Heading South: Portsmouth VA to Charleston SC Nov 19 - 24, 2013

Portsmouth VA to Charleston SC

11/19: We decided to have Ocean Marine Yacht Center do the oil change, since it should only take about 20 minutes, and we did not have what we needed to do it ourselves.  This turned into another project, the hose for the oil and transmission fluid was crossed, this we corrected and after two hours the oil was changed.  

We left the dock at 12:20pm and headed down the ICW to Great Bridge.  The Great Bridge lock was not working properly and could only open at low tide.  Since we were there before dead low tide, we anchored off the ICW, had lunch, got stuck in mud, worked our way out and about 4:15 pm went went through the lock with 3 sail boats and one large power boat.   The Great Bridge opened at 4:30 so we all made it through. Some boats went into the marina but we pulled over to the free dock and tied up for the night.  Two other boats were already there and helped with the lines.  A light dinner and wine and the day is done.

11/20:  We departed at 6am, got through the first swing bridge and saw a nice sunrise on the way.  It was calm, cold and clear, and with the heater going in the "solarium" it was nice and toasty.  

We passed a sailboat from Hull, MA  with three older men on board, they were with the group that went throughout the lock and bridge with us. They apparently kept going last night and ran aground at one of the many turns.  Tow BoatUS was pulling them off the bank as we went by.  And that is why you don't do the ICW at night.  

The Alblemare crossing was rough with 3ft swells and 25kt winds.  We made it to Tuckahoe PT, which is just in front of pungo/alligater canal, at 5pm.  It was a very shallow entry into the anchorage.  







11/21: 6:30am departure from tuckaho creek to the 20 mile canal.  It was overcast with some sprinkles, 50 degrees and not much wind in the canal. Bob took this opportunity to rinse off the windows.  

We need to ask Kinder what is the best way to clean the vinyl glass.

We started down the Pungo River around 10am. There was a light chop with 10kts of wind out of the NNW.  We contacted Oriental Marina for a slip and pulled in late afternoon.  There was about .3’ beneath the boat.  

The people were very helpful and friendly, This appears to be a local spot at their popular tiki bar, even in the cold.  



This is a working harbor with Lots of fishing vessels. 
Dinner at the local restaurant was not the best.  

11/22:  We look our time in the morning and had a late departure at 8:50am. 

The conditions were great, clear, flat calm water,

We made it to Beaufort NC around noon and headed out into the same conditions.  

Lots of fishing boat were in the channel, lots of birds were enjoying the scraps. It was a nice way to start our outside run to Charleston. 

BUT, it's all about to change.  We encounter 25kts of wind, on the nose, with 3 to 4’ swells also on the nose. We had to go around the Cape Fear shoals which brought us out too far where it was much worse.  So as soon as we could we headed in towards shore.
 just slogging along. Incredible! 

11/23:  At 8:30 am we took the Little River Inlet to go back to ICW, since we were not going to make it to Charleston before another storm hit.  It was overcast with rain and mist, but at least the seas were calming down as we entered the inlet and  we needed a rest from the bad conditions.  
The ICW was good except for the driving rain, which did wash off the salt that covered the boat.  Water plants covered the ICW, it was a bit weird, and trying to avoid them was tricky.  We did have to stop to remove some debris from the rudder.

The most common scene along the way, other than the water plants, was lots of golf courses, and condos across the canal from the large estates, nice view.    

Little fast fishing boats (carolina skiffs) were everywhere, they only use one speed, full throttle.  

We grabbed a buoy in Georgetown SC at 4:30pm.  It was a bit shallow but doable.  Several groups of derelict boats decorated this old style harbor.  We needed some sleep and crashed early.

11/24:  6:45am departure in very cold weather, N wind at 8kts, clear sunny, light chop and increasing winds as we headed toward Charleston.  

There was some interesting scenery along the ICW.  You had to watch out for low spots as we crossed intersecting rivers.   

The duck hunters had some of the most amazing floating boat blinds, all trying to look natural to fool the ducks.  Not sure you have to try that hard.  

The wind was howling by the time we crossed over the bay to get to Charleston City marina.  They docked us at the very end of the megadock with wind pushing us hard onto the dock.  We made it just fine with some help from dock hands. 

As always, the mega dock had some extreme mega yachts, very nicely appointed yachts and the clampetts squished in between.  A shower and Laundry were mandatory at this point. Dinner at Hymans was good, took a cab back to marina, then the long cold walk back to boat, we were at the furthest point out.