12/08/2017 – N33˚54.70 W77˚11.68 Cape Fear – 177 nm
We’re finally sailing! No engines, no generator, just the sound of the wind, the creaking lines and the water swooshing by off the coast of Wilmington, NC.
Yesterday after lunch we watched a couple of movies, set up the hand line and continued motoring towards Cape Hateras. Still no sun all day, too cloudy for a sun sight. I took a nap at 19:00 and woke up fore my next watch at 22:00 with Cheryl and Patty. We watched Rango on the TV and Radar on the boat’s display.
At 01:00 we were still motoring in an 18 knot quartering tailwind with a two knot current slowing us down to 8-9 knots. Chris is due up at 02:00, so maybe we’ll put out the jib and turn the motors off if we’re still ahead of schedule.
The temperature is warming up. Now I’m comfortable in only one jacket and ski pants, watch cap and gloves.
02:00, reefed the main and deployed the Solent with Chris’s help. 8 knots over the ground, one engine running at 1900 rpm.
At 06:00 I woke up to Chris adjusting sail, the inky black just starting to lighten. Following winds and seas 10 miles off the coast running at 8 knots inside the Stream.
07:00, the wind is picking up! We’re hitting over 12 knots with goose wing main and jib, soaking rain and a bit of trouble steering straight. The preventer broke when the autopilot gybed the main when a big wave pushed us off course. Time to take in sail. Main only, 8 knots, easy steering.
10:00, fish on! Just a little guy, about 15″, so we threw him back. Got another, even smaller at 11. The Solent is up, double reefed main running 7 knots. The water is being blown off the surface of the ocean looking like a smoky haze. The big following seas are mesmerizingly beautiful! 33 kts true wind speed.
Or spot tracker is up and running! Check out our live position at this link: