Charleston to St Helena Sound to Hilton Head May 30 to 31

We are on our way back.  The last few days have been rather hot, but returning to a boat with AC is fine.  However, the anchorages will not be that cool.  We decided that we would run on the outside for the next two days, since the seas were cooperating, even though the wind would be light from the southeast.  We decided to get an early start, and leave before we had help to get out of the slip.  MISTAKE.   The tide rips through the marina, and even though there was no wind, it still took us into the finger pier and the neighbors anchor roller.  We ended up with a small ding in the starboard side and took out the anchor roller with our rear stanchions on the neighbor's boat.  So much for leaving early.  Jim; thanks for the video.  At least I only got one boat. 

Once we got going, we cruised out of the harbor past Fort Sumter and out into the Atlantic.  A pilot boat is sitting on the edge of the harbor and one is returning from the ocean; and now we know why; a huge cargo ship is coming in.  We immediately dash for outside the channel markers.  As the ship rolls by, I understand now why people in Texas and Louisiana surf the oil tanker wakes.  This small ship threw a 4 foot wake with a 6 second period.   We rolled through the wakes and did not take any water over the bow. 

Out in the ocean with the wind negligible, we are motor sailing.  Much faster at points than we would have running against currents and winding our way through the ditch.  Since we left so late, our original goal has been replaced, and then with thunder storms rolling off the coast, even our next destination is compromised.   We outrun (I know unbelievable) a wall of water moving offshore and head for St Helena Sound, our next inlet off the ocean.  Since there are not many hiding places along this inlet, we make the choice that we will anchor and run the ditch tomorrow. We find a little cut off the sound and anchor for the night. 

Saturday, we head for Hilton Head, with the same anchorage that we found a week ago.  We have an incoming tide which pushes us along.  We stop for fuel and water in Beaufort again, and proceed onward.  The skies have been ominous all day and we have had gust of cool winds from storms nearby.  As we enter the channel for Hilton Head, we understand why it is best to not travel these parts on the weekends, as everyone is out on the water.  Most are knowledgeable, but then you have your jet skiers jumping passing boat wakes not looking at any of the oncoming traffic; fishermen trolling in the middle of the ICW channel; you get the picture.  Having negotiated the crazies, we dropped the hook in the same spot as before as it looks like we are going to get hammered by a storm.  Nope, goes round us; but the forecast is for rain tonight.  Anyway, it looks like cooler weather the next couple of days, but we all want to be weather forecasters.