Minim Creek to Frederico River 2013

December 3, 2013 Tuesday.  Beautiful sunrise over Minim Creek.  Anchor up at 7:15am.  Tide high. Coyote here too.  Sun Sport on the creek on the other side of the ICW.  Partly sunny 50 degrees.  No wind.

10:45am just before Green 57 – pushed sideways into shallow water (aground) by inlet while giving way to a barge – nice guys get what they deserve.

12:46pm touched bottom at Red 89 – dead low tide – be sure to stay in the center!  MM450.  Sunny 60s no wind.

Cool Out and Half Nelson (large power yachts) stopped in channel by 2 sail boats aground.  This is the same spot we saw folks grounding on the Green side last spring, but now it appears the shoal is all the way across the channel.  It is a new moon and the tide is very low.  By 4:30 pm the sail boats are off as the tide comes in, but now we have missed the opening at the Ben Sawyer Bridge (into Charleston Harbor).  It won’t open again until 6pm.  We make that opening, except now it is night!  We motor across Charleston Harbor in the dark and anchor across from the City Marina at 7:40pm.  Deep water 30+ feet and lots of current – fun!  58 degrees, showers, but no wind.  MM469.  53SM  43NM today. 

December 4, 2013, Wednesday. Sunny and 60 degrees no wind.  Decided not to get up and try to make the 6:30 opening at the Wappoo Creek Bridge leaving Charleston.  The next opening is at 9am.  Coyote called about the 6:30 opening and was told it was a 6am opening before rush hour.  Glad we did not get up.

Weighed anchor at 8:15am and made the 9am opening at Wappoo Creek.  WE approached the Ashepoo/Coosaw Cut at low tide and were told by other boats there was only 3 feet of water at the south end of the cut.  Coyote and us opted to head down the Ashepoo River to the ocean and then back up the Coosaw towards Beaufort.  We had no issues, but Coyote ran aground at a spot where the charts say there is 20 feet of water.  It was just sand and they got off OK.  We saw several spots of 10 feet where the chart said more, but no groundings.  I later read an article on the internet that said a lot of the inlets have changed significantly since Hurricane Sandy and the Coast Guard has not gotten them all remarked yet – or the charts updated.

We made Ladies Island Bridge at Beaufort at 6pm and were tied up at the city docks at 6:15PM.  32° 25.78’N  080° 40.46’W  MM536  66SM  52NM today.  Another long day getting in after dark.

We had dinner with Darrell and Ruth (Nite Cap II) and Lynn Hersfield and Beth Holdane (Coyote) at Panini’s (Italian).  Showers – nice end to the day!

December 5, 2013, Thursday.  Fog this morning, which is common in this part of the country.  It was foggy when we left here last year.  20 gallons of fuel brought on and water tanks filled. 60 degrees no wind.  We depart with Nite Cap II.  Coyote is going on up river to Lynn’s brother’s where there is a community dock where they will leave the boat for the holidays.

Uneventful day.  Stopped just short of Field’s Cut.  We ran aground at each end of the cut last year and will wait for the morning tide.  Anchored in the New River at 3:15pm.  Sunny and 65 degrees.  Wind SW at 10.  Lots of current as this river empties directly into the ocean.  32° 04.70’ N  080° 54.57’ N  MM570  31.4NM  34SM today.

December 6, 2013, Friday.  Anchor up at 7am.  Clear and 60 degrees wind S 5-10.  Tide rising.  Made Field’s Cut with no problems.  Hugged the Green side close to the shore on the North end and the Red side by the range marker on the South end.  The crossing of the Savannah River here is confusing, but as long as you keep the Reds to the right, you are OK.  Made the Causton Bluff Bridge for the 9 am opening.  The next bridge (Skidaway Narrows) has now been replaced with a new high fixed bridge – no waiting!

Noon.  Sunny, 70 degrees,  wind S-SW @ 10.  Beautiful day on the water!

We passed through Hell Gate about an hour past high tide and had no issues.  Anchor down in Wahoo River at 4:30 PM.  MM 630  59SM  48NM today.

31° 36.15’ N  081° 12.92’W

December 7, 2013, Saturday. Fog and 60 degrees. We waited until 10am to depart.  Fog clearing.  10:30am fog clears at Saint Catherines Sound.  10:45am we hit something under water – log? piling? Maybe we were a bit too close to the red marker 36?

We made the Little Mud River at 1:30pm, 1 ½ hours after high tide and passed through with no issues.  Buttermilk Sound at 1:45 and passed through again with no issues.

4:30pm anchor down in the Fredrico River, Saint Simons Island, GA.  77 degrees, sunny, bugs are out in force, wind NW at 6.

31° 10.81’N  081° 24.77’ W  MM673 43SM  36.5NM today.

The shaft seal is leaking and needs to be tightened.  However, I can’t break the locking nut loose.  Darrell tried with his wrenches, but couldn’t get it done either.  Called First Mate Services in St. Augustine.  They will meet us at the dock at City Marina to tighten/repack the packing gland.

click here for pictures Minim Creek to Frederico River