Going Out at Cape Fear...the untold story

When you are planning to go out into the ocean for the first time on your sailboat, you gotta ask yourself, "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?"

After "sleeping in" for a whopping 15 minutes we were up and around in Carolina Beach.  You all know that we made the early morning decision to go out into the Atlantic yesterday.  Our buddy boat from Solomons was going out and were kindly willing to wait for us to get from Carolina Beach to the Cape Fear Inlet...so, Mark confirms "we're going".  We were all very excited but of course anxious, maybe more so about getting to Cape Fear and not holding up our buddies.  Mark let Pamalynn know we were going out and they wished us the best (we hope to meet up with them Monday when they arrive in Charleston too). So away we went down the cut over to Cape Fear River. 

Old bridge crossing

Shoal at high tide, supposed to look like mini rapids at low tide due to the current

Cape Fear River

Imperial walkers on the north ridge.

And about 20 minutes behind schedule, we were coming up on the inlet and getting our safety gear ready and finalizing the EPIRB registration (praying none of this would ever be needed). Nothing like waiting until the last minute to take care of this little things.

Then out we went...into the beautiful calm blue ocean in light winds and warm weather...me posting to Facebook and texting along the way at what was to be a 28 hour trip from Carolina Beach to Charleston.

Rounding the marker behind Island Kaiya

Out we go...

First of two little bid visitors

I love this shot of their boat because you can see them sitting together.

We starting marking our progress on our charts to record the who what where when why of our jaunt.  Everyone was very pleased with how calm the water was and the comfortable temperatures.  We were saying that the ICW was nice and meandering but this was amazing.  "I'm so glad we decided to do this" was the overall sentiment.  There was much relaxing and pondering and quiet contemplation and it is very obvious why people fall in love with the sea...while you still feel the sense of its power over you and wonder at the world under its surface.

Around 1630 or so, I was up on the tramps reading and happen to look up and saw a dolphin swimming back towards the boat then back behind us right in our wake and up super close to the sugar scoops.  I called Mark and Jon out and we watched with glee as two dolphins played in our wake...and then there were more up front riding the bow...then more along side...then more in front and back and forth between the bows...and more and OMG more.  Sorry if we inundated you with videos but it was the coolest things we had seen on the trip and, for me, the coolest thing I'd seen since the bear in front yard at home.

About 45 minutes later the excitement died down but we still saw them jumping in the distance and going crazy eating fish they had corralled.  We enjoyed some dinner and started are preparations for dark and the overnight watches.  Life vests on if outside, tether ready for safety lines Mark set up earlier, sugar scoop lines latched, nav lights ready, steaming light ready...watch the sunset and take lots of photos of our first ocean sunset.  Again, everything was going beyond our expectations!

We said our good nights to Island Kaiya and got settled in for the night.  Mark had taken first watch and I was going to stay up to keep him company, enjoying my book and the spectacular stars as we watched the crescent moon sink into the ocean like a deep orange sliver. Jon volunteered for the midnight watch.

The weather started getting rough...ok, all kidding aside, the wind unexpectedly picked up and things really did get rough...all night, at least three foot waves, winds hitting us dead on the nose at up to 19.5 knots, the boat rocking-slamming-hobby horsing, the 5.3 knots we had was cut to near 3 then pushing herself back to 4.2 - 4.5 -5 then repeat as she attempted to push through the waves, more wind from the West (we had been heading SW then WSW then W) riling up the waves...hitting us and water breaking over the bows as we trogged and slogged through.  Earlier Mark felt one of the engines lose RPM (bad) but did some quick adjusting and things seemed to reset.  I dozed off for 15 minutes sometime between 10-midnight and conditions had only gotten worse.  Those of you who have been on a boat know exactly how bad it is when the boat hobby horses (such an innocent name for a horrible condition) so imagine that with three+ foot waves and swells, driving into the 18-19 knot winds while the sea beats the shit out of your boat...in the actual ocean, when you've never been out for that long (or ever) and...wait for it...in the dark.  

To properly follow our buddy, we had to keep resetting the RPMs and at one point we fell very far back...and nav lights get very small and very faint very fast.  But like a clingy girlfriend we kept her in our sites.  I mean we had GPS and Autopilot supporting us but still, we didn't exactly want to be alone on our first trip out.  At 0315 I went to bed, giving up on the hope that the winds would die down after a certain marker I had been tracking for two hours..they were supposed to get down to only 5 knots if we could just get around such and such point or get close to such and such bay.  And that was a big "didn't happen" and the ones we saw that were at 5 then became 10-15, really? Ugh. But before I stepped down, I saw a shooting star...and since I am one who believes in things like signs...it was one to me and made me think of my mom sending me a message and made me smile.

Jon guided us through the night and I hit the bunk, put in earplugs, said may prayers and completely passed out.  Fast forward to around 0700 and the sunrise...no change in conditions--slam, bang, rock, roll, splash, bang, slam into the wind.  Jon finally got to rest and also passed out as soon as he hit his bunk.  We wondered "Was this normal?" "Is this was it is like when you go out?" "Did we misread the wind reports?" "Why didn't we just stay on the ICW?" This was the worst condition we had ever been in but at least it was near the US coast, not freezing cold, not raining or foggy and our Stray Cat was taking everything she got hit with like a champ.  The photos and video do not relay the "this really really sucks" aspect of the situation. But Mark was right, let the boat be the boat and let the engines be engines--both were doing their job and we had to do ours which was stay on course, and deal with the discomfort and sleep deprivation.

Our Tireless Captain and my sweetie...who maybe slept an hour since 7am Saturday in Carolina Beach

It finally started to settle a bit as the day progressed but unfortunately I discovered that we left the hatch open in the front cabin...discovered when I walked inside and hear a loud "SPLASH" sound as a we hit into a wave...WTF?!?!!  Oh.My.God...mattress soaked--water puddled on top of it.  Yes, I had checked the portlights before we left the Inlet but did not look up and see that hatch open...curses self, pulls soaked sheet and foam covers out onto cockpit, curses self again.  Oh did I mention the marina we hoped to stay at was booked and we had planned to anchor?  Yeah, no.  Now I'm really upset that we are not going to a marina.  

As always, Mark steps in and makes everything ok...he called the marina he had stayed in years ago and they could squeeze us in.  "PTL!" was the note I wrote in my journal.  Mark also called Island Kaiya to see how she was doing and to not so subtly ask if that was a normal night.  "No, that was pretty lousy" was the gist of the response.  I hate to say we were relieved but we were--if that had been normal, I'm not sure what we would have done!  They were heading to their planned anchorage and were going to be looking into some boat maintenance items and we would head to the marina for the same.  Mark planned to check in with them to offer any assistance and make sure they were getting along alright.  With the wind and sea no longer trying to mess with us, coffee was made, hurray!

Thank goodness things feel into place...the winds did ease and the water settled down, John piloted us into Charleston Harbor which was a very welcomed sight for sure.  I couldn't look around fast enough.  A dolphin gave us an escort between the two bows for a little bit and I couldn't help but feel comforted by that after the horrible night we had.  We even got to see the new racing sailboat Comanche as she and her 100 foot hull and 150 foot mast flew past us in the Harbor.  She was slick and humongous and impressive.  We got to our marina and got tied up all snug then everyone immediately put on shorts because it was HOT in Charleston-woohoohoo!  Mark and Jon washed the boat and got the salt off everything...it was everywhere.  I always seem to find myself elsewhere when dock set up chores happen...hmmm.  Not important but it is important that she looks wonderful now and is sitting pretty and getting well deserved rest.  Tomorrow Mark and Jon will take stock of the engines...engines that literally ran nonstop for 28 hours...nonstop...as in, did not stop. Good girl!

We got ready for an early dinner and had the best surprise ever! Our friends Kim and Gary who live in Japan just happen to be in Charleston.  I was so happy and excited!  They picked us up with their super nice and fun friend Leah and we went to a super fun BBQ place on Sullivan Island...much catching up, eating and beer drinking ensued!  They were kind enough to stop at the boat for a night cap and we plan to force Gary to hang out with us tomorrow and will hopefully see Kim again before we leave in a couple days.  

I mean, talk about a day going full circle!  I'm so happy to be here, I've been waiting for this stop over for a long time and am itching to explore the Battery, fun and cool shops, foodie spots and waterfront.

 
I wrote a ton again and hopefully accurately retold the story that will forever be "remember that time when we went from Cape Fear to Charleston?!"  I know that if I left anything huge out or rewrote history, the fellas will help correct me.  I'm sorta bushed and may be sleep typing for all I know.

So from me and the thousands of *Snap, Crackle and Pops* I can hear currently going to twon on our hull (totally thought it was raining outside), good night!  XO Suzanne