Voyage 2005-2006: Chapter 4

30 Mar 2006, Last Stretch on the Stream, 31 53.180 N/ 078 28.510 W

This is day three on the Stream. We hit a counter current yesterday for about four hours. We lost a net 4 hours on our timeline. It came back as it some wind. We got our main halyard stuck so we will not be using the main until it calms down a bit. Still we are doing pretty good with jib and jigger (mizzen). Today, the weather gods put us to the test. The wind had shifted to the NE and as the Stream bent towards the East, the wind and waves picked up. The wind was blowing 15-25 out of the NE and the Stream was crazy with 5-7 foot breaking waves with a very short period. Not real comfortable, but fortunately, we were leaving the Stream. Within three hours the waves subsided but the wind didn't. We had a problem with the linkage and are concerned about shutting the motor down. We are about 90 miles SE of Charleston SC and should arrive in the Cape Fear tomorrow AM. Wish us luck!

31 Mar 2006, Arrived at Carolina Beach, 33 56.090 N/ 077 58.870 W

Dawn found us approaching the Cape Fear Inlet. With the help of the motor, we managed to arrive at the River on a flooding current. If we would have arrived 5 hours later, we would have to fight a 5 knot ebb current! As we approached the inlet, a container ship was leaving. As we past Bald Head Island four large ships nearly intersected our position on the River... at the same time! MV Southport (our local Southport ferry boat) passed us but we were too busy dodging ships to say hello. At 0845, we entered Snow's Cut with minimal current. It has been a good 'current' day. As we pass through the Cut, we see our son, Chris, waving to us on the North bank.

At 0900, we turn to the South to Carolina Beach. The channel to Mona Black's Marina is deep and wide. We are ariving much earlier than expected, so Randy, the dockmaster, had to scramble to find us a slip. Great job! Great slip! At 0920, we are tied up at Mona Black. Chris and Randy helped us with the docking. Time to hug the son, hug the 'babies', and clean the layers of salt from Jule III.