To North Carolina

5/11-12/16    34 12.331N    77 48.029W    Offshore - Wrightsville Beach, NC    138.9NM

It was just too tempting and I was disappointed, but not surprised, when a spring stop at Caper's Island was cancelled in lieu of an offshore hop to Southport and up the Cape Fear River.  Since we didn't want to fight the current heading out of Charleston (or have the ebb pinning us to the dock) we planned to depart around 1200, giving us time to do a load of laundry, pick up treats at Saffron and go for a walk.

An Ansonboro pocket park

Charleston has a number of neighborhoods that, in the era of the plantations, were 'suburbs', that have become part of Charleston.  Ansonboro, an old African-American neighborhood, is one we've explored in the past, and has some interesting homes and, like the rest of Charleston, a number of churches.  This time, we walked through Waggsboro, a mix of older homes and what looked like well kept project housing, with the neighborhood in the process of being 'gentrified', an interesting mix.

'Kermit' occupying a bench by the aquarium

By 1330, we'd cleared the Charleston breakwater and were sailing N toward Southport where we'd rejoin the ICW, heading for the anchorage at Wrightsville Beach.  It was another down wind run, which translated into another rocking and rolling sail, making it difficult to keep both sails filled in the following seas.  Of course, the rocking got more pronounced when it was time to make dinner, and continued through the night, but we were sailing.

Outbound, sharing the channel with a container ship - Charleston harbor was busy

Sundown on the way to Cape Fear

Eventually around 0400, the wind went light, but with the seas still 3-4', it became difficult to keep the main from backing as the wind switched between 120 off starboard to 120 off port, and we turned on the motor to keep up our speed and cause less wear and tear on the sail.  Motoring allowed us to catch the flood current up the Cape Fear River - a real plus as it can run over 2 kts!

Light house on Bald Head Island at the entrance to the Cape Fear River

It had been another boring, non-eventful night offshore, the bright point being dolphins that appeared while I was doing the 0600 log reading.  They swam with us for 10 minutes - more than enough to keep me awake and interested.  By 1030, we'd reached the entrance to the Cape Fear River, thankful for the healthy boost from the current.  Both of us were ready to call it a day by the time we reached the anchorage at Wrightsville Beach (about 14NM beyond the river on the ICW).  We were too tired to even consider launching the dinghy.

One of the many pelicans we saw looking for a meal on the Cape Fear River

Thunderheads had built up over the afternoon, and not long after we anchored, we watched more than enough down strokes to be  thankful we hadn't pressed on to Beaufort.  Luckily the worst of the storm went around us.  After checking the weather forecast- a front arriving with more thunderstorms  the next afternoon, we considered getting an early start in the morning to beat the front to Mile Hammock, the anchorage in the Marine Base at Camp Lejeaune. 

5/13/16    Wrightsville Beach Layday

But when we woke up in the morning, we decided to wait, and let the front blow past, besides, it was Friday the 13th, not that we're superstitious. With time before the front arrived, we launched the dinghy and went ashore after breakfast, and walked over to West Marine to get head chemical.  With the weather still not threatening after lunch, we went back ashore for some frozen custard and a walk on the beach (3+ miles hadn't been enough of a walk).  Our return to the boat was well timed - with dark clouds approaching, we managed to get the dinghy back on deck before the storm arrived.  Although the worst of the storm, once again missed us, there was enough lightening to re-purpose the oven as a Faraday Box for the laptop, camera and other electronic devices.

As I was preparing dinner, the Captain announced we'd be heading offshore, bright and early in the morning, for Beaufort (or beyond), a 70+NM trip, that we can complete before sundown now that the days are longer.  This hop avoids a batch of ill timed (for a sail boat) restricted bridges on the ICW, and saves a travel day.  We'll take another look at the weather in the morning before heading out.

Lynnea