Day 16 - Monday November 23, 2009

It was a long night! Most of the night I laid awake on the settee listing to the wind howling in the rigging. When I did fall asleep, it wasn’t for long and then I would get up and check to make sure the anchor was holding.

Sometime between 0300 and 0500, the wind died down some and I slept a little. The “Buddy” alarm didn’t let me sleep too much though. That cat’s stomach would give an atomic clock a run at accuracy tolerances.

Since we are only 17 miles south of Charleston we delay departure to time the arrival, take advantage of the slack tide in the harbor and hopefully let the fog clear out. We get underway about 0840 with only about a 1 mile visibility. I’m trying to time the arrival at the infamous Ben Sawyer Bridge for at 1000 opening.

As we are putt-putting along, the big sailboat from the anchorage passes me and continues onward toward the bridge. To my surprise, the bridge opens and he continues on. I quickly call the bridge and find out they are “on request”…. so much for timing the arrival.

We speed it up, clear the bridge and continue on to Charleston Harbor. Did I mention the fog? Well, it didn’t get better, it got worse. Thank goodness for the chart plotter. The visibility is now less than a quarter mile which is not good in a busy harbor with two main shipping channels. I take us on a course through the commercial anchorage area and setup a quick run across the main channel. From there I paralleled the second channel for a while and then made a quick jump across it into the smaller channel going up the Ashley River.

We arrive at the Charleston City Marina at 1215 and are directed to the first slip on the “J” dock. This is the same slip we spent 5 days in June 2008. Slack tide made it much easier to dock than the last time.

Once we docked, I jumped on two high priority maintenance issues. We discovered our port running light was out while coming through the harbor. A lamp change was an easy fix. The other problem was a screw holding the companion way hinge plate pulled out of the fiberglass. This kept the door form closing properly. It took a bit of effort, but through bolting the hinge will keep that problem from coming back.

After a quick cleanup of the boat and ourselves and we headed for the shuttle stop to take the van downtown for pizza and beer. We went to a favorite we discovered in 2008, the Mellow Mushroom. The food was great and we stuffed ourselves.

By the time we got back to the boat it was already dark so we settled in for the evening. Tonight I will sleep for sure.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Charleston City Marina, Charleston, SC MM469
Started: 0840 Stopped: 1215
Distance Traveled: 17 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 469 Statute Miles

Day 15 - Sunday November 22, 2009

What's that noise? Oh yeah, it's an real alarm clock, not the usual "Buddy alarm". I set the infernal thing so we could get an early run out of Jericho Creek. The mouth of the creek appeared to be shoaled in more than what I remembered of the 2007 trip. I wanted to be out before the tide reached full low, plus it would give us some push down to Georgetown, SC and Winyah Bay.

Despite the 0530 alarm, it was 0715 before we raised the anchor. We eased over the bar at the creek entrance with a couple of feet to spare and headed southward. We rode the tide boost a while but lost it as we passed Georgetown.

Seems like cloudy, damp and cold mornings make travel seem slower than it already is. We push on down the Winyah Bay and enter the Esterville Minim Creek Canal. This is another man-made cut that scares the heck out of you at low tide. We’re fortunate to be passing on the rising tide. We have spotty rain as we move through the North and South Santee rivers. The only thing that breaks the monotony is the occasional powerboat wanting to pass us. By the time we are nearing forty miles of travel, the rain is more of a nuisance. The plan was to stop in Graham Creek, but there was real shallow water at the entrance so we decided to proceed on. That decision was met with heavier rain and increased wind, naturally! We pushed on another 12 miles to Whiteside Creek.

One sailboat was already anchored in the prime spot so we went around the bend and attempted to anchor. After two unsuccessful attempts to get the Danforth to set, we moved back to the first leg of the creek and anchored just up stream of the other sailboat. Shortly afterward another sailboat anchored just off the other boat’s stern.

It was raining pretty good and the wind was 15 gusting to 20 knots. This creek is totally exposed with nothing but marsh grass all around. After two failed anchor sets, my anxiety level about our location was maxed out . It was getting dark so we’re stuck with this place.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Whiteside Creek, SC MM452
Started: 0645 Stopped: 1630
Distance Traveled: 56 mi Avg Speed 6.4 mph
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 452 Statute Miles

Day 14 - Saturday November 21, 2009

Today’s destination? I know I said Jericho Creek, but who knows! To be sure it will be an anchorage some where southward. We take advantage of the shore power and have a nice hot breakfast and too much coffee. We pull away from the pier at 0725 and continue the run through the “Rockpile”. The day is kind of uneventful except for a delay at the Socastee Bridge. It’s supposed to be an on demand bridge, but the bridge tender kept us waiting for almost 30 minutes.

Once past Enterprise Landing, we entered the usually beautiful Wacammaw River. Today some of the beauty was muted. The overcast day and cool temperature made everything seem dreary.

By 1500 we had reached the “where do we stop” decision point. Jericho Creek looked mighty inviting so we pulled off to starboard and entered. A little more shoaling at the mouth, but once we got into the creek the water was deep almost to the banks. We dropped the hook about a half mile up the creek hoping for a quiet evening. A local’s gun range could be heard in the distance and thoughts of the movie “Deliverance” popped into my head. At dusk the range quit and we were alone in the dark.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Jericho Creek, SC MM395
Started: 0725 Stopped: 1506
Distance Traveled: 43.1 mi Max Speed 7.3 mph
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 395 Statute Miles

Day 13 - Friday, Nov 20th, 2009

We accidently overslept this morning. I forgot to set the alarm and it was going on 0700 before I woke up. We did a regular breakfast and coffee routine and then started getting ready to depart. It was almost 0830 before we pulled away from the pier.

It was a little cool first thing but it warmed up nicely. We caught the tide right for easy passage of two troublesome inlets, Lockwoods Folly and Shallote Inlets. We motor sailed with the jib and were making good time until we got to Little River Inlet where we met it’s out going current. From there to Barefoot Landing we fought a horrific current. At one point we were reduced to 3.6 mph. Because of the current, we made it to Barefoot Landing an hour and a half later than our original projected arrival. Along the way we saw two shipwrecks from some earlier storm.

We arrived at 1630 and got the next to the last dock space for today. We elected to forego the Outlet Traps and just spend the evening on the boat. After dinner, Donna is watching some TV and I am writing this blog/log entry.

Tomorrow’s destination is Jericho Creek which is off the Waccamaw River south of Myrtle Beach.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach, NC MM354
Started: 0830 Stopped: 1630
Distance Traveled: 43 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 358 Statute Miles

Day 12 - Thursday, Nov 19th, 2009

Started coffee around 0600. The destination for today is Southport. We waited until 0815 to time the tide in the Cape Fear River. High tide at Southport was about 0930 so we are hoping to arrive at slack water. That means running the current, but it will be decreasing as we approach Southport. The plan is to stop at the Southport Marina, do the laundry and shower thing and head to Wally World (Wal-Mart) to restock some groceries.

Out in Snows Cut, the current helped carry us to the river. The run across to the main channel was not as scary as the last time we transited the river. We did encounter a dredge and had to detour around that operation. When we reached the main channel, we were able to motor sail with the jib. We also had to dodge a large tanker headed up river to Wilmington. We arrived at the Southport Marina around 1130, fueled up, did a pumpout and then moved to a slip for the day.


By the time we cleaned the boat a little, we decided to take a cab to Wally World. BTW, cabs are not quick in this territory. Once back at the boat we stowed the groceries and made dinner. Then it was off to the showers and laundry to finish out the day. And you thought this was a glamorous way of life!

Tomorrow's destination: Myrtle Beach, SC


Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Southport Marina, Southport, NC MM310
Started: 0815 Stopped: 1130
Distance Traveled: 15 mi
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 315 Statute Miles

Day 11 - Wednesday, Nov 18th, 2009

Up at 0550 to answer the Buddy alarm clock; he wants to be fed earlier and earlier. The switch back to standard time doesn’t work with him. A small rain squall came through around 0300. The noise woke me and I immediately started checking to make sure the anchor wasn’t dragging. Gusts peaked at 24 kn and the whole thing was over in about an hour. As things calmed down, I laid down on the settee and slept until Buddy started his wake up routine.


Destination today is Carolina Beach anchorage at MM295. That means a fifty mile day with several inlets to pass. These inlets are a pain as the tidal currents there help on one side and slow you on the other. In addition, many are shoaling which means timing passage at mid to high tide. We tried to time our arrival at three bridges today, but we arrive early at all due to wind and current. The Surf City Bridge passage went without incident, but the Figure Eight Island Bridge was another story. Wind and current had us moving at 4+mph while idling in neutral so there was lots of the old wait for the bridge dancing going on. At the Wrightsville Beach Bridge condition were even worse and one sailboat went aground while doing the dance.


After those bridges, the next obstacle was the shoaling at the Carolina Beach Inlet. We arrived at near low tide. We hugged the “greens” and still found 5-6’ of water. It was even worse in mid channel and red side. I went outside the greens to find 7-10 of water and was able to pass the inlet and Towboat US trying to free a grounded sailboat in mid channel.


It was a short distance from there to the anchorage. We anchored in 17’ of water and settled in quickly as a rain shower put an end to the day.


Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Carolina Beach Anchorage, MM295
Started: 0715 Stopped: 1705
Distance Traveled: 51.8 mi

Day 10 - Tuesday, Nov 17th, 2009

Started coffee around 0540. The destination for today is Mile Hammock Bay or further if possible. The tide was running strong so we waited for Ajaya (Phil & Nicki) to pull out first. Once they were out, it was a lot safer for us to pull away from the pier. Back out in the Intracoastal, the tide helped push us along for a while. The fog settled in a little more and visibility lessened. The wind picked up and we motor sailed, but the wind with the high humidity made it feel much cooler than it was.



Donna went below and stayed a while to get warm and use the air card Internet connection. We lost the tide’s help and lost speed as we continued on to Swansboro.


We were approaching the Onslow area when a US Navy patrol vessel stopped all traffic and instructed us to anchor. The Marines were conducting live-fire weapons maneuvers and the waterway was closed. After almost an hour we were told to proceed on and seven boats raced to catch the 1300 opening of the Onslow swing bridge.


We arrived at Mile Hammock Bay about 1415 and were anchored by 1430. We might have made it further today, but this place fills up fast as there isn’t another anchorage for 15+ miles. There are eight boats riding at anchor already and its just 1615.

Today’s Tech Stuff:
Location: Mile Hammock Bay, NC. MM244, N34°33.051’ W77° 19.542’
Started: 0645 Stopped: 1430
Distance Traveled: 41.4 mi, Max Spd 9.3 mph, Avg Spd: 5.7 mph
Total Distance Traveled to Date: 244 Statute Miles