Voyage 2018: Chapter 4

13 Mar 2018, Four Days in Fernandina and then Homeport, 32 29.052 N/ 079 52.932 W

Took a mooring on 5 March after TowBoat set us free. Stayed here in until 9 March as there were 20-30 kt winds and bitter cold.So we hunkered down, installed the Charlie Noble, waited for a lull in the wind and set the diesel heater into action. Mattie Kay was happy. The Admiral was happy. The boat became comfortable. Left mooring field on 9 March for the outside. As wind and seas would be unfriendly for a while, we doused the heater. Problems up to Charleston. Mizzen caught on the lazy jacks: fixed after mizzen was furled and re-hauled; back-up autopilot failed: fixed after mount was released and re-installed; Bob tripped in salon, broke a lamp: No fix. Mattie Kay got sick (again).

Arrived at Charleston at 0830. Met up with Majestic 7 and got the 1000 opening of the Ben Sawyer bridge. Lots of white knuckles for the ICW passage to Wilmington even though we never went aground. Dredging had not started north of Ben Sawyer, nor at the many areas around the inlets. Sad state of the ICW. We had to stay awhile at Barefoot Marina to wait out weather. Jule III and Majestic 7 arrived at Deep Point Marina at 1800 at high tide. Deep Point is being dredged so the channel was partially blocked.