Yesterday, departed Cherry Point @ 0935. The previous weeks temps had been warm, shorts weather, and the winds light. The forecast of similar temperatures and winds that would build from the SW during the morning would give us a pleasant sail to Oriental.

Here we planned to pick up a spot at one of the Oriental Harbor Free Docks. This would allow us to stage ourselves before our scheduled Monday morning haul at Sailcraft. This haul is part of our final preparations to ensure Calypso's safety while we galavant across the U.K. in the months to come.

NC weather being as it is, our sailing trip turned into a motorboat journey with ultra light winds, 2-3 knots, on the nose all the way. After docking, at 1225, winds began to build gusting to 30 knots. Overnight, as forecasted, the wind shifted to the North and the temps dropped into the 40's. This was the more seasonal February weather we had hoped to avoid.

For now, this chilly North wind is keeping us at the dock, huddled below with a warm mug of tea. We are looking at an early afternoon underway which should give us warmer temperatures & lighter winds for maneuvering this small area of the harbor. It will also give us plenty of water under the keel as we travel Whittaker Creek, to Sailcraft.

More later,
Jeff & Wendy