Well, we're now in a small marina called Town Creek Marina in the back bay of Beaufort NC.

We left Oriental after waiting out what seemed forever for a water level that would allow us to leave! Finally left bouncing out of the marina and channel.

Has good winds and put a partly furled jib up for the 1/2 hour trip across the Neuse river - wind really picked up and we were sailing a nice reach at around 6 knots.

Entered the ICW in Adam's creek and doused (or tried to) the jib. It jammed part way out - not a lot, but enough to have some effect on steering - more of that later.

We had thought about changing the roller furler at some point, but now it looks like that time has come.

Our sailmaker (Paul Lockwood or Omar sails) had offered his slip just along from the Beafort City docks for a week until we could find a longer term arrangement. Had a great time and three attempts docking Audrey down current, with a dog leg into the dock. Every time we would line up withe dock, the combination of unfurled jib, wind and current would blow us at right angles to the dock and downstream - pretty difficult.

We ended up partly backing into the slip and docking by hand with a lot of help from Paul on the dock.

We then visited just about every marina within a 5 mile radius and settled on Town Creek marina - nice place - reminiscent of the Breakwater Cove marina in Monterey. Old but clean facilities, boat yard, rustic, but with a bar and restaurant on site and only a few minutes from the town center. We'd be able to access the Moorehead City Channel and the Atlantic with about a 1/2 hour motoring - so we'd be able to get some sailing in once our sails arrived.

Yesterday, after 3 solid days below decks fabricating, fitting and wiring, we commissioned ur newest crew member "Norm" which was a lot of fun turning circles and S turns while the course computer "learned" the boat's responses. Our crew is now up to 5 - myself, Michelle, Polonis the heater, Norm the Autopilot and "Guss" our wind vane steering system.