USA - Georgia, Wilmington River, Dock Party & TS Elsa

Another day and more fun. We spent the day doing some chores on Meshugga and I accompanied Johanna into town. She had an appointment, and dropped me off at a Shopping Mall for some Retail Therapy. Having not seen stores in more than six months, I was over-awed at the selection of Everything.

Whilst I waited for Johanna to be ready, I took a few photos of their spectacular home.

There were a few of these small lizards running around - very cute!

The view from the patio down to the river and dock with Selah and Meshugga

The view across their and their neighbors lawns

Just beautiful

And more so….

That evening a Dock Party was planned……

We ate aboard Selah and then everyone came to tour Meshugga, and we helped their appreciation with the supply of bubbles

Gene and Linda

Gavin and Beth

Next morning it was time to say Goodbye. Hurricane Elsa, now downgraded to a Tropical Storm, was approaching and Brads dock would be under sever pressure with two big yachts on it.

MV Selah’s dock

We motored further up the Wilmington River and went into the Herb Creek, to see out the night when the Tropical Storm would come over us.

The iconic hotel where in the 1930’s the Mafia operated out of. Now it is respectable Condos.

Our anchorage for the night. Mud flats behind us and in the south (where the wind is predicted to come from) heavy trees. No photo.

Tropical Storm Elsa approaching… 

Tropical Storm Elsa on Radar, we are right in the thick of the heaviest of rain.

We had 40 knots of wind constant, for our SAFFIR family and friends, that’s a good SouEaster blow.

As per Sod’s Law, TS Elsa came through at night 9.30pm - midnight with no moon. Our anchor held fast, and no leakage of water into Meshugga anywhere. 

All good !

USA - Georgia, Wilmington River, A Visit to Savannah

Brad and Johanna kindly offered to take us on a guided tour of Savannah which we’d heard was beautiful with old world charm and buildings to match.

We then headed for the iconic Electric Moon Skytop Lounge overlooking the Savannah River.

Johanna and Brad

Brad with the Talmadge Memorial Bridge behind him

Nicholas and Johanna

The Georgia Queen Paddle Steamer

Me and Johanna

It was also Johanna’s Birthday, and we’d offered to take them out, both to celebrate her birthday and to say thanks for hosting us on their dock and taking us to see Savanah. We tried numerous restaurants, but being 5 July, a Monday, and Independence Day weekend, most restaurants were closed.

We found Jalapeños Mexican Grill open and delicious!

However, not sure about this truck Nicholas next to…..

USA - Georgia, Wilmington River, 4th July, A visit to Brad and Johanna

We spent the week in West Palm Beach with almost no wind. The prediction was for wind to fill in on Friday 2 July, so we waited the 5 days and set off mid morning on Friday 2nd.

The big marinas we’re interestingly not as busy as we’d seen them in December 2020

 

Once again thank you to the Palm Beach Sailing Club who graciously received Amazon parcels on our behalf.

We headed directly east from West Palm Beach, the current pushing us in a NE direction, until we had a good 5 knots of Gulf Stream Current with us, and then we turned north and rode the current until it was time to head inland to Savannah.

Loved seeing the dolphins, we had a school of about 20 playing around Meshugga for a good half hour

We arrived midnight of 3 July at the inlet of the Wilmington River, and dropped anchor there rather than motor at midnight up a dark river.

The following day, 4th July we motored up the river and docked at Brad and Johanna’s house

Johanna comes to visit

We were invited by Brad and Johanna to join them for a 4th July BBQ Party at their neighbors house, also on the river.

Nicholas and Brad shoot the breeze

Linda and Gene’s beautiful house

The most amazing red sunset, followed by superb Fireworks

Himself and me

Linda’s Garden Art

Bahamas - Ragged Island, Hog Cay to USA - Florida, West Palm Beach, Our Grandchild is born

Our FlyBridge installed, I spent 2 days ashore cleaning the beach where Nicholas had had his workshop. In the meantime, Nicholas prepped Meshugga for sailing as we’d been in the Hog Cay/Little Ragged Cay area for more than 6 months. 

A few items needed stowing and the FlyBridge properly lashed on.

Another Full Moon, our last night at Hog Cay

On Wednesday 23 June, at first light, we hoisted our full Main and Genoa

Our new Fly Bridge

We left early morning so that we could cross the Bahamas Bank and get into the Tongue of the Ocean before nightfall

Rising sun over Hog Cay as we sailed away

Having just left Hog Cay, we are crossing the Great Bahama Bank mostly with a depth of 2m.

Nicholas on watch for Coral Heads

We’ve crossed the bank, exiting the Bank thru the Lark Channel. It’s 18:44 and we’re sail into the Tongue of the Ocean which is 1000-2000 meters deep. We’ll sail north overnight thru the Tongue.

Thursday 24 June, arriving at Morgans Bluff on the NE corner of Andros Island.

We went ashore at 2pm to clear out of Customs, who had very created an quaint Outdoor setting, a picnic table had been set up under a large tree next to the Customs office, to ensure adhering to Covid outdoor restrictions, as their office was rather small…..

We spent the night at Morgans Bluff and early morning we headed out, a short sail north in the Tongue and then back onto the Bank at Chubb Cay. 

This is the stake in the water on a small reef close to Chubb Cay, marking the beginning of the Mackie Shoal Channel.

We followed the Mackie Channel and we had numerous power yachts roaring past us all headed for Bahamas Islands

On Friday 25 June, in the Mackie Channel and still in Cell range, we had an excited phone call from our son, Kieran in San Francisco that our First Grandchild had been born, Mazeltov! Welcome Arden! A beautiful little girl!

In the NorthWest Providence Channel we found numerous Cruise Ships at anchor. All the blue symbols on the chart below are Cruise Ships

A few Cruise Ships that we sailed past

Goodbye Bahamas. This is the remnants of my Bahamian Flag

Heading for West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Peanut Island, at the entrance of West Palm Beach inlet

Fun decorated Industry Tanks

We cleared into the USA on the CBP ROAM App, and as we’re not an American yacht we have to physically go to Customs to present our documentation and receive a Cruising Permit. There is no cost for the Permit, just takes about 20 minutes of your time. Officials are most professional and courteous.

Our arrival was met with a quick heavy rain shower followed by this awesome rainbow.

On Monday 28 June, after clearing into Customs our first objective was to get our Covid shot. A trip to Walgreens, as a Walk-in it took about 15 minutes for paperwork to be captured on their computer. ID required, but no problem that we are foreigners. Pfizer first shot done ! Yay !