Enjoying the Dolphins...

We decided to leave Bald Head Island rather than stay - so we prepared for our departure at 8am. There was a small mishap as we left the dock at the Marina. Blair mistakenly thought that the throttle was engaged, and as the boat pole was tied down, I couldn't get it free fast enough to prevent the bow from drifting into the wooden post at the end of the dock. We lost the starboard green navigation light off the bow, and really shook up the pole...but other than that we escaped unscathed. Thank goodness for the super-sized stanchions on Odissea. It was a sad sight to say goodbye to a $60.00 fully operational light, but we left it there on the dock and headed out on our way. We had reasonably good winds today - maybe 10 knots, first from Northwest, shifting to Northeast and then South near days end. We are still hand steering the boat - I made Blair promise not to put up the mainsail today (at least until we can practice "man overboard" procedures). We sailed with the jib and mizzen mast. I am gaining more confidence at the wheel of the boat which gives Blair far more freedom to worry about other things. He changed the filters on the engine today and I even made sausage and barley stew with vegetables, cutting up the veggies in the cockpit while underway. At least we will have a hot meal on our arrival in Winyah Bay. Blair got some amazing photos and a short video clip of the dolphins that chased our boat today. Blair stood up at the bowsprit with the camera - very exciting. As the sun set, we headed towards the entrance to Winyah Bay, South Carolina - once again, cautiously so that we could respect the tide and current. Southern Cross IV went in ahead of us to scout out an anchorage. Once Andy located a suitable spot, he contacted us by radio and we anchored in behind him. We had a glass of wine and a hot bowl of stew. Blair went straight to bed as he wanted to get up at the tide change at 12:30am to ensure that we would still be anchored and not drifting away when the current would be changing direction. I followed shortly after. Andy and Isabella think we should leave at around 8am for Charleston tomorrow - Blair would like to be out by 7am so that we can arrive at an earlier hour. It is really tough to get in so late after the sun is down everyday. Some interesting facts about Winyah Bay, South Carolina: The first Europeans to settle these banks were the Spanish, but after failing as farmers, they built a ship from the towering cypress and oak trees lining the swamps, and sailed off to the Spice Islands of the Caribbean, where there was a ready market for their slaves.