November 11, 2011
Wind was out of the NW last night so it's cold this morning. We're all bundled up and it's going to be a cold day. Up a 0500 hrs and underway @ 0620. We didn't get a chance to visit Georgetown: just anchored and hunkered down. Motor sailing on the ICW demands a constant watch for debris and water depths. Also, we are at the helm steering. By the end of the day, wind, sun, and physical helming of the boat have taken their toll.
The trip from Georgetown to Charleston is demanding since there is quite a bit of shoaling where the ocean inlets come into the ICW. Our depth gauge recorded no water under the keel in several places. We draw 6 ft and the projected depth for the ICW is 12 ft, however, shoaling happens faster than the Corps of Army Engineers can dredge. Budgetary constraints have left many areas undredged for several years. The annual migration of the Southern Hoard finds all the shoal spots. We have recorded a few of our own and I know we shaved off one mud lump today and plowed a furrow in another. The mud is soft and forgiving, no damage is done. One member of our "rat pack" was not so fortunate. He must have hit an underwater obstruction because he called Tow Boat US for a tow to a repair facility in Charleston.
We were able to motor sail most of the day with our jib. The NW'ly wind was cold but favorable and we averaged 6.5 kts. We dropped anchor in Charleston @ 1624 hrs. Tomorrow we will move into a marina so that Misty, Tiffany and her mom, Katie, can come aboard.
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