Thin to Win

25 January 2014, Sunday

As we departed Charleston Harbor and reentered the Intra-Coastal waterway where the current was against us at about 4 mph, a small sailboat, named "Matilda", under power passed us. Those skinny boats do much better against a current than Maggie.
We were now entering some of the most challenging waters of this venture. During each of the next three days we would be going through some very shallow areas.  Now, the one for today was only about a 1/2 mile long.

The "Fenwick Cut"

Ideally, you would want to travel through these areas at high tide or at least a rising tide.  This was the reason for our early start today.  After running on plane at about 20 mph (at 38 gallons per hour) we got to this cut about two hours before low tide.  If we were late, I do not think we would have gotten through.  At several points in this cut, Beth reported us kicking up mud.  As Captain, I cleverly timed our departure and travel speed so that we we came to one of these spots, Joe was driving.  He did very well.   After exiting the "Cut" we entered a 14 mile long straight stretch that was directly into the wind. Waves were three footers right on the nose.  We did very well, "Matilda" the sailboat, later said that one of her crew members was VERY uncomfortable.  Once through this straight stretch, it was back inside fairly well protected creeks and rivers.  Our destination today was to be Port Royal Landing Marina, where we had stayed before.  The winds were forecast to be 30-35 mph through the night and Port Royal was not very well protected for the wind direction, so we went to Lady Island Marina, Beaufort, South Carolina instead.  The water here was very clear, you could see the bottom ten feet down.  Another fine restaurant here, also called the "Dockside"