Well I just completed my first big "trip", in which I spent more than
an afternoon or evening sailing a charted course through more than one
zip code.

I must say I truly loved it, and think I'm never going to be able to
stay away from our boat for too long without yearning to go out again.

I want to thank Doug King, G'ma Rosalie and David S for their helpful
advice on making the trip from Baker Marine in Wilmington NC to N'west
Creek Marina in New Bern. All of your advice was dead on and very
helpful.

I ended up going with Claiborne Young's chartbook (which goes with his
cruising guide). I agree with Rosalie that it's a bit bulky in the
cockpit, but proved invaluable in being really easy to handle with one
elbow tied behind your back - that is, it doesn't flop around all over
the place when you're trying to find a marked shoal in 30-40kt winds.
I couldn't find the ADC chartbook, although I found several resources
for charts online...all of which I'll have to try some time soon.

As for the trip itself, here's the run-down:
Snow's cut was one of the easiest parts of the trip. There was no
shoaling, although the 65ft bridge seemed a bit too short (at the
time) for our 52ft mast...I swear I thought we were going to hit the
bridge.

The Wrightsville Beach bridge was a lot easier than I thought it would
be. My only previous sailing experience was on the Chesapeake, and
I'd never crossed a draw-bridge before, so I was a little nervous. I
paid the current due respect but was glad to learn the potential for
being sucked under the bridge wasn't as bad as I'd thought.

We grounded only 3 times. The first was nearly intentional - a
powerboat approached head-on and to give him a clear indication of our
intentions, I steered us into the side of the channel. The 2nd two
times were in traversing the Neuse River from Adam's Creek to NW Creek
in Fairfield Harbor. This was Sunday afternoon, from 11am until 5:30
or so - if you're around here you probably know that it was pretty
windy that day. Our windmeter only registered gusts up to 23kts, so
we decided it was safe to go ahead. This being my 2nd trip on this
boat, and about my 12th trip sailing at all, I really didn't know what
35 knot winds were like, so we proceeded ahead. I made the crossing
in almost gale-force winds (with my step-dad & his friend in tow) -
none the wiser that the winds were actually between 25-35 knots,
gusting to 39.

My stupidity, of course, was in not trusting my instincts and pulling
in to the first spot i could when i realized the winds (20 knots or
no) were way too strong for my experience level and my faith in the
boat we just purchased. The potential for serious injury or death was
a lot closer than I really ever want to be, or at least not in the
very near future.

OTOH: My wife and I have a 2 year old and an 11 month old, whom we
plan to take sailing with us at every opportunity. I am seriously
glad I got to experience this boat under those conditions with a
hardier crew, and having had the opportunity to prepare for the
conditions as if they were a hurricane. This I did, since I am very
interested in knowing I can trust our new boat, and especially with
the lives of my family. I battened everything down, planned my
approach and several exit points where I determined to "pull in"
should the weather get too rough. My step-father was my navigator
(having lived in the area and being an active powerboater there for
the past 20 years) and did a fine job. The sailing part, however, was
left up to me. If you're curious, we decided not to actually "sail'
this part of the river, but motor, instead. It turns out that the
boom with lashed on main gave us enough windage to act as sort of a
storm-sail, anyway.

Anyway, some of the folks here may remember a few years ago when I
wrote in to the group requesting advice as to whether we (my wife and
I and 1.5 kids) should "take the plunge". For all of the helpful
advice we received then (all of which greatly influenced our decisions
then and now), I am truly grateful. I sincerely appreciate the
thoughtful opinions and advice I read and collect from this group, and
wish the best of weather for each of you.

Here's a link to my original "taking the plunge" note:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...com%26rnum%3D1

Bryan Minihan
S/V Victoria II

x-no-archive:yes

Bryan Minihan wrote:

Well I just completed my first big "trip", in which I spent more than
an afternoon or evening sailing a charted course through more than one
zip code.

I must say I truly loved it, and think I'm never going to be able to
stay away from our boat for too long without yearning to go out again.

Glad it all worked out for you.
snip
As for the trip itself, here's the run-down:
Snow's cut was one of the easiest parts of the trip. There was no
shoaling, although the 65ft bridge seemed a bit too short (at the
time) for our 52ft mast...I swear I thought we were going to hit the
bridge.

Snow's cut can be a piece of cake depending on the current. Or it can
be a tiger. WHen I last went through there, there was a red floater
all the way out toward the green side marking a shoal, so I would
hesitate to say there was NO shoaling - only that it was well buoyed.

I still would think that our mast was going to hit, and I always look
up at the bridge to check. It's particularly scary in Norfolk with
the lift bridges - the bridge tender just runs the bridge up high
enough to clear the tallest mast and not all the way to the top. They
say if you are at the top of the mast and the bridge gets higher and
highter, the mast will clear, but if it gets lower and lower, it will
hit. Not something I intend to try, although it might be more
feasible on a power boat. We tried going through one of the side
arches of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge once, and even though I KNEW it
was tall enough, I about had a heart attack.


The Wrightsville Beach bridge was a lot easier than I thought it would
be. My only previous sailing experience was on the Chesapeake, and
I'd never crossed a draw-bridge before, so I was a little nervous. I
paid the current due respect but was glad to learn the potential for
being sucked under the bridge wasn't as bad as I'd thought.

Again, this depends on the wind and current. If either the wind or
current is sweeping toward the bridge it can be nasty. Don't get
complacent. But if the current is pushing you away from the bridge,
it's pretty easy to idle in front of the bridge until it opens. The
other thing about non-fixed bridges is that you have to have the
correct radio channel to call them on. That particular bridge is
somewhat complicated by the launch ramp on the north side and the
marinas and channel on the south side.



grandma Rosalie

x-no-archive:yes

Bryan Minihan wrote:

Well I just completed my first big "trip", in which I spent more than
an afternoon or evening sailing a charted course through more than one
zip code.

I must say I truly loved it, and think I'm never going to be able to
stay away from our boat for too long without yearning to go out again.

Glad it all worked out for you.
snip
As for the trip itself, here's the run-down:
Snow's cut was one of the easiest parts of the trip. There was no
shoaling, although the 65ft bridge seemed a bit too short (at the
time) for our 52ft mast...I swear I thought we were going to hit the
bridge.

Snow's cut can be a piece of cake depending on the current. Or it can
be a tiger. WHen I last went through there, there was a red floater
all the way out toward the green side marking a shoal, so I would
hesitate to say there was NO shoaling - only that it was well buoyed.

I still would think that our mast was going to hit, and I always look
up at the bridge to check. It's particularly scary in Norfolk with
the lift bridges - the bridge tender just runs the bridge up high
enough to clear the tallest mast and not all the way to the top. They
say if you are at the top of the mast and the bridge gets higher and
highter, the mast will clear, but if it gets lower and lower, it will
hit. Not something I intend to try, although it might be more
feasible on a power boat. We tried going through one of the side
arches of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge once, and even though I KNEW it
was tall enough, I about had a heart attack.


The Wrightsville Beach bridge was a lot easier than I thought it would
be. My only previous sailing experience was on the Chesapeake, and
I'd never crossed a draw-bridge before, so I was a little nervous. I
paid the current due respect but was glad to learn the potential for
being sucked under the bridge wasn't as bad as I'd thought.

Again, this depends on the wind and current. If either the wind or
current is sweeping toward the bridge it can be nasty. Don't get
complacent. But if the current is pushing you away from the bridge,
it's pretty easy to idle in front of the bridge until it opens. The
other thing about non-fixed bridges is that you have to have the
correct radio channel to call them on. That particular bridge is
somewhat complicated by the launch ramp on the north side and the
marinas and channel on the south side.



grandma Rosalie

Hey, Captain Bryan,

Glad to hear your little shakedown cruise went well, especially since
you don't even mention that the weather was a tad chilly as well as
windy.

And you did well with only running aground three times, although I'm
assuming you were able to run the outside from Wrightsville to
Beaufort - no mention of other bridge issues.

Anyhow, I'm moored in Sneads Ferry and know every creek and channel
from Myrtle Beach to Cape Lookout, including New River and Bogue
inlets, where "local knowledge" means ten minutes ago. So let me know
if you need if you need any advice.

Will escape from work mid-May and hope to spend as much time with
local cruising as possible and maybe catch a few fish offshore. Maybe
I'll see you out at lookout around July Fourth.

Good sailing.

muskrat

On 19 Apr 2004 12:54:37 -0700, (muskrat) wrote:

Anyhow, I'm moored in Sneads Ferry and know every creek and channel
from Myrtle Beach to Cape Lookout, including New River and Bogue
inlets, where "local knowledge" means ten minutes ago. So let me know
if you need if you need any advice.

Hey Muskrat,

What's the latest on Lockwood's Folly. Heading up that way soon and
Corps of Engineers says there's only five feet there. Also would
appreciate info on New River area,apparently shopaled up there too. I
need six feet.. Are there many boats going north through Lockwood's
Folly or are most of them going outside.

Rick

Hi, Captain Rick,

Six feet on the ICW is always a risk, as you know, but I think you can
make it if you watch the tides.

Was last through Lockwoods in September while fleeing Hurricane
Isabelle and didn't have a problem. Granted I'm shallow draft, but I
don't recall any alarms going off. Shoaling there as well as at little
inlets from Sneads Ferry to Swansboro is definitely occurring, but the
tows and big shrimpers are passing by regularly and no doubt kicking
up the sand.

The secret will be to keep to the land side. In other words, go to
port at the first sign of trouble while heading north - especially
when traversing inlets - and even if this means getting uncomfortably
close to the west bank, and the coming spring tides should definitely
be an asset, as you already know.

The good news is that recent dredging projects just north of Camp
Lejeune, just south of Swansboro, and just south of Morehead have
removed problems there. My biggest worry would be, as always, the
stinking rock ledges between Barefoot Landing and Doc Holidays at
North Myrtle Beach.

Hope this helps, good sailing, and keep in touch.

Muskrat

My biggest worry would be, as always, the
stinking rock ledges between Barefoot Landing and Doc Holidays at
North Myrtle Beach.

Hope this helps, good sailing, and keep in touch.

Muskrat


Thanks Muskrat,

I don't mind the "rockpile" - there's lots of water there. Glad to
hear they're doing some dredging. I thought the Corps of Engineers
didn't have any funds. I ran aground in that turn before Swansboro
going north a few years ago. I gather that bad stretch south of
Morehead City is gone. If the weather's ok I'll go out at Charleston
and in at Wrightsville and then out again to Beaufort. I guess I'll
have to miss Barefoot.


Rick Itenson
La Belle Aurore
Toronto

Hey, Captain Rick,

Don't blame you a bit for going to the outside, especially if the
weather the calls for those lovely s'westerlies we usually can rely on
this time of year. Good chance to run up all sails, and no need to
bother with those pesky bridges, bridges, bridges. Please don't
hesitate to contact me if you need a crew - hint, hint.

By the way, the rockpile has gotten more interesting now that a
freaking big gambling boat runs through twice a day. Might be deep,
but sure is narrow - yikes!

Apologies to Capt. Bryan for hijacking thread.

Later, 'gators,
muskrat

Hey, Captain Rick,

Don't blame you a bit for going to the outside, especially if the
weather the calls for those lovely s'westerlies we usually can rely on
this time of year. Good chance to run up all sails, and no need to
bother with those pesky bridges, bridges, bridges. Please don't
hesitate to contact me if you need a crew - hint, hint.

By the way, the rockpile has gotten more interesting now that a
freaking big gambling boat runs through twice a day. Might be deep,
but sure is narrow - yikes!

Apologies to Capt. Bryan for hijacking thread.

Later, 'gators,
muskrat

My biggest worry would be, as always, the
stinking rock ledges between Barefoot Landing and Doc Holidays at
North Myrtle Beach.

Hope this helps, good sailing, and keep in touch.

Muskrat


Thanks Muskrat,

I don't mind the "rockpile" - there's lots of water there. Glad to
hear they're doing some dredging. I thought the Corps of Engineers
didn't have any funds. I ran aground in that turn before Swansboro
going north a few years ago. I gather that bad stretch south of
Morehead City is gone. If the weather's ok I'll go out at Charleston
and in at Wrightsville and then out again to Beaufort. I guess I'll
have to miss Barefoot.


Rick Itenson
La Belle Aurore
Toronto