The Tale of Tortuga
| Vessel Name: | Tortuga |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Catalina 440DS |
| Hailing Port: | Hood River, OR |
| Crew: | Jan & Scott |
22 January 2019 | Brunswick Landing Marina
Next stop, Florida!!!
Well, Tortuga has migrated south again, and last Thursday, we slid into Brunswick Landing Marina (Brunswick, GA) after a beautiful overnight trip from Charleston. We covered around 166 miles in just over 26 hours. Coming through the shipping lanes outside Savannah at 1 a.m. was a bit like playing frogger as we counted 15 ships the size of Super Walmarts going in all directions at 3 times our speed. Needless to say it kept us quite alert. We are currently in a holding pattern for a few more days as we have let storm pattern after storm pattern pass. Our next 80 mile jaunt to Jacksonville will finally put us into Florida where I'm sure the temps are pushing 90, right? Also looking forward to hosting our good friend Alison as she flys in tomorrow from Hood River.
10 January 2019 | Charleston SC
Hold onto your grits!
Tortuga has moved south to Charleston where we are currently spending a few days taking in the rich history of the city. After a couple of wonderful day sails in the mighty Atlantic, we clicked off a quick 120 miles. The ride into the entry channel at Charleston was quite exciting with 20knot winds, 10 ft. seas and a line of 900 ft. incoming freighters traveling at 3 times our speed. We have snuggled into the Maritime Center Marina, and are within walking distance to the city, museums, and historic houses. A $25 pass gets you into almost all the historical places for the month of January, so we are taking in 4 or 5 a day, waiting for our next weather window and voyage into Georgia. While we wait, we are entertained by 3 dolphin that live here at the marina and pop up for a visit a few times a day. What a site!
05 January 2019 | Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Low Bridge / High Water
Two steps forward, one step back. That's what Tortuga has done this new Year. Seems we are still experiencing the effects of Hurricane Florence. After making down to the Socastee Bridge in Myrtyle beach on New Year's eve, we received info that the bridge height was 61.5 ft. (much too low for Tortuga) We spent a couple of days waiting for the flood waters to crest and recede only to realize they haven't gone down past this level since September. And because of the Gov. shutdown, no current information is being updated. We have since moved back up North to the Little River Outlet where tomorrow Tortuga shall test her sea legs in the big pond (Atlantic). I will say we are ready and stoked! The ICW has been interesting but stressful with each bridge that bends our antennas or scrapes our windex (wind indicator). Not sure if we are day sailing tomorrow or an overnight. But either way we should be free of a 50 ft. channel that's 15 ft. deep. Looking forward to Charleston by Monday.
28 December 2018 | North Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Looking back at Christmas, it was extremely difficult to be away from our girls and good friends during the holiday season. And though we didn’t have any packages under the tree, we were truly blessed during Christmas day with gifts that we will always remember.
27 December 2018 | North Myrtle Beach Yacht Club
Hitting the reset the button
Ok, we have finally said goodbye to North Carolina on our quest south. Staying tonight in North Myrtle Beach anticipating a couple days of nasty weather. Enjoyed shrimp, scallops, and grits for the first time, and I must say... I am a fan!
25 December 2018 | Harbor Village Marina, Hamstead, N.C.
Have a very happy Merry Christmas!!
It’s a Christmas tale of Tortuga and crew just south of Topsail, N.C. We are about halfway down the coast of North Carolina, creeping south, as turtles do!
The Adventure begins (soon)!
In early October, we travelled to Annapolis to attend the boat show and shop for boats. And as you often do when you are shopping for something, you find it. Low and behold, Tortuga, a 2005 Catalina Morgan 440 DS spoke to us in many ways. We had to give her many looks, but after doing so, a survey, and a sea trial we decided we need not look any further. She is a solid boat, comfortable, and well-loved and cared for by her previous owners. She has been at rest for a few months this year, preparing for new adventures to unknown places.
As I write, the paperwork should conclude this Friday and we are frantically packing the van for a drive back to Rock Hall, MD where we will meet again, provision, and watch for weather windows to get her south to warm weather for the winter.
So thanks for joining us from time to time as we start this new chapter of our lives and tell the "tale of Tortuga"!
