November 14, 2011
We sailed from Charleston anchorage on the Ashley River at 0845 this morning. We had waited for the tide to change and become favorable. It was calm on the river as we motored out past Fort Sumter. Our goal is to sail to West Palm Beach to have a new SSB radio installed. From WPB we will sail for the San Blas Islands off Panama. There will be at least one stop in Jamaica for provisioning.
The Wx continues to produce calm wind but there is a 4' SE'ly swell. I have chosen a course about 3 miles offshore that runs along the established Sea Buoys and markers. It makes navigation easy and confirms the GPS positions. Additionally, there is very little commercial traffic. The numerous shrimp boats are easy to deal with.
November 15, 2011
Dense fog developed after midnight. Winds continue to be calm to light from the SE. It doesn't help us with our course to WPB so we continue to motor. We have the radar running in the fog and Phyllis is starting to learn to use it. SE swell have increased to 6'. This produces an uncomfortable motion as we continue motoring.
November 16, 2011
More dense fog with SE-S wind. SE'ly swell continues to build. If we don't get a SW to NW wind before we arrive off Ponce de Leon Inlet, we'll go in to take on fuel and continue motoring down the ICW.
At 1036 hrs this morning, we entered the jetties at Ponce de Leon Inlet. Proceeded to fuel dock and then anchored for the day. Tomorrow we will start down the ICW for WPB which is 180 miles distant. I have until Sunday afternoon to make this distance. The radio technician will come aboard on Monday morning.
It's a pity that we couldn't have sailed this distance to WPB but the wind and seas were not on our side for this trip. The Wx window over the next few days has a cold front moving through and then N-NE wind and seas offshore.
No comments:
Post a Comment