Saturday 15 October

 So far there been 3 marvellous weekend in October.  Last weekend I was at Wake Tech taking a motor cycle riding class with my oldest son Raymond.  We both passed the course.  Raymond has his motor cycle license.

Saturday 15 October was no different.  The weather forecast was for sunny sky with highs in the mid seventies.  The wind in the morning from the West at 10 to 15 knots and changing in the afternoon to the Southeast at 10 knots.

At 10 am, I made preparations to get underway.  The winds were coming out of the southeast, so there wasn't any issue getting underway.  In Oriental, there was the Neuse River Solo racing.  So it was a good time for single handed sailing.  It sounds like the weather was going to cooperate with winds out of the southeast at 10 to 15 knots and sunshine with high near 75.  I just had to stay clear of the races.

As I made the turn in the main channel, I could still see damage from Hurricane Irene.  The day marker for Whittaker Creek was damage.  Only half of the day marker was standing.  The winds been blowing out the Northeast all week, so there was plenty of water in the channel.  When I spoke to Dock Master for Whittaker Creek Yacht Club, Captain Dan, the channel marker were not reset after the big storm.  I was concern if the main channel had changed.  I am happy to report that I did not experience any issue exiting Whittaker Creek Channel.

 As I made my way past the number 2 day marker, I steered to the port to head cross the Neuse River to start my port tack to South River.  Fall was in the air,   to my port the mouth of the Neuse River.  There was several yachts heading south for the winters.  To my starboard, solo sailors positioning themselves for the start the Neuse River Solo Race.  I took Captain Dan advice and sailing with only the jib up.  Over the spring I had a horrible experience sailing with just the Main Sail.  I was surprise how good Hunter handle in these conditions.  When I got into the middle of the river, the wind was blowing at 18 knots.  I was able to make 4 knot headway.  I practice some tacking to get the feel of the boat and to dodge snowbirds heading south for the winter.  I made my lunch (a turkey and cheese sandwich on white bread) before getting underway.  I also brought my cooler up on deck to use as seat.  I eat my lunch on an enjoyable run to South River.
I was only planning on staying out for a few hours.  I was planning on staying clear of the sailboat race.  Majority of the vessels in the race were down by board creek, just beyond Adam Creek.  When I got to South River, I tack to the starboard and started my tack to Adam Creek.  I was sailing the in the irons now and with just the jib up it was nice ride.  I tack several times to stay on the South River side on the river.  When I got to Adam Creek, I tack to the starboard again to being my runs to Whittaker Point.  On my way, I made sure I was out of the way of the races.

When I arrived at Whittaker Point, I tack to the port to head into the wind to roll up my jib to motor home.  The wind shift and now was coming out of the West at 18 knots.  So adjusted my course appropriately.  I was stilling planning on backing her into the slip on my return.  But first, I had to bring in the jib.  That was when hell broke loose.  The furling line attached to the drum of my Sheldon roller furling system broke while rolling the genoa in.  The jibsheets were luffing the wind.  The first thing I tried was stay into the wind and and try to wrapped the jibsheet around the genoa.  I was unsuccessful.  So I decided to turn around and try it again on run with the wind behind me, that seem to work.  The only problems was about the time I got my genoa wrapped up, I was half way to South River again.  When I turn around to head back to Whittaker Point. the genoa became undone heading into the wind. 

So the next thing I try was to take down the genoa while underway and then use one of the jibsheet to tie the genoa to bow.  I was able to bring the genoa down, but again I had to head toward South River.  I finally got the genoa down and wrapped up at the bow.  A sign of relief, it only took me one hour to secure the genoa and head back toward Whittaker Creek Yacht Club.  As I pulled up to the slip the wind was still coming out the West at 15 knots.  Lucky my friend Cathy was there to assist me with dock lines.  We were able to secure my boat.  Cathy was heading out to a wine tasting event.  Maybe I should join her, but I had some clean up to do.

When Cathy returned two hours later, I was finishing up securing the boat and about ready to look at my Sheldon rolling Furling System.  I had the spare parts manual and maintenance manual onboard.  After inspecting the system, it seem I needed a screw to secure the furling line to the drum.  It seem part of the drum was broken but still usable.  I was missing the screw label in the spare part manual as B19 8x9,R5.  I am not sure what that all meant.  it was 1630 and West Marine closes at 1700.  I had time to see if they had B-19.  When I got to West Marine the clerk stated I would be his last customer for the day, it was 1645.  I show him the manual and missing part B-19 and ask if he had a screw that would work.  He did not have any metric screws label that way and could not help me.  I have five minutes until the Village Hardware closes at 1700.  When I arrived I asked the owner of the establishment, Bob, if he had something like B-19.  I show him he manual and unfortunate he didn't either.  But, he stated any screw should work.  It seems that you had to secure the line with the screw.  He provided my with an assortment of screws that could do the job, a total of six ranging in size 6 to 10 and length 3/4 to 1/2 inch.  Bob stated one of these had to work.  I am  not sure why I went to West Marine first, Bob at the Village Hardware in Oriental is knowledgeable and resortful.  He only charged me 50 cents for the 6 screws.  Because the home office for Sheldon is in Sweden,  Bob stated that they would probably charge me 6 dollars in shipping for a 50 cent part.  My reply was, "I can alway fly to Sweden to pick it up".  Bob's comment was "I want to be there when you try to to explain to your wife that you are going to Sweden for a screw?".

Thanks to Cathy, Bob, and Dan for assisting me in fixing my Sweden made Sheldon rollin Furling.

16 July

16 July
Since we had below average temperatures for the winter, I was hoping the trend would continue during the suumer, but apparently not. It has been a hot humid spring and summer so far. Since Memorial Day the temperature in North Carolina has been above average. It looks like we are on track to break last year's record of 96 days over 90. The previous record for 90-degree days was set in 2007, when RDU reported 83 days of hot temperatures. So it was nice having normal temperatures for a change and to have them for 4 days in a row. The weather forecast for Saturday (16 July) was high in the mid 80's with low humidity and winds from the East at 10 to 15 knots. In the evening, winds dropping to 5 to 10 knots and evening temperature in the upper 60's.

With the weather conditions being ideal, we (Michele and I) made plans to get underway. We departed our slip at 09:45 under partial sunny skies. Because the winds were coming out of the east and clouds were building in the west, I wasn't too worried about them or isolated thunderstorms.

As expected, the winds were strong in the middle of the river. They were actually blowing above 15 knots. We started our first tack toward South River with the wind on our starboard side at a beam reach. It took us no time to cruise to South River on a beam reach. We were clocking 5.5 knots. We decided because the winds were coming out the East, it might be a nice day to cruise toward New Bern instead. At Clubfoot Creek, the Neuse River turns eastward, so we should have a comfortable ride. I was expecting the winds to die down, but they did not. We were enjoying a nice 12-knot running toward New Bern. After we cleared Minnesott Beach. We decided it was good time to have lunch.

We continued our run to the Red # 2 for the Minnesott Beach ferry boat entrance, then the fun started again. In the afternoon, the winds were gusting around 22 knots in the River. We did several tacks back to Oriental. We were tacking close haul for awhile, then at Clubfoot Creek back to a beam reach. We had a beam reach all the way back home to the Green # 1 marker for Oriental Harbor. We weren't the only ones enjoying the weather that day. There were several boats in the river. We heard on the VHF a barge captain getting frustated with a sailing boat in Adams Creek. The barge wanted room to pass, but the vessel kept on asking port to port or starboard to starboard. Eventually they worked it out.

We moored around 1500. Before cleaning up, we decided to cool down first and drove to Stonewall for ice cream at the Quick Mart on Rt. 55 to celebrate our perfect day on the Neuse River.

Sailing Trip to Cape Lookout Bight

29 June 2011
The weather forecast wasn't favorable for cruising to Cape Lookout Bight. First the air was smokey due to the forest fire at the Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County. The wind has been blowing out of the Southwest for the last two weeks. Also they were calling for severe weather for the Beaufort area in evening. Our plan was to anchor in Beaufort for the night and continue to Cape Lookout on the out going tide, but with severe thunderstorms we decide stay in Oriental.

30 June 2011


We departed Whittaker Creek at 0800. We checked tide charts and high tide for Beaufort was at 0715 and low tide at 1310. We expected an out going tide to Beaufort. It usually takes approximately 4 hours to cruise the ICW to Beaufort at 30,000 RPM, but with an out going tide we were able to make 6.3. In the entrance to Beaufort Inlet we were making 7.4 knots
(awesome). We arrived to Cape Lookout Bight 1335. Low tide at Cape Lookout Bight was 1238. We anchored at 34 degree 37.085 N, 76 degree 32.985W.



Once we dropped our anchor, it was time for lunch. On the way to Beaufort, we heard a "Security Message" from the Coast Guard stating that the RailRoad Bridge in the Main Channel was closed until 1600. So we decided to try an alternate route. At the Channel Marker 35 junction buoy, we bore left and headed into Beaufort from Town Creek. On chart 11545 parts of that channel are labeled as 5 feet. Our draft 4.5 feet and because it was still high tide in the Newport River, we decided to take the chance. The shallow area was at 10 feet, so there weren't any issues. We arrived at the draw bridge before it opened at 1130. The Bascule Bridge opens every half hour on the hour (good timing on our part).




It was a beautiful day at the bight. The winds were from the Northeast at 10 knots and the air and water temperature was in the 80's. You felt like you were in the Caribbean. There were only 5 boats anchored and in the evening we had a special guest. The Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater (WPB 87349) anchored in the bight for the night. The USCGC Shearwater homeport is Portsmouth, VA. Also, we saw several dolphins in bight and two sea turtles.

1 July 2011

We got up early and saw an awesome sunrise. After breakfast, we kayaked to the beach and walked to the ocean side of the barrier island. We saw a stingray and sea turtle enjoying a morning swim. We gathered some shells and started kayaking. We were able to get the turtles to swim between the two kayaks.



Michele didn't feel like kayaking to the lighthouse, which is open Thursday to Saturday during the summer. The weather forecast for Saturday was hot and humid with no air (breeze). We decided put up anchor and do some sailing. There was a light breeze from the Northeast, but in the afternoon it was changing to the Southeast (onshore breeze at 10 knots). We sailed adjacent to Shackleford Banks hope to see those wild horses. Unfortunately, we did not see any.

We enjoyed the nice sail back toward the Beaufort Inlet. Because it was around 1400, we decided to cruise to Oriental. That was a mistake. We fought the current all the way back to Pamlico Sound. On the way to Cape Lookout we were making 7.4 knots in the channel. On the way back only 3.8 knots.

In the Newport River only 5.5 knots. In the ICW only 5.8 knots. Once we exited Adam Creek, we started getting back to6 knots. It was long cruise back, but we enjoyed our adventure.

Weather forecast for Saturday, May 21, 2011; clear sky, temperatures in the mid 80s, winds from NE 5-10 knots, changing to SE 5-10 in the afternoon.

It sounds like a nice day for sailing on the Neuse River. We started prepping Livin' On A Prayer around 08:30 AM EST. According to the weather forecast, it would be a nice day to hoist the sails. In the early spring, when the temperatures are in the 60s, I do not mind sailing with the biminis down. Now that it is starting to feel more like summer, we needed the extra protection from the hot sun and it's rays. So we decided to open the biminis.

As we were putting up the rear bimini, we discovered that the rear top fitting was missing a screw. Lucky there is a West Marine Express in Oriental. We were able to get a replacement part. It took time to find the part at West Marine, and to buy an alan wench at Oriental Village Hardware Store, and to chat with the crew at hardware store. We installed the new part. We replaced the screw on both side (port and starboard top fitting). We left the slip at 10 AM for points unknown. As always, I like my partner (best friend, first-mate, and lovely wife) to take the helm. Michele needs to get comfortable with handling of the boat. She also needs to get familiar with the aid to navigation in our channel.

Because the wind were light and coming out of the NE, we decided to sail toward South River and let the winds take us for nice and easy ride down river.
Half way to South River, the wind were blowing around 8 knots. We were making 3 knots underway on a port tack. Usually on Saturday, the area around Oriental harbor is busy with cruising traffic and today was no different. There was a sailboat race. And there were several barges transiting the river to ICW and eventually Morehead City. And there was the normal spring migration from Marsh Harbour to point north. There was a stalled low pressure system of the coast of New Jersey (Cape May) bring rain to the Northeast. Because of the stalled low pressure system, there more traffic going northbound on the ICW, then usual. But over all it was nice day for sail. We got a chance to practice our tacking and enjoy a nice day in the sun.


We past another Hunter 33 on the river.

It's the 2nd weekend in May and the first time we are taking our boat out for a sail. You couldn't have asked for a better day. Winds were out of the NorthWest at 10-15 knots, forecast to change to SouthWest 5-10 knots in the afternoon. The air temperature was in the mid 70's. Many nice weekends came and gone, but this was our first option to take our baby out without any other commitments.


We heard that sailboats were running aground again while leaving Whittaker Creek. We only draw 4.5 feet, so we should be okay with these ideal conditions. One thing that we did notice is that can #3A was removed from the channel. The U.S.C.G placed it last year when boats were running aground. The general rule is to hug the red on the way in and out.


The weather conditions were ideal. As we started out of the channel, we started our run to hoist the main and jib sails. Usually I would head into the irons, but because the winds were light and coming out of the Northwest we started our run across the river. After hoisting the sails, we tacked to starboard and completed one of the only two tacks we had to do all day. At a course of 80 degrees, we were heading toward South River on a beam reach. Half way to South River, the wind picked up 8 to 10 knots. We had a nice enjoyable ride to the entrance of the South River averaging 4 knots with an 8 knot wind. Repainting the bottom of the boat and adjusting the propeller really made a difference.



We had a nice and enjoyable ride to South River. We decided to have lunch while still heading toward the mouth of the Neuse River. After lunch, we decided to do our 2nd tack and head home. The wind was still coming out of the Northwest, so we were still on beam reach on the way home. About the time we made our way back to Whittaker Point, the wind changed as forecast to Southwest but we decided to drop our sails and turn into the channel. The wind was perfect for backing her in. I asked my wife and partner to moor her, but she wanted me to take the helm. What a nice way to start the sailing season.

2011

2010 was an interesting year. We were busy and did not get a chance to complete the tasks we wanted to. The summer was very hot. I took 3 weeks off in June, thinking it would be good sailing weather, but it was very hot and there was hardly any wind. The dog days of summer came early.

Unfortunately we did not get the chance to sail much in September, October, or November, even though the weather was perfect. As my wife says, there is always next year. December was very cold so we had to winterize our boat early, but the last day of 2010 warmed right up. It was in mid-60's in North Carolina and it was a nice way to start the new year.

New Year's Day was a perfect day. There was an "Anything But Football Regatta" in Oriental.
Forty-seven sailboats participated in the regatta. Unfortunately we had already winterized our sailboat.
It would have been a lot of work to get it ready for one event. I wish we did.
Then we would have made number 48. So what's in store for 2011?
Well, we are planning on:

• Doing more with the NSA (Neuse Sailing Association)
• Anchoring out at South River
• Anchoring out at Cape Lookout
• Sailing to Southport, NC

In 2012, we can start planning on sailing in the fall.