May 18, 2017 – Thursday
For us, today was a slow uneventful day as we floated through mile after mile of salt marsh. Others, on the waters near us, had a more eventful day. We watched as a large motor vessel overshot a turn by about a quarter of a mile and then carefully backtracked into the proper channel. Several hours later we watched as a sailing vessel was not as lucky, he missed a turn and ended up aground. Fortunately, with a rising tide, he was able to power himself loose.
The saddest story we heard was over our VHF radio. We were on the southwest side of Wolf Island and heard a distress call from a sailing vessel on the east side (the Atlantic Ocean) that was taking on water. A nearby shrimp boat was not able to rescue the crew because of water depth but was able to relay information to the US Coast Guard which sent a rescue helicopter. We could not see the boats but could see the distant helicopter. The helicopter crew had to offload their 90-pound rescue pump in order to lighten their load so they could lift the three people that were on the sailboat. The shrimp boat was able to reclaim the pump for the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard was able to lift the crew of the sailboat to safely, but unfortunately, the sailboat sank. Constant reminders to always be vigilant.
We anchored off the main channel, around a bend on New Teakettle Creek, and did not see another boat until we pulled back on the main channel the next morning. We have been at anchor alone before, but usually, a few fishing boats will be out either that evening or early the next morning. At this anchorage, it was just us, dolphins, jumping fish, and the birds.
New Teakettle Creek Anchorage