Friday, November 4th, Port Royal Landing Marina

  When we finally actually got up about 6am, I noticed the boat next to us was gone, and we thought they’d left early, which we thought would be too early to allow for the tide at the Ashepoo-Coosaw Cut.  Oh well.

  Later Geoff hailed us and asked if we saw where the boat had dragged past us during the night, so we looked out our little peephole in the companionway boards and there they were!  Right behind us!  Luckily they didn’t drag into us during the night!  They were in the process of reanchoring.  Later they were not too far from Blue Planet when they came out into the Coosaw River, and the waves must have stirred up the sediment in their fuel tank which caused the motor to stop, and they had to anchor right there in the wild Coosaw!  After TowBoat US towed them here, we noticed their jib was chewed up.  They did not have a good day!

  On NOAA on the VHF gusts of 35K were reported in the South Edisto River, right where we were going.  Again, to allow for some tide, we got underway at 10am, with Blue Planet a little after us, allowing for some strong gusts to pass before they weighed anchor.  The South Edisto was windy but the waves weren’t too big, so it wasn’t bad.  It was skinny at Fenwick Cut and we hailed Blue Planet to warn them to stay on the green side.  Then on to the Ashepoo Coosaw Cutoffs.  The first was fine with plenty of water, but the second was very shallow with a reading of only 5’8” at the end going into the Coosaw.  I warned Geoff to slow down and we got out into the Coosaw where the strong NW wind had built the waves and we’d plow right into them and they’d crash over our dodger.  Ken went below to don all his foulies and goggles, even putting handwarmers in his Gill foul weather gloves.  6 miles of that slosh and we were sick of it.

  Finally we turned into Brickyard Creek and came to Ladies Island Swing Bridge which only opens on the hour now, and not at 8am, noon, or 5pm.  At least it opens!!  Last time we came south it was closed for a day and we went into the Ladies Island Marina for a night.  We hailed Port Royal Landing and they put us on the outside dock.  They’d offered an inside dock but with the wind and the current and so near the bridge abutments, we were leery of turning the tight corner into it.

  After Blue Planet came in and tied up behind us, we all met at the Back Porch Grille for drinks and appetizers and to hash over our experiences for the day.  One couple introduced themselves and we’d recognized them from the VHF.  They’d made it to the Ladies Island Swing Bridge right after 11am and had to wait until 1pm for the next opening.  10 minutes before, their motor stopped and they threw out an anchor and had to call TowBoat US to tow them here.

  Later that night an Island Packet sailboat came in to tie up at the dock.  They were headed outside but said they were being beaten up by the wind and waves, so turned around to dock for the night.  We are going to be here 3 nights, taking the marina up on their 3 for 2 special.