Feature
By George Miller, 6-27-24
Charity organization Cross the Line Foundation has raised money for various veteran causes for years.
Cross the Line Foundation (CTLF) is dedicated to helping U.S. military veterans. It focuses on helping to prevent the epidemic of suicides of our military veterans, who are much more prone to it than the general public. Every year, CTLF chooses a group which has a proven record of performance in this area, then donates most of its net charitable fundraising proceeds to that organization. For more info on the Foundation, supporters and last year’s event just click here.
Their biggest fundraising event is the annual Cross the Line Paddle which goes from St. Mary’s, GA to the City Marina in Fernandina Beach, FL. It’s a little under 9 miles, depending on how close you take the corners and stay on course in the treacherous currents and winds. This year, it was on Saturday, June 22.
The event, related breakfasts and donations raised over $8,000 for good veteran causes. They are well known for fantastic volunteer services on and off the paddling course, with about 60 orange-shirted volunteers on shore and in multiple boats on the course for safety and convenience. For example John Sauer and his son John Michael capsized on the course but volunteers had them quickly righted, on their way again and finishing successfully! Volunteers helped paddlers directed traffic, launch their boats and also met them at the finish.
But wait, there’s more! Event partner Amelia River Cruises (take their varied and wonderful local day cruises!) ferried participants to the starting line in Georgia. Nassau Moving even trucked many participant kayaks from downtown Fernandina Beach to St Mary’s. The Green Turtle hosted a tasty wrap-up party and shrimp/beef barbeque late enough after the event so that even the slowest or non-finishing participants could attend. Finally, participants received a nice event shirt and an emergency whistle.
Bryan Simpkins who has paddled this in a 13″ plastic kayak multiple times and has circumnavigated all of the nearby barrier islands in some impressive times, hung back with some friends this year and finished 22nd. He told us that 133 signed up and 88 actually paddled.
Two participants told me that conditions were better than last year. They had the tide with them for part of the way, but had to buck it for quite a bit of the way, including the sometimes agonizing last few miles that also had stiffer headwinds, when people are tired and ready to get off the water. That outgoing tide on the Amelia River can get strong (see tide tables below), especially where Lanceford Creek empties out into it by the City Marina. Last year, the Organizers warned us to stay on the West side of the river and only cut across the channel at the last minute. Those who didn’t paid dearly in hard work and longer times.
Although event sponsor and Cross the Line Co-Director Billy Cimino says that this is not a race, you would never know it when looking at the front of the pack. This year, well known and beloved kayak guide Buddy Hudson led that pack, finishing first overall, although you wouldn’t guess it by looking at the laid back-appearing senior. He finished a couple of minutes behind me last year, when I did it in 1:44 and was first sea kayak finisher. I passed on paddling this year due to being in recovery from spinal surgery. Buddy is in great shape from paddling a lot, not just as a kayak guide, but I have also seen him out there alone, tearing up the water in his long red kayak.
Mark Grimes finishing:
https://www.facebook.com/100000752660041/videos/pcb.7774827089218969/846466136839761
Tides of the paddle day:
Last year:
George Miller is Publisher and Co-Founder of Citizens Journal Florida, based in Fernandina Beach. He is a “retired” operations management consultant, software and publishing executive and manufacturing management professional. He’s also a 32 year paddler, with open (Pacific) ocean multi-day paddling, “rock gardening” and kayak surfing experience in the Channel Islands, California coast, Middle-Atlantic states, Baja California, Portugal and other places.
