We pulled up anchor and were under way at 8:00 am. This section of the ICW passes through Beaufort, SC and across Port Royal Sound then onto Skull Creek and through Hilton Head. Skull Creek runs into Calibogue Sound where the ICW turns onto the Cooper River then off and onto Ramshorn Creek. From Ramshorn Creek, the ICW runs into the New River then into a land cut called Walls Cut that connects to the Wright River and follows through to another cut called Fields Cut which connects to the Savannah River. Here we crossed the Savannah River and entered Elba Cut. I list each of these connecting waterways to illustrate our convoluted path and how difficult it would be to follow this section of the ICW without a good chart and careful planning. It would be all too easy to turn down the wrong river and find yourself lost or in trouble. About this time, as our cruise progressed, I started thinking; just one more bridge and only three miles from tonights marina. We were approaching the Causton Bluff-Sam Varnedoe Double Bascule Bridge, so I called the Bridge Tender on the VHF radio to ask for an opening. The Bridge Tender responded with his heavy Southern accent, “sorry capt., the Bridge is broke, don’t know when it’ll be fixed. Could be three days, could be three weeks”. I briefly considered turning back three miles to the last anchorage we had passed, but I quickly understood there was only one good option; to head down the Savannah River and go offshore direct to St. Augustine. I turned the helm over to Rick to navigate down the river as I plotted our new course. I calculated it was only 134 nm to St. Augustine Inlet, just a quick overnight passage. It was around 4:30 pm, just as we were leaving the Savannah River, when the Fog swept in and engulfed us. I turned on the Navigation lights and radar and set the auto pilot on our new course. We were in 3′ seas every 6 seconds, a little uncomfortable so I set the mizzen sail to help steady the boat. It soon became a rhythm we adjusted to and we all settled in for a meal of Fish sticks and rice and an evening passage at sea. We set ourselves up for each to take a three hour watch at the helm through the night. On my watch, around 1:30 am, I noticed lightning off to the Southwest and the weather radar indicated a storm was moving in our direction. I knew it was possible to encounter high winds as the storm passes through, so I woke up Cody to take over the helm while I went above and dropped the mizzen sail. The storm quickly passed with little notice other than some distant lighting and a short downpour. The following morning around 11:30 am, we entered St. Augustine Inlet and arranged for a mooring at the Municipal Marina. We made it to Florida !
