St Augustine, FL — 05•07•24
0500 Early morning departure to Charlson about 195 nautical miles.
After resting and provisioning in St Augustine, I needed to make some miles. I dropped the mooring lines and headed out in light winds, motor sailing most of the day.
Later in the afternoon, Right Meow, another Catana 15nm behind me, contacted me on the radio after they heard my exchange with the US Navy. The US Navy had contacted me via radio to ensure I would maintain my course and speed. They did not appear on my AIS (Automatic Identification System) and wanted me to keep a 2nm distance from them. I pulled out my binoculars to locate them and, after spotting them, realized what they were transporting.
After an uneventful night, I pulled into Charleston and anchored in front of the Yorktown. I’d wait here a few days for thunderstorms and bad weather to pass. My daughter Ava was in town for work, so she came out and spent a night on Trouble.
After Ava left, I had to deal with incoming thunderstorms, along with wind against the current, while anchoring in Charleston Harbor. This is where the tide current pushes the boat one way at anchor, but the wind spins the boat in the opposite direction, causing the anchor chain to go backward under the boat instead of staying in front. You have to keep an eye on the boat during these tide changes.
While one really big thunderstorm just missed me, I was not so lucky with the next, bigger one. It hit with amazing gale-force winds and lightning. I saw and heard it coming and hoped the other boats anchored close to me would not drag. Trouble held tight to her anchor, with the screaming sound of the wind in the rigging and rain that was horizontal. I sat inside and kept an eye on the other boats to ensure they weren’t dragging. As quickly as it started, it was gone. No one dragged anchor, and everyone seemed to fare through it.
As the 3-foot fetch calmed down after the brief squall, I tried to get some sleep. This was the last of the thunderstorms, and I was headed out the next day.
Charlston, SC — 05•11•24
0500 Anchor up and off to Cape Lookout, NC, approximately 210nm. With one reef in the main and close-hauled heading north, it was a bit lumpy, but the wind and sea were expected to turn more in my favor as the day went on.
I was pushing Trouble as I wanted to get into Cape Lookout Bight before the wind turned north on me.
The next day at 1500, I was pulling into the Bight at Cape Lookout. It was Mother’s Day, and the anchorage and beaches were packed with people and boats, but they slowly started to clear out. I got my anchor down and got some needed sleep. The winds had switched to the north, which is not good for rounding Hatteras. I had a small window to get to the Chesapeake, but I’d have to battle the north winds the next day until they were forecasted to switch in my favor.
Cape Lookout, NC — 05•13•24
0500 Anchor up. I put one reef in the main and full genoa. I had a great sail out of the bight, but I knew I’d have to turn north straight into the wind once I reached the end of the bight.
By 0900, I had turned north and was motoring straight into a 16-knot wind. I dropped my sails as they were useless. Cruiser weather forecaster Chris Parker had forecasted low teens from the north. A few other cruisers behind me, doing the same route, had gotten the same information. It got pretty rough, bashing straight into 3-4’ waves. It was supposed to last only a couple of hours, but it went on until late afternoon when the winds let up a little, and the seas calmed a bit. While not comfortable, Trouble pounded through without issue. I could hear the other boats on the radio, having a tough time. By the time I got to Hatteras, the winds were switching, and with my new heading, I put up a full main and genoa just as the sun went over the horizon.
By noon the next day, I was heading into the Chesapeake. It’s always busy with large freighters and other craft. I had to radio a freighter to ensure I wasn’t in his way. He assured me I was good as he passed what seemed close.
I had to dodge a hovercraft as it sped across my bow. Naval vessels don’t turn on their AIS, so you have to be vigilant about keeping an eye on the traffic.
I headed a little way up the bay to Mathews, VA, where I’d get hauled out, and had my anchor down by 1530. I wanted to get situated as thunderstorms were expected that afternoon.
I was a couple of weeks early for my haulout, but I’d just chill here. With access to the yard, I was able to start some maintenance.
Mathews, VA — 05•31•24
Haulout day was uneventful. I had my rudders removed as I was replacing the bearings this season, and it’s easier to pull the rudders off while the boat is on the trailer.
My list of to-dos was getting long, but I had some family activities I wanted to attend. After finishing those, it was off to boring boat maintenance.
