Up at O Dark Thirty!

From: Factory Creek, Beaufort, SC MM 535.9

To: Herb River, Thunderbolt, GA MM 584.4

L/L: 32 00.95N 81 02.40W

Distance Traveled: 49.9

Hours Motoring: 8.1

Average Speed: 6.2 mph

Weather: Partly cloudy to sunny; temp range 64 - 82 degrees; east wind <>

Comment: Up Early!

We were up and pulling the anchor at 0615. Captain Dave is sure a slave driver! The real culprit was the Lady’s island Swing Bridge. We had to go through before 0700 or wait until 0900. It is closed to boat traffic during the morning (and afternoon) rush hours.

We had the current with us for all but an hour or two. The ride to the Herb River anchorage was easy. On the way, we passed the one quarter-mile long tug towing the dredge equipment that we passed yesterday in Wall’s Cut. The tow is headed to Jacksonville and is traveling at less than 4 knots all day and night. I’m not sure how far he goes in a twenty four hour period, but I suspect we’ll see him again.

Today, we managed to pass in a relatively wide section of water just before the narrow Ram’s Horn River. That was lucky!

This is the third night on the hook since loosing our primary anchor. Our first choice was the 25 lb. CQR with 80 feet of 5/16" chain. The chain weights a little over one pound per foot. That means one must retrieve over one hundred pounds of ground tackle by hand. It's not an easy feat and it is the reason we had a windlass installed. It held well in the stormy conditions that night, but was a bear to haul up in the morning. Last night and tonight, we have chosen to use the Fortress (FX-23) it weighs about 17 lbs. (if I remember correctly) and it has sixty feet of a much smaller diameter chain. It has superior holding power and is much easier to bring up in the morning. We'll use the Fortress under normal conditions and will resort to the CQR when strong winds are predicted.