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In the Year 2004
Trip to Ocracoke,
Easter Weekend
Destination: Pamlico Sound
So with a successful long weekend voyage last year I was
confident about a trip to Ocracoke Island. Like any good captain I
did my research... asked around for others experience, and calculated
the timing and course. The only unknown.. as always, the weather.
The forecast looked good for no rain... and the wind seemed manageable.
So we took off from Oriental, the wave were ok for the first couple of
hours then we got into the middle of the Pamlico Sound and the wind
started picking up. We were about 10 miles from Ocracoke and the
First Mate and one swab were starting to get sea (sound) sick, can't
blame them as the waves were now about 3-5 feet and the wind was coming
from Ocracoke. So instead of plowing forward into the waves or
taking them on the side I decided for sake of the crew to turn around
and ride the waves back to Oriental. We sailed all the way back
(even under a bridge which I have never liked to do) loaded up the boat,
had dinner at M&M Restaurant and got on the Ocracoke Ferry the next day
and spent a fun day on the island. So in a sense I did take a boat
to Ocracoke... This trip however scarred the crew for further long
trips.
Basic Sailing Course,
September 6 th
Destination: Atlantic Beach
Took a vacation at Atlantic Beach this year... decided to give
the First Mate Jean some real sailing lessons, not from me. Went
to Outer Banks Sail and Kayak and she had a blast and is now more
confident with her skills. I also decided to take the course too
since I have never had any formal lessons.... whatta know... I passed,
easily... but it was fun. An the really funny part, we left the
boat at home... we used their boats.
Blackbeard
Sailing Regatta, September 11 th
Destination: Neuse River, New Bern
So the First Mate and I took our new found skills and put them
to the test in our first ever regatta. We were still a little
mystified about some of the rules. We were able to start one
race... and finish.. dead last. But we did it with style... we had
pulled out the food and drinks at the second mark and sailed over the
finish line still eating. I always knew the KnotShore was a
cruising boat, not made for racing... and I proved it. We tried to
start the second race but got caught in irons (pretty much stuck in a
heave-to maneuver) and were unable to start. So we put our
tails between our legs and dropped the motor and headed in. We
decided not to stick around for the after party.
Oriental Sailing Regatta,
September 21 st
Destination: Neuse River, Oriental
Ok... maybe the other regatta was just a fluke... yea right.
My First Mate bailed on me to stay home and watch the swabbies.
Had two friends join me, Dom from my work and his new wife Amanda.
I trailered the boat up to Oriental and had it ready to go when the crew
arrived. We had our custom made jackets on so we would look like
we knew what we were doing. The wind was a killer (of course) 20
knots with gusts of 25 to 30. We got to the starting line under
power and that was the last I think we saw of it. The first leg
was upwind... we never got close to it again under sail. A lot of
the smaller boats (me included) ended up with a DNS (did not start)...
the keel boaters were as happy as clams with the strong wind.
Several boats had their sails tore up. So I decided to give up my
pursuit for the Americas Cup and opened up the lunch cooler. We
had a nice sail back to the dock... just as it started raining
slightly... just to add insult to injury. |
