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SARASOTA TO BOSTON on the ICW
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The following is the log of Silver Linings Spring 2000 Passage from Sarasota Fl
around Florida to Miami and up the ICW to Norfolk Va., up the Chesapeake Bay across
the C&D Cannal,down the Deleware Bay, up the Coast of N.J.,Hudson River, East River
N.Y.,Long Island Sound and Nantucket Sound to Boston.
DATE----------------------------May 24, 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Barefoot Landing
TIME OF DEPARTURE----6:30 AM
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------Wrightsville Beach- Mile 283
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------3:30 P.M.
WEATHER CONDITIONS----warm , partly cloudy, sunny, windy 10 - 18 Knots SW
EVENTS-----------------Set main and yankee with a good breeze from the hind quarter
we went right along 7Knots. Came to the Pontoon Bridge -the only one - ,Mile 338, Just
over the state line in N. Carolina. While waiting for it to open June made french
toast and pancakes. When we reached The Cape Fear River just north of Southport
the river turned putting the wind in our direction and with the current we made
8 and 9 Knots over the ground. We Made snows cut perfect with the current. Up the
river we followed "Night Swimming" and finally overtook them at Snows Cut. Of course
when we reached the Cut there was a at least six big power boats wanting to get by
us in the narrow cut (cannal from Cape Fear River to Myrtle Grove Sound). Lots of
shore property and cannal homes to look at. Arrived a Wrightsville Beach early and
took the Inlet cut into the harbor following "Night Swimming" with deeper draugh.
Anchored just south of the fixed bridge "Colleen" had arrived earier. The bay was
rough. Took the dinghy ashore for a swim on the gorgeous beach, the current and waves
were awesome. Got some groceries , icecream and corn . Returned to the boat did
the chores putting the dinghy away and feeding the engine. Hit the sack and stayed
up watching the last episode of "Spin City"
DATE----------------------------May 25, 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Wrightsville Beach
TIME OF DEPARTURE----6:20
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------Swansboro , Dudley Marina Mile 229
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------3:30 P.M.
WEATHER CONDITIONS----Sunny , partly cloudy, hot, Thunderstorm 4:00, Wind 5-18K NW toSW
EVENTS-----------------Out early to make the 7:00 AM bridge opening. The other boats
made the 6:00 AM opening June's pretty bleary eyed, but I pulled the anchor a 6 AM,
breakfast along the way. A beautiful warm day for sailing with the wind over the side.
Set all the sails and A nice run up the ICW. Lots of sights beach homes, boats of
people fishing, boat traffic, and pass the army practice area with helicopters, boats,
artilery and all else doing their thing. I think there was a practice war going on
over the ICW. We tied up a Dudley's marina fuel dock for fuel but it turned out to be
for the evening . A thunderstorm came up ,the wind changed, and held us on the dock .
The marina allowed us to stay put for the evening , they were closing for the day.
So as the rain came we went a short way to town for dinner and to see the shops.
Great little town. A very nice resturant and A super antique shop. After the storm
passed we walked back and relaxed aboard to a calm rainy evening.
DATE----------------------------May 26, 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Swansboro
TIME OF DEPARTURE----7:30 AM
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------Beaufort Mile 204
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------12:30 PM
WEATHER CONDITIONS----Clear and sunny Wind 10 Knots SW
EVENTS-----------------Set all sails for a short straight run to Beaufort up Bogue
Sound. Good morning motorsail. Picked up a slip in downtown Beaufort. Being early
in the day they gave me a slip in close to the board walk. June started the afternoon
shopping. Tom talked to the crew of "Dividend" a motor yacht we saw and talked to at
Georgetown. They got caught in the Thunderstorm in a poor place and had a hard time
with it pushing them out of the channel . We went for a late lunch on the dock and
then went to the Maritime museum, then more Shopping. Late in the afternoon we took
a dinghy ride to the island across the harbor and had a swim. It's a Rachel Carlson
estuary protected island and has wild ponies on it, June picked a few galardio
daisies. When we got back it was off to the laundry behind the general store. After
a shower June put on her new outfit and we strolled the boardwalk listening to the
singers at the outside restaurant, and then had a very late dinner.
DATE----------------------------May 27, 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Beaufort N.C.
TIME OF DEPARTURE----8:30 AM
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------Pongo Creek, Mile 136
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------6:30 P.M.
WEATHER CONDITIONS----Cloudy, partly sunny, breezy, Wind 10-15 K SW , Seas 3-5 Feet
EVENTS-----------------Hard time getting away from slip, the marina had tied up a couple
of race sail boats across the end of our slip. Once away it was up Adams Creek into the
wide Neuse River with all sails set and working. Great run , then another up Goose Creek
and across the wide Pamlico River and up the wide Pungo River. As we approched
Bellhaven the clouds became very threatening. We decided not to put in at Bellhaven
with the thunderstorms coming up. To give ourselved space at anchor , we felt our way
into The Pongo Creek. Pongo Creek is just south of Bellhaven. We found good anckorage
in the crab traps well up in the creek around Windmill Pt. and prepared for the front.
I set out the storm anchor with 150 ft chain. Two thunderstorms went by with some rain and
spectacular cloud formations. We turned in early and were awakened at Midnight to lighting
high winds and rain . I secured the hatches and went into the cockpit and checked the
GPS and found we had dragged anchor about 200 ft. I started the engine and drove towards
the anchor to hold position untill the wind went down some. We watched the storm alert
on T.V. and finally fell asleep when all was calm.
DATE----------------------------May 28, 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Pongo Creek
TIME OF DEPARTURE----6:00 AM
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------Broad Creek off the North River, Mile 63
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------5:30 PM
WEATHER CONDITIONS----Overcast, cool, light fog late PM, light rain in evening Wind 5-18 NE
EVENTS-----------------In the morning we found we had only dragged a few crab traps
and were still in plenty of water. We took off early, and past "Colleen" they were
going to try to make Broad Creek. They spent the night in Bellhaven harbor and were
one of the few that didn't drag anchor and end up on the brake water and came out
undamaged. A number of power boats didn't do well and were heavily damaged.We set
all the sails, motorsailed the long straight Alligaor River-Pungo River canal
and made good time down the wide Alligator River close hauled past the Causeway
Swing bridge into Albemarle Sound. We made good time across the sound doing 7 to 8
knots, another sailboat crossed with us. As we reached the North River the weather
was turning poorer. The wind was picking up and we had light rain and a thunderstorm
was on our heals. We made it to the anckorage with the thunderstorm and heavy rain
to welcome us in. We settled in to a rainy night eating spagetti and called "Colleen".
They turned in the sound to avoid the thunderstorm and went to Elizabeth City. I
set the storm anchor in anticipation of a front coming through from the North West,
the reason I had choosen the west bank of the river.
DATE----------------------------May 29 and 30 , 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Broad Creek
TIME OF DEPARTURE----6:00 Day brake
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------CoinJock Mile 50
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------8:00 AM
WEATHER CONDITIONS----Gale force winds NE 25 to 50 Knots , rain , cold.
EVENTS-----------------The front with winds up to 30 knots, driving rain, and high
seas 5 to 8 ft. came after midnight. By 2:00 AM we seemed assured that the anchor
wasn't dragging. I did the drive to the anchor bit for a while at the height of the
storm.( When I anchor , I circle my anchor spot with my tracking GPS making a circle
on the chart where I put down the anchor. I am then able to drive to the anchor and
tell if I have dragged anchor.) We wanted to wait until light to move. High waves and
howling winds kept us awake. Cold and exhausted we had a few hours sleep before dawn.
At dawn we hauled anchor in increasing winds and current and headed up the North River
to Coinjock and tied up at a marina with two other sailboats also looking for something
solid to hold on to. The other two, "Wandering Star" heading to NY and " THOR II"
from Canada heading back had both tried to continue on but had to returned due to
high seas and wind. So we all spent the day at the marina office talking, reading,
and watching the Northeaster on weather TV. while it howled out side. The current
in the channel under my boat was 5 knots and the wind gusts reached 40 knots most
of the time and the rain came down.
In the morning it was more of the same, a little less rain. We took a very long
walk to a convenience store in the morning. When we came back there were many
stories of boats in destress . One power boat came into the other marina all
smashed up. We were able to get the marina man to take us to the restaurant across
the cannal for dinner. After watching the weather We visited on the "Silver Lining"
with the crew of "Wandering Star" had tea and treats. We got into a long discussion
about the rest of the trip home. June needed to get home for a grand child's
birthday and several other things . She was also not looking forward to all the
sailing in open waters ahead. "Wandering Star's" Loura needed to get back to her
job on Long Island . A long wet day , Coinjock is not a very interesting place
to get stuck in for several days .Turned in at 11 PM.
DATE----------------------------May 31, 2000
PORT OF DEPARTURE----Coinjock
TIME OF DEPARTURE----10:00 AM
PORT OF ARRIVAL---------Atlantic Yacht Basin
TIME OF ARRIVAL---------3:00 PM
WEATHER CONDITIONS----Cloudy , sun peeking, then clear. wind 15 to 18 Knots NE
EVENTS-----------------We start out motoring with the wind in our face " Wandering
Star" leading the way and "THOR II" bring up the rear. A little way up the ICW we
come a cross a casulity of the northeaster, a tug that had lost its tow. The channel
up Currituck Sound was shallow and narrow . Even with a moderate North East wind it
was a job to keep in the channel. Up the North Landing River was a pleasant run .
The Algemarle and Chesapeake Canal to Great Bridge Marina was a non descript but
sunny run. When we reached the marina the weather had turned quite plesant. After
some more discussion on June and Laura's need to get home and getting the boats
home, it was decided June and Laura would pick up a rental car and head home right
away. The two Tom's would stay together and sail the two boats home singlehanded.
Plans made we used the marina's courtesy car to pick up a rental do some shopping
and go out to eat. June and Laura spent the evening packing.
Built By: TOM MORSE
Up Dated 04-01-01