WELL... today didn't quite work out as predicted... or forecasted...
The wind was supposed to be 10 to 15 knots dropping in the late morning...
The sea state was supposed to be 3 to 4 feet dropping to 2 to 3 feet...
WELL....we left the South Edisto River this morning with the s/v Second Wind, and Moonshadow.
As we made the turn down-wind it was pretty obvious that the seas were larger than predicted already...
As time went on.. the wind built to 18 to 20 knots with much higher gusts... (our max reading was 29.9 knots on the wind instrument)...
and the seas were building at the same time... We were doing 10.0 knots when surfing down the face of the waves... I could look horizontally at the tops of the waves... from the AB cockpit... That's a tall bit of water!
Anyway... Second Wind called and said they'd "had it" and were heading into Port Royal Sound...
We were looking forward to being in St. Mary's GA on Sunday Morning... but if you'll pardon the pun, the "Sound" idea sounded good to us...
BUT... running downwind was easy compared to the 7 mile stretch back to the shoreline...on a beam-reach. That run was really nasty... with 8 to 10 foot waves hitting us from the side... while running down a narrow inlet channel... with shoals on both sides...
Anyway..... we did enter Port Royal Sound, below Beaufort SC, and pick up the AICW as it crossed the sound. We're now anchored in The COOPER River...(Nice anchorage...quite a current, but good holding, and quiet).
Tomorrow we'll continue down the AICW until we can see the weather change, and/or get an opportunity to get out into the Ocean for another try.
Nigel (the windvane) did a great job running just off "dead-down"... it's been a long time since we've needed "him"... The electric autopilot "Rosie" is a god-send while cruising the AICW.
Sounds like you made a wise choice. There has been small craft warnings here (Ft Pierce, Fl) for a few days now. 10 footers outside, but nice and calm in here. Give us a call. Scott and Annie. Carpe Diem. safowle@hotmail.com
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