ICW Southbound - August 26 - September 21, 2015

8/26/15 - Karen enjoys steamed crabs on our last night in Annapolis. We head south to Florida early tomorrow morning.

8/27/15 - Sunrise at Back Creek, Annapolis just before our departure this morning.

Passing the Calvert Cliffs on our trip south this afternoon.

The jellyfish is 6" across the top (dome?). It is the largest I've ever seen on the Chesapeake.  The reflection at the top is Kelly IV at anchor in Solomons.

 Sunset & Moonrise reflected in our anchorage tonight in Solomons, MD.

Passed the Cove Point Lighthouse and the Navy buoy tender on our way.

8/28/15 - An early start today as we attempt to cover 60nm today.

This morning we passed a northbound freighter and the USCG Cutter "Eagle", which was anchored just south of Hooper Island. You'll recognize the "Eagle" as the tall ship to the right of the freighter.

8/29/15 - The view alone is worth doing an early departure!

Wolf Trap Light this morning enroute.

Safely tied up after almost 60nm underway today.

Tomorrow we hope to be anchored in North Carolina. Sunset in Portsmouth, Virginia.   

8/30/15 - Karen takes a photo of this barge as it passes Kelly IV's anchorage just south of Coinjock, NC. Earlier in the day, this barge was moving at 4 knots while Kelly IV was motoring along at 5 knots. We passed the barge but it took 5 minutes to pass the 200 feet of tug and barge!   

8/31/15 - It was a long day today, travelling 13 hours from sunrise to sunset. We covered 74 miles from south of Coinjock, VA (Buck Island) to Belhaven, NC. We'll taking a layday tomorrow to rest before moving on. Hope to arrive in Oriental on September 2nd.  

9/3/15 - Looks like we'll be just south of Camp Lejeune when we reach our anchorage for the night.  

Sunset after 60 miles underway today. We're making miles! Kelly IV is safely anchored in Mile Hammock Bay several miles north of Topsail Beach, NC.  

9/4/15 - This evening's sky from our Wrightsville Beach anchorage. We'll be on our way again in the morning. 358 miles so far.  

9/7/15 - Update: Two items.
1-The bottom right hand toggle switch on the engine control panel has failed so I cannot start or stop the engine. The failure happened Saturday night but I won't be able to work on it until tomorrow morning. The reason for the delay is item 2.
2- This weekend I drove Karen to her house in FL so she can resolve problems from a lightning strike. I just arrived back aboard but am too tired after two back-to-back 10 hour driving trips to repair the broken switch. I'll be single handing the rest of the trip to Titusville.  

Wrightsville Beach enjoys some terrific sunsets! It seems sunsets are almost always worth observing and photographing.

9/8/15 - Kelly IV is safely tied up in Southport, NC.   

9/9/15 - At anchor in the Calabash River, just north of Myrtle Beach.  

9/10/15 - This 3 masted, gaff-rigged, steel hulled schooner is anchored in Cow House Creek off the Waccamaw River.

Have seen a five feet long fish jump four feet out of the water three times now while at anchor west of Butler Island, north of Winyah Bay, SC. If only I knew in advance where to point the camera!  

9/11/15 - Sunset north of Charleston, SC in Whiteside Creek. I find the sky and water infinitely interesting. Every day, every hour is unique.  

9/12/15 - Given the forecast for thunderstorms tonight and no sheltered anchorage nearby, I chose this marina near Charleston. Of course, the storms never showed. Gee, I could have anchored. Check this sunset video: https://www.facebook.com/allen.murphy.sailingkelly/videos/1219177784774413/. Sunset tonight at our marina in Charleston, SC.  

9/13/15 - Sunset in Beaufort, SC. That's the Lady's Island Swing Bridge in the distance.

That's the Lady's Island Swing Bridge in the distance.

9/14/15 - What a beautiful day today motorsailing from Beaufort, SC past Hilton Head to Savannah, GA. Anchored in Herb River, Thunderbolt, GA.  

9/15/15 - No data service here but another gorgeous sunset in the Wahoo River, GA, south of Savannah. Kelly IV even did some great sailing!  

9/16/15 - When I departed Wahoo River this morning I saw this shrimp boat had dragged her anchor and run aground. As I passed by they said they needed no help and were confidant they would be off with high tide.

It rained all day and is still raining here in Hawkins Creek at Lanier Island, just north of St. Simon's Sound, GA.  Forecast is for more of the same tomorrow. 

9/17/15 - An exciting day today as Kelly IV motored through 6 foot washing machine waves crossing St. Andrews Sound between Jekyll and Cumberland Islands, GA. The port side dinghy davit shifted in the commotion. The one photo shows my jury rig using a halyard to hold up that davit until I can make the repair. We're anchored in the Amelia River, FL with the photos showing the weather and the A1A bridge to Amelia Island. Kelly IV and I will pass under that bridge first thing in the morning.  

9/18/15 - Kelly IV & I motored under dark clouds like these all day. Rain and 20+ knots of wind again all day today. This pic is from the anchorage (just south of Pine Island?).  

9/20/15 - Kelly IV and I had a great visit with friends last night (9/19/15) after another day of intermittent showers and sun motorsailing through St. Augustine yesterday. Today's forecast says we'll have all sunshine. First in 5 days!  

I've been fortunate to see dolphins every single day I've been singlehanding the past week and a half. Sometimes they've even cruised directly beside me while I'm in the cockpit. I finally captured video of a couple of these friendly creatures here in the anchorage south of the high level bridge at New Smyrna. https://www.facebook.com/allen.murphy.sailingkelly/videos/1225484324143759/. 

9/21/15 - FINISHED! Kelly IV and I just arrived in Titusville, FL after motorsailing over 1000 miles from Annapolis. We departed Annapolis on August 27 and were underway all but three days. For a 5-knot boat, we've covered the miles quickly! BTW, that large blue & white building in the distance is the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. They are well worth a visit.  

For Karen's post and photos about our doublehanded portion of this cruise, Click Here.