Feature
By George Miller, 6-21-23
Foundation sponsored June 17 9 mile fundraiser paddle from GA to Florida, raises $ for vets, run by 60 volunteers.
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. This year, funding goes to American River Strokers, a Veteran organization out of Nashville, Tennessee who provide a variety of resources and opportunities for Veterans and First Responders through life-changing activities. The rest goes for scholarships. Their MISSION
CTLF’s Co-Director and one of seven board members Billy Cimino told us that they sponsor three events yearly. The Cross the Line Paddle from St. Mary’s GA to Fernandina Beach, FL is just one of those. Paul Lore, the other Co-Director, is currently busy rowing across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Kayakers paddle from the City Park/docks/launching ramp on St. Mary’s Road to the launching ramp at the Fernandina Beach City Marina at the foot of Centre Street, a scenic nine mile journey through sometimes challenging currents and winds.
This writer fully immersed himself in the experience by also registering and paddling the event.
Spadework for events such as this starts many months in advance via marketing to the public and kayak enthusiasts. There are promotional events such as breakfasts, which also raise more money and sign up participants at about 60 bucks a pop.
A little stiff, but, For that you get an extremely well-organized, well-staffed and equipped event. This year, about 60 orange-shirted volunteers, a small fleet of rescue and guide boats and jet skis, were there to ensure the safety and convenience of the paddle participants.
But wait, there’s more! Event partner Amelia River Cruises (take their varied and wonderful local day cruises!) ferried about 90 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.
The Paddle
The paddle got underway at 8:46 a.m. going east on the St Mary’s River, against a 9:07 a.m. high tide, then slack water for a while before it started ebbing. The river winds through the marshland and passes near the southern tip of Cumberland Island to St. Mary’s Inlet, before rounding Tiger Island to starboard (right) and heading south on the Amelia River section of the Intracoastal Waterway to the FB City Marina destination.
Organizers strongly advised us to hug the island shore, which is on the west side of the river, then do NOT cut across the river over to the marina until the anchorage is reached. They had excellent reasons: very strong head currents and danger of Intracoastal traffic. These were well-proven by non-compliant participants bucking currents sometimes reaching the speed that they paddle.
Bigger picture map….
The paddle is supposed to be for fun and not competition. BUT, you would never know that from the high-end, very narrow, long, light surf skis and also sea kayaks whose captains took off like bats out of hell at the start, some at 6 knots+. The surf skis are fastest and longer composite sea kayaks and sit-on-top kayaks follow. The shorter, wider, heavier plastic kayaks are a chore to paddle, but are the choice of most recreational paddlers, due to their durability, lower cost and convenience of transporting and storing.
But most of the competitors had more sedate boats and were out for a good time, which was had by all. Participants told me about an early capsize, quickly addressed by volunteers who had the boat up, emptied out and the participant back in and underway in a jiffy. There were no significant injuries or illness, although we encountered a few depleted, in sugar shock, including your humble writer.
Five in our neighborhood signed up and four did the paddle. All improved vastly with some training and coaching.
The paddle was a good challenge! But a group of us from my neighborhood trained together and had a great time encouraging one another. Plus the volunteers and organizers were awesome. They spoiled us from start to finish!– Jason Gerke
Three sleek surf skis took an early lead and held it to the finish, stretching out over the nine mile course, followed by your humble writer in a sea kayak then beloved Buddy of Amelia Kayaks in a Cobra surf ski. After a while, we couldn’t see anyone behind us. But even many of the ones who followed us did excellent times. Everyone I talked to loved the event, organizer support and the very worthy cause. Many had done this multiple times.
Regular kayakers and participants could really appreciate the struggle of finishers coming back to the FB City Marina from the north, coping with a double whammy of headwinds and strong currents, especially those who came down the east side, which has the worst currents.
It was a really fun event. I was very impressed by the number of volunteers and great organization- Captain Jim Fossa, USN (Ret.).
Longtime paddler, surfer and mountain biker Bryan Simpkins finished in a very respectable 2:10. He did it the hard way, too, in a 13.5′ plastic sit-on-top kayak. He aspires to circumnavigate Amelia Island. We were strategizing together on how to optimize timing of its currents/tides/weather. Bryan was very impressed by the event organization (“great event”) and care that they exercised with everything. He said they watched the course carefully, helped him out of his boat at the finish, gave him a bottle of water and watched as he wobbled around “lightheadedly” for a while thereafter. He observed that the current toward the end was very difficult. I second that. He enjoyed paddling with a group of five paddlers who were mutually supportive. This was his first time. He said he didn’t really understand what the event was about until this year. Bryan further noted that John Sauer and his blind son completed the event together in a tandem kayak.
Mr. Cimimo says that they don’t record times because the emphasis is on a family fun paddle. He added that 93 started, 92 finished and no rescues, an amazing record considering all the variables.
Conclusion
Thanks to the organizers- Cross The Line Foundation, for a fine event- but more importantly, for providing better visibility of veteran suicides and the raising/directing funds to organizations addressing them. It is such a tragedy that these occur and many could be prevented.
Thanks also to participants/donors for supporting the cause. Event partners were: the Amelia River Cruise Company, Nassau Moving Company, Oasis Marina of Fernandina, Savage Beaks, The Green Turtle, and of course the City of St. Mary’s.
They raised $7,145. If you haven’t already, would you please donate?
The Cross the Line Foundation is only successful because of the amazing community support we receive. We would not be able to give to Veteran’s causes without your help.
This was our fifth year holding this event. Previous years we paddled for One More Wave out of San Diego, Foar From Home out of Fernandina Beach, K-9 for Warriors out of Ponte Vedra, and Fight Oar Die out of Colorado.
We hope to continue the event for years to come, driving awareness to Veteran Suicide numbers and PTSD. It is always meant to be a family friendly event.
Cross the Line Foundation also holds an annual 5 K run on Veterans Day and awards four $500.00 scholarships each year to children of Veterans and students entering ROTC.
Bill Cimino, Co-Director
Cross the Line Foundation
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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.
