Tuesday, 11 November 53.3 SM
Two miles ahead, down the cocoa brown Waccamaw River, the thin mast of a sailboat pierces the smoky gray haze that hangs over the morning. No need for sunglasses, not for a while at least. A “silly hat” is a good idea, though. Twelve knots from the northwest sharpen the chill, damp 50-degree air that cuts through every layer of fleece.
Reason enough to be underway at 0700, moving farther south. Fifty-plus miles away, Isle of Palms will make for a long day on Steadfast but just the name—Isle of Palms—conjures the warmth of the tropics and inspires initiative.
It’d be easy to get lost in the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge where the marsh seems to go on forever.
The Waccamaw opens into Winyah Bay but the wheel turns hard a’starboard for the five miles of the Estherville Minim Creek Canal from which the waterway evolves to a serpentine series of shoals and turns through mile after mile of open wind-swept marsh.
How’d the first settlers find their way through this maze?
McClellanville, just up Jeremy Creek, sounds like an interesting little town. But it’s only noon, too early to call it a day, so Little Red keeps humming her tune and Steadfast motors on. More marsh, more shoals. Now and again, the crew waves from a bigger, faster boat as she passes by.
The sun rises over yachts and palms at the Isle.
It’s 1600 when the first tall palms of the isle come into view. Isle of Palms Marina couldn’t be more convenient to the waterway, just a quick turn to port and you’re in. It’s a full house this night but Chase the dockmaster finds a vacant 27’ along the fuel dock and Steadfast is home for the night.
Maybe two. IOP invites exploration.
Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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