(Photo: Bedouins encamped on the bow)

Our friends in Fiere Allure finally have caught up to us, and they barely had time to secure alongside us, than we suggested we sail this afternoon and proceed directly to Charleston along the coast, past Cape Fear. The forecast for the next three days is very favourable, winds from the W-NW-N, 5-15 knots, and seas no more than 4 feet. At five knots, we should be at the approaches to Charleston at 0800 Tuesday. This would also save us several days of motoring along the ICW.

Our friends in Fiere Allure are game to go, and they are ashore running some last-minute errands before we weigh anchor and bid Beaufort adieu.

In the meantime, the girls wasted no time picking up where they left off in Annapolis, and have established a tent city on the bow, where they have sequestered themselves, swapping stories and giggling giddily, while we prepare for sea and our first night watches since our crossing of the Bay of Fundy.