day nine - three Sounds

7:25 motor sailing against the flood tide out of the Herb River.  Cool, crisp night.  Clear skies in the morning.  7:40 on the Wilmington River.

A touch of wind entering the Skidaway River, slide to starboard out of the channel as tug with a barge and crane comes down the river.  8:15 find enough wind to sail, 2.5.  8:15 feel the warmth of the sun.  Less wind, motor sailing.  8:50 sailing at 2.3.  Then less wind and a gentle drift around the bend at Isle of Hope.

9:50 motor sailing through the Skidaway Narrows, the trees blocking the breeze.  10:00 under the bridge, full sail making 2.4 with a helping tide.

10:15 on the Moon River with a building wind, making 6.2 with a strong assist from the tide.   

10:25 jibe to the Burnside River. 10:45 jibe again to the Vernon River.  Making 4.6 to 6.2 with some gusts on Green Island Sound.  11:20 falling off the wind at the top of Ossabow Sound.

Pick out the markers and follow the shallow path towards the cut at Racoon Key.  Less wind and choppy water.  Cross a tide line and calmer water, 2.4 with wind on the stern.  11:30 in the cut with Racoon Key to port and Little Done Island to starboard.  

11:40 at red marker "92" jibe up the Ogeechee River.  Good wind but working against the strong ebb tide sailing at just 2.1. Then 1.5.  Then 1.3.  No complaints on a pretty day.  12:30 better wind and markers for the Florida Passage in sight.  

12:55 jibe into the Passage, 2.4.  1:30 at green marker "99" making 3.2 through the marsh with wind on the port beam.  

2:10 at green marker "103" sailing at 3.7 with a helping tide.  A few gusts come through, gps shows 6.0.  2:30 channel bends to the east, making a series of tacks into the wind.  Low tide exposes muddy banks and white sandy beaches along the marsh grass.

2:55 the Passage turns back south, wind forward of port beam and excellent sailing at 5.0.  Pass Kilkenny Creek, a little marina and excellent anchorage there but too early in the day to stop.  3:30 tacking towards St. Catherines Inlet, now against the flood tide and making 3.1.  

3:45 making 4.3 close hauled.  Passing red marker "110A" in the afternoon gusts at 4.5 begin to fall off to cross St. Catherines Sound.  Helping tide and crossing at 5.1 kts.  A surprisingly easy and fast crossing of the inlet.

4:20 across the Sound and entering Walburg Creek, 5.7 with a strong flood tide.  South on the creek for just under two nautical miles, then follow the curve west around the marsh, anchor down 4:55 Walburg Creek..

32.94 NM