10 April, 2021 Actual weather forgot to read the forecast

 

24 SM; 3.9 hours

Beautiful anchorage last night.  Peaceful and mostly calm.  But at get up time noticed there was a bit of a breeze, more than expected.  Oatmeal for breakfast, reviewed the weather, tides and route.  We planned to stop for diesel as we were at about 1/3 on the gauges.  Serenity has not fueled in over a year, just before we paused the loop journey.  Once fueled we intended to continue a few more hours to an anchorage on Turner creek where there is a marina dinghy dock and a PUBLIX grocery store across the parking lot.  The weather guessers were forecasting 10-15 mph till afternoon, then gusts of 25 and winds strengthening with the approaching cold front/thunderstorms.  We were only in a marginal risk for severe weather.  Our intent was to get going and by lunch time would be within the relative protective waters of the AICW all the way to the anchorage.  Just had to cross two sounds to get to the first fuel stop.  Diesel started, electronics on, anchor up and underway at 0730.

St Catherines sound was not too bad, choppy but only about a mile across and protected from ocean swells.  The second sound, Ossabaw sound was exposed to an incoming swell from the stiffening SW blow and we had a beginning ebb tide.  Not a pretty combination.  Rocking and rolling we entered and became spotted with salt spray.  At one point my air plants, am/fm/wx radio and binoculars all went flying across the helm station whilePOC was hanging on and did not catch any of them.  Ride'em cowboy.

We endured, but it was pretty uncomfortable crossing.  Delegal creek was our exit point out of the sound and it has a really bad entrance with shoaling, missing markers and happened to be aligned the exact wrong direction with the wind and waves.  Trusting our eyeballs, and electronic charts we made our way in without incident, but a few white knuckle moments.

Arriving at Delegal Creek Marina where the fuel dock was parallel to the ripping ebb current we secured Serenity starboard side.  Dock hand was prompt and extremely helpful.  

312 SM; 55.1 hours on 40.5 Gal!!!

While taking on fuel, we learned we could use the loaner golf cart to go to Publix grocery 4 miles away if we stayed the night.  Hmm.  Winds were steady 15 with gusts higher.  Above our go/no/go criteria.  The decision was codified by the national weather service issuing a severe weather warning for coastal Georgia.  Marginal risk forecast this morning just became lets just stay here.Delegal Creek Marina  Being Boat US members we got a 25% discount on slip fee; now only $1.50/foot.  We could have anchored in the creek but the golf cart and showers won us over. 

Serenity secure for the night

Once all secure we completed our shopping lists and enjoyed our golf cart ride through beautiful neighborhoods surround by natural marsh land settings.  Our first grocery shopping since we left Jacksonville.  Time for freshies (fruits/vegetables)

Cart parking at PUBLIX

Line of thunderstorms came through later this afternoon with rain, gusty winds but no damage.  Forecast for improvement after midnight with slight chance of showers in AM  and winds not so strong.  Anticipate getting underway at slack high tide around 0900 tomorrow.  

If you are interested in coastal Georgia property check out:  The Landings

2876 sm; 1552.9 hours hobbs