River Dunes to Beaufort: Tues, Sept 29, 2009

Off to Beaufort. Weather finally promised several days of wonderful weather all the way from Oriental to Lookout. Took off from River Dunes around 11 hoping to dock in Beaufort when the tides and currents were most cooperative. Sailed across the Neuse to get to Adams Creek and enter the ICW. Saw Christiana III as she sailed back to River Dunes.

Dolphins were playing in the creek and we were enjoying the sight until the Neon Rainbow (Alan Jackson's boat) decided it was in a big hurry and motored around us. Motored through the ICW.

Ken was at the helm most of the trip and Gay, using all the chart reading skills she learned from Captain Jesse Edwards dutifully looked for markers and read the charts, monitoring lat and long. Probably not really necessary given the chart plotter but a real test for those skills, particularly closer to Beaufort.

Just before we entered Adams Creek, two very old fishing boats that had been in Oriental Harbor (Cong Tranh and Victoray) entered in front of us. As we approached the first bridge that we had to go under, they slowed way down and let us pass them. As we passed by, they appeared to have very little crew. Once we passed them, they fell in behind us and allowed Captain Ken to lead the way.

We could tell they were following us because they followed us as we momentarily took the wrong channel in a portion of the ICW above the 2nd bridge. They followed us as we turned around and got back on the correct channel. We went under the Morehead Bridge and were set to navigate our way around Radio Island and into the Beaufort Docks. The fishing boats headed off the other way.

The bridge never looks tall enough for the mast to clear, but with 52 feet of boat/mast above the water line and a bridge height of over 60 feet, you know you will clear it. 

With dockmaster Jeb's help, Ken docked the boat like a champ around 5. We were actually quite elated with our prowess and finished with an absolutely delightful dinner at Aqua's. Highly recommended to anyone eating in Beaufort (behind Clawsons).  So grateful to Captains Will Flannery and Jesse Edwards for all they did to train us to sail, help us with problems and encourage us over the past two years so we could be ready for today.