Little River, SC - Day 10 and 11

Spring Tides

We expressed our disappointment with the dockmaster in the morning. Sue was surprised the dockhand had placed us inside the T dock. The spring tide had some impact but maybe 05-0.75 ft on the low tide depth. We will check Julep's keel out in Jacksonville, but don't expect any problems.

Ok, it looked like we had a weather window today. Friday's forecast called for 90% chance of rain and we did not want to run the Cape Fear River with limited visibility. So here we go.

With the spring tide, we again like last year had to wait until the morning tide fell three feet before we could clear the Carolina Beach Bridge. We pulled away from the dock at 10:45 and made the bridge by 1.5 ft. Entering the Cape Fear River below Wilmington, we ran 9 knots with the fair tide. The river was calm and made for a nice passage. The ferry boats from Southport were making their runs across the channel. We encountered only one barge northbound.

A hard right at Southport and we were heading again along the AICW inside the barrier islands. This is one of the trickiest stretches of the waterway. Numerous intersecting inlets create shoals and nasty cross currents. The worse part was that not only were we transiting at low tide, it was a spring tide which drops the level an additional 0.5 - 1.0 ft. It is imposing when you run alongside the docks and see 6-ft of exposed pilings due to the low water depth.

Entering northern section of Lockwood's Folly at dead low tide, the first of these inlets, we encountered the ketch Sophia and as we approached she went aground. As we slowed, a fisherman told Ruth that the channel was to port and so we wound our way around Sophia and along the channel to clear water. We then threaded our way across the main inlet entrance (there are lots of these intersections as the ocean inlets fracture among the intervening shoals islands) without major problems, just 7-8 ft of water is all.

The worse was Shallotte's Inlet where the crossed shoals at 5.5 to 6 ft. We are basically skimming across the sands. You would never do this across the rocks in New England.

We finally reached the Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge, a cute one lane contraption, that swings on a cable. The operator reminds boaters to stand back after he opens the bridge so the cable can drop to the channel bottom before passage is made. A few pix are provided. The tide was so low at mid afternoon that he had to delay the 2 and 3 pm openings until the tide rose permitting him to swing the bridge. We cleared at 4pm without an issue.

A final hour run past the Little River Inlet with the rising tide was accomplished without issue. Sandy at Coquina Yacht Harbour checked us in good order.

Our friend from U of I days, Jim Kessler from Wilmington, joined us for dinner. Jim drove the hour to see us. Unfortunately, Jana had some last things to do at home before they flew to St Louis for the weekend, so we missed seeing her We will see the both of them next spring.

We hooked up with Sean, Yvonne and the little ones using Skype. This is an internet based phone/video connection that is free from computer to computer. We able to see them and visa versa using the camera on our Mac and the camera/mic Yvonne bought for their computer. It was great seeing them. A wonderful grandparents device. You can signup by Googling Skype.

Data: 10:45 to 17:15. Engine hours 959. Refuel 24.2 gals at Oceana at 953 hours for 14 net hrs or 1.8 gals/hr.