by Jacqueline Munder
June 1, 2026
We went to bed hoping for the best.
At 5:00 a.m., we got up and prepared for another attempt.
I focused on the anchor while Adam focused on keeping the boat moving forward and under control using only one engine. The current was incredibly strong. It felt like either the water would control us—or we would control the boat.
As I pulled the anchor up, Adam carefully pushed us forward.
We finally made it out of the Ashley River, which has some of the strongest currents in the area. Navigating it with only one engine was extremely challenging.
Then, out of nowhere, a fast boat flew past us, throwing up a massive wake.
Everything went flying.
Coffee spilled across the floor. Some splashed onto Evie’s foot and even onto Noodle’s paws because he was resting under the table. My camera was recording at the time and got knocked over, so you’ll actually see the speeding boat and the giant wave in the video.
Thankfully, that was the only boat that passed us that way. I can’t imagine how miserable the trip would have been if there had been more.
As we continued, we sailed beneath Charleston’s beautiful Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge—the tallest bridge we have ever sailed under.
The views were incredible.
We passed the historic USS Yorktown, the colorful buildings of downtown Charleston, and enjoyed beautiful scenery across the harbor.
Eventually, we entered a smaller channel leading toward the boatyard. The water became calm and peaceful. Along the way, we passed cargo ships and military vessels.
Soon we spotted the boatyard. We were grateful we had visited beforehand because it would have been easy to miss from the water.
Docking with only one engine was no small task.
Adam took his time and carefully maneuvered the boat. A man was waiting on the dock to help us.
And then…
We made it.
After days of uncertainty, stress, and wondering whether we’d even get there, we finally tied up successfully. It felt like a huge victory.
We quickly packed our clothes and got Noodle and the cat off the boat.
Five crew members immediately began working on the boat.
The weather was absolutely perfect.
Despite all the forecasts warning of wind and storms, everything seemed to pause. No rain. No strong winds. Everything felt on hold—as if God had simply held the weather back for us.
Then came haul-out day.
As the boat emerged from the water, we discovered an entire ecosystem living underneath us. Crabs, shrimp, barnacles, and other sea creatures covered the hull.
The girls were fascinated.
Especially Evie.
She spent her time picking up crabs and examining them. At one point, a very large crab fell from the boat, and one of the workers picked it up.
The crew scraped away all the algae and pressure-washed the hull clean.
One of the crew members—the man in the light blue shirt—will be working on our engines and helping with several upgrades. Even cooler, he knows some sign language.
What a journey.
One day we were stuck on a sandbar wondering if we’d make it.
The next day we were safely docked, hauled out, surrounded by new friends, and watching our girls discover sea life beneath our boat.
God is good.