We are back in ICW after a couple days/nights running up the coast. After departing the St Johns River at Mayport we headed northeast for South Carolina. It was a fast and bumpy ride with south winds at 20-25kts and seas growing to 4-7ft. We passed by Charleston and ultimately made landfall at Georgetown, Wynah Bay. A line of thunderstorms passed through at 0400, getting us a little wet and raising the winds to gusts to 30-40, but by landfall the skies were clear and winds back down to 25kts. We hove-to outside the sea buoy for an hour waiting for daylight before making the passage in through the two breakwaters. Turned out there were 3 of us sailboats bobbing around off the seabouy for an hour or so. Bobbing is a "nice term" for lying hove-to perpendicular to the 4-6ft seas.
The advantage of entering the ICW at Georgetown is this section of the ICW up the Waccama River to Myrtle Beach is the most scenic segment of the whole ICW. You run up the river where there is little to no development, lots of eagle and osprey nests, alligators and turtles, etc. We are anchored in a oxbow arm off the ICW without another soul in sight. A refreshing nap and quiet night's sleep and we will be ready to move on north.
The weather is forecasted to be "unsettled" the next 4 days with winds from the north and showers, so we will be sticking to the ICW. May be able to jump out to ocean north of Frying Pan shoals.
