Voyage 2002-2003: Chapter 2

27 Oct 2002, Beaufort NC, 34 42.919 N/ 076 39.819 W

We arrived here on 26 October and we missed our weather window by a day. Nasty weather is going to move in late tomorrow, and we can't get very far before it does. No offshore trip and too far to Wrightsville Beach. Right now we have three choices: Stay here at Beaufort Town Docks (expensive), go to the anchorage (will be bumpy and could slip anchor), or go to a little marina about 20 mile away (if there is room). We are favoring option 3 if there is room, otherwise we do option 2. We'll let you know.

28 Oct 2002, Beaufort to Wrightsville Beach via ICW, 34 12.280 N/ 077 48.049 W

It is still a little dicey for us to begin our first offshore passage so we decided to do the ICW to Wrightsville Beach. Probably not the best idea! Camp Legune, two bridges that only open on the hour and two other bridges that open on the hour and half hour, and few anchorages or marinas. Of course it rained. S/V Celena has having some mechanical problems so we decided to stop at Dudley's Marina with them. The got to tie up on a tee head. We got to go into the well for the marine railway. A two knot current and 15 knot wind perpendicular to our 'slip' made for an interesting time. No damage, thank goodness.

Ann got some good fishing tips from John Dudley. She bought some lures and line for our 'outside' and Florida Straits excursions. The next day, we left early hoping that (a) Camp Legune test artillery firing would not close the ICW and (b) the bridges would cooperate. As the day closed we found ourselves anchored off of Wrightsville Beach. Life is good.