Day one and it's a little tense. The electronic fuel gauges don't work. I can't display engine parameters on the new engine monitor. The electronic tech is playing trial and error. And the captain we hired for the day (Captain Jack!) is arriving any minute! But hey, it's vacation, and what could possibly go seriously wrong?
So we departed, Tricia took the helm, and I fiddled and cursed at the electronics. Capt Jack assisted in navigating the Cape Fear River, and off we went. After several miles we got stopped in our tracks by a VERY LARGE ocean freighter being maneuvered by a tug boat. We had to jog in position for about 30 minutes while the ship got re-oriented towards the ocean. Then we picked up steam ( 7 knots) against the current and headed towards Snow's Cut and the onto Intracoastal Waterway.
We learned about the red-right-return rule (once again) and how it varied depending on the nearness to an ocean inlet. We learned about the ICW markers - green triangles on the right and red squares on the left when heading north - and began to realize how really narrow and shallow these channels really are! At some points we had as little as 1.5 feet of water under us. At no time did we have more than 8 feet of depth under us. We saw several smaller boats aground as they tried to cut corners. Best not to cut corners in life.
Oh, and something broke today...
Taking turns cruising the river and watching for dead heads, freighters, crab traps (everywhere), and Seadoos. (Kids are out of school because North Carolina teachers are on strike.) What better way than to enjoy fishing and swimming in the 80 degree weather?
Speaking of running aground on a sandy shoal, there is brisk business in offering emergency tow services. I re-read our policy to make sure we have tow insurance. We do. Hope we never need it.
Made an initial stop at Joyner Marina on the other side of Snows Cut, but ended up leaving (after a masterful docking maneuver) because we decided the weather and hour would allow us to go a little further. So we eventually docked this evening at Wrightsville Beach - words cannot describe how beautiful these beaches are. It is a sports fisherman's paradise. Also kayakers, crab boats, and paddle boards galore. Even a Polynesian outrigger canoe.
Mom at the helm. She doesn't like those freighters. Wherever they are, they're too close.
Registering at the marina. Nice showers and a nearby restaurant.
Uh-oh. Tow boat heading out.
Dolphins in the channel, right alongside our docked boat.
And a little Port for the occasion...
You know, as stressful as the currents, tides, low bridges, shoals, and weather are - this might just work.
Cheers.
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