Tap, tap, tap. Not yet dawn. Maybe a light rain. Wake at first light. Clear skies. Tap, tap, tap. I realize it is the sound of shrimp snapping below SPARTINA.
A cinnamon bun and iced tea at CRU. No rush to leave. Slack tide at Beaufort Inlet is 8:00. Cast off 7:20 with a solid west wind. 7:30 sails up just off the docks. 7:30 tacking into the wind at 2.5 to 4.0. No traffic in the channel and a beautiful morning. 7:50 round the west end of Bird Shoal and see the inlet to the south.
Red marker "6: shows the beginnings of the ebb tide. 7:55 passing the southern tip of Radio Island. Shackleford Banks to the southeast, 3.3 into the inlet.
8:05 into the inlet, 5.0 with wind on the starboard beam, rolling in the swells. 8:05 out of the inlet, watching a shrimp boat coming out of the inlet behind me. The shrimper turns east and drags her nets in the shallows off Shackleford Banks. We turn to port, wind on the starboard quarter, raise the centerboard for the downwind run. Making 3.9 with waves rolling up the stern.
Sailing by the wind, the bow pointed to the very southern tip of Cape Lookout Bight. 3.7 to 5.5 depending on the swell.
9:05 jibe towards the entrance to the Bight. Calmer run with wind now on the port quarter. See that that shrimp boat that has paralleled us is now turning out to deeper water and headed our way. Jibe to clear a path for her.
9:25 can see the entrance marker for the Bight, a single red buoy. 9:30, clear of the shrimp boat, jibe to the marker and round the spit.
10:10 tacking in the the beautiful blue water, blue skies above and sand dunes all around. Wind now on the beam and you can't buy sailing like this.
10:20 anchor down.
A sparkling day and I take a moment to enjoy the simple colors of the Bight.
Set up the boom tent for shade. Catch up on the log. Nap. Read. Relax. Enjoy the day.
11.90 NM
