrimp with Mango and Plantains.

It was fantastic as a side with our Italian Meatloaf Sandwiches.

Now that we we safe in a harbor we could relax with some of Gary’s fantastic cocktails.

Due to our work schedules my skipper and I had exactly one week to make the trip up to the Chesapeake. But Hurricane Ana was not cooperating and we spent the week in Charleston waiting for a weather window. And always eating well. Here we devoured the Galley Pirates pre-prepared Port Carnitas Chimichangas. Oh, yum…..!