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My first sail

1337 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by travlin-easy, Apr 7, 2015

musicmanontheseas

Discussion Starter · Apr 6, 2015

As long as I can remember, I have wanted to do a multi-day trip along the Georgia coast. I may finally have my chance. I hope to leave this Wednesday. I have a 24' Venture MacGregor with a 9.9 Yamaha. I have taken this boat out by myself twice.

I plan to sail by myself and leave Saint MArys GA and travel up the coast past Cumberland Island and Jekyl Island and cut in towards Brunswick and anchor for the night. Next morning to sail north to above Blackbeard island and anchor for the night. Friday I plan to sail home in one day if possible.

Questions:
1. What currents should I expect while going north and south up the ga coast? I plan to sail about 4-5 miles off the coast.
2. Will I be able to catch any fish trolling on my way?
3. Any hazards you are aware of?
4. Suggestions?

Thanks!

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Sailormon6

· #5 · Apr 7, 2015

musicmanontheseas said:
I hear you on anchoring during low tide. Most water height change is around 6 feet I think- Also- my boat has a crank up keel so I may not be leaving on time if anchored in low water but as long as the keel is kept up, I don't think I would have any problems. Am I wrong?

If you habitually leave your retractable keel down (which is recommended by most boat manufacturers), then it will warn you when you are in shallow water. You'll feel it dragging when you are underway, and you'll feel a change in the boat's motion when you are at anchor. If it is down when it touches, then you can crank it up and get free. If it is fully retracted when it touches, then you won't get any warnings until the boat is hard aground, and, since the keel is already up all the way, you won't be able to crank it up any further to get free. IMO, it's a good practice to leave it down, and only raise it if you have grounded. If the keel is down, and the boat grounds on a falling tide, then by cranking it up you will gain some time to move the boat to deeper water.

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