Minum Creek

October 29, 2013
33 11.379 N
79 16.389 W

It was very dark at 5:30 AM when we got up. Once washed and dressed we prepared Tide Hiker for departure. The same was going on next door on Bon Voyage. It was still totally dark when we backed out of the slip a few minutes past 6 AM. It was actually worse than dark because of bright lights on shore messing up our night vision. This was the darkest we had ever moved the boat in close quarters. I could not see a thing and was piloting from the chart plotter and radar, and Deidre was out on deck trying to spot “land marks”. We came close to hitting a day marker – totally my fault as it was showing on the chart plotter and the radar. Jon called on the radio “Nice miss!”

I was a bit rattled and asked Jon to take over the lead. As he was passing we both detected a tug and barge coming at us in the channel. We headed starboard and crept along the edge of the channel as we headed out to sea. I could see another object on radar. Jon has “AIS” so could identify that it was a pilot boat. They slipped past us in the dark. All was well, but I was a bit spooked.

By 7 AM the light was starting to spread and Deidre came of the deck into the pilothouse. She had been on deck for the best part of an hour and was cold. The sun came up about 7:30 AM. It was a cloudless morning with a 10 mph breeze on our stern starboard quarter. The forecast had not changed, looked like we would have a pleasant crossing. Total distance for today would be about 81 NM – just under 12 hours.

It’s now mid-morning. We have made about 30 NM and we are running at a pleasing 7.3 kt, so we must be getting a little help from wind, waves or current. If this keeps up we will make it with daylight left over.

The waves are on our stern quarter and tend to slew the boat as they lift the stern. We have the stabilizers on “active” but the boat still has an awkward movement, and Deidre is feeling a bit wan. We are now about 15 NM off shore, we will be as much as 20 NM off later in the day. Other than Bon Voyage we are totally alone, although Jon tells me his AIS shows a boat somewhat astern of us but on the same course.  

It’s now mid- afternoon. In many ways a day like this is like the flight to Australia. Once you get underway and get the autopilot onto course, the rest of the day is made up of eating, reading, computer games, and snoozing broken up by a few engine room visits. Deidre is a bit bored, I am feeling quite mellow. The weather is even better now. Our ETA at the channel light is 4:06 PM, at the first possible anchorage 5:15 PM and 6:01 PM at the preferred anchorage. I have been chatting with Jon on the radio and we have decided to raft the boats and eat together. They will not be stopping in Charleston, but continuing to Florida to link up with “Gotta Smile” and head of to the British Virgin Islands, so tonight will be “our last supper” for a while.

Now we are anchored. We made such good time we made it to the preferred anchorage before 6 PM. We anchored Tide Hiker and Bob Voyage came alongside and rafted. Bonnie made dinner, Deidre and I brought snacks. We part ways tomorrow and we will miss these guys. :(

In total we ran 12 hours today and covered 99 SM. We are anchored in a very isolated spot. It is pitch black but we can here the porpoises around the boat. It is too misty to see them with the spot light.

Sunrise at last!

Just the two of us - plus one

The lighthouse at Winyah Bay