Sojourner - Finally Underway!

Well, one year ago we were on the Southern Chesapeake region of Virginia. We prepped more diligently than ever before during the months of January through mid-May for final departure. While it took us several years of planning and prepping to get underway (2018-2021), we finally untied the lines in May 2021 to head 'souther.'

In those few years of prep and planning of the ultimate adventure, the Skipper sailed north from Georgia to Virginia to marry his First Mate and together they got underway with various boat maintenance and projects to Sojourner including: deadlights replaced, solar panels added, wind generator added, non-skid applied to decks, batteries replaced, inverter added, dinghy and motor replaced, just to mention a few. 

Although a curve ball had changed most of our worldly travel plans to sail to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Panama, we were determined that if we didn't set sail this year, would we ever? Cruising The Keys of southern Florida wasn't our ultimate dream but it would definitely be much more fun than our sailing travels together so far, and, it would be a great start to a life less ordinary! 

We set sail from Mathews, Virginia in May, 2021 and arrived on Wilmington Island, Georgia in mid-June 2021. Here is a recap of our travels.

While grinning ear to ear in the cockpit on the first leg of our journey, we enjoyed an overnight anchorage in the lovely area of Waterside in Norfolk, Virginia, Marker 0. From there, along the IntraCoastal Waterway (ICW), we enjoyed various shorelines and waterfowl. 

The Dismal Swamp was one adventure that we can cross off of our bucket list and more than likely, "won't do that again!" The shallow depths of the swamp were rather harrowing at times for the Skipper and First Mate not to mention Sojourner (SojiGirl) didn't like bumping her bottom.

Once out of the Dismal Swamp and underway again, weather kept us at the Elizabeth City Docks in North Carolina for a few days. Yet another bucket list 'check off.' Crossing a sound in our first squall certainly got our heartbeats fully exercised while aboard our thirty-eight foot home. The Skipper was at the helm keeping her steady, while wind and sideways rain tried to get the better of him. Meanwhile, the First Mate was below in the galley taking pictures of ominous skies and crashing waves on the deadlights of this new, never experienced adventure! A short squall, as they tend to be, reminded us of the ultimate and unforgiving power of the wind and the sea and gave us both a whole new meaning to 'grey skies ahead.' Not to mention the ever fervent prayers lifted from both of us before, during, and after the storm!

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all doom and gloom! After all, we saw dolphin, osprey, eagle, heron, pelican, and many other types of really neat wild life! And, I finally got to spot alligator! We saw sailboats, power boats, navy ships, tug boats, ferries, jet skis, kayaks, and even passed fairly close by cargo ships in narrow waterways. We saw tall buildings, large homes, small homes, marinas, along with miles and miles of nothing but marsh grass. And, we enjoyed the peaceful evenings at anchor watching the sun set.

With that being said, we enjoyed waking up each day and getting underway to our next destination. Every evening Sojourner's crew studied the charts and tides to determine where her port of call would be for the next day. A golden rule is: Tide and Weather are ALWAYS a factor when on the water. Some days it was less than 20 miles of travel and other days it was 50 plus miles of travel. We were even pretty good at timing each bridge opening and lock crossing. Our typical speed was an average five miles per hour. Yes, traveling 20 miles took us four hours, it was wonderful!

And, we learned about the Rule of the 12ths. That was one of our valuable lessons we learned when another squall forced us to anchor and hold on! Once through Hilton Head, South Carolina, our next narrow passage was through Ramshorn Creek; a rather narrow and tidal waterway. We checked the tide ...or so we thought. As a power boat was exiting the narrow channel we were about to navigate, the Captain hollered to us, 'Pretty shalla! Saw three feet!' Our draft is five feet and grey clouds were up ahead. We did a quick weather check and thought it best if we turn around and go back the quarter-mile, anchor, and try again in a few hours when the tide was higher. Good thing we did! No sooner did we get the anchor set and here came the wind gust and torrential rain...

Another squall! 

Unfortunately, our auto pilot had previously broken so the Skipper couldn't lock the helm during this storm. Our home was literally spinning around the anchor because the rudder couldn't be locked in one place! Donning his fouly, the Skipper sat in the cockpit once again under squall conditions (40+ mph winds) manning the helm. And, you guessed it, the First Mate was taking pictures!

Needless to say, the weather cleared up, the tide rose, and we were once again underway. Crossing the shipping lane in Savannah and waiting for the last bridge opening, we were in the final stretch. All in all, the Skipper and First Mate learned to work together while docking, anchoring, time at the helm, galley prep, etc. in this first leg of journeying. And, after several marinas and anchorages later, we safely and successfully arrived at our destination of Wilmington Island, Georgia for what we thought would be a short stay before getting underway to trek 'souther.'

A short stay it wasn't!

Check out our next blog for: Sojourner's Wilmington Island Adventure!