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Voyage 2016: Chapter 4

Return, Fix, Get Ready

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2016 Home     Map                         Chapter 1     Chapter 2     Chapter 3     Chapter 4    

1 Oct 2016, On to Wilmington and Hurricane Matthew, 33 55.842 N/ 077 59.79 W

Jule left New Bern after morning bridge restrictions were lifted, headed down the Neuse past the dog leg and into Adams Creek. The current gods were good in the creek and the canal that followed. Ann likes many of the homes on this stretch of the ICW. You would be surprised what homes she fancies. Once we left the canal, the current turned foul all the way to the anchorage near the Coast Guard station in Beaufort. Hook was down at 1600. A tug and tow took the commercial mooring ball south of us. His lights were an interesting backdrop to a peaceful anchorage even though the current runs 2+ kts.
Pulled the anchor at 0600 (still dark) but the anchor resisted. We could see that anchor was caught on a net(?) and a metal ring. The ring readily fell off but netting was pulling against the current. Ann turned the boat so it was with the current while Bob brought the anchor up as far has he could. Then he cut the line as Ann put the engine in neutral. Done! Line was free and so were we. We headed out the inlet, past the ever-present dredge, towards the yellow buoys (YB), towards Wrightsville Beach. Unsettled weather passed over us around the YBs. A really nasty squall was coming our way but we skirted it (barely). Lots of close lightning but short lived.
At 1730, we transited Masonboro Inlet, headed for the anchorage at Wrightsville Beach and dropped the hook at 1800. Wow, almost at winter port. Icky weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow, so we will stay another day here. Nice anchorage but a bit wake-ee. On Saturday, 1 October we left the anchorage, started down the ICW through Snow's Cut (current against) to the Cape Fear River (current with) with winds NE@10-15. At 1145, we did less than a stellar tie up at Deep Point Marina. Ann, the marina crew managed to get Jule III nestled in the slip without incident.

10 Oct 2016, Hurricane Matthew and Jule III, 33 55.842 N/ 077 59.79 W

Forecasts for Matthew and ILM were increasing the chance of a direct
hit on Southport. We had lots to do before the storm would do its damage. We removed all canvas and sails, tied up the wind generator, moved the stuff tied to the deck to a storage unit, doubled up all of the lines, increased the fenders and fender boards, and prayed. We were not the the brave ones. We left Jule III day before Matthew was to hit as the roads were already threatening to flood.
We headed to the house where we had already set up a makeshift 'command center, complete with emergency power (Honda i2000 on the porch), TV, computers, Internet, smart phone, and a comfy chair. The storm came, grew, and then left. We heard that Deep Point Marina experienced no significant damage though we had about 4' of surge. Pilings had another 5' to give.
Mattie Kay didn't like her namesake making such a fuss so she took
shelter in her hurricane box. Mattie joined the Jule III as apprentice swab four days ago. She is 3.5 weeks old, barely weened, and the litter box is iffy. She was no trouble during the storm but the storm took pity on her: no significant rain bands and the winds never gusted to Cat 1.
Today we headed back to Jule III and we were quite pleased to see her laying quietly in B9. The marina looked great except for some flood damage to the far bulkhead. About a half a dozen folks stayed during the storm. They also made it without a scratch but did not enjoy the ride that much. That was Jule III's third brush with hurricanes this year, and the second Category I direct hit in two years. We are getting a bit concerned about these things.

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