Sailing trip - Bellhaven

Love the little Bellhaven Waterway Marina! Nice couple runs it - helped us tie up with huge bumpers to their dock.

Love the little "captain's lounge".... keeps you away from the biting bugs!!

Just a lovely little place to spend the night!  Had great local-crab-cakes at the Fish Hook Restaurant and then a nice breakfast at the Gingerbread Bakery on main street.  Nice small town, but time to shove off!  Maybe anchor near Swan Quarter....or maybe head over to Ocracoke.....tell ya when I know!!

Sailing to Bellhaven

Since we have limited time on the water....the only logical next destination is Bellhaven.  So, after a nice breakfast at the diner and a little engine-troubleshooting for Duane (not ours - our dockmate had some difficulties and Duane offered some assistance) we shoved off from the welcoming town of Bath....

The day started with some pretty decent winds - but they died out thru the morning.  At some points we were only moving at 3 knots....

I heard a thump, thump, thump.....sometimes that can be a bad thing - but in this case it was what appeared to be a National Guard helicopter flying down the middle of the river.  They looked very close in person - I waved at the guys in the cockpit!

When I look at this video - they don't look so close....but it was neat anyway

Again, a long day....but we tied up at the new-to-us Bellhaven Waterway Marina.  Nice folks and nice facility!

Sailing to Bath, NC!!!

We had a wonderful night - even needed a blanket about 3 AM!!  We made a bit of a mistake and left the companionway open just to let the air flow....about 1AM a few mosquitoes decided to find us....but I couldn't be bothered to wake up!!

After coffee and cereal for breakfast, we pulled the anchor out of the mud and headed out.  Due to the north winds of late, we decided not to take the Intercoastal waterway northbound.  Let me explain - our mast height is really high - 64'9".  The Intercoastal waterway bridges are SUPPOSED to allow 65' to clear.  But, if the winds or tides are high, sometimes that is a problem.  We decided to play it safe and go "around" - out in the Pamlico Sound instead.  Good choice - the winds were not crazy like yesterday....although not favorable for sailing.

Self-portrait!  My tee shirt is a duplicate of one Sharon also has.....it reads "Sail Fast" on front and "Live Slow" on back.  Duane said I needed a new shirt for today....the front should read "Sail Slow"... haha.  We did have the sails up, but they only gave us about .5 knots.  Still, it's a free .5 knots!!

We had to make a big loop to avoid a "prohibited area" near Stumpy Point....note why.  No argument!

Once we cleared the bombing range, we were in the Pamlico River. Still motor-sailing, we passed the Aurora phosphate plant that is the origin for all those barges I've snapped photos of over the years. We didn't actually see one this time, but heard them several times on the VHF radio announcing their progress down the waterway.

After about 6 or 7 hours....we arrive at Bath!  Really quaint little town. 

Since we had brought our new-to-us fold-up bikes, we got the boat settled and went for a town tour.  This is one of the only photos I've been able to steal lately with Duane in it!!!

At a pretty, shady waterfront park.

The town of Bath is really, really small.....nice folks though!  Here we are at the only diner in town. 

Lots of historic buildings.....

Glory Days tied up to the State Dock....

Very nice of the state to provide suck a nice, free place to tie up for the night!!

Off to Bellhaven tomorrow!

Anchoring out near River Dunes

We decided that since the weather is sooooo wonderful (breezy and cool for August in the South!!) that we'd anchor out in the creek near River Dunes.  Just picked a spot off the channel in 7 feet of water and dropped the hook!

Off to Bath tomorrow!!! Should be better winds....we'll see....

Small Craft Advisory!!

OK, so NOAA published a "small craft advisory" that was supposed to be ending at 8AM.....

Highest True Wind Speed - 38 knots

Lightest winds - 21 knots

Sailing time from Oriental to River Dunes - 4+ hours

Direction we wanted to go - North

Direction winds were from - North

Ahh, but a good sailing day with 2 reefs in the main!  (Mainsail not fully extended due to high winds)




Finally made it to River Dunes - wonderful sandwich and enjoying their high speed wifi!!!

We'll be off to a close-by anchorage for the night....more when time allows!