Well – we’re here in Wrightsville Beach and there’s more to tell but first I have to revisit Friday’s trip from Morehead City.
I know Lance has mentioned all the drama of the two boats in front dragging their anchors and heading our way but the day itself was pretty interesting too.
As he said, we left Morehead City in the rain - it was the first time travelling in the rain but being up on the flybridge was quite dry – it was just seeing through the stratoglass that was challenging – no windscreen wipers there.
The rain didn’t last too long though and we continued down to our destination of Mile Hammock Bay. We had to wait about 20 minutes for one of the bridges to open so that was bit difficult trying to hold the boat steady and almost in one spot with the wind that continued to pick up. We were also heading through a military training area and obviously on one stretch it was certainly possible at certain times to be delayed by firing practice. Thankfully there was none of that while we were passing! It was interesting though as on the banks there were also old tanks at various strategic points.
Our anchorage was also actually in a military area and the surrounding shore was off limits although we did see several people from the shore on the shore fishing.
Anyway our peaceful afternoon was shattered when the airforce started practising with their very odd looking helicopters. First there were two and then there were three that kept flying over and coming in for a landing and take off just behind the trees on the shore. Our ICW book had warned about this – it’s also apparently an area where they practice amphibious landings! Obviously not on the agenda for Friday and thankfully nothing for Saturday and Sunday!
On Saturday the day dawned really sunny but the gale force winds continued to blow so we decided to stay put for another night. The skipper from one of the yachts that dragged its anchor came over to apologise, collect the other boats’s dinghy and check for damage. Fortunately there was none, or certainly none that we could be sure related to the incident.
We spent the day relaxing either sitting in the sun in the cockpit or having a siesta/reading up on the flybridge. Christina and I watched a few dolphins swim in and around the bay, followed by several pelikans diving into the water after fish. The dolphins were pretty camera shy though so unfortunately no pics. 
A few of the other boats had left that day but we still had the two boats of note in front of us. However, after the previous night of watching and the whole day of continually strong winds we were quite happy that they would stay put and we could have a peaceful night.
Well I spoke too soon – it was already dark and we were just about to have dinner (the skipper was cooking!) when we saw a yellow and red flashing light go right past the window followed by a big yacht. It turned about to be a yacht being towed in by Boat US and they were left at anchor directly in front of us!!!! So we spent a few hours watching it every so often but by bedtime the wind had eased off quite a lot. So we went to bed quite happily only to be awoken at 2am with a CO monitor alarm emitting its low battery warning. What next????
We didn’t have long to wait for that answer because as we got ready to leave at 7am and tried to start our engines we came to the startling realisation that not only was the house battery flat but so was the starter battery! As luck would have it the Boat US tow boat had just come back to pick up the other boat so Lance called him up on the radio and he came over and dropped off a jump starter. He then went to help another boat who couldn’t get their anchor up. Unfortunately the starter did just not have enough oomph to start the engines so we then had to call another boat in. We probably waited a couple of hours before Tom arrived and they tried everything to get it all going. However, it was not to be, so he then hooked up a tow rope, helped to get the anchor up (Lance and Robert were pretty much covered in mud by the time it was up) and we headed off down the ICW on our way south!
We’re so pleased we took out Boat US membership at the Annapolis Boat Show. 
So it was a long, slow leisurely tow down the ICW – even the skipper got to rest and as he says it was extremely economical as we used no diesel at all for the 30 odd mile stretch!
There were two bridges that had to open for us and there was no waiting for specific opening times – there is on demand opening for tow boats. There was a big yacht at both the bridges and he was able to go through with us too so that saved him quite a bit of time.
Anyway tonight we are sitting in a lovely marina – Sea Paths Yacht Club in Wrightsville. Lovely ablutions, free wi-fi and close enough to walk to some restaurants. I guess we may be here a couple of days while we get an electrician to fix our problem. Back on shore power everything is looking ok again.
Christina and Robert are being collected tomorrow – despite all the excitement they were a huge help and still seemed to enjoy themselves. Most importantly Christina managed to keep her mal de mer at bay with the help of certain medications.
We finished off the evening with a lovely dinner out at a local restaurant.
6 November 2011 – Mile Hammock Bay to Wrightsville Beach
Well – we’re here in Wrightsville Beach and there’s more to tell but first I have to revisit Friday’s trip from Morehead City.
I know Lance has mentioned all the drama of the two boats in front dragging their anchors and heading our way but the day itself was pretty interesting too.
As he said, we left Morehead City in the rain - it was the first time travelling in the rain but being up on the flybridge was quite dry – it was just seeing through the stratoglass that was challenging – no windscreen wipers there.
The rain didn’t last too long though and we continued down to our destination of Mile Hammock Bay. We had to wait about 20 minutes for one of the bridges to open so that was bit difficult trying to hold the boat steady and almost in one spot with the wind that continued to pick up. We were also heading through a military training area and obviously on one stretch it was certainly possible at certain times to be delayed by firing practice. Thankfully there was none of that while we were passing! It was interesting though as on the banks there were also old tanks at various strategic points.
Our anchorage was also actually in a military area and the surrounding shore was off limits although we did see several people from the shore on the shore fishing.
Anyway our peaceful afternoon was shattered when the airforce started practising with their very odd looking helicopters. First there were two and then there were three that kept flying over and coming in for a landing and take off just behind the trees on the shore. Our ICW book had warned about this – it’s also apparently an area where they practice amphibious landings! Obviously not on the agenda for Friday and thankfully nothing for Saturday and Sunday!
On Saturday the day dawned really sunny but the gale force winds continued to blow so we decided to stay put for another night. The skipper from one of the yachts that dragged its anchor came over to apologise, collect the other boats’s dinghy and check for damage. Fortunately there was none, or certainly none that we could be sure related to the incident.
We spent the day relaxing either sitting in the sun in the cockpit or having a siesta/reading up on the flybridge. Christina and I watched a few dolphins swim in and around the bay, followed by several pelikans diving into the water after fish. The dolphins were pretty camera shy though so unfortunately no pics.
A few of the other boats had left that day but we still had the two boats of note in front of us. However, after the previous night of watching and the whole day of continually strong winds we were quite happy that they would stay put and we could have a peaceful night.
Well I spoke too soon – it was already dark and we were just about to have dinner (the skipper was cooking!) when we saw a yellow and red flashing light go right past the window followed by a big yacht. It turned about to be a yacht being towed in by Boat US and they were left at anchor directly in front of us!!!! So we spent a few hours watching it every so often but by bedtime the wind had eased off quite a lot. So we went to bed quite happily only to be awoken at 2am with a CO monitor alarm emitting its low battery warning. What next????
We didn’t have long to wait for that answer because as we got ready to leave at 7am and tried to start our engines we came to the startling realisation that not only was the house battery flat but so was the starter battery! As luck would have it the Boat US tow boat had just come back to pick up the other boat so Lance called him up on the radio and he came over and dropped off a jump starter. He then went to help another boat who couldn’t get their anchor up. Unfortunately the starter did just not have enough oomph to start the engines so we then had to call another boat in. We probably waited a couple of hours before Tom arrived and they tried everything to get it all going. However, it was not to be, so he then hooked up a tow rope, helped to get the anchor up (Lance and Robert were pretty much covered in mud by the time it was up) and we headed off down the ICW on our way south!
We’re so pleased we took out Boat US membership at the Annapolis Boat Show.
So it was a long, slow leisurely tow down the ICW – even the skipper got to rest and as he says it was extremely economical as we used no diesel at all for the 30 odd mile stretch!
There were two bridges that had to open for us and there was no waiting for specific opening times – there is on demand opening for tow boats. There was a big yacht at both the bridges and he was able to go through with us too so that saved him quite a bit of time.
Anyway tonight we are sitting in a lovely marina – Sea Paths Yacht Club in Wrightsville. Lovely ablutions, free wi-fi and close enough to walk to some restaurants. I guess we may be here a couple of days while we get an electrician to fix our problem. Back on shore power everything is looking ok again.
Christina and Robert are being collected tomorrow – despite all the excitement they were a huge help and still seemed to enjoy themselves. Most importantly Christina managed to keep her mal de mer at bay with the help of certain medications.
We finished off the evening with a lovely dinner out at a local restaurant.