Voyage 2018: Chapter 1

29 Oct 2017, The First Six Days, 34 15.24 N/ 077 56.904 W

Boat ready for departure! Jule III and SV Endaxi released dock lines at Bennett Brothers and were waiting for the 1000 hr opening at the Isabel Holmes bridge. Bridge opened, Endaxi was leading the pack, and Jule's over temperature alarm started blaring. We made a dash for the dock and completed a not so graceful tie up on the dock we had just left.

Josh, Jule's faithful mechanic, came within the hour, did some magic, and got it running (or so we all thought). After running the engine for over an hour with no problem, we were ready for the bridges 1400 hr opening. Bridge opened, Jule passed through the bridge, and of course, the alarm sounded again. We turned the engine off, and we slowly started drifting back to the bridge. Tried to deploy the anchor but windlass jammed. So we deployed the jib.

There wasn't much wind but we managed to inch away from the bridge, found an empty slip in a nearby marina, briefly turned the engine on so we could make a not so bad landing. Josh came back to the rescue, found out that the heat exchanger had failed and ordered a new one, and promised to install when it when it arrived. The next day came, we got a tow back to Bennett Brothers, and today they put it in and life is good again.

4 Nov 2017, On the 'Road' Again, 32 23.754 N/ 080 40.662 W

On 30 Oct (the 7th day), we departed BBY, got our 1000 bridge opening, and meandered down the Cape Fear River to our anchorage near Southport. No alarms, no problems. Morning came early. SV Majestic 7 came out of Deep Point Marina to join us on our trip South.

The Cape Fear Inlet was a bit lumpy from yesterday's weather but soon smoothed out when we turned South. Mattie K was not pleased though. She threw up in several places, missed her litter box by a mile, and would not eat or drink. Oh boy, this will be her first overnight passage. We motor-sailed (with a following 10-15 kt wind) most of the time and made really great time with the help of a Gulf Stream counter current

We were heading for Port Royal South Carolina. Though it is out of the way for Florida, we wanted to top the fuel tanks as there would be no fuel stops until Vero Beach (due to hurricane damage). We entered the Port Royal Sound around 1100 and tied up at Port Royal Landing at 1515. Majestic 7 was right behind us. JW and Jinnie from Over Budget were there to catch our lines! SV Endaxi, traveling the ICW route, arrived about an hour after we did.

We spent 4 days in Port Royal, relaxing with the crews of Majestic 7, Endaxi, and OB. We had great meals at OB's new home next to the marina overlooking the Beaufort River. We went to a farmer's market, art show, and a couple of restaurants. Good times but tomorrow we will head to St. Augustine.