Picking up the new boat.

[crazycarl]

Brackish,
Thanks for the heads up.  I checked out the site and I think I'll be okay.  I'm arriving next Wed, but won't be leaving until Thurs  or Fri.

[crazycarl]

Arrived Wednesday and got the U-Haul emptied into the boat before the rain.  Drove to get ice and the rain came and soaked me through and through.  After showering I began that horrible task of putting things away.  After putting 24 bottles of water, 12 bottles of Gatorade, 12 bottles of Corona, fruit, 5 cans of V8, eggs, bacon, other perishables, and 40lbs. of ice, there still 8" of clearance below the built in cooler's lid.

Watched a couple shows on Netflix and turned in.

Thursday I drove to Deltaville to pickup new flares and some cleaning supplies. Then I drove to U-Haul where Peter met me and treated me to a most delicious lunch.  This area is filled with history the scenery alone is worth a trip here.

Rick (Mas) arrived and chatted and ate pizza in the gazebo.  Rick's also gave me a tour of his Pacific Seacraft 31 which sits on the same docks as a PS Dana and Flicka. 

Friday I awoke early and showed before the liveaboards crawled out of their boats.  While boiling water for coffee the camp stove malfunctioned and turned around just in time to see the knob catch fire.  That scrambled my plans for a hot breakfast so cheerios where poured out.  Rick drove me to another marina to fill the spare 5 gallon fuel can and pick up some milk and breakfast sausage.  Afterwards we ate at a waterfront restaurant that obviously is paying protection to Bob22 as pbr was served and they even advertise it!  Although the sign is in the mens bathroom out back.

All the final preparations have been made and spare parts placed with tools in their respective places.  Very light wind is forecast for the next 2 days, but it beats the water funnels reported yesterday.

[Bob23]

it all sounds great Carl and I wish you Godspeed on your journey. Sounds like a party with you, Rick and Pedro and yes: I am everywhere! I toast my glass of PBR to you in this new adventure!!
Bob23

[5monkeys]

Hey Carl, How's progress?

[crazycarl]

I arrived home yesterday about 5pm.  Out of the 6 days on the water, I was only able to sail 3 of them.  I left last Saturday out of Topping, VA.  "Mas" helped me get her out of the slip and with light winds on my stern I wing & winged it down the Rappahannock.  After ghosting down the river I entered the Chesapeake Bay and thought I would gain speed, but it wasn't to be.  After only 20 miles I stopped outside of Winter Haven Harbor, but not before running aground.  After walking the deck stern to bow and back again, she slid off the mud and I dropped anchor in 12' of water.  Saturday night was nice and cool with a good wind that gently rocked me to sleep and kept fresh air flowing through the cabin.  Sunday morning started with the stove catching fire and me disassembling it to clean out the venturi.  The day was quite windy and I sailed under full genoa down the Chesapeake with waves approaching 3'.  Late afternoon I cruised into Norfolk and furled the genny as I approached the downtown area.  Now motoring along, I spotted another sailboat in a small basin and pulled in and set the anchor in 10'.  4 small sailboats came out to race and I ate dinner while sitting topside and watching the show.  Night brought glass smooth water and I slept easily.  Monday I motored through the Naval Ship Yards and felt dwarfed not only by the great ships, but the cranes as well.   As I proceeded down the Elizabeth River a large merchant ship sounded it's horn and the Coast Guard responded with an all clear to launch their life boats in a practice session.  I wanted to see this, but the boat traffic was building and I didn't want to deal with the large wakes.  I continued south along the river until I reached the Great Bridge Lock.  I was 2nd in line out of 5 sailboats waiting for it to open, and I had read the best place to tie up is the southwest end.  A large sailboat decided he was going to enter 1st and passed all of us.  It didn't matter as we all easily fit against the west wall.  (the west wall has a tender that secures your lines and the east does not)  I asked how much we would be lowering and he said only 2" today.  s/v Maya's transom indicated it was out of Cape Fear, NC so a conversation ensued.  Andre and his wife had been living aboard their sailboat for years and were headed for Bayboro, a small town just 10 miles from Oriental.  Andre had advised me anchorages would be scarce ahead and invited me follow them.  After waiting for the Great Bridge to open, I stopped at Atlanta Yacht Basin to top off my fuel tank and purchase more ice.  Continuing on I found s/v Maya anchor just off the channel in a very small cove.  Andre, with beers aboard, piloted their dingy over and we chatted or awhile.  I explained my phone wasn't taking a charge so Navionics was useless and he said to just follow him, although his boat could only do 4 knots and mine will do 6 when motoring.  Another calm night and Maya was off a 1/2 hour before me.  2 hours after pulling up the anchor I was right behind Maya and at 230pm we pulled into a large bay with 3 other sailboats.  Before the sun set, a catamaran anchored making it 6.  Once again no wind and the next  morning I awoke to find the outside of the boat covered in small bugs that resembled mosquitoes.  I started out just after the cat and now we were in the North Landing River.   Exiting the river into Albemarle Sound I again attempted to sail but the wind too light and with the 1st tack was right on our nose.  From the sound into the Alligator River.  What a scam!  I looked all day and didn't see a single gator!  From the river it was down the Alligator/Pungo River Canal.  Very straight and not much to see.  I entered the Pungo canal about 5pm and dropped anchor along with 5 other sailboats.  Another dead calm night so I ran the cabin fans all night as it was getting warm again.  I left that anchorage at 730 and headed west, then north to Downey Creek Marina.  Again I topped off the tank, bought more ice, and a new charging cord for my phone.  I hadn't seen s'v Maya the previous day, but with my phone now working, I could use the Navionics app.  I traveled south down the Pungo, across the Pamlico River, down Goose creek, east on the Bay River and finally into Pamlico Sound.  However, while traversing the Bay River a large north bound cutter  about 1/2 mile away started spewing thick black smoke.  I hailed them on 16 and let them know I was coming to aid them.  Arriving alongside, it's port was blackened by the exhaust.  The couple aboard hadn't seen the smoke and were  very thankful.  The captain decided to turn around and head to Oriental.  The smoking stopped when he decreased speed, so I did the same and radioed that I would be following close behind to make sure they make it in.  Once back underway, I phoned Joanie and told her I'd be home around 440pm.  She was happy as I wasn't expecting to arrive until Friday.  After s/v Serenity entered Oriental harbor, I headed under the bridge and to the dock.  It was great seeing my babydoll standing there waving me in.

This wasn't my longest solo trip, nor my farthest, but it was the most tiring.  I'm not sure if that's age or the stress of sailing a large boat I wasn't familiar with.  I've been home over 24 hours now and as I type this, the floor is still swaying up and down, back and forth. 

I'm sure I left a lot of the trip out, but I didn't keep a log on this trip.

Sailing solo, anytime I needed to go below was a challenge.  I would lock the wheel and hope the boat didn't steer into a crab pot.  While motoring, I would put it in neutral and she would make tight counter clockwise circles.  Something s/v Maya witnessed several times and even radioed to make sure everything was good.  I even had a CG helicopter hover above me once as I went below to get lunch.

Along the 280+ miles the CG made several announcements of boats in distress.  Including a boat on fire, at least 3 groundings, and a 30' sailboat in distress possibly with crew in the water at the mouth of the Alligator River.  I heard that for 2 days.  When I made it to the river, there was indeed a 30' hunter very close to shore with a fishing skiff along side it. 

I had charts, a handheld GPS, and Navionics on my phone.  The GPS was too small to see without my reading glasses.  I used the charts to plot my courses, but most of the rivers and canals day markers are miles apart and the subtle splits and turns make it easy to get lost.  The Navionics app had an automated routing feature where you make your start and end points and it draws your route.  Very handy when out after dark.  Charts are a great back up, but I was amazed how many crab pots are placed along side the channel and sometimes in the channel.  Not being able to see the next day marker and my phone dead, I almost ran aground a second time.  The channel is 12-15' deep, but immediately outside it can be as shallow as 2'.  Many times I found myself thinking "If I was in my 19, I could cut across this bay and save hours".  A small boat allows that.  Run aground and it is easy to kedge off or jump in and be pushed off.  Grab a pot on the rudder and it's as easy as lifting the rudder and watching the line slip off.  Get one wrapped around your prop?  Raise the motor and get to work.  Get a pot caught on a large boat and you diving down to untangle it.  Another advantage to a small boat is there are many more anchorages to slip into.

[Christopher]

Carl,
   Glad you made it back.  Thanks for the descriptive narrative.  Enjoy!

[5monkeys]

sounds like a successful trip! Glad you made it back ok, and enjoyed reading of your adventure.

[crazycarl]

I put some of the pictures in video form...

https://youtu.be/AyegA86qZk4

[bruce]

Thanks, Carl, fun to see. Patreon and t-shirts to follow!

[brackish]

Great report! I'm encouraged by not seeing any folding lawn chairs in the bow pulpit.

[crazycarl]

Great report! I'm encouraged by not seeing any folding lawn chairs in the bow pulpit.

I probably should check the bow, there could be something there.

[Christopher]

Nice video Carl!  Thanks for posting it.

[Bob23]

Great video Carl, thank you. Any truth to the rumor that PBR was involved in this deal?? Curious minds want to know.
Bob23

[crazycarl]

Great video Carl, thank you. Any truth to the rumor that PBR was involved in this deal?? Curious minds want to know.
Bob23

If you're referring to Public Broadcast Radio, yes, I did listen to that local station.

If you're talking about that swill you drink, we'll yes, I used it to remove gum from the bottom of my shoe.

[Bob23]

Public radio is really good, I also listen to it. Let me see, I know I can learn how to post photos here.
Bob23