Picking up the new boat.

[Tim Gardner]

Remember, Bob, no Fiddle Mingers.

[Bob23]

Tim, yer just the man I need to see. How do I post photos here? I know we've been through this 10 years ago but I've forgotten. It's really important!

[Seachelle]

Ahoy, Carl! Just read your post about your journey and sooooo enjoyed it! Looking forward to checking out your YouTube vid! Quick question: are you able to sail year 'round in Oriental? I thought so? (Not sure how cold it gets?) Still hoping, one day soon, to get a trip out there!

~ Chelle
SV Sunflower (Sunny) | 2021 Com-Pac Legacy
https://sailawaywithchelle.wordpress.com/

[crazycarl]

Hi Chelle!

It does get cold here, but not compared to the Midwest.  This will be our 1st winter here so seeing how many boats stay in the water will be interesting.  I've been told rarely is there ice on the water, and when it does happen it's over night and gone by noon.
In the Midwest I've sailed as late as the 2nd week in December.  In my opinion, there is no better time than autumn to be on the water whether sailing, fishing, or canoeing.

[Seachelle]

Carl, thanks so much for letting me know — I will be curious to hear what you find out with how many boats stay in the water, too! I've always heard such great things about the coastal Carolinas and it sounds like a fabulous place to plant roots and enjoy a year round boating!

Though not the Carolinas, my grandparents used to have a home on the west coast of Kent Island in Maryland. I used to love to visit them there; the boat traffic on the Chesapeake was always so fun to watch! One summer, while visiting Grandma and Grandpa and I was on my summer college break, my family chartered a 30 ft sailboat out of a marina adjacent to the Kent Narrows Bridge (I think that what it's called). We had a great day sailing on the Chesapeake!

We just watched your video, too, btw — AWESOME!!! Hope you will make more as you make your memories aboard your beautiful new sailboat!!!

[crazycarl]

Thanks Chelle!

over the winter i will be buying an action camera.  i had the 1st version gopro and have many videos of sailing and trail riding.  i even made a "documentary" of our week participating in the Florida 120 on our Compac 19.  that video is on my old computer still in storage.  maybe i'll put a video together from 2018 when Chris, Roger, and i sailed the North Channel for 2 weeks. 

[Al]

Hi Chelle & Carl,
    We first moved to central NC about 30 yrs ago.  After living above the Mason-Dixon line much of our lives we realized that "snow" is a 4-letter word. A job opened up in central NC over 35 yrs ago and we jumped at it.   Then, after a few yrs in CA we came back, to New Bern, to stay in 1998.
    We've had boats in the water yr 'round since then and have sailed or motored every month of a yr.  Not always every mo. every yr, sometimes Feb. stays cold too long or Aug. stays too hot (and little wind).  Recently, while waiting for the dely (took 7 mo.s) of our new Horizon, I sailed a borrowed boat Nov. - Feb.   New Horizon was deld mid-Mar. and I've only missed a cupla weeks of sailing at least once per week since.
   Carl, I followed your trip here on the forum, good narrative.

[wes]

Carl - as a longtime NC sailor I can say I've never heard of anyone pulling their boat for the winter. There's no point, when water temps generally stay in the 50s and there is great sailing except on the coldest or rainiest of days. I rarely go out in February, but otherwise am sailing every month of the year. Some of my best sails have been on NewYears Day.

I can tell you unequivocally that the water does not freeze, period!

Wes

[crazycarl]

Thanks Wes!  Good to hear from a native Carolinan.

[Seachelle]

Carl, Al, and Wes ~ Thanks for all of the info re: the sailing season on the NC coastal waters — sign me up, please! I would love it there! I can't wait to get out that way for a visit! Maybe I could even trailer my Legacy there! Carl, I noticed you mentioned trail riding! We used to ride and had 'big horses,' (we had 2 Quarter horses and a Thoroughbred) but we lost our last big horse in 2015. We've had Mini horses since 2008 and, though we no longer do it hardly ever, our Mini horses are trained to pull carts. It's so much fun and a great alternative to riding! Also, on the action camera thing: I just bought a knockoff GoPro on Amazon — $65 or so. It gets thousands of great reviews. I will send you the link in case you want to check it out! Happy Sails, friends!