TideChaser Followers     Day 12

December 2, 2014

Yesterday was Day eleven we were still in the Gulf Stream enjoying warm breezes, quick current and calm seas. We turned off all motors hoisted the sails and were sailing along at 8kts.  At 11:30am we were 250NM from Southport. We have been discussing our strategy for when we need to head to shore and how the weather will be. We definitely decided to head to an ICW opening as close as possible to Southport and go home that way.

NOW FOR DAY  !@ oops I mean 12. Hold on let me get a beer, yep; it has been one of those nights. It all started out innocently enough. Tuesday’s am was beautiful in the Gulf Stream still warm and the moon was ½ full. At 2:15am while on watch I got my first close encounter with a Barge. I saw it for miles all lit up with white, red and green lights a huge mass moving parallel with us in the Stream. When the next thing I know it is turning to cross our path.  I got a little nervous and seeing it was Walt’s watch in just a few minutes I woke him up. We motored back to slow our pace forward and let him pass way out in front of us. Wow, that was a first for me. The bigger boat gets right of way every time especially in the dark. He probably didn’t even know we were out there compared to him we are like an ant.

On this morning we had to make our turn out of the Gulf Stream and head toward the shore. It was about 9:45am and the closer we got to shore the colder it got.  Around 12:43pm we were 96.7NM from home. Now imagine that Walt has been without cell phone or Wi-Fi for almost 3 days now. Not a pretty picture. Just ask Mark and Stephanie Hines how that went over on a Mexico trip one time. L Then apply winds in our face, we were barely moving 4.4kts, the closer we got to land the colder and wilder the waves became yes a little freak out moment may have happened! OH but that was nothing compared to what happened next. Approximately 7:30pm totally dark, we still have an hour or so to go before entering the intercostal waterway at Georgetown, South Carolina a fog falls around us. We can barely see a hundred yards in front of us. We prepare for other boats coming by getting out the fog horn, spotlight and of course restocking our ditch bag (survival bag to real sailors). I’m getting real good at restocking the bag. It was so scary. All three of us were on watch. Eyes wide open listening for other boats and watching for the channel markers into the ICW where we can hopefully find safe haven for the night.  At 8:30pm we see the red and green flashing channel markers. OMGosh we are going to make it and I’ll see the kids again yea. I’m so happy! 9:00pm we are heading into the ICW slow and steady wins the race is all I can think of. The fog is getting worse and worse but the water is getting calmer.

Calmer water means ‘Hey lady (that’s me) aren’t you going to cook us up something?’ Sure it’s going to be a Mexican. Chicken quesadillas, refried beans and salad with salsa. We are running out of supplies what do you expect? They loved it.

This night ends with a unanimous vote to anchor here near Georgetown and wake around sunrise to continue our journey. The fog is just terrible. We are all so tired but the guys especially because they do let me sleep in each morning after my last watch. Our last day together……. Stay tuned so fun.                 LOVE Juls