CAROLINA BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA

MAY 21, 2016

YOUNG OSPREY WAITING ON LUNCH

COMPANY ON THE WATER

It 's Perfect left the South Harbor Village Marina at 11:50 am, heading for the mooring field in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.  Our passage was only 25 miles, a very short day, the weather was partly cloudy and cool.  From the ICW there is a cut to the East into Carolina beach.

SNOWS CUT

Snows Cut goes from the Cape Fear River to the Myrtle Grove Sound.  The channel is narrow, shallow and the current was brutal.  Just to make it more interesting there were many small pleasure and fishing boats wandering across the channel as if they were the only boats on the water. 

There were two sailboats ahead of us and they had plenty to do to dodge boats  and deal with current.  It's Perfect was close behind, our nerves on edge as we finally passed under the bridge and turned into Myrtle Grove Sound.  The sound is small but deep, surrounded by small marinas, docks, houses and businesses.  

The dock master of the Mona Black Marina is Randy, he manages the city mooring field.  We picked up a ball just like pros and settled in.  We were soon joined by Twin sisters from the South Harbor Village Marina dock.  We are only 2 days out of Beaufort, North Carolina and there is heavy weather on the way.

DINGHY RIDE TO THE DOCK 

We spent 6 days on the mooring ball while the weather passed.  The days were scattered rain and thunderstorms.  There was a trip to the grocery on bikes and a ride around town.  We also walked the Carolina Beach Boardwalk one clear afternoon, with very few people about.

A few boats came and went during the week but most stayed put.  On Saturday the weather looked encouraging for a early Sunday morning departure to the Mile Hammock Bay anchorage in Camp Lejeune.