Socastee area -- so sad-- and pins and needles trip

We left Barefoot Landing at 8:30am hoping to hit the Socastee Bridge around 11:30am or low tide. The ride was slow with the current against us -- SOG was about 4.4kts, but we were on schedule to hit the bridge at low tide. About 10 miles from the bridge we came across a flashing blue light Wildlife boat just poking in the same direction. Well it is decreed that from Barefoot Landing to the Bucksport Marina was a no wake zone. Well what is no wake -- kind of subjective. If a boat moves through the water it makes a disturbance. The bigger the disturbance the bigger the wave coming off. At hull speed most sail boats generate a wave no greater than 3 inches.

We slowed down and eventually passed the enforcement boat and they gave us a friendly wave. We got to the Socastee bridge and passed through and a Sheriff Boat held up a thumb and finger showing we had cleared by mere inches, then we met a Coast Guard boat and they ordered us to slow down -- we were now doing 3.2 kts or less than turtle speed. We maintained this slow pace to Bucksport where when we passed the current finally changed with us and we set s speed record on Temptation. There where times we did 9.3kts. It was great. Our expected ETA at the anchorege behind Butler Island was 5pm but with the speed increase we made it at 3:30pm for a much deserved rest.

Around the Socastee Bridge there are numerous homes just 50 75 yds back from the water edge. Many had a water line up to 3 feet on their walls. Some houses were still standing in water. Most docks were damaged. It was really sad. I got to the point where I just stopped looking at the houses. Just so sad.

Oh the Socastee bridge only had about 6 feet of clearance under it and this was low tide. It is supposed to have a minimum of 11 feet at high tide.

The high rise just passed it showed just less than 61 feet clearance. It was apparenty correct because I need 57 feet for my mast and 3 feet for the VHR whip antenna. That antenna just tickled the bottom of the bridge when we passed through.

We are just out of sync with the tides for a few days and offshore doesn't look comfortable so we will stay in Georgetown, SC for a few days beginning tomorrow. Ummmmm -- going to get some fresh shrimp!