With that introduction - we headed out to sea from Georgetown, SC on the 11th, heading for St Mary's Inlet along the GA/FL border. It was a brisk, sunny morning with a north wind that would push us down the coast towards Florida's warmer weather and waters. We had the current behind us as we motored down the river making good speed. All was looking fine for a quick offshore transit, hopefully better than last year when the wind as just too far to the west to allow us to sail or comfortably motor without bashing into the waves.
But first, we had to get out the inlet into the ocean where we could turn to the south and run downwind. As we made the last turn to the east and headed out through the breakwaters, the waves began to grow as the Northeast winds blew against the outgoing tidal current. Soon the waves were up to 8-10ft with steep faces and we were bashing through with solid water occasionally coming over the bow (Sue got a couple good videos). The good news was that the current was taking us out at over 10kts so it was only about 45 mins that we had to endure the uncomfortable conditions.
Our trusty Tides Inn plowed through the turbulent seas and we were soon clear of the breakwaters and free to turn south. The problem with downwind sailing though is the rolling from side to side in the 3-4ft seas spills wind out of the headsail so we motorsailed along with double reefed main. With the wind dead astern we have to rig a preventer line that holds the boom out to the side and prevents it from swinging across and breaking something as the boat rolls. Sue is responsible for running the line through the block amidships then back to the cockpit. As the wind shifted over the next 36hrs, we had to move this preventer over to the starboard side, then back to port hours later. It was chilly outside the cockpit but comfortable within the enclosed cockpit. All seems easier when the sun is shining bright.
I won't say the passage was comfortable, with all the downwind rolling side to side, but it was a better ride than our last time down the ocean. The wind and waves stayed consistent and we motorsailed along at over 6kts making good time southward. We would arrive at the St Mary's inlet before dark the next day.
Except for the unexpected....
I had just laid down in the cockpit about 3am to take a short nap while Sue sat at the helm, when a terrible screeching noise came from below. We quickly shut down the engine and did a safety check - all okay below and no water entering the boat - but we had no propulsion. As we were later to confirm, our transmission had failed and we had no motoring ability
But we were still a sailboat, so we sailed to the St Mary's inlet over the next 14hrs, arriving just as the sun began to set. We called Towboat to tow us into the inlet (again between rock jetties with 15-20kts of wind now on the beam and 3ft seas) and around the corner to the marina repair yard. That all proceeded smoothly, although the rocks looked awfully close and scary in the dark along the way in, but soon we were securely moored at the marina awaiting the mechanic the next morning. Another ocean adventure with a safe ending.
