Blue Water and 34.5 hour Cruising!

Oriental, NC (Mile 174 ICW) to Georgetown, SC (Mile 402.5 ICW)

       We were able to empty the holding tanks, top off the water and fuel tanks as well as the extra 5 gallon diesel fuel tank and leave at the agreed 10 AM departure time from River Dunes.  Our flotilla entered Adams Creek from the Neuse River and encountered the dreaded floating dead heads the cruising guides warn about.  Andiamo and Brunelle both had encounters that thankfully were minor.  Adams Creek is also a canal; unlike the other canals we have traversed, this one has areas that have homes and docks right on the canal. 

The last buoy leaving Beaufort Inlet.

     While navigating the Newport River, we were passed by two large power cruisers.  The larger of the two really agitated the water.  It was then that a large pod of dolphins came to feed and play in the wake, right in front of our boat. We continued on down through Moorehead City Channel past the Coast Guard Station.  There was one of the USCG Black Hulls (Ocean going Buoy Tenders)#204, but we could not see her name.

Seville and Andiamo
heading out to sea.

     Before we left this morning, we all agreed that the final decision to head out to the ocean would be made later today, but as we left the dock we all feflt that it would be a go.  At 3:13 PM we left Beaufort Inlet for the North Atlantic Ocean.  The winds were out of the north at 10-15 with waves 1-3 feet - - not bad for our first blue water experience! with the help of our jibs, we were averaging 7-7.5 knots. we have adjusted the instruments aboard Pekabu to knots so that we are in sync with the rest of our flotilla. 

Brunelle just happened to be
perfectly placed for this shot.
 Isn't it spectacular?!

Our CCYC Flotilla's first sunset
at sea.

 

    There were no clouds to make a spectular sunset, but our first sunset ujpon the Atlantic was still extraordinary.   Since were were motor sailing the steaming light lit the sails, which made it easy to spot each other once night was upon us, but also gave an ethereal feel to our travels.  It looked cool, too! The absence of clouds also enabled an unbelievable view of the stars. Serendipitiously, there was a meteor shower that seemed to come from Orion's Belt.  Glen saw the most, but he stopped counting at 57 meteors. It was fascinating to watch a sunset, a moonset and the stars rotate across the heavens in a few hours. 

     Pete and I took turns at the helm and cat napped, but we were both too excited for our first over night at sea to really sleep.  Our group also used the small portable radios periodically for communications between the boats.  They worked very well, but they needed to be recharged.  Besides our four boats, radar was able to pick up 2 other small boats and 2 large ships during the night. It was not until morning that traffic on the water and in the shipping lanes increased, which we successfully avoided and continued to avoid. 

     Our original destination of Wrightville Beach/Masonboro Inset, NC (Mile 283.1 ICW) was discussed and discarded due tot he limited size of the anchorage.  As we needed ot pass Cape Fear and Frying Pan Shoals, we were actually 32 miles from alnd during the night.  Due to the modifications in our course, we would not be able to make it to Charleston with the present amount of fuel aboart Seville and Pekabu, so our new heading will be towards Winyah Bay and Georgetown, SC (Mile 402.5 ICW).  

     The skies began to lighten around 5:45 AM, but the sun didn't rise until about 6:40.  The breezes continued light from the north and the waves were gentle.  However, around 8:30/9AM that all began to change.  The winds continued out of the north/northwest, but began to build to 18-25 knots and the waves went to 4-6 with ocassional 8 footers.  Only a few things fell out of their places.  We were sailing and doing 7.5-8 knots under sail alone.  The skies continued to be perfectly clear and the water . . . clear blue-green. 

A truly remarkable show!

    Mid morning we had visitors.  At first only Brunelle and Seville were privileged to have the company of some very playful dolphins.  However, after about an hour, they or their friends decided to share with Andiamo and us.  What a wonderful show.  They would surf the waves starboard towards the boat or along side the boat.  Then they would dive under the boat or jump in front of the bow.  On the port side, they like to jump along side of the boat.  This show went on for about 20 minutes for us.

Fishermen at work at the mouth of Winyah Bay.

     By 3 PM the winds continued to lessen and eventually lighten so much that the sails had to be rolled in.  We continjued to motor towards Georgetown.  We had to wait util we had some sort of cell signal so that Dan could make reservations for the evening.  Knowing that we will not be able to make an anchorgage until well after dark we decided against trying to anchor 4 boats.  Dan was finally able to get dockage for this evening at Georgetown Marina as they have a very long floating dock that can accommodate us after hours.   We made the entrance to Winyah Bay at sunset.  The coulds only gathered at the horizon making for a beautiful sunset. 

The Sunset at Winyah Bay.

       Unfortunately, Georgetown is 11 miles up the river from the bay so it is more traveling before we were finished.  The ride wasw very dark and scary.  There were plenty of channel markers, but there were lots of extremely dark areas, no ambient light, areas of lights that didn't make sense and no local knowledge. When we spoke with the dock hand, he mentioned the floating deadhead that hit his fishing boat the night before and dragged his boat off its anchor spot.  As Pete stated, "That's a new definition of scary!" Oh yes!, there is also the small consideration of the 2.5 mile per hour current that runs through the marina.

     By 9 PM all four boats were secured for the night, tied, plugged-in, everyone debriefed quickly, agreed that tomorrow that we will just hang out here, wake "whenever" and discuss things more rationally tomorrow.

                    WE DID IT !!!

  Good night all.

157miles/ 541 Total Statute miles   ~ ~ ~ (\    ~~ ~  Kathy and Pete