Southport NC
26 February 2016 | South Harbor Village Marina (ICW Mile 311)
Wednesday, as we went to bed at "cruisers midnight" which is really about 2030, the winds and rain had stopped. We suspected that we would see a bit mor rain overnight but we were not prepared for what we got.
Then, around 2200 the wind arrived, lots of it! Even behind the shelter of our little tree island gusts nearing 40 knots straightened our anchor chain. The two nylon snubbers, used to keep strain off the anchor windlass, creaked and groaned all night.
At 0730 Thursday morning Jeff called the Socastee Swing Bridge on the cell phone. This would be one of three bridges we would need to have opened today. Unfortunately, all three are swing bridges which don't operate well in strong winds. In fact, they will not open in a sustained 25 knot wind, period. "There are no restrictions", said the bridge tender and at 0854 we were underway. We flew along at 5.7 knots with the wind & tide with us.
As we neared our second obstacle, the Bearfoot Landing Swing Bridge, and asked for an opening, the reply on the VHF was not what we expected. "don't you know it's windy? I cant open if its windy!" the bridge tender said. As you can imagine a number of comments ran through our heads from whitty to.... well you get the picture;)
But if we ever wanted to get thru this bridge today we talked into the microphone with a smile on our faces and asked if he could let us know when he could open. With the engine in neutral we were still doing nearly 3 knots headed towards a closed bridge! As we closed the distance we turned into the current and wind. Now with 1200 rpm on Yoda, 4JH3E we were doing .9 knots.
After what seemed to be a lifetime, but in this case about 3 minutes, the VHF crackled again. "I'm starting the opening sequence for ya Capt'n," Hurray, and within5 minutes we were heading north again.
Cautious from this experience Jeff called our last bridge hurdle on the cell phone. He found that it was gusting to 30 knots at the Little River Swing Bridge. Gosh, the winds were suppose to calm down as the day went on, hummm...that weatherman thing again! This bridge tender told us to call again as we got closer and he would see what he could do.
Once again we did the "bridge dance" as the wind calmed down, only for a few minutes we got our last opening. At 1354, we tied up at Cricket Cove Marina for the evening, http://www.cricketcovemarina.com/transient_dock/
After a full and eventful day in the sun & wind we made a 3 mile walk to Food Lion to pick up a few essentials. Then a shower, dinner, & 15 minutes of a movie we were ready for bed.
Today we were underway at 0746. The tides couldn't have been more perfect for passing thru Shallotte and Lockwoods Folly. These areas are known for shifting sandbars and unpredictable water depths at low tide.
At 1359 we tide up at South Harbor Village Marina, http://www.southharbourmarina.com/ The only boat on the marinas 1000 transient face dock. Tomorrow, the Cape Fear River & Snows Cut!
Fair Winds & Quiet Anchorages,
Wendy & Jeff