December 16, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
Our departure at 8 AM put us into the ICW at Shinn Creek (MM 285.2) for an eleven mile run to the Cape Fear River and with an outgoing tide, about a 9 knot ride to the mouth of the river and into the ocean for a planned overnight sail to Charleston, SC.
All went as planned with following 3 – 5 ft. seas that got somewhat uncomfortable as the night went on. At one point our autopilot stopped working and the boat started to turn into the wind slowly and imperceptibly until the sail began to luff. Barbie asked if the wind had just shifted and I jumped to the helm to notice the autopilot off and the compass heading about 120 degrees off course. In the pitch black, with no stars, no land light and Stardust at a distance and a direction we could not determine it was very disorienting for a moment. Once I turned the boat back on course, we could see Stardust’s lights again and we were on our way. There was no real lesson to be learned other than that being prepared and on watch like we were and keeping your wits about you are all good things. Strangely, the same thing happened to Stardust about an hour later. Same consequence.
As we approached dawn and Charleston, both captains were tired, but Kathy was ready to go on and I was ready as well so we crossed Charleston’s ship channel and headed eventually to the North Edisto River on seas that were nearly smooth and light winds. None the less, we were able to use the tide and the little wind to enter the river and sail to an anchorage. I put on shorts and we took a nice walk with the Stardusters along the beach (found no sea glass.) Barb made a great dinner and we retired early ready for the next day at sea.
Fog greeted us next morning, but we both have radar and we would be on the ocean so the hazards presented were minimal. Our radar can even get echoes from the seabirds in the air or on the water and the surfacing dolphins in such calm seas. The fog came and went, off and on during the day and the wind originated from our boats forward motion from our engines. Near sunset we made Ossabaw Sound and anchored just inside Bradley Point with another boat.
We had decided to try for St. Mary’s Inlet and Fernandina Beach, FL the next day and that meant a predawn departure. 0530 was dark, but clear and we headed out into a flat calm Atlantic once again. As the sunrise progressed the lights of Savannah could be seen astern and the dawn broke in all its glory off our port bow. Spectacular! The run to Fernandina Beach was uneventful and we anchored across from the town docks ready to explore the town the next day.
Fernandina Beach is a quaint town with lots of shops, restaurants, saloons and beautiful old houses. It is a working town as well with an active container ship dock and a shrimping and fishing fleet. For $3.65 we got a day’s dinghy dock, laundry and shower facilities privileges. We also refueled and topped off our water. And we walked around town in shorts! This was a “day off” that was well deserved and well spent.
Dear Family and Friends,
Our departure at 8 AM put us into the ICW at Shinn Creek (MM 285.2) for an eleven mile run to the Cape Fear River and with an outgoing tide, about a 9 knot ride to the mouth of the river and into the ocean for a planned overnight sail to Charleston, SC.
All went as planned with following 3 – 5 ft. seas that got somewhat uncomfortable as the night went on. At one point our autopilot stopped working and the boat started to turn into the wind slowly and imperceptibly until the sail began to luff. Barbie asked if the wind had just shifted and I jumped to the helm to notice the autopilot off and the compass heading about 120 degrees off course. In the pitch black, with no stars, no land light and Stardust at a distance and a direction we could not determine it was very disorienting for a moment. Once I turned the boat back on course, we could see Stardust’s lights again and we were on our way. There was no real lesson to be learned other than that being prepared and on watch like we were and keeping your wits about you are all good things. Strangely, the same thing happened to Stardust about an hour later. Same consequence.
As we approached dawn and Charleston, both captains were tired, but Kathy was ready to go on and I was ready as well so we crossed Charleston’s ship channel and headed eventually to the North Edisto River on seas that were nearly smooth and light winds. None the less, we were able to use the tide and the little wind to enter the river and sail to an anchorage. I put on shorts and we took a nice walk with the Stardusters along the beach (found no sea glass.) Barb made a great dinner and we retired early ready for the next day at sea.
Fog greeted us next morning, but we both have radar and we would be on the ocean so the hazards presented were minimal. Our radar can even get echoes from the seabirds in the air or on the water and the surfacing dolphins in such calm seas. The fog came and went, off and on during the day and the wind originated from our boats forward motion from our engines. Near sunset we made Ossabaw Sound and anchored just inside Bradley Point with another boat.
We had decided to try for St. Mary’s Inlet and Fernandina Beach, FL the next day and that meant a predawn departure. 0530 was dark, but clear and we headed out into a flat calm Atlantic once again. As the sunrise progressed the lights of Savannah could be seen astern and the dawn broke in all its glory off our port bow. Spectacular! The run to Fernandina Beach was uneventful and we anchored across from the town docks ready to explore the town the next day.Fernandina Beach is a quaint town with lots of shops, restaurants, saloons and beautiful old houses. It is a working town as well with an active container ship dock and a shrimping and fishing fleet. For $3.65 we got a day’s dinghy dock, laundry and shower facilities privileges. We also refueled and topped off our water. And we walked around town in shorts! This was a “day off” that was well deserved and well spent.
At daybreak, Dec 11, we raised anchors bound for St. Augustine and with mainsails up for stability we leisurely motored along the Atlantic coast and entered the inlet on a rising tide.
We anchored just north of the Bridge of Lions below the ramparts of the Castillo. And here we will stay for a week, enjoying the sightseeing in this beautiful old city.Until next time, be well.
J&B
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