Saturday, September 20, 2008

Home Sweet Home

We left Beaufort early Wednesday morning, crossing through the drawbridge at the nine o'clock opening. With winds from the north at 15 to 20kts, we set the main with a tripple reef and unfurled the jib. Aly Cat made good way for most of the morning. Under sail, our best speed was around 9 kts. Later in the day, the wind eased and we opted for motor sailing as we surfed down following swells. Top speed as we surfed with engine and sail was just over 12 kts. We averaged closer to 7.5 or 8. By late afternoon, Wrightsville Beach appeared through the haze. As the sun set in the west, we entered the jetty at Masonboro Inlet. We had made it! Back in familiar waters and just a few miles from our homeport.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lewisnance/BeaufortNCToWrightsvilleBeach#

Monday, September 15, 2008

Wet Again!!!

Well, we are back in the water and ready for the final leg to Carolina Beach. Tomorrow Shields Harper and his son Alan will join me for the brief run to CB. We plan to go straight from the Beaufort inlet to Wrightsville Beach Inlet. It promises to be a great downwind sail with moderate wind.

Incidentally, Alan Harper just spent the summer working for Sail Caribbean as a Catamaran Skipper. I hope he can give me some tips.


"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

latest update

Alyson and I spent Sunday attending to various items, loading new cockpit cushions, and unloading/throwing away items on board that we won't need.  We filled several 55 gallon drums with the stuff we threw away.  I also got a chance to inspect the dingy.  Even though it has several slow leaks, I feel confident I can get all of them patched.  We are quickly approaching our departure and all is progressing well.  We should have all repairs completed by the end of the week and be able to relaunch her by early next week.  The time table will mostly depend on tropical activity heading this way as to when we'll put her back in the water.