The Log of Spartina: day five

Friday, March 18, 2022

day five - Georgia

Overnight winds, rain and rushing tide. Nothing better than wake to a steady rain, roll over and drift off to sleep in a warm, dry sleeping bag.

Sail off anchor 6:55 with a double-reefed main, wearing thermals, a wool sweater and drysuit. Dark, fast moving clouds give a stormy feeling to the morning.

In the wind shadow of trees on Daufuskie Island some blue skies, sailing wing and wing at 1.9. 7:45 approaching the turn to the Wright River, 4.6.

I look across the marsh at 7:45 and can see no shipping on the Savannah River. I turn down the cut to the river, take a second look at see a container ship passing by. Surprised, but no problem, the ship will be well downriver by the time I cross. Reach the river at 8:30, slight outgoing tide. Across the river at 8:50, sailing double-reefed on St. Augustine Creek, wind on the stern and an opposing tide.

On the Wilmington River at 9:30 and under the high rise bridge by 10:00. Round up to shake out both reefs. 2.1 against the tide, then 4.8 once out of the wind shadow of the trees on shore. A light rain as the sun breaks through the overcast. Passing Thunderbolt with the big yachts and shrimp boats at 10:50, 11:15 turn to starboard to enter the Skidway River. Wing and wing on the Skidway with an opposing tide.

12:15 making 3.8 approaching Isle of Hope. A big powerboat comes up from the stern. A man comes out of the wheelhouse and shouts "This the ICW south???" I tell him yes. He goes back into the wheelhouse, confers with his captain, comes back out and asks "This the Skidway River?" Yes, I tell him. Seems like a boat that size ought to have a GPS.

1:15 sunshine feels good and warm as we enter the Moon River. 2:00 round up on the Burnside River to tuck in a reef. 2:20 making 4.5 on the Vernon River, overcast again.