My wife, Cristi and I just returned from a 4 day trip out to Cumberland Island on the Georgia coast. Cumberland is a partially developed barrier island administered by the National Park Service. Access is by ferry or kayak from St. Mary’s, GA.

Cumberland is home to miles of beach and salt marsh as well as a dense maritime forest of live oak and saw palmetto. The campground at Sea Camp offers full amenities for hike-in campers, and backcountry camping is available by permit.

We launched our kayaks at Crooked River State Park near St. Mary’s and had a chance to give the new P&H Flat Earth sails a good shakedown. This unique kayak sail system allows for simultaneous sailing and paddling and definitely gives you a boost–even in light air.

P&H will have sails available in the US and Europe starting in 2014.

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Sailing down the Crooked River on the way to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

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All smiles with the wind at her back.

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Wild horses grazing near the Dungeness Dock.

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Dense maritime forest of live oak and saw palmetto.

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Cold and breezy but we had the beach to ourselves.

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Ruins of the Carnegie mansion at the south end of Cumberland.