I got us up early this morning, fixed some oatmeal and hot coffee. It was 46F inside the boat and about 38F outside. We got underway at 0715 and followed the Mackay River south to St. Simons Sound. The wind and tide were opposing so there was some chop. Fortunately the wind was less than 10 knots. Our speed picked up as we turned southwest and then west as we headed toward Jekyll Creek. Things went well in the creek because the water was rising.
When we exited the creek into Jekyll Sound the wind was picking up and opposing the tide here too. The fun began when we rounded Jekyll Point and headed out into St. Andrews Sound. I had the jib out to help give us some speed. We began taking a pounding. As we neared the turning buoy to head southwest behind Cumberland Island, the engine suddenly started stalling. We were healing so much, the fuel pickup became exposed and cavitated. The motor died so we continued sailing, rounded the buoy and surfed our way into the Cumberland River. As we got into calmer water, I got a fuel can stored forward and added 5 gal of fuel to the tank. We had to start the engine several times and let it run rough and slow until the air was worked out of the system. I guess I should have added fuel to the tank before we started out.
I kept the jib out for the remainder of the day. It helped us speed through the Cumberland Dividings and past Kings Bay Naval Base and into Cumberland Sound. The choice now was either go to St. Marys or to Fernandina Beach. I wanted out of GA so Fernandina was the choice. It’s not so funny how Murphy makes you pay for this kind of decision. As we approached the inlet from the north, the wind was from the north and the tide was going out. Pretty smooth sailing until we reached the point where the Amelia River flowed into the sound and out the inlet. The wind now opposed the tide and it became real choppy. The boat was smacking into waves and almost stalling. Then the wave would pick us up from behind, push us forward and we’d surf down the wave. Fortunately we only had to endure a couple of miles of this before we reached the turn to Fernandina Beach City Marina. We were assigned a inside slip where it was much calmer.
All-in-all a rough but exciting day and we covered a good distance. Most of all, we were out of GA and into FL. Hooray!!!
Location: Fernandina Beach City Marina, FL, MM 718
Started: 0745 Stopped: 1430
Distance Traveled: 51.8 mi, Avg spd: 7.1 Max spd: 10.4
Day 27-28, December 4 & 5, 2009 **REVISED**
I slept in until about 0630. Did the usual, feed the cat and then make coffee. We get underway at 0740 and begin the day fighting the incoming tide as we head out into the Sapelo Sound. It’s cloudy and not a ray of sunshine in sight. Wind is from the NW about 10+ and the temperature was only 54F. Not exactly a great day for sitting at the wheel for eight hours.
Once we reach our turning mark in the sound and head west the pace picks up and so does the wind. Motor sailing with the jib out helps us make good time. We reach the Creighton Narrows at the top of the tide and have no trouble with water depths.
We make it to the Little Mud River just before mid ebb tide. The Little Mud is notoriously shallow and is not even impassable for us at low tide. I decide to push on and the shallowest water encountered was 7 feet. Tidal range today is 9.2 feet so that spot will be around 3’ at low tide.
The swing westward into Buttermilk Sound puts us at odds with the tide and wind so we poke along at 3.8 mph until we reach the Mackay River. It started raining and visibility began to drop so we pulled into Wallys Leg and anchored. We’ve been here before in 2008. It’s not the best holding bottom for anchoring so I will have to watch for possible anchor dragging. Two other boats join us in the anchorage for the night.
Donna is making dinner as I write this log entry. Buddy has been on deck inspecting and drinking rain water. Today’s description: Long, cold and wet.
Well, we ended up staying another day due to bad timing on the incoming tide high winds and rain. We couldn’t make it to Jekyll Creek and run that shallow water at mid to high rising plus I wasn’t keen on getting soaked. I ran the generator and we charged everything up and put a little heat in the boat. Donna also enjoyed some TV while the generator was running.
The catamaran anchored behind us dragged anchor as the winds piped up to 20+ and gusting higher. Another long miserable day in GA.
Location: Wallys Leg off the Mackay River, GA, MM 665
Started: 0745 Stopped: 1500
Distance Traveled: 40 mi, Avg spd: 4.3
Once we reach our turning mark in the sound and head west the pace picks up and so does the wind. Motor sailing with the jib out helps us make good time. We reach the Creighton Narrows at the top of the tide and have no trouble with water depths.
We make it to the Little Mud River just before mid ebb tide. The Little Mud is notoriously shallow and is not even impassable for us at low tide. I decide to push on and the shallowest water encountered was 7 feet. Tidal range today is 9.2 feet so that spot will be around 3’ at low tide.
The swing westward into Buttermilk Sound puts us at odds with the tide and wind so we poke along at 3.8 mph until we reach the Mackay River. It started raining and visibility began to drop so we pulled into Wallys Leg and anchored. We’ve been here before in 2008. It’s not the best holding bottom for anchoring so I will have to watch for possible anchor dragging. Two other boats join us in the anchorage for the night.
Donna is making dinner as I write this log entry. Buddy has been on deck inspecting and drinking rain water. Today’s description: Long, cold and wet.
Well, we ended up staying another day due to bad timing on the incoming tide high winds and rain. We couldn’t make it to Jekyll Creek and run that shallow water at mid to high rising plus I wasn’t keen on getting soaked. I ran the generator and we charged everything up and put a little heat in the boat. Donna also enjoyed some TV while the generator was running.
The catamaran anchored behind us dragged anchor as the winds piped up to 20+ and gusting higher. Another long miserable day in GA.
Location: Wallys Leg off the Mackay River, GA, MM 665
Started: 0745 Stopped: 1500
Distance Traveled: 40 mi, Avg spd: 4.3
Day 26, December 3, 2009
We couldn’t get our act together this morning. Removing all the extra lines, re-stowing things and breakfast occupied things until about 0800. It was 0810 when Donna guided us away from the dock. It was a cool morning with lots of clouds and little sun. Donna took us through the Skidaway Narrows Bridge and then I took the helm.
Hell Gate, a typical trouble spot was not a problem. Our arrival with tide and recent dredging made passage easy. Onward we went through the Florida Passage, past Kilkenny Creek, into St. Katherines Sound and past the Medway River where we had such a difficult time in 2007.
It was a typical Georgia day, fighting or riding the tidal current. We pushed the daylight to a safe limit and pulled into the Wahoo River and anchored at 1700. It looked like it was going to be a cold night.
Location: Wahoo River, GA, MM 630
Started: 0810 Stopped: 1700
Distance Traveled: 50 mi, Avg spd: 5.6
Hell Gate, a typical trouble spot was not a problem. Our arrival with tide and recent dredging made passage easy. Onward we went through the Florida Passage, past Kilkenny Creek, into St. Katherines Sound and past the Medway River where we had such a difficult time in 2007.
It was a typical Georgia day, fighting or riding the tidal current. We pushed the daylight to a safe limit and pulled into the Wahoo River and anchored at 1700. It looked like it was going to be a cold night.
Location: Wahoo River, GA, MM 630
Started: 0810 Stopped: 1700
Distance Traveled: 50 mi, Avg spd: 5.6
Day 24-25, December 1-2, 2009
The threat of nasty weather is keeping us here in Thunderbolt, GA. There was fog this morning (Dec 1) but later it cleared and it warmed up a little. It was a great morning to stand in the hot shower and just let the water wash away some of the tension. Later, Donna struck up a conversation with a live aboard couple and was invited by the lady to ride along to the post office and some other stores. Donna jumped at the chance to visit the post office and the Piggly Wiggly to get some fresh fruit and vegetables.
Dec 2: The forecasted nasty weather is now a little delayed. What was predicted for late last night and this morning is now predicted to arrive this afternoon. We enjoyed a slow morning with a newspaper and Krispy Kreme Donuts (compliments of the marina). By noon, the threat of high winds (70 mph in thunderstorms) and some damage was somewhat assured. By 1500, the marine repair facility had shut down due to high winds and a tornado warning. All the transient boaters got busy putting on additional lines and more fenders. When the town tornado siren went off, everybody knew it was time to finish securing and get below or inside the marina buildings.
Well, the wind blew 24-25 on our meter and then the rain started. It lasted about an hour and then things died down. Thank goodness it wasn’t what had been predicted.
Everyone retired early that evening leaving all the extra lines and fenders in place.
Dec 2: The forecasted nasty weather is now a little delayed. What was predicted for late last night and this morning is now predicted to arrive this afternoon. We enjoyed a slow morning with a newspaper and Krispy Kreme Donuts (compliments of the marina). By noon, the threat of high winds (70 mph in thunderstorms) and some damage was somewhat assured. By 1500, the marine repair facility had shut down due to high winds and a tornado warning. All the transient boaters got busy putting on additional lines and more fenders. When the town tornado siren went off, everybody knew it was time to finish securing and get below or inside the marina buildings.
Well, the wind blew 24-25 on our meter and then the rain started. It lasted about an hour and then things died down. Thank goodness it wasn’t what had been predicted.
Everyone retired early that evening leaving all the extra lines and fenders in place.
Day 23, November 30, 2009
The evening passed quietly. Despite the aggressive tidal switches, the anchor held firm. Tidal range overnight was eight feet. Just after dark we had 20’ of water beneath the boat and when I got up at around 0200, we only had 12’. It’s an awesome thing to think about the volume of water it takes to make an 8’ difference in the water level over some much area.
We had a “Beirut Breakfast” at daybreak. All hell broke loose as we were eating. Seems the marines were on the small arms firing range and it reminded me of the middle east fighting you hear on the TV. After breakfast we got rolling to take advantage of the out going current in the Beaufort River and Calibogue Sound. The Calibogue was not kind to us because the southerly wind opposed the outgoing tide and created considerable chop until we turned into the Cooper River. The current here reduced our speed to about 4.0 to 4.5 mph.
All this outgoing tide and our progress was setting us up for arrival at several trouble spots at near bottom or bottom of the tide. Not Good! We had to reduce speed to idle in several areas and “feel” our way through several shallow areas. We met a sailboat who had turned back and was going to wait for the water to return. We then came upon “Abu Dai”, a sailboat, hard aground between the marks at the entrance to “Fields Cut”. We hugged the green mark and idled through with depths of 4.1 to 4.5 on the depth meter. It took about 200 yards of nail biting travel to finally reach 9’+ depths.
We had good depths at the southern end of the cut where we crossed the Savannah River. Our afternoon check of the weather confirmed a nasty low was expected to form and bring heavy rains, thunderstorms, high winds and even the possibility of tornados. All this expected to occur when we would be in the same area we had severe weather back in 2007. For the most part, the marshy areas of Georgia south of Thunderbolt are not the places to be anchored in these kind of storms. Taking this into consideration we called cancelled our plan to anchor in the Herb River and got reservations at Thunderbolt Marina.
That’s where we are as I write this entry.
Location: Thunderbolt Marina on the Wilmington River, Thunderbolt, GA
Started: 0730 Stopped: 1600
Distance Traveled: 44 mi, Max spd: 11.5, Avg spd: 4.4
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 584 Statute Miles
We had a “Beirut Breakfast” at daybreak. All hell broke loose as we were eating. Seems the marines were on the small arms firing range and it reminded me of the middle east fighting you hear on the TV. After breakfast we got rolling to take advantage of the out going current in the Beaufort River and Calibogue Sound. The Calibogue was not kind to us because the southerly wind opposed the outgoing tide and created considerable chop until we turned into the Cooper River. The current here reduced our speed to about 4.0 to 4.5 mph.
All this outgoing tide and our progress was setting us up for arrival at several trouble spots at near bottom or bottom of the tide. Not Good! We had to reduce speed to idle in several areas and “feel” our way through several shallow areas. We met a sailboat who had turned back and was going to wait for the water to return. We then came upon “Abu Dai”, a sailboat, hard aground between the marks at the entrance to “Fields Cut”. We hugged the green mark and idled through with depths of 4.1 to 4.5 on the depth meter. It took about 200 yards of nail biting travel to finally reach 9’+ depths.
We had good depths at the southern end of the cut where we crossed the Savannah River. Our afternoon check of the weather confirmed a nasty low was expected to form and bring heavy rains, thunderstorms, high winds and even the possibility of tornados. All this expected to occur when we would be in the same area we had severe weather back in 2007. For the most part, the marshy areas of Georgia south of Thunderbolt are not the places to be anchored in these kind of storms. Taking this into consideration we called cancelled our plan to anchor in the Herb River and got reservations at Thunderbolt Marina.
That’s where we are as I write this entry.
Location: Thunderbolt Marina on the Wilmington River, Thunderbolt, GA
Started: 0730 Stopped: 1600
Distance Traveled: 44 mi, Max spd: 11.5, Avg spd: 4.4
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 584 Statute Miles
Day 22, November 29, 2009
It was really a quiet night. Despite falling asleep early in the evening, we both pretty much slept until 0500. I got up around 0615, made coffee and started making the boat ready to leave at first light. A quick shot of coffee for both of us and we upped anchor. Underway at 0720 Donna eased us out of the creek and back into the ICW.
The morning was cloudy and a little cool, but a little warmer than the day before. Around 1100, the clouds had cleared, the wind had clocked around to the south and the day began warming nicely. By 1200, we were both out of our jackets and gloves.
The day was a typical SC cruising experience. You are either going pretty fast with the current or fighting to make headway. Unfortunately we arrived at the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cut a half hour before dead low tide. Transit wasn’t too bad until we reached the southern end and entered the Coosaw River. Depth gauge was reading 4.6’ to 4.9’ and we were going slow which made the experience agonizing long.
We continued on to Beaufort, SC, where we passed through the Ladies’ Island Bridge. As we passed the anchorage area off Beaufort, we saw the English couple we dined with in Dowry Creek and Morehead City. They came on deck and waved as we passed and continued on to Port Royal and Battery Creek. We arrived at near the top of the tide and anchored just past the shrimp boat docks where three sailboats were on moorings. We anchored in 18’ of water and about 10 kt of breeze. Hopefully this place will be as quiet and pleasant as last night’s anchorage.
Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Port Royal, SC on Battery Creek, South of Beaufort, SC, MM542
Started: 0720 Stopped: 1600
Distance Traveled: 48 mi, Max spd: 8.7, Avg spd: 5.4
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 542 Statute Miles
The morning was cloudy and a little cool, but a little warmer than the day before. Around 1100, the clouds had cleared, the wind had clocked around to the south and the day began warming nicely. By 1200, we were both out of our jackets and gloves.
The day was a typical SC cruising experience. You are either going pretty fast with the current or fighting to make headway. Unfortunately we arrived at the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cut a half hour before dead low tide. Transit wasn’t too bad until we reached the southern end and entered the Coosaw River. Depth gauge was reading 4.6’ to 4.9’ and we were going slow which made the experience agonizing long.
We continued on to Beaufort, SC, where we passed through the Ladies’ Island Bridge. As we passed the anchorage area off Beaufort, we saw the English couple we dined with in Dowry Creek and Morehead City. They came on deck and waved as we passed and continued on to Port Royal and Battery Creek. We arrived at near the top of the tide and anchored just past the shrimp boat docks where three sailboats were on moorings. We anchored in 18’ of water and about 10 kt of breeze. Hopefully this place will be as quiet and pleasant as last night’s anchorage.
Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Port Royal, SC on Battery Creek, South of Beaufort, SC, MM542
Started: 0720 Stopped: 1600
Distance Traveled: 48 mi, Max spd: 8.7, Avg spd: 5.4
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 542 Statute Miles
Day 21, November 28, 2009
Timing the departure for an easy ride through Elliott’s Cut meant we could sleep in and enjoy a nice breakfast. We pulled out of the slip and headed down the Ashley River about 1100 hrs. A short way into Wappoo Creek we had to wait for the bridge opening. It was there we met up with another couple who had been at Dowry Creek during our stay. We fell in behind them and followed them through the cut.
The morning was cool and it took a while for the sun to warm things a little. With the short day, we could only hope to make about 30 miles or so and I had picked out an anchorage at about that distance. We had to negotiate a few skinny water areas along the way, but for the most part the day was a little boring.
We finally reached Tom Point Creek around 1600. We slowed down and eased our way into the creek. Another sailboat followed us in. We talked on the VHF and found neither one of us had used this anchorage before. About a half mile inside the creek, we found a spot we liked and dropped the hook. The other boat went about 200 yards further and did the same.
As soon as the engine stopped, Buddy was ready to go on deck and check things out. He’s developed a new thing which scares Donna and I both. He goes forward, turns and runs toward the dodger, leaps up on the dodger, then leaps to the bimini and comes to a screeching halt just before he reaches the back of the bimini. If he ever overshoots, my only hope is he sails into the dinghy hanging on the stern.
We both fell asleep in the salon about 2000. I woke up and got us both into the vberth around 2030.
Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Tom Point Creek, North of Beaufort, SC, MM495
Started: 1100 Stopped: 1615
Distance Traveled: 28 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 495 Statute Miles
The morning was cool and it took a while for the sun to warm things a little. With the short day, we could only hope to make about 30 miles or so and I had picked out an anchorage at about that distance. We had to negotiate a few skinny water areas along the way, but for the most part the day was a little boring.
We finally reached Tom Point Creek around 1600. We slowed down and eased our way into the creek. Another sailboat followed us in. We talked on the VHF and found neither one of us had used this anchorage before. About a half mile inside the creek, we found a spot we liked and dropped the hook. The other boat went about 200 yards further and did the same.
As soon as the engine stopped, Buddy was ready to go on deck and check things out. He’s developed a new thing which scares Donna and I both. He goes forward, turns and runs toward the dodger, leaps up on the dodger, then leaps to the bimini and comes to a screeching halt just before he reaches the back of the bimini. If he ever overshoots, my only hope is he sails into the dinghy hanging on the stern.
We both fell asleep in the salon about 2000. I woke up and got us both into the vberth around 2030.
Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Tom Point Creek, North of Beaufort, SC, MM495
Started: 1100 Stopped: 1615
Distance Traveled: 28 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 495 Statute Miles
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