Heading Home: ICW Beaufort, NC to Portsmouth VA May 16 - 19

ICW with Captain, Beaufort to Ocean Marine Yacht Center

Thurs May 16:  The 35kt SW wind has us pinned on the dock and the dock master has a plan to get us off.  Spring bow, throttle forward turning into dock, stern moves off dock, straighten out and take off quickly, it worked and we are heading to ICW with no problems this am.  We left at 8:15 am and arrived at Bellhaven anchorage at 7:15pm.  It was a calm quiet night with soft light coming from the sunset.  Had dinner and crashed.

Fri May 17:  Left anchorage early and onto the 20 mile Pungo/Alligator Canal.  We were only able to sail for a short time with the 19kt NNE wind right on the nose after leaving the canal.  The weather started out clear, sunny and cool, but turned to driving rain, not pleasant.  We arrived in Coinjock late afternoon.  I treated Dwight to the famous prime rib dinner.  
It’s the best.

Sat May 18:  Departed Coinjock early and had to wait at every bridge, everyone that slept in caught up with us.  We arrived at Ocean Marine yacht center early afternoon with high winds and a 90 degree turn to get into a slip on B dock. OMG! We did not make the first, second or third slip, finally after kissing a dinghy on the davits of another boat we make an ugly entry into a slip and got tied up.  Dwight was not happy with the way the inexperienced dock hand was doing the ropes, neither was I.  He reset all the lines and decided not to take an early flight out but wait till tomorrow and we would go together.  So we walked around town a bit and checked out all the events that were taking place.

Sun May 19 We left the boat safely tied up in the slip and put the boat keys in box.  Took Helen's Taxi to the airport and we got on first flight with no problems, but, missed the connecting flight while it was still at the door.  Dwight was not happy.   We did get on another flight and Dwight’s wife and dog picked us up and dropped me off at my house, which I appreciated.  

Good to be home, learned a lot about myself and hiring a crew, very tricky proposition. called Marina to make sure they had keys and all was well.  They can’t find the keys to my boat.  Happy Ending???