November 9, 2026 Waiting on the Tide

Monday, Nov. 9, 2026 Osprey Marina to S. Santee River Anchor 48 miles and 5.1 hours

Today's trip is all about the shoaling on the ICW just past McClellanville, SC. Been a trouble spot for years. Gets dredged and within two years it's shoal again. Despite the Army Corps of Engineers 9-12 foot depth standard, this section currently has stretches at just 3 feet or less at low tide. Impossible to traverse with our 4.5' draft. Low tide is at 2 PM. Worst possible time for us. We either need to leave at dark to get through or come through very late and be anchoring in the dark. Neither a viable option so we change our plans. Make today a short day. Leave a little later and anchor before the town. Then early start on Tuesday to get through easily on Tuesday morning.

Decided to top off the water tank before leaving since we'll be anchoring the next few days. Puts us on the water around 9. Much more relaxing cruise through the natural swamps of the Waccamaw River. Tannin-stained river water just adds to the growing discolored mustache on the boat's bow. Cold when we woke up. Mid 40's but sunny and light winds. Temps will rise into the 70's making for a nice day on the flybridge. Virtually no one out on the water. A big Kady-Krogen had stopped at Osprey Marina in the morning for fuel but left ahead of us. He's a slower trawler and we eventually catch and overtake him. Our one big power move on the ICW today. Only other boaters were a couple center consoles in a hurry to get somewhere and Coastal Carolina College's massive research catamaran that surprised us coming around a corner at full throttle without any AIS.

Wild natural wooded swamplands of the Waccamaw River

Coastal Carolina's marine research vessel up on plane and making time

Eventually get to the end of the Waccamaw as it enters Winyah Bay. Swamp disappears and makes way for the flat open areas that were once indigo and rice plantation fields. Under the Hiway 17 bridge and onto the bay. Pass the newly dredged entrance to Georgetown. We bypass it today but will check it out another time. Always a good stop, but had nerve-wracking depths in the channel.

Headed for the Hiway 17 bridge and the open waters of Winyah Bay

Further down the bay we take the western channel and then a sharp turn to starboard to enter the Minim Creek Canal. Just ahead is the unusual floating swing bridge connecting the mainland to a wildlife area. Basically, just a big barge that swings across the entire canal. We are in SC low country now. Low lying marsh areas. Occasional small islands. Lots of meandering streams and inlets that feed back to the ocean.

Old fire lookout tower overlooking the wildlife area

Cross over Minim Creek, then North Santee River and eventually get to our anchorage on the north side of the South Santee River. Primarily open water with a just a touch of wind protection from some low-lying land. Not really a concern as winds will be light. Drop the anchor at 2 PM and put out enough scope to insure we stay put as we swing 180 degrees in the current. A little time to relax in the sun for a few hours. Then a nice grilled steak dinner as we watched another colorful sunset.