Now we know why it’s called Cape FEAR.

Above. Departing Cape Fear inlet, spits on left and right, close by

Carolina Beach to Cape Fear River. ( photo inserting in progress)

Nice view of the boat nearby before we had to re-anchor.

Spur of the moment change of anchorage. We were so proud of ourselves making a change of plan “on the fly”. Our goal was the Cape Fear inlet area anchorage even though it would get some ocean swell. Even though it was a “designated anchorage”, we saw some boats comfortably anchored around the bend before the designated one. We decided to try it out there instead. We anchored between 2 boats with a buoy on one side and Battery Island on the other. Our first try was a hair too close to the island for comfort, so we pulled up and anchored again. This was good practice measuring the area since we had to do it after dark when we watched the anchor alarm path show we were dragging.

The boat was heading into the current, but the wind was pushing us from behind, pushing the boat over the anchor chain, making us kind of odd “sailing” at anchor.

Afte re-anchoring around 8 pm, we saw there was a deep “hole” in our area. Claire thinks the anchor was falling in the hole before. Without any way of knowing, we watched our position every hour all night, so we didn’t get good sleep. Locking Thunder in the back bedroom with his litterbox and food. He was happy with one of us for company most of the time.

Nov 8  Still sleepy but glad to be going sailing

Upon waking the last time, at dawn, we decided it would be a “break” to do a day on the ocean, timing our departure with a good tide for entering Little River Inlet (border of NC/SC). (We could take turn taking naps) This was also a departure time when the tide was going out of Cape Fear Inlet, giving us a big push. Of course the wind was coming from the nose-south/SE so against the wind and with the current made for short deep waves, dipping our bow almost into the next wave, splashing water to wash the deck. Real bucking. We just slowed down to make it the least bucky. We had to go into the waves because it was a narrow channel.

Call for Ginger Tea!

After we clear the narrow shallow channel, we put up the staysail sheeted in tight for stability. Kept the motor on since the wind was dying to 3 knots and we wanted to make Little River inlet at good time. Poor Thunder didn’t like the boat action and got sick. Claire didn’t feel great at all, even with fresh ginger tea from our precious ginger plant, so didn’t get anything done for 6 hours other than washing the dishes.

Thunder trying to be comfy after not feeling great.

Little River Inlet was not rough at all since we timed it well. Anchored with other boats immediately to the right. Beautiful grassy area by a dune, view of traffic coming in the inlet. What a relief to be still. 1 pm. Chatted with friends on the phone and Claire had a conference call. Our boat sits right on the border of NC/SC.

Nov 9. Reverse Wind-Current Anchor pull, again

We hate this. When we are angled into the current, but the wind pushes us forward over the chain. As the wind shifts and currents change, the pull the boat sideways, rubbing the chain along the but chainplate, but likely along the keel too, surely rubbing bottom paint off. We reduced chain to reduce this.

Move we shall

We don’t like this noisy chain action, and the wind will pick up tonight, so we’d like to anchor somewhere else. There is not an anchorage we can get to before sunset, so we have to try for a marina. The first one couldn’t take our 44 ‘. The 2^nd one can take us: Cricket Cove Marina MM345. A short trip, but it's already past sunrise, so we can't go a full day anyway. We WERE planning to stay here and get boatstuff done, so glad to have a short motor day.

Update: Nov 9 afternoon. We are docked on the outside floating dock of Cricket Cove Marina! Yay, dinner at the restaurant and a shower with elbow room tonight! Pretty sunset photo to come. The marina wi-fi didn't work at the boat, so we have our computers out at the restaurant downloading all kinds of stuff with the restaurant wi-fi. I would have though this so rude last year, but not now, since we are traveling. We are still sociable with our waiters and people nearby- i think - CW.