Third Atlantic Passage... to Cumberland Island

Friday morning at 10:15am we pulled up anchor, to embark on our third Atlantic passage and our second overnighter, to take advantage of a fair-to-good weather window  which had opened up. Winds were forecast to be below 10 knots, variable in direction (E, SE, S, SW, NE, N) as we travelled southwest; and waves were forecast to be 1.2 meters or less from the ESE, though at a frequency of 5-6 seconds. Temperatures were to be between 15-20 degrees C, with some rain. The ICW entails a lot of motoring, and the Atlantic offers an opportunity to SAIL, so we were looking forward to doing that.

We started out well, taking advantage of the ebb tide in Port Royal Sound to kick us out into the ocean. We got our sails up while still in the Sound, and it was great doing 8 knots in calm seas. That didn't last long. Just out of Port Royal sound is Hilton Head Island and Gaskin Banks, an extensive shoal area extending nearly 8 nautical miles out. The seas were choppy and uncomfortable, but Gil & I figured that they'd calm once we got over the Banks and into deeper water. We took our first couple of gravol (2 each). When we finally got to deeper water, guess what? The seas were pretty much the same.... allll the wwaaayyyy to St. Mary's Inlet! With the help of our gravol stocks and lots of ginger tea, we survived it without turning green.  I was thankful that I had made up our lunches while still in the anchorage. Dinner was a package of freeze dried food - the first we've used - because all it needs is 21/2 cups of boiling water. I'd have gotten sick preparing dinner below decks, so freeze dried was good. The winds diminished as the day passed, so after a while we chose to motor-sail. Overnight the winds died (but the sea state didn't), and for a time we could only motor. We watched the sun go down, the moon come up, the moon go down, and the sun come up. During this passage, we also heard a Coast Guard Securite call alerting us to the Wright Whale's wintering/breeding ground .... sure glad we didn't bump into any of them! Our entry into St. Mary's Inlet went very well. We arrived with first light and a rising tide to speed us in. We loved loved loved getting between the jetties where the water was calm :)  It was made even better because we had wind again and could turn the motor off and enjoy the peace of sailing. Gil was very thankful that we didn't need to replace another fuel filter. We've anchored off Cumberland Island and plan to stay a few days. Hopefully we'll find those wild horses! It's gloriously warm here, with palm trees lining the shores. Looks like we can get out our shorts and capris again. So happy.

 sunset obscured by rain on the right

I tried to zoom in so you could see the rain

 moon rise

 this container ship was parked out of sight of land!
(Savannah's ship channel)

a submarine!! 

(St. Mary's River)

did we really see that?!

PS. gravol and ginger tea are now at the top of my grocery list, having used them all up
PS. 'thinking of Jorge & Kim & the HYC gang as you gather tonight - miss everyone