December 3rd, 2018
Height
This was the problem
December 3rd, 2018
Drone
As it turned out we spent a week waiting for the water levels to drop. This meant that not only did I get to the bottom of the job list I also managed to get on with a ton of things that I have wanted to do but never found the time. Making strops for the halyards and in the case of this picture taking my first drone flight. What an amazing piece of kit - there is some lovely images to come once I master it.
December 3rd, 2018
JOBS
You might think that it was frustrating to bet trapped but the odd thing about the experience was that having been robbed of control all expectations were parked up and we relaxed. The weather was cold but clear and crisp and so we enjoyed the days which offered the opportunity to get on top of the job list and I cant tell you how good it felt tick my way from top to bottom. On that note I want to introduce you to my favourite pump which runs off a drill. Some ideas are genius in their simplicity and attendant flexibility. When we were in Norfolk I put water in the fuel tank - Duh. Pearl being the kind of boat she is I simply isolated that tank and ran the engine off another. That headache could wait until we were in a better location to sort it out. I actually did it in Coinjock so this picture is of an engine service where I am pumping out the old oil from the sump.
December 3rd, 2018
Flooding
As we approached the Socastee Bridge we noticed the water levels were rising despite a falling tide. Floodwater which is unpredictable hereabouts was making its presence felt. When Hurricane Florence passed through it was ten days later that the floods arrived. Locals told us that the flooding we got caught up in was unpresedented and they had no idea when it would subside. We found ourselves trapped between two bridges with nowhere to go. Backtracking we met our guardian angels in the form of Tim and Cindy who loaned us their floating dock. We settled in for the wait.
December 3rd, 2018
Moonrise
As the sun was setting iso the moon was rising and this was the view from Mahina. It was a stunning evening
December 3rd, 2018
Sunset
A lot has happened since our last post so here goes with a catchup from Georgetown. After Willmington we decided to take the ICW to Georgetown as the weather wasnt on our side at sea. Parts were quite challenging depth wise for Ian and Michelle on Mahina so we took point given that we only draw 3ft with the centre board up. Our challenge was height for our mast is 63ft 7inches. I know this for I went up the mast and measured it. The theory is that most bridges are 65ft but there are inconsistencies due to subsidence and water level. This is Mahina taking point for the bridge that we are approaching as the sun sets. If there VHF aerial touches we can just scrape through and we were very close on a number of bridges.
November 24th, 2018
Dolphin
November 24th, 2018
A Perfect Day
Beaufort to Willmington served up the perfect day for we had clear skies and an open sea. When I say an open sea it is said with an expanding chest after being cooped up in Chesapeake bay for so long. I cant tell you how nice it was to feel a swell under and to have blue as opposed to brown water under the keel. It was a long day with lots to keep boredom at bay. We started off under Gennaker, changed to Spinnaker and after a short motor ended up beating into a fresh wind. Squeezed between the fun of all the sail changes we were buzzed by a fighter jet, visited by dolphin and shared it all with Mitch and Ian on Mahina. Curtains fell one the perfect day with a safe anchorage, glass of wine and a good sleep.
