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2014 ~ ~
2015 ~
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| In the Year 2014
Father-Son Shakedown Cruise,
April Heading back in the afternoon, missed the bridge opening twice... got it on the third. The wind had picked up, but the dock area was calm so docking at the launch with no reverse went well... just remember the golden rule... hitting the dock slowly is much less painful to me and the boat.
Southport Sail, South of Wilmington,
June 6-8
Got the boat back on Thursday... and took off Friday for Southport. (Just me, no other crew) Felt pretty good as I had just had the Jeeps' front differential fixed... it had been making noise for years due to rough bearings. Got to the Marina just before dark, did the usual 15 minute set up and hit the ramp at dark. Found the rest of the MacGregor group boats already slipped but no one around. So I just tucked Knot Shore between two slips on the dock side and waited for the crews to come back from the dinner/bar. Had a nice chat with all the crews while waiting for Victor and Compromise to show up... late... again.
One of the group was having engine problems so we ended up getting slips at the Island Marina for the night, instead of anchoring at the beach.
We all brought out our food and had a nice dinner with everyone around the pool.
The next morning I took off and wanted to do some sailing exploring... I headed south down the river... the wind was spotty between the houses...
but enough to keep some good forward motion. Found out
that the river/channel ends abruptly... so turned around and found that Billy on XX was headed my direction.
We both sailed back to Snows Cut and then started out trip back to the Southport Marina. We had some great wind on the way back...
I actually had the lead for sometime until I got tied up catching fish while trolling... caught 9 blues and 1 shark (released all).
The sailing and the weather was great. Had one little issue when the pin to my steering system came out... took me a while to find the problem and then get going again.
By the time I got back to the launch all the group hit the ramp at the same time.... so I hung back and temporarily beached the boat in the creek so I could take the mast down on the water. By then the ramp was clear and I just loaded up the boat. I waited around a little to help Victor on Compromise with his new mast raising system... he's been trying to copy the way I do it.
Neuse River,
August
Launched over at the Bridgeton Wildlife ramp so we can leave the car
and trailer overnight. Our general plan was to sail to Oriental,
have dinner and sail back the next day. Oh, how plans need to be
flexible. The motor on Compromise was having problems getting up
to full speed, so we decided to just sail around New Bern.
The wind was pretty light so we motored out to where there is usually some wind... up by Fairfield Harbor. On the way we had to pass though some paddle boarders having a race. My older daughter Nicole was with me... and once again we got pulled by the Coast Guard for her dangling her feet off the front... luckily it was only the Auxiliary... not the real Coast Guard. So we continued on our way after some nautical advice. When we got out to the area Compromise had a problem with the main halyard... up on top of the mast. So I got on the radio and jokingly suggested they climb up and fix it... so they did.
They made a quick boson chair and sent his son up there (all 120 lbs.) Of course the Auxiliary had to stop by to ask if they needed assistance... or to tell them it looks unsafe?
ah, what do they know... no problems. We then put up the sails and enjoyed some quality time on the water.
We decide to raft up and have lunch and even did some cooling off... since the wind also fell off.
Nothing like testing out the lifejackets.... with drink in hand!
We did have a little anchor issue, as the rode wrapped around the end
of my centerboard. So we had to dive under to free it... good
thing Victor had mask on board, although the Neuse River is pretty dark
do it did help too much. We did have a scare as my Admiral had
maybe a touch too much of the Pina Colodas and while standing at top of
the boarding ladder, lost her balance an fell backward into the Neuse...
and disappeared. Victor and I were about a half a heart beat from
jumping back in for her. Luckily she surfaced... laughing.
It is still amazing that we could see nothing of her when she went
under.
So we parted and put up sail and headed back... wait I lost a crew mate... Nicole jumped ship and sailed with Compromise. No sooner did we get wind but I see my daughter hiking off the side of their boat. We had a nice sail until the wind died the closer we got to New Bern. I decided we would dock at the city docks at Union Point and head to Capt Rattys for dinner. Had a slight problem getting into one of the six slips... people crabbing had lines on all the docks, and they seem to take offence to us docking... so much so that when we got back from the restaurant they left us some of their bait on our decks. Once night fell the crabbers disappeared and we had a nice night sleeping at dock... especially the free part!
Headin' to da Lighthouse,
Labor day (aka My Birthday Weekend!)
Admiral looking good in the Sunset!
Knot Shore looking good at the Lighthouse!
Admiral looking... like she wants something!!!!! (oh yea... there were no kids on this trip!) This was a great way to spend
my birthday. We took off from Beaufort and headed out the
inlet... which was pretty flat as far as waves and then the Ocean was
beautiful... good wind and very small rollers! Had both sails out
and was making for the tip of Cape Lookout.
Didn't even know there was an island just beyond the tip... called Shark Island. Yup there is a reason for the name... you can anchor and play in the water on the South side of the island, but better bring a shark cage for the North side. We just sailed by and headed for the bight.
Did some trolling fishing while sailing... caught a Spanish mackerel and something called a lizard fish... too creepy to keep... and too many teeth... threw that one back! We sailed pretty much all day... beautiful weather.
We then detached and headed for a place to anchor... I hate anchoring at night so we still had light while I anchored. It makes sleeping at night more comfortable if you are not worried about the boat dragging anchor at night! The star were out in full force with just a touch of moonlight... could not ask for a more romantic night! We took solar showers on deck in the starlight.... very nice!
Next morning we had a nice breakfast and then had a nice stroll along the sound and the Oceanside beach. Met up with John & Wanda and then Harry and Alicia and continued strolling... we then headed back for a quick sail. Had another beautiful sail then headed back to the bight for dinner on the beach. Got the coals going and setup camp on the beach with our buds and had a nice time eating on the beach.
Then we headed back home... Power Sailor style!
Pirate Sail 2014
Had lots of help from my family crew members... like father like daughters!
Anniversary Sail,
October 23-26th could not have planned it better. Got down to
the launch and got the boat in and did a full power run to the marina.
Just
The Bed and Breakfast was nice... ( http://www.1837bb.com ) We were in Carriage house room 2. She really like the old southern feel of the four post bed and brick walls, and loved the porch with the rocking chairs. We has just enough time to unpack when the carriage arrived.
We had a nice private carriage ride around Charleston, then strolled back to the B&B where there was wine and chocolates waiting (oh yes I did have that planned!)
( https://www.peninsulagrill.com/ )
We enjoyed the outside dining in the garden with gas lamps going... it was like from a movie.
You can see a picture of the outside dining area... it is the first pic that shows on their website. Everything they say about their Coconut cake was true... very good. We then grabbed a bike taxi for a slow ride to the Theater. The show was less than excellent, but it was local theater... with local actors... what is it they say "acting is like acting that you are not acting".
Was happy to see our boat there... still floating. We then headed out for a quick sail around the bay.
We then meet up at a local restaurant with the group. Spent the rest of the night on the marina docks drinking and socializing.
The next morning we started making coffee for some of the group and then we all headed out for a sail on the ocean.
There were like a 100 sailboats... uh I mean 61... but that is still a lot! There were a couple of regattas going on. We had a great sail on the
ocean, then headed into the marina for our Charleston Bar Tour! We hit
up a couple of bars for drinks and food.
The Pain Killer became the official drink of the group.... a tradition I started last year! At some point (4 pain killers later) I was loudly demanding sweets... found it and raided it! Cravings... who knew?!?
The next morning we woke up early... and
sober... and headed out for a sunrise sail... it was a very nice view.
We then motored slowly in front of the city wall... spooked some girls
having coffee on the wall... I guess they don't get 26 foot sailboats
running 5 feet from the wall... asked what was for breakfast! (they
laughed).
Jean was excited... they were all around the boat, and few were breaching... what a great way to end the trip!
Why yes... I am the Captain!
and the Admiral...
More pics from the trip
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Took off early in the morning and did some nice slow sailing in the
creek (Dutchman creek) in front of the marina... really nice while
having breakfast. I then headed out of the creek into the Cape
Fear River... killer current... couldn't make any headway sailing, but I
was still just waiting for the rest of the group to wake up... so no
worries.
Eventually the rest of them came out to play and we motor sailed up the
river to Snows cut. At the time I had no idea where we were
headed until we went though Snows Cut then I recognized the area as the
same place where I launched for the Scallywag sail.
.JPG)
We
knew that Jenna Bird (Harry & Alicia) were heading for the bight to
anchor so we motored up to them at anchor and rafted off to them for
some drinks and a chat with them and some friends already on board (John
and Wanda).
Erik
Da Pirate sails again... and I got promoted from Games Quarter Master to
Commander when the original
commander
had family issues. So I was in charge of Pirate Sail again...
aarrrggghhh!
before
entering the marina I spilled the beans on what is in store for the day
to Jean... little did I know that she had insider info already...
(someone responded to an email where I had laid everything out, and she
intercepted before I could)
So
the next day we have a nice breakfast in the parlor... and spend part of
the morning on the porch rocking and enjoying the ambiance. We then
headed down to the marina and meet up with the other sailors. 
We
then headed past the cruise ship Fantasy and was surround by... wait for
it... dolphins. 
