Anyone know which NOAA charts I need to get for a trip from Wilmington
NC to New Bern NC? I'm moving my boat and haven't sailed down here
enough to really get into purchasing charts (previously lived near
annapolis and we used the ADC chesapeake chartbook exclusively)...

On the same topic...anyone have a general guesstimate of how many days
it would take to sail (motor) from Wilmington to New Bern?
Again...I'm more familiar with the upper chesapeake (that's also where
I learned to sail, not too many years ago).

Also on the same topic...anyone have any advice for such a trip?
Specifically, we're moving our boat (morgan 41 OI) from Baker Marine
to Northwest Creek Marina some time in the next month. I imagine the
ICW is the more peaceful route, but I've heard dredging funding has
dried up down there lately, and I'd like the least surprises along the
way (learning about the boat and all, specially with the size, I'd
like this to be the easiest route possible, if not the fastest =])

Thank you much for any help...

Much appreciated,

Bryan
s/v "Home"

Bryan Minihan wrote:
Anyone know which NOAA charts I need to get for a trip from Wilmington
NC to New Bern NC?

Not off the top of my head, but references are easily available

If you just want two:
#11539 is the smaller scale chart from Southport to Swansboro
#11543 is the smaller scale chart from Swansboro to Harkers Island

#11541 is the ICW strip chart from Masonboro Sound to the lower Neuse R
#11537 is Wilmington, Southport, and the Cape Fear River
#11545 is Morehead City & Beaufort, & Cape Lookout.
#11552 is the Neuse River.
I'd also suggest # 11542 which is the New River, Swansboro to
Jacksonville, and Bear Inlet.


... I'm moving my boat and haven't sailed down here
enough to really get into purchasing charts (previously lived near
annapolis and we used the ADC chesapeake chartbook exclusively)...

There is also an ADC chartbook of NC waters, which we use a lot. It's
not quite and detailed or as fancy, but it's handy.


On the same topic...anyone have a general guesstimate of how many days
it would take to sail (motor) from Wilmington to New Bern?

It's a little over 120 miles. There are a lot of bridges and shallow
spots on the ICW between the Cape Fear and Morehead. You can trim some
distance and much bridge waiting time by going from Masonboro to
Beuafort inlets... a tad less than 60 miles and it's a straight line.

Again...I'm more familiar with the upper chesapeake (that's also where
I learned to sail, not too many years ago).

Also on the same topic...anyone have any advice for such a trip?

Yep. Watch for current approaching bridges. The tide fall may not be
much but there are strong currents and if it is favorable for running it
is unfavorable for waiting on the bridge. Also watch for shallow spots
pretty much the whole way, but especially around the inlets (of which
there are many). Hampstead has a good marina, there are a few good
anchorages. Cheapest fuel is in Sneads Ferry.



Specifically, we're moving our boat (morgan 41 OI) from Baker Marine
to Northwest Creek Marina some time in the next month. I imagine the
ICW is the more peaceful route, but I've heard dredging funding has
dried up down there lately, and I'd like the least surprises along the
way (learning about the boat and all, specially with the size, I'd
like this to be the easiest route possible, if not the fastest =])

Offshore is fine if you pick your weather. Don't try to run any of the
inlets between Masonboro and Beaufort though. They are shallow, twisty,
and mostly not well marked.

We keep our boat at NW Creek, so we'll keep our eyes out for you.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King