Harbour Village to Saint James

 1/9/2022

dock access doesn't get easier

very nice stop, limited space for transients

Harbour Village Marina - Hampstead North Carolina to Saint James Plantation Marina - Southport North Carolina.  

     The shower and dockside facility were great as was access for Parker at Harbour Village Marina.  This is a gem of a place to stop, just no stores or restaurants, which they warned us about in advance.  Never a problem for us.

Dolphins!

     We left the marina about 10:00 am, no rush.  We were going 48 miles, quite a bit of it slowly to St James Marina in Southport.  The St James Marina is very similar to Harbour Village as it is in a large residential complex that is not near any amenities, again we are fine.  They had a fire in a restaurant on site about two years ago and they have not re opened yet!  I have heard the residents complain, but maybe they don't want to open until covid is over?? Third time stopping here.  

   More Dolphins!

  Sandy does not like to cause a big wake when there are docks - both personal and marinas.  You are not supposed to, however, that does not stop a lot of people, notably a large USCG boat that roared past us twice, once in between the docks and us, very fast and causing a huge wake for us and the docks.  Very discourteous, no one calls them out though. Not just discourteous, there were men working on a dock with a diver in the water.  The Coast Guard boat passed the dock at about 25 mph throwing a several foot wake only about 25' away. No flashing lights, no apparent emergency and no calls on radio.  Probably didn't see them because they were going so fast.  They passed the couple of miles of docks only to turn around and head the opposite direction.  Inland rules of the road = you are responsible for your wake and any damage it causes.

     We saw some interesting things along the way, a car ferry to Bald Head Island, a very large barge being pushed by a tug and another large tug following.  We also saw dolphins, that swam in our wake for a bit.

Pushing, easier to pass in Cape Fear River
rather than in tight spots on ICW

Always surprised at the low freeboard on stern of Ocean going tugs

     Beautiful warm day today, we took advantage of it and washed the boat and filled our water tanks while we had the opportunity.  With the cold front coming in tonight, they said they are going to be shutting off the water.  She was a salty girl and needed a good cleaning!  Open windows for the afternoon, Sandy thought about AC.  

Grey Chilly morning, will wait until 11 for tide to rise before departing
several notorious shallow spots coming up quickly

     We hope to move to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club tomorrow.  Just 31 miles but it is supposed to be very windy and chilly.  Most of it is inside except some especially nasty inlets we pass.  Both inlets have a lot of current flowing through and shoal frequently.  We hope to be going through near high tide to assist in our travels.  Moving, even a little, makes us feel like we are accomplishing something.