Light rain in the early morning hours. Booming thunder at 7:30. WSW wind and a downpour. I knew it was coming, the front had been well-forecast, and I don't mind. Just back from a trip to South America a few days earlier, plus up early to trailer and launch yesterday, a relaxing day under the boom tent sounds good.
Hot tea with breakfast. Heavy rain at 9:00. Read, nap. 11:00 wake to lighter skies and no rain. 12:30 rain and strong winds. Rain moves on, wind falls off.
3:00 heavy rain. 4:30 rain moves on. Wind swings around, comes out of the north. A perfect time to leave the narrow creek. Stike the boom tent, tuck away gear. Motor back out to the open waters of Juniper Bay. With the north wind, calm water and well-protected.
Evening, one last round of rain and wind, this time from the north.
Clear and sunny as I rig SPARTINA at Potters Marine, overcast moves in just as I get ready to launch. 10:10 cast off from the small dock, sails up on North Creek at 10:15. Breezy, more wind that I had expected. Wind is out of the southwest, perfect. A lone dolphin swims along the marsh. Tacking as we play the gusts and wind shadows along shore.
10:25 the creek opens up and fully exposed to the wind, 4.6 to 4.9 and choppy water. Cut across the shallows at Chambers Point, on the Pamlico River at 10:45. 11:00 wind on beam, stead sailing at 5.2 kts.
Sun breaks through the cloud cover. Round up 11:25 to tuck in the first reef. Making 6.0 and then 7.0 with a gust. 11:45 past Wade Point and crossing the wind mouth of the Pungo River. Less wind, 4.4, then more and doing 5.8. 12:30 lots of gusts, spray coming on board. Watching a small dark shape on the horizon, a fish camp in the marsh near Willow Point, the marsh being a thin brown line.
Pass the marker at Willow Point Shoal, aiming for the distant tree line south of Judith Island. Wind swings to the southeast, making a tack to get out to deeper water at 1:15.
1:15 rounding the south tip of Swan Quarter Island, one of a series of small marsh islands to port. 2:05 see a ferry on the channel coming out of the village of Swan Quarter, wind on beam and making 6.0.
Overcast comes and goes, getting sunny again. See markers for Great Island, a small marshy island almost invisible from a mile or two away and I wonder how it earned the name "Great Island." 2:20 feels like we are going very slow, check the gps to see we are making 4.4. Pick out the thin dark line of Great Island. Overcast is back again, grey all around.
2:50 more wind, 5.4, Great Island to starboard. Turn towards Juniper Bay, following the the marsh line to port. Afternoon gusts filling in and glad to have the main reefed. Spot the channel marker in Juniper Bay and jibe to the mark. Easy downwind run up the bay. With the usual south wind, would be in protected water by now. But the wind is out of the south so follow the Bay north to where it narrows, bring down the reefed main. Under mizzen and jib turn to starboard and follow the creek into protected water. 3:50 anchor down as the afternoon south wind howls.
With all the moisture in the air, the forecast called for four days of rain and/or thunderstorms. So after 16 days on the water decided to head home early. Excellent cruise, some very enjoyable sailing. And of course saw some friends along the way. Hope to start the daily logs next week.
After several days of excellent weather, the early summer weather pattern has caught up with me. Light winds today, thunderstorms rolling around. I’ve reached most of my goals - Ocracoke, Oriental, Beaufort, Cape Lookout, Shackleford Banks and Belhaven. I would like to make it to Washington which is several miles up the Pamlico River from where I am anchored on Durham Creek. We’ll see what the weather allows
Rode the flood tide north from Beaufort this morning. Back in Oriental for laundry and a good dinner. Tied up next to Skookum, an 18’ boat that recently completed the 2025 Mini Globe race. Hoping to meet Josh, the circumnavigator. Heading north tomorrow if there is enough wind
Spent yesterday at Cape Lookout, then made our way today through the shoals and ebb tide currents past (scaffold-covered) Cape Lookout Lighthouse to a nice little anchorage on the inside of Shackleford Banks.
I just received the top photo, from John, who runs Potters Marine, on the day I began the trip. I like the way SPARTINA looks on North Creek.
The rest of the photographs are from the last two days. A long motor south on a windless Pamlico Sound until I finally found wind on West Bay and through Old Canal Today I crossed the Neuse River into Oriental. I will enjoy the town today and tomorrow, then head south Wednesday.
I put the boom tent up early this afternoon as thunderstorms are passing over the area.
Yesterday was great sailing down the Pamlico River to the Sound, wind on starboard beam and at times on the starboard quarter Very rough water and a lot of spray, but good sailing. 27 NM which is a lot for the first day
Today no sailing, tucked way back in the marsh on Juniper Bay eating out thunderstorms and high winds A good chance to rest and catch up from the travels
