The Point End at 0200
June 18, 2011
Yesterday was a good day. Then again, most days afloat are good days. We left Georgetown, SC at 0645 and headed to Myrtle Beach in continuance toward the Chesapeake. As it happened, we did not stop in MB but continued until "we got tired". We are in an old anchorage just across the North Carolina border no longer suggested as the tides have conspired to make this place shallow and lively. We decided to forego the steak on the grill and make do with whatever leftovers we had so that the sandman could have his way early. Things were going well until around 0155 when we were awakened by a loud snap, crackle and pop somewhere under our heads. Both of us heard it and there was no mistaking the fact that it was not normal. Did I say it was a very deep sleep? OK, Bligh, get your rear up and go battle the sea monster. The winds were from sea yet the boat was pointing the other way. Says I, " humh, that is not right" as I stumbled, still half asleep toward the bow. That half asleep thing can be dangerous as on the way forward, one has to attempt to stay aboard while, in the dark, attempting to break toes on all that stuff attached to the deck. Having successfully made the trip to the pointy end, I noticed the anchor chair was not leading forward but aft toward the wrong direction. That is something that will happened when the wind offsets the tidal current and the boat hovers over the anchor sort of in an attempt to decide if it should go with the wind or the current. Our snubber bridal was loose and that allowed the chain to rub up and down the hull. When the snubber fell off, that chain snapped against the hull. The fix is simple. One only has to put the helm off a few degrees so that the boat sails to one side in the current. That done, it is time to attempt to go back to sleep or sit and write this silly stuff. Meanwhile, Why Knot is settling down to peaceful vigilance on our anchor. It is now 0245 and I think I will go topside and sit for a bit to enjoy the moonlight on this little piece of planet Earth.