Trawler Punches on the IntraCoastal Waterway

We made it. After almost 6 months on the water and on the boat we are back at the home dock in Lancaster County, Virginia. Spring is in full bloom including pollen all over the boat. We arrived back at 10:45 am on Wednesday, April 12, 2006. The day featured light winds from the SE and a good push from the incoming tide. Now we can look forward to hauling all the stuff off the boat and getting used to land-side life. We both enjoyed this trip more than two years ago, having more experience and better skills aboard. I'll post some summary statistics from the return trip in a few days. The boat is in good shape after the trip, but I will have to look at a faulty trim tab control; the forward A/C unit is no longer operating in heating mode and of course the engine needs an oil & filter change after more than 160 hours of running time.
Today's Stats: Location, Home dock, Lancaster, VA, distance traveled: 34.84 nm, avg speed 7.88 knots

We left Coinjock, NC early in nice calm conditions and enjoyed the sunrise over Currituck Sound. The bridge and lock schedule made it necessary to run 2 3/4 hours at slower speed and then after the first bridge we had to run at 8 3/4 knots to make the next bridge in 25 minutes. After that the rest of the 6 bridges and the one lock at Great Bridge we would open today fell into place. We had a group of 5 boats ranging in size from 50 to 36 feet going from bridge to bridge. Once into Norfolk we decided the weather was so nice we would continue on part-way up the Chesapeake Bay. The forecast had been for 5-10 knot winds from the S-SE. It was a big surprise when we rounded at Ft Monroe and found 3 plus foot rollers and strong 10-15 knot plus winds from the east. The swell was a little better further up the Bay but was again bad near the York River. Our destination was Horn Harbor near Mobjack Bay Its not easy to get into and I had to go back against the seas to avoid a shallow area. Finally at 5:50 PM we were at anchor after a long and tiring day. We hope for calmer conditions tomorrow for the run home.
Today Stats: Location Horn Harbor near Mobjack Bay, VA, miles traveled 90.3, average speed 7.8 mph ( 6.78 knots ).

Finally after a 3 day wait the winds were down this morning. It was cold and there was some frost on the docks, but none on the boat. We left just before dawn and the winds were about 5 knots from the north. I decided to wimp-out and run the generator for heat and steer from inside in my shirtsleeves. Who said you have to suffer boating? Later on, we went outside to enjoy the clear air and Carolina blue sky!! Light fog made us careful thru the 21 mile long Alligator-Pungo Canal. We had 2 other trawlers with us that had also waited out the weather and a commercial trawler. We all traveled within 1/2 a knot of each other in speed. Once into the Alligator we picked up a 1-2 foot swell that was probably left over from Sunday's strong winds. After we entered Albermarle Sound we had a few 3 foot swells but within 30 minutes they dropped and as we got closer to the north shore the swell dropped to less than one foot. All in all my best crossing of the body of water.
Tonight we are at Midway Marina in Coinjock, NC. They have free Wi-Fi access here and it works well. The forecast now looks good for the rest of the week and we expect to be home in Lancaster, VA by Wednesday afternoon.
Today's Stats: Location Midway Marina, Coinjock, NC ICW MM 49.5, miles traveled 83.49, average speed 8.91 mph (7.74 knots)

Yachts at Coinjock Marina, NC:

Its Sunday and we are still at Dowery Creek Marina on the Pungo River in NC. Last night the front came through with wind and rain. Just before the cold air arrived all of the boats waiting at the maina got together and had a Beer Can Chicken dinner at the clubhouse. It was a nice event and the usual boating stories were exchanged.
We have been using the time to cleam and tidy the boat and catch-up on other chores.
The forecast for tomorrow is still a little windy, but at this point we plan to try and get across Albermarle Sound.

We have decided to stay at Dowery Creek Marina until the weather clears. I got up at 4 am today to check and decided not to try the 9-10 hour run from the marina to Coinjock, NC across Albermarle Sound. I was just not sure we could beat the forecast increasing winds. This was one of those times you wish for a 20 knot boat!!!!! Right now it looks like it could be Monday until the weather settles down.

So much for forecasts. We picked last night's place to anchor to have protection from West and Northwest, the predicted winds. At 9 pm a big blow came up from the east, the open section where we were. In the morning there was still some wind. We were surprised by nasty 3-4 foot short rollers in the Neuse River and Palmico Sound. After that we entered a protected cut and just after going past a coast Guard station at Hobucken we were boarded for an inspection. We passed, but wonder about our luck with inspections. We know many people who have never been boarded; we have been boarded 3 times in 2 years. I think they like trawlers, they are easy to get aboard and do the inspection. In contrast, they seem to ignore sailboats, I figure its too much trouble crawling on one and looking at engine etc.?We had to make a decision based on weather if to go to Alligator River and take our chances on crossing knowing if we could not the marina is OK but in the middle of nowhere. The alternative was Dowery Creek near Bellhaven, a nice marina with a free loaner car and a good setting. We decided to stop at Dowery Creek. We took on 121.9 gallons of fuel at $2.25 per gallon or 2.81 gph or 2.77 mpg since our last fill-up. Tonight we are looking at forecast and will check again early Friday to see if the run of 82 miles to Coinjock across Albermerle Sound is possible. If not the forecast could have us sitting until Sunday or Monday.
Today's Stats: Location Dowery Creek Marina, NC ICW MM 131.5, distance traveled 44.61 miles, average speed 8.11 mph, 7.05 knots.

We left the anchorage at Mile Hammock a little early at 6:30 am so that we could clear a bridge about 4 miles down the ICW. It was a nice 50 degree morning with light winds and we enjoyed the trip up to Moorehead City through Bouge Sound. Its basically due east and that gave us a warming sun. At Moorehead we turned north and ran a cut up to the Neuse River. By them winds were over 15 from the West North-West and in the Neuse we saw 1 to 2 foot rollers. We had planned to go further, but decided to bail-out at ICW MM 173 in Broad Creek. The guide suggested a creek called Burton and said it had 5 feet of water, but I found it pretty thin and instead we anchored off the main channel. Winds died about 4 Pm and it a great evening. We are now looking at the forecast out a few days and it will be windy thru Sunday. Tomorrow we will try a very long run so that we can try to cross Albermerle Sound on Friday. Winds should be stronger than we would like, but we will see what happens tomorrow to decide if we go or sit it out.
Location: Broad Creek, NC ICW MM 173.5, distance traveled 75.47 miles, average speed 8.58 mph ( 7.45 knots )

We were lucky last night when the big front and storms passed us. We had a little nickel-sized hail and then about 10 some rain, but that was about it. The bad stuff stayed north, thank you!!!!
Sometimes you plan and sometimes you plan and then change plans. I laid out a time schedule to reach each of three restricted bridges at Wrightsville Beach, Figure 8 and Surf City just in time. We reached Wrightsville and as planned with low tide got under the bridge without opening it. We then ran faster to make Figure 8, but discovered we could get under it also. I looked at the GPS and we had just enough time to make Surf City, a distance of 17.4 miles in a little less than 2 hours. I cranked up the power to overcome the adverse tide running against us and just made it. I probably used about 6 extra gallons of fuel to make that bridge, but it saved us waiting an extra hour if we missed the opening. Just before reaching the anchorage we passed the New River inlet which was very shallow ( 4-5 feet ) in spots. A sailboat behind us drawing 5 1/2 feet went aground there.
Tonight we are again anchored in the Mile Hammock Basic , part of the Marine Base at Camp Lejeune.
Today's Stats: Location Mile Hammock, NC ICW MM 244.5, distance traveled 51.6 miles, average speed 8.04 mph ( 6.98 knots )

Today we started under a little stress. The forcast was for a very strong cold front to pass through the area mid-afternoon. We had a long run and had to wait for a restricted bridge. This is the pontoon bridge at Sunset Beach, NC just above the SC line that only opens once an hour. I arrived 20 minutes early for that bridge because with the current even at idle the boat was goiung 6 knots. Once through we had very good currents for the rest of the day. We passed the trouble spot at Lockwood's Folly Inlet on rising tide and then once into the Cape Fear River saw boats speeds of 12.2 mph ( 10.6 knots ) as the current pushed us along. The winds were still light when we tied up at Federal point YC in Carolina Beach, NC. This is a new facility and they have room for one or two transients on their T-head dock. The storms are now coming by and we just had some quarter sized hail, but I hope the worst will pass by or fizzle out.
Today's Stats: Location Carolina Beach, NC, ICW MM 295, distance traveled 55.84 miles, average speed 8.36 mph ( 7.26 knots )

Dredge & Barges on Cape Fear River, NC

We left the anchorage listening to the birds, ducks and tree frogs. It was a perfect morning and we enjoyed the ride up the Waccamaw River one of my favorite parts of the ICW. The bad news I guess is that just after that you spend 20 miles in a cut channel going by the development of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. There are two huge new high rise developments, Grande Dunes and across from Barefoot Landing and both have large new marinas. Most of the development here is not to my taste, but there must be a market for it. We had adverse current for most of today. The last section we traveled is know as the "Rockpile" and we saw a sportfishing boat going south hit the rocks just as we were passing each other. It was high tide and on high tide you cannot see the rocks at the side of the channel!!!!
Tonight we are at Dock Holidays Marina at Dixon's Crossroads. The nearby bar is swinging to the sound of beach music and it is a warm evening.
Today's Stats: Location: Dock Holiday's Marina, North Myrtle Beach, SC ICW MM 348, miles traveled 43.43, average speed 7.61 mph ( 6.61 knots )

Waccamaw Morning:

Yesterday was a fine day in Charleston. We walked through the shopping district on King Street which has just about every high end store you can imagine. Then we walked back to the marina through the historic district. The gardens were in bloom and we really enjoy looking at all the unique styled homes in the city.
Today we left early, as the forecast was for winds at 20 by mid-morning. A surprise was that the marina was full of inch long shrimp feeding on the surface. We had never ween that before.
The trip across Charleston harbor and north was smooth. Winds picked-up later to 15-20 mph, but were always behind us. Temperature were kin the upper 70's. At our intended anchorage about 50 miles up the road we decided it was too exposed for the winds and traveled on another 30 miles to a secure anchorage we used before. We did have 2 foot roller on Winyah Bay going past Georgetown, but there were in our direction, so no problem.
The anchorage is not as quite as we like, since it is the weekend. It appears to be a favorite for go-fast boats and even with a Coast Guard Patrol nearby there have been some big wakes.
Today's Stats: Location - Thoroughfare Creek, SC, ICW MM 388, miles traveled 80.71, average speed 8.73 mph (7.58 knots)