Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 52)

Thunderbolt Marina, Savannah, Georgia:  October 25, 2020

Marc-  Today we almost did not leave port due to mechanical failure.  You will recall that yesterday we had an engine shutdown episode while going to our assigned slip at the Beaufort Marina.  I made repairs  (replacing a fuel filter, a fuel pump and even the electronic ignition module) and the engine restarted.  This morning we awoke with 4 knots of current pushing against us at the dock.  I tested the engine reverse and it did not make progress.  We found that the engine would not work at speed or under load... the moment I accelerated it just shut down unless I closed the manual choke.  That was a hint that this was a carburetor issue.  Lucy III's engine doctor, Brian, suggested throwing the cleaners at the carburetor (carb cleaner, seafoam gasoline treatment and ether).  I called a cab (no Lyft or Uber here) for a round trip to the local auto parts store.  They had the cleaners and I returned trying the first two.  It was like magic.  The engine started and ran smoothly for the next 7 hours without mishap.  My apologies for the technical details.

Our 30 mile trip South to Savannah took us inside of beautiful Hilton Head Island and less developed sea islands as well.  We set a new record for dolphin sightings - perhaps a dozen overall.  We used the genoa for one hour of the trip but mostly it was a hot windless day.  No low water issues as we traveled on a rising tide (unfortunately mostly counter current).  At some point we crossed the border into Georgia.  We arrived at the last remaining drawbridge in Georgia at 18:00 and only only 3 out of 4 sections were able to open.  We managed to squeeze through and pushed on to Thunderbolt Marina.  This marina is like none we have seen into this trip with mega yachts galore mostly getting work done on them.  

Ann was waiting for us at Thunderbolt.  She visited Ft. Pulaski, a National Monument, on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island.  She has been to hundreds of National Parks and National Monuments.  She found a number of other pleasant things to do and see in the area while we were 4 hours late arriving.  Big thanks to Michael for patiently helping me fix the engine, to Doreen for photos and patience, and to Ann for taking us out to dinner at Tubby's Tank House!  Ann told us how she has visited 320 National Parks and the number continues to grow even on this trip.

Off Hilton Head Island

There goes Fiddler's Green

Today was hazy, hot and humid

This was posted at Tubby's Tank House

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 51)

Beaufort Downtown Marina, Beaufort, South Carolina:  October 24, 2020 

Marc-  Magnificent sunrise at 07:35.  Raised anchor at 08:00 and blasted off at 7.5 knots down the South Edisto River.  We even did well in Fenwick Cut but slowed to 5.5 knots in the Ashepoo River.  A few dolphins went through the cut with us.  It became a close call in the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoff (a ditch of sorts connecting rivers) when long stretches were only reading 5 to 6 feet in very muddy water.  We stayed in the middle of the passages and saw 4.6 feet a few times and what felt like we touched mud once.  Time for the dredgers to get to work.  We went by the United States Marine Corps training area on Parris Island but saw no activity.  Next came the Ladies Island Swing Bridge that opened on demand after the operator could get the cars and pedestrians off the bridge.  We tied up in the center of Beaufort at the Downtown Marina without any problems.  After refueling, the engine stopped on our way to the assigned slip.  Fortunately the engine restarted enough to get us to the dock.  I assumed it was a fuel issue since the manual choke allowed the engine to keep going.  I changed the fuel filter and went ahead and replaced the electronic ignition module that had been previously suggested.  The engine appears to be operating properly now.  I consulted with Lucy III's primary care doctor, Mindy, and she concurred with my diagnosis and treatment.

Michael's sister, Ann, came over to visit as she was in the area.  We had lunch together and went on a horse drawn carriage tour of the town.  The tour was fun with a guide who had a strong Southern accent and gave historical facts such as the "War of Northern Aggression" to describe what took place here during the Civil War.  The homes and the live oaks beside them are nice.  Main street has many open shops and restaurants with outside dining.  The entire waterfront area is a city park.

Sunrise at the South Edisto River Anchorage

Seagrass and faraway trees.

Halloween time

Nice homes among the live oak and magnolia trees

It seems as if the live oaks are protecting the homes

And where you find live oaks you find spanish moss

More carrots please

Bandit the horse, the tour guide and the guests

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 50)

South Edisto River Anchorage, South Carolina:  October 23, 2020 

Marc-  We spent some of the morning going for a walk in Charleston in a different neighborhood.  Beautiful old homes near the Southern end of town but they they are smaller than those in the historic district.  These old homes need lots of maintenance and there were many contractors working about.   

Departure from the marina was at 11:00 in order to enjoy a favorable current and to get to the Wappoo Drawbridge for its hourly opening at 11:30.  We arrived 10 minutes early and went through the bridge alone.  (Michael & Doreen can get through without the bridge being raised.  We were surprised there were no other boats going through with us.)  The next several miles saw us traveling at 9 knots as the tidal current rushed through the man made cut.  Land cuts are made to connect rivers yet our speed continued at 7 - 7.5 knots for the next two hours.  Unfortunately the tide turned on us eventually and our last 2 1/2 hours were spent at approximately 5 knots. We saw several dolphins on this passage.  I totally missed our planned destination of Steamboat Creek anchorage when I turned West on the ICW into Dawhoo Creek.  Michael called to give me the bad news after a couple of miles.  Not wanting to backtrack we continued onward and found an even better anchorage.  There were four trawlers that passed us during the afternoon and they are all in this anchorage tonight.  We rafted up with Fiddler's Green for the night.

The Wappoo drawbridge

Check out that "speed"

Can you see the forest behind Fiddler's Green?

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 49)

Day 2 - The Harborage at Ashley Marina, Charleston, South Carolina:  October 22, 2020   

Marc-  We decided to explore Charleston for a second day and walked a lot (6.5 miles).  Our first march was across town to the Fort Sumter National Historical Park Headquarters on Gadsden wharf.  This wharf was a major slave trade portal.  A museum here explains how South Carolina seceded from the union after Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, then 5 other states followed, and the Confederate States of America was born.  Ft. Sumter was in Federal hands, the Confederate forces tried to get control of the fort without a fight, but the Federal forces had their orders and would not leave.  A battle ensued on April 12, 1861 and this was the beginning of the Civil War.  The Confederate forces bombarded the Fort for 34 hours and then the Federal forces surrendered.  Ft. Sumter remained in Confederate hands until 1865 despite years of many attempts by Federal Forces to regain possession.  We took the tour boat out to visit Ft. Sumter that had been pulverized during the Civil War and then rebuilt as part of harbor defenses during the Spanish-American War in 1899.  Several National Park Rangers gave historical talks about the Park and its significance.  We also passed the USS Yorktown (1945-1970) with its flight deck filled with jet aircraft on our return trip to Charleston.  Our return walk to the marina was marked by some shopping on King Street, a walk though the beautiful College of Charleston, and admiration of the very beautiful antebellum homes.

Ft. Sumter museum which leads to Gadsden Wharf

 

Ft. Sumter, built on a man made island of New England granite blocks at the entrance to Charleston Harbor.  6 miles by boat from the Ft. Sumter museum/Gadsden's Wharf.

Cannon at Ft. Sumter

The Cooper River Bridge in Charleston

On the campus of the College of Charleston

Beautiful homes abound here.

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 48)

The Harborage at Ashley Marina, Charleston, South Carolina:  October 21, 2020

Marc-  We had a beautiful red sky sunrise.  Pulling up two anchors takes some planning.  The lines had twisted during the overnight current changes.  I was able to untangle the lines and then let out twice the length used overnight on the Danforth and then pull up the Bruce anchor with Michael's help (it was really well set).  Michael then left the raft up with Fidler's Green.  I then pulled up the Danforth and off we went seeing several dolphins as we left the anchorage.  Fortunately we had a favorable North wind (10 knots) and favorable current at the start.  We passed the next 30 miles to Charleston Harbor in the ICW.  This part of the ICW crosses a number of small inlets that first speed up the favorable current and then slows you up after passing it.  Sue and I also observed white pelicans for the first time on this trip.  Two thirds of the way into the journey our engine just suddenly stopped.  I had just transferred fuel from the spare tank to the main tank. Sue was at the helm and we did have our genoa set and pulling us ahead.   I checked everything to do with the engine and its systems finding only a hot coil.  Thinking this might be related to an electrical overheat situation I left the engine cover off and then tried to restart the engine after several minutes.  It worked and we had no other issues with the engine.  I called Lucy III's engine doctor (Brian) who confirmed that the coil could be the cause.  I replaced the coil once we arrived in Charleston.  

Charleston is a large city with class.  It has beautiful architecture and a vibrant economy.  Once tied up at the marina we called a Lyft to get downtown.  We walked around the historic district.  We came back later in the evening after finding an excellent supermarket (Harris Teeter) to replenish the stores on board Lucy III.

Awendaw Creek Sunrise.

The white pelicans.

Passing the Ben Sawyer Bridge.

Beautiful Charleston home

Notice the front door opens onto the porch.  We saw several old homes set up in this fashion.

Window at the courthouse

More of the Courthouse.

We walked into a filming of a television show filming in the historic section.

Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 47)

Awendaw Creek Anchorage, South Carolina:  October 20, 2020 

Marc-  Today started with a delay in order to visit the Rice Museum in Georgetown.  It was not to be since Covid 19 cancelled  all visits. We still went to the local bakery and the Independent Seafood Market for the freshest crabmeat and salmon ever.  Departure was at 11:00 and we had contrary currents for the next 4 hours.  We were fortunate to have 9 knots of wind from the Northeast to help out.  Our first excitement came when we approached the floating swing bridge in the Estherville-Minim Canal with trepidation.  Fortunately the approach road was under 1 foot of water and the bridge could not operate.  Shortly thereafter we approached a working dredging operation.  It was well marked and we had no difficulties.  We passed a second dredging operation a few miles later.  Clearly there are troubles in this area at low tide.  We passed through an area used for Rice cultivation. We anchored at 16:00 in Awendaw Creek in the pouring rain, setting two anchors because of the reversing currents.  Tiny bugs swarmed all over us in the rain.   As soon as we had finished anchoring and rafting up with Fiddler's Green, the rain stopped, the bugs disappeared and the sun came out.  We grilled our seafood for dinner.  Chef Michael did a wonderful job with the salmon and we made crab cakes from lump crab.

Our very quiet anchorage with 5 other boats.  The Atlantic Ocean is off to the right past the marshes.

The day was not complete before a visit to the Cat Cafe and adoption agency in Georgetown this morning.  Here are a few cats awaiting adoption.

This is our boat from behind a bend in the channel

Awendaw Creek Sunset