Tonight we are anchored in a GORGEOUS anchorage at Cape Lookout, NC N34 37.172' W 076 32.946. There are 2 other trawlers, 4 sailing sloops, a catamaran sailboat, a houseboat, and a USCG 87' in the anchorage. I've heard the week-ends can be crowded. There is a gentle breeze S and SE, and conditions here are PERFECT!
We began the morning anchored inside Topsail Beach, picking up the hook in time to make the 0700 bridge opening. Actually, the bridge is supposed to be on demand before 0700, but, when we arrived at 0645, the bridge tender told us we had to wait. The only other boat that made the opening with us was a sailing sloop, and he was there by 0655.
I can't believe how fewer bridges there are than when I brought the MERCY home in 2011. Many of the old draw bridges and swing bridges have been replaced by higher bridges. We also pulled the SSB antenna off before leaving home, since where it was mounted, it was difficult to lay down, since the RIB was in the way. Our air draft is 12' 11"
Anyhow, we made speed with the tide, and I ran a little faster than normal to make the 0900 opening of the USMC Onslow Bridge, so that we could get through Camp LeJune before their live fire exercises.
Semper Fi
The reason that we made it, was we caught up to the 5 French sailboats from yesterday, and the SV William Reed, who we had met at Brunswick.
We passed the French, and eventually the William Reed. The French sailing fleet made it through some confusing buoys today without any difficulties, I think following the SV William Reed and MERCY.
We pulled into the Morehead Gulf Marine docks at 1340 and fueled. In 498.1nm we've used 162.5 gal diesel in 75.47 engine hrs, or 2.15 gal/hr and 3.07nm/gal. A single tank tells nothing, since you never really fuel to the same level, it is the long course that tells. I don't even try to count the low generator hours. Tonight, our trip has gone 1131 nm. I love this boat!
Anyhow, after the fuel, we moved up a few hundred yards to the Sanitary Restaurant docks for a late lunch. No, I'm not kidding, the name is for real, and the place is pretty famous. Things were kinda slow, and they let us tie up for an extra hour to walk around town a little.
This morning, we had planned to come to Cape Lookout. By the time we had eaten lunch, we decided to go anchor inside Shackleford Island. We started out the main channel, and there were multiple pipeline dredges working, including one that by the time we had gone around his pipes, we decided to head for Cape Lookout. The seas in the Atlantic had a gentle roll once we got away from the inbound sportfishermen.
We saw two ponies on Shackleford Island while coming in.
So glad our trip plans are flexible, and subject to change, and especially glad we're here tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment