Wednesday, Nov 9th, 2011 New Teakettle Creek anchorage

  We left early to catch the high tide through Hells Gate.  As you can imagine, just the name scares boaters.  At high tide, it was no problem.  On through the long Sapelo Sound into Creighton Narrows and here.  It was a short day. 

  The anchorage was beautiful.  A powerboat came in and anchored farther on and all we could see was the top of it over the marsh, looking like they were sitting right in the middle of the marsh.  2 other sailboats came in.

  Traveling the ICW, the VHF radio is the means of communication, and channel 16 is the channel of distress, safety and calling frequency. The United States Coast Guard will regularly transmit information, saying:  ‘Securite, securite, securite.  All stations, all stations, all stations.  This is the United States Coast Guard (Charleston) sector.  This is the United States Coast Guard (Charleston) sector.  This is the United States Coast Guard (Charleston) sector.  Break.  Information regarding the (Charleston Harbor) will be transmitted on channel 22 alpha.’  Then you go to channel 22 and listen to the broadcast.  Sounds like a foolproof plan.  The only problem is most of it is completely incomprehensible with loud echoing in the background, or the person talking too fast, there is no way to follow it.  If there’s an emergency broadcast, the Coast Guard will say the same, except start it with ‘Pan pan, pan pan, pan, pan.’  One would think this would perk up any boater, only usually, again, the message is incomprehensible.  ‘Mayday’ is used when there is grave and imminent danger and immediate assistance is needed.