"VOYAGE OF IRENA"

voyage of irena

Who: peta pat and zoe cat
Port: capephilannapolis
16 January 2010 | Bucksport marina - Georgetown
16 January 2010 | Pipe line anchorage
12 January 2010 | wrightsville beach-cape fear-pipeline
09 January 2010 | Leaving Surf City
08 January 2010 | beachhouse marina
07 January 2010 | past marker 47
07 January 2010 | Swansboro
06 January 2010 | beaufort nc
06 January 2010 | Oriental sc
05 January 2010 | Oriental
16 December 2009 | elizabeth city november 25-28
16 December 2009 | NOVEMBER 23 NORFOLK
15 December 2009 | MOBJACK BAY to NORFOLK NOV. 21-22
15 December 2009 | into Mobjack Bay nov. 18-20
15 December 2009 | deltaville
07 December 2009 | annapolis
07 December 2009 | galesville / solomons island, md

2010 - jan 3 -5 boat shed marina georgetown sc

16 January 2010
peta
The big day to move the boat into a slip. Towards noon we tried starting the engine but she was so disinterested & cold she would not budge. This is where having an inflatable and an outboard helps in emergency situations. No panics..We tied the dingy fore and aft on Irenas starboard side. Put the outboard in gear and Pat rushed forward to pull up anchor then jumped back into the dingy. Me at the wheel. We made it down to the marina, slowly turned into the slip right next to a shrimp boat named "Stormy Seas". The wind caught our masts as we went in and pushed us over towards the shrimper. We were going slow enough to not cause any damage - plus the dingy was tired between us so that was fine. We were safe.
2 large powerboats on our port side provided great wind protection, which we cold feel immediately. Just minutes earlier we were buffeted by icy winds coming off the water.
We secured our home safely, it was time for a hot cup of tea and biscuits. Then off to Walmart for food and a heater. Oh that blessed warmth. It slowly pushed back the cold inside the cabin & fore peak. All that dripping condensation was gone. It could blow like hell outside we were finaly warm. The temperature rose to 61deg. my goodness "Heatwave"!! who needs Florida and palm trees???

jan 5 Its 10.45pm & its a comfy 60 deg. inside. A far cry from the 20+ we were experiency ust last week.
We still have to work on the engine, but were not in a hurry; Florida will still be there... waiting. For now we're taking pleasure in the rest, reading, watching the wildlife and hearing the occasional bird call and at night mostly, we hear the distant sound of a train whistle signaling its intentions, a sound so reminiscent of travel and faraway places. We'll carry on.... In the meantime all is well on Irena with peta, pat and zoe cat. ps... will keep you posted :))

DEC 26-27 New Years Day Georgetown sc

16 January 2010
pta
Long walks around town - not much has changed, old friends moved on but that figures. Moving the boat to re-anchor and the engine balks; emergency throw anchor, use dingy & outboard to move her to new spot. Georgetown glue is thickening under us.
I bake a Briton apple tarte. Looks good, tastes even better.

Very cold weather, 15deg lower than normal the locals say and we can feel it. 21deg inside the cabin which means icycles hanging down from the ceiling...very cold. We met up with wendy, she was so surprised to see us and a great birthday gift for her that we were here.Plans were made to celecrate New Years day with herand her family and what a spread it was. Thank you Judy & Johnnie, Ronnie and Rose for all the great food - we enjoyed every bite.
With the lower temperatures we decided to arrange to go into a slip at Boat Shed Marina. Our little alcohol heat pal produced just enough heat to take the edge off the cold but to warm us?? forget it. Most nights we just went to bed early after an early dinner. One can always stay warm under the covers. Thats why Pat married me he says -

DEC 24 -25 can we make georgetown for christmas!!

16 January 2010 | Bucksport marina - Georgetown
By morning the other 2 boaters have left; the sun is warming but still a bitter cold wind. We leave and as the morning continues my bread starts to rise in a corner of the cockpit just enough to make a good enough bread.
Into the swamp we go. Twisting and turning following the red and green markers. There's no one around. And no street lamps. This place would be scary at night, I think to myself.
Round that bend over there, there is Bucksport Marina. Not much life going on around here, but for one lone dingy rider "Jack Rowe" he introduces himself as and , offers us his car to get groceries and the like, seeing its christmas eve and all he says. The marinas closed. Everyone's away for the holidays.
The second rise on the loaves has done all its going to do, and I place them in the oven, only to find half an hour later that the propane bottle's emptying and mid-bake we have to change over to a fresh tank.
Fresh bread is the "treat" for christmas.
12/25 Christmas day. Cold windy, rain. Want to moveon anyway. Long hard day at the wheel - 30 knots gusting 40knots straight in our faces. Pat looks drenched and is, but we are determined to reach Georgetown. Bob and Rusty call to and ask what are we doing...
Arrived in Georgetown. Took too long to get here. Anchored in a calm spot, isn't that crazy that its calm inside and a mad hell getting here?? No one about so we stay aboard and eat fresh bread & treats from the pantry I've smuggled away from Pat as a surprise.. and he is :))

Pipeline SC-moving on DEC - 22

16 January 2010 | Pipe line anchorage
pta
We have to start making shorter hops. We anchor off Shalotte's inlet. Strong current; we dont follow the guide book maybe as close as we should and go aground coming in. Ahead the gulls are watching from the sand bank, laughing I suspect. Sometime in the night I wake to find we are over on our side quite markedly; I'm worried we'll tip over, Pat laughs - which makes me mad, wish I had photos of that.
By morning we are straightend up. A quick breakfast, wait for 11am when tide turns then up anchor to arrive in front of the pontoon bridge. The very bridge that's been giving people trouble with extended waiting for bridge openings and such. The new bridge under construction going full steam. 15minutes to go and through we go. Pictures are good.
Since marinas are not our regular haunts & since the next anchorage is something like 60 miles away we decide to do a 30 mile run and anchor off somewhere :)))
Lots of water in Little River Inlet. We settle in and have lunch and begin to enjoy the peace and quiet, a little sunny spot....when in the distance rounding the bend is a blessed cruise ship. What on earth!!! Its coming into the inlet from the ocean side and bearing down on us. We hear our boat name come over channel 16 "IRENA YOU ARE IN A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. --- MOOOVE IT"!!
So up anchor again to re-anchor a few yards away next to 2 other boaters for the night. ::)) Good Night ! - but first I mix ingredients for bread....but it wont rise in the cold.


Wrightsville Beach Dec 19

12 January 2010 | wrightsville beach-cape fear-pipeline
peta
Its our 6th wedding anniversary. And what are we doing?? we are braving the weather yet again.. 20-25 knots gusting 30 very cold. We stay put for now. No Cape Fear under these conditions; there's lots of things to clean, food to prepare and maybe bake another christmas cake since the first was devoured in a week.
Zoe snuggles on her blankie - quite happy and so soft and warm, its a good day to update the journal and catch up on some good reading.
Pat does odd jobs, like checking a raw water filter.

12/20 Sunday and waiting for the tide to turn and once it does at 11am the boats start to turn and we are off. All going well. Current really strong either one way or the other near the inlets around here. Once into Snows Cut we are "sucked" into the Cape Fear River and lookout we have the main up and are cruising. 9 knots we clock on the GPS doing good time - a beautiful sunny day just icy cold; feeling the effects from up north. We are zooming past the markers. I cant imagine haveing to go against this kind of strong current, must be very depressing.
Past the town of South Port at end of cape fear river we look for the marker to enter into pipeline anchorage. A quiet and peaceful haven just how I like it. 10 boats anchored here only 2 look like transient types.. By morning we decide to stretch our legs and go ahore looking for a conveniece store. There are none.
Not within walking distance anyway; while at dingy dock we befriend Lynn on a steel boat "IN AINNEOIN"... from Walden NY. Shes on her own and will be needing crew sometime or other for a trip to N. Ireland.Tough lady, but very nice, she offered to get some things at the store for us.

Ashore we watch a guy flying his radio controlled model glider on adjacent field to the woodland park; he makes the plane do flips & curls before making a perfect landing. We applaud & he takes a bow. wish I had the camera that day.

december 18 BRIDGES !!

09 January 2010 | Leaving Surf City
peta and pat - temperate
Its hard backing out of a slip when the winds at your back. It was a bit like bumper cars, but no harm... Motored around waiting for 9am bridge. Accompanying us is a 3 masted junk rigged boat but without sails. And is being assisted by a motorized dingy. We wave as they pass. Four heads pop up through the companion hatch all waving.
Two more bridges to get through before Wrightsville Beach. Current against us, slow going. We enjoy egg sandwiches for breakfast with a following wind its not that bad. We prefer to follow the junk for some reason; Approaching the Figure 8 bridge we start having engine troubles again& pat dives down in the engine room, this is becoming a "pain".The junk rigged vessel has stopped and we coast on past him; by now the current has turned and is with us, wind blowing 20 knots as well. The engine has ceased to work right at the bridge with seconds or so to go before the bridge swings open.
The junk boat behind us hears our commotion & stays back....very tense moment. There's not much I can do but try and straighten her up and aim the bow of our engineless Irena toward the centre of the now opening bridge... and hope for the best.
Pat in the meantime tries in vane to start the engine, looks up & is startled to see us going through the bridge.. What the .....!!! is all he can say.
I thank the bridge tender for a timely opening. That was another close one. But it worked out fine.. The junk rig came past slowly and just stared at us, probably think how lucky we were.
Now that we were through the bridge the engine started up - of course!!. & we make the 3rd bridge doing 8 knots, far too early."Blastard punktual bridges!!"
having to motor around for 40 or so minutes.. We anchor in Wrightsville beach 3 pm in howling east wind and rain. 3 other boats, but lots of space this is a hot stew night. Smoked ham, potatoes, veggies... makes a good meal winds still 30-35 what a night!! Give me some Peace and Quiet.
Vessel Name: IRENA
Vessel Make/Model: offshore cat ketch 33
Hailing Port: capephilannapolis
Crew: peta pat and zoe cat
About: following the sun :)))

voyage of irena

Who: peta pat and zoe cat
Port: capephilannapolis