25 May 2013 - Memorial Day Weekend

   Unfortunately, I was unable to take any pictures while underway.  I had my hands full while single handed sailing.  The weather forecast was calling for small craft warning to end at 10:00 EST. I waited until 09:00 AM to decided if I should get underway.
  At 10:15, I departed the slip. I only sailed for 2 hours.  The wind was gusting over 25 knots. Overall it was nice day.  The temperature was 57 degree when I got underway, and it was still in the 60's when I moored at noon.  
  At 10:29, I cleared Whittaker Creek Channel.  It started to get more treacherous when I was crossing the Neuse River.  Every time I got on a good and safe tack, another sailing vessel made me alter my course. 
  At 11:00, I decided to head home.  I ran aground again on the way coming in, this time before the No. 5 buoy (I was in the channel).  
  At 12:12, I moored at Whittaker Creek Yacht Club.

May 17,2013

   Last year, I had no entries.  I only got underway 3 times and it wasn't worth writing about.  In 2013, I would like to get underway at least once a month from May to October.  I got underway for the first time in 2013 on May 17. I single handedly sailed to South River.
   The morning did not look as great, but it might be last chance I get underway this weekend.  The weather forecast was calling for rain on Saturday and Sunday.  Thursday, the wind was out of the SouthWest and when I arrived at our slip, the water level was very low.  On Friday, the forecast was calling for the winds coming from the East rising the water level to exit Whittaker Creek Channel.
   I decided to clean out my anchor locker and check my anchor equipment, just  in case I needed to anchor out over night at South River.  I started preparing to get underway at 10:00 AM EST.  

At 1145, I got underway. The first time for 2013.  The wind was light and the water level was at an acceptable level to depart Whittaker Creek.  I spotted several larger vessels getting underway that morning, whose draft was greater than  Livin' On A Prayer.  When I started my track to South River, the winds were light, but starting to come out of the East. With a 5-knot wind, I was making 1.8 knots on my track to South River.  I prepared lunch before getting underway, so I enjoyed my sandwich on a leisurely cruise.
   At 1300, the wind picked up to 8 knots.  Now I was making 3.8 knots headway sailing into the irons.  At 1330, I changed my course.  The wind was gusting to 10 knots and I was making 4 knots on my new tack, zig-zagging my way to South River.

  I forgot to switch my battery A/B switch before getting underway.  I stepped away from the helm to go below to switch the power to "B" to save my "A" battery if needed for anchoring at South River.  When I returned to helm station, all my instruments were off. I went back down to check on them.  This time, I heaved-to.  Nothing was coming back on.  My first thought was that I blew a fuse or something.  I was able to start my engine, so at 1400 I started heading home.  When I moored at 1500 at Whittaker Creek Yacht Club, I noticed that I accidentally turned off the power panel.  Over all, it was a good day for sailing.