This part of the waterway is windy, has a huge tide range (8′), very fast currents and areas that have little water depth at low tide. Here if you run aground on a falling tide, you can loose your boat quickly. Our boat draws 5′. If we ground on a falling tide of 8′, we will be laying on our side in the mud at low tide…..
As we studied charts, tide data, and currents for the next leg, an area titled “hells gate” came into focus. All and I mean all recommendations were to transit the gate at mid tide and rising. From our starting point on Hilton Head this morning the “gate” was 45 miles south. High tide was at 9:35am, and by the time we could get there the tide would be falling…… I decided not to risk it and we chose a marina 10 miles north of Hells Gate. Isle of Hope Marina. That way we could reach the “gate” the next morning on a rising tide.
The morning started out rainy and a little foggy.
The day was short (only 35 miles) and uneventful. The weather cleared and turned sunny and warm. Once at the marina, we walked to a local seafood joint and had a great meal (even though the marina gave us a courtesy car to use just cause Susan wanted to walk) The town was interesting….
the restaurant had an aquarium
