11/4/2015,11/5/2015 Wrightsville Beach

 11/4/15    To 34 12.141N,  77 48.196W    Wrightsville Beach    74.4NM

After hauling the anchor, we were still undecided until I pointed out the depth gauge was reading 0.0.  Sometimes it flashes  false readings, and I'd hoped it would read as we got underway.  It didn't.  Leonard was all for just heading offshore and dealing with the problem underway, but I pointed out there was plenty of room to drop the anchor, and being closer to civilization, we might get help if he couldn't work his usual 'magic' - which frequently only requires a simple laying on of hands.  He agreed, and promptly started to disassemble the instrument pod with the gauges once the anchor was down.  In reality, if it were broke, there would be no easy, quick fix, since, unlike the knotmeter where he can remove the little paddle wheel to get it working again, he can't remove the transponder.  Finding all connections good, he did the next best thing -a power on reset.  It worked!  Attempting the rest of the ICW sans depth gauge would qualify as a really bad nightmare!

Meanwhile, having made the decision to go offshore, and watching several other sail boats head out, we followed suit.  Having lost 30 minutes (he'd suggested leaving by 0600 if we were going offshore, not 0730) we were thankful the current was helping our exit.  Once clear of the shoals (Blackbeard's pirate ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, was scuttled there), we ran out the jib to get a boost.  We had enough wind to sail for a bit, before the wind dropped, leaving us rolling in the swell.  So we spent the day motor sailing - using the engine to increase our speed moves the apparent wind forward, making it easier to keep the jib filled.  Keeping our speed up had us arriving at the sea buoy around sundown, a long, but relatively easy day.  Masonboro Inlet has one of the easier, shorter entrances on the SE coast with a large anchorage, so finding a spot for the night would be easy.

A bit before noon, Leonard thought he saw movement in the waves alongside the boat.  We were briefly joined by a small pod of dolphins - the first of this trip, and always welcome sight.  It appeared the other sail boats that had departed with us were headed to Charleston or points further south.  We were passed by numerous sport fishermen headed for Masonboro as we crossed Onslow Bay.

A brief glimpse of sun as we approach Masonboro Inlet

We arrived with just enough twilight to help spot the unlit buoys - they do show up on radar, but it's nice to visually see them too.  One unexpected complication was a local commercial fisherman who appeared as a car on the street alongside the channel.  It would be nice if all boat lights complied with the 'official' configuration, but unfortunately they don't.  What we were seeing were 2 very bright lights, side by side on his stern, which should have been a single white.  The channel runs alongside the docks as you enter the harbor, and his lights were blinding, making it difficult to see the marks or any anchored vessels.  Worst of all, he was dragging a net behind down the center of the channel. Fortunately, we sorted him out before it became an issue.  By 1815 we were anchored, opting to anchor W of the cut that leads to the ICW, away from the majority of cruisers who anchor E, closer to the bridge and dinghy dock.  It was quiet night.

I had an unexpected and unwelcome problem in the galley as I started dinner.  A full bottle of dish soap managed to tip and dislodge the flip top while we were underway.  There is nothing quite like trying to sop up most of a bottle of concentrated dish soap - I've never seen so many suds - the rags will either need to be hosed down on a dock or put in the laundry to remove the excess.  Not what I needed at the end of a long day!

11/5/15    To   34 12.505N,    77 47.894W    Wrightsville Beach   0.4NM

Thursday morning we awoke to heavy fog with a 1/4 mile visibility.  The forecast predicted mostly sunny conditions after the fog burned off and there was some welcome sun, but given the amount of moisture on shore, the fog was slow to lift and dark clouds built during the day. In the afternoon we saw a fog bank lurking several miles offshore as well, below some towering cumulus clouds.

It was to be a lay day, hopefully a chance to relax and regroup after tending to some boat chores.  Leonard's first task of the day was replacing the joker valve on the head.  It's neither a joke nor a fun job, and easier to accomplish if the boat isn't underway.  The valve is a strange shaped rubber piece that is designed to prevent effluent from flowing back into the bowl after flushing.  They never last as long as one expects.

Next on the list was checking the forecast, possible anchorages and distances for the rest of the week.  A strong cold front was forecast to arrive sometime Saturday, bringing strong gusty winds with possible gales offshore, so we won't be hopping outside to Winyah Bay or Charleston this fall - the NE winds might work, but not the 5-7'seas.  With that in mind, Leonard made reservations for Friday - Sunday at marinas since there aren't a lot of anchorages along this next section.  We plan to do 2 short days, stopping at Southport Friday, then going a marina in the Myrtle Beach, SC area for Saturday and Sunday nights.

Lynnea, walking along the beach - it looked like the beach had been augmented with dredged sand with lots of broken shells

With reservations secured (there are more boats heading S than slips available), we pulled anchor and moved close enough to the dinghy dock to row rather than use the outboard.  First item on the shore side list was the hike to Teetor Harris for provisions.  That task accomplished, we dinghied back ashore after lunch for a walk on the beach.  I convinced Leonard that dinner on shore was a preferable to cooking on board (he did point out we'd just bought all this food...).  The South Beach Grill, close to the dinghy dock, looked interesting, and the food was great.  A good choice.

Looking SW along Wrightsville Beach - a sail boat is entering the inlet beyond the long pier

The anchorage had filled up during the afternoon.  I'd counted 6 anchor lights last night, tonight there are more than twice  as many.  There had been a large group of cruisers at the restaurant and it appeared they all arrived by dinghy - the docks were packed!  It sounded like it may be one of the guided ICW groups for first timers - hope we won't be vying for the same anchorages along the way.