October 30, 2011 Sunday Charleston to Beaufort, SC

The Brickyard Creek was an interesting anchorage.  The current was about two knots and that's pretty strong when you consider Fiu weighs about 20,000 pounds and the anchor is 45 pounds with 5/16". chain links as anchor line.  The bottom was soft enough to have the anchor buried deep so that there was no anchor dragging!  I never sleep well in anchorages like this but on the other hand we haven't had anchor issues of any consequence. 

Anchor chain marked every 10' with orange paint

We needed to weigh anchor and it was near low tide with a strong current still present.  The channel was as fraction of the width it was when we anchored the night before!  First mate Bonnie managed to steer Fiu away from the shallows to mid channel.  The windlass is still working fine and in these situations it's important the anchor comes up quickly!

Captain Sid

October 29, 2011 Saturday Charleston, SC

Nav Station

Radar, VHF radio,chartplotter, depth,speed and wind speed gauges, battery monitor asre some of the electronics you see here.  All are used daily!

The pic below is of the service panel next to the nav station.  On the left is is shore power or the Honda generator power monitor showing 120 volts being supplied to the service panel.  The middle panel are the switches for the lights, bilge pump and macerator.  The right panel are all the electronics used to run Fiu like GPS.

Service panel

Elliot Cut joins the Stono River where our marina, St Johns Yacht Harbor is located, with the Wapoo Creek.  Once you leave Charleston harbor you exit under a 65' fixed bridge and enter the Wapoo Creek which has a bascule bridge to pass through before reaching Elliot Cut.  The difference in elevation and the abnormally high and low tides were  the cause of potential disaster!  Elliot Cut had such a current it was nearly impossible to pass through this quarter mile channel.  If ever I have this to do again I will anchor in Charleston harbor and wait for high tide.  I will explain this story when I see you!

Sunrise in Beaufort, SC

This pic is sunrise leaving the Brickyard Creek just north of Beaufort, SC.

GPS by Garmin

Karen was most helpful and we were able to get propane, groceries, my monthly blood work and have a dinner out at The Grille near her home.  Fresh seafood has been on my list of dinners since we left home!  James Island where she lives is a busy place on the highways but quiet neighborhoods are everywhere.

Mega yacht passing with huge wakes

Captain Sid