Wow.... we made it... made it to Florida anyway...AND in time for Thanksgiving at St. Mary's GA. (which was one of the goals, of course).

That is always such a relaxing and enjoyable time.... (well... most of the time - long story there).

Anyway... we pulled anchor in the Cooper River, south of Beaufort, SC yesterday morning (Sunday).  

But...(and here's the blessing and the CURSE of the AICW in SC/GA (7.6 foot tides)), right at the mouth of Fields CUT, just before the Savannah River crossing... Moonshadow took to ground. Autumn Borne was right behind them... and slid by on their starboard side in 8.8 feet of water. Remember that 7.6 foot tide I mentioned...well it was falling like crazy... So IF Brian couldn't get off the mud pile in a few minutes... It might be a long, long while, and a crazy heel to one side...

They were in a place where there was a lot of traffic, and shallows all around them... so we couldn't go and toss them a line...etc. So Brian called Tow Boat US... Susan and I said 'We'll see you down the line' to the s/v Second Wind, who started down the Savannah River toward Tybee Island, and the ocean.

Susan and I then put Autumn Borne into the "wait mode"...(fwd at idle, facing into the 2.0 knot current in the Savannah River, and waited for Tow Boat US to rescue Moonshadow).

Ah... now for the Blessing part of the 7.6 foot tide: While waiting we checked weather, tides at St. Mary's, and we got a call from the s/v Second Wind...saying the ocean at large swells but looked good.

SO...........when Brian, and Sheila were 'free' we cruised out into the Atlantic, and headed SOUTH toward St. Mary's; anticiapated arrival time 2300 hours (right at the beginning of flood tide into the river).

An decent "outside" passage is so much nicer than worrying all day long about bridge openings, going aground, traffic, etc. on the AICW.   (The blessing of the ICW is that you can move south or north 99% of the time without worrying about weather).

the passage was a bit rocky...with 6+ swells from abeam, but other wise, wonderful, and we did get here right on time (2300 hours).  The wind was a little light, but you have to "be careful what you WISH for"! (Like "I wish there was more wind... and Wham! you get 46 knot winds)

While on one of my walk-abouts, around the boat yesterday, during passage I did discover two areas of chafe damage on the running and standing rigging: the topping lift line is starting to come apart (probably years of UV damage), and the mains'l sheet is suffering some chafe, and will have to be re-rove or reversed).

While in the Atlantic, and the water was clear, we made water for several hours, and did some other chores; all in all a nice passage... Granted coming in the St. Mary's river at night leaves a little to be desired, but we're now safely anchored just off Fernandina, Florida. 

 

After putting some fuel on board, we'll be going north to St. Mary's GA, and some 'rest-and relaxation' time.

Double Yeah!