Since 1978 I have been fortunate to sail wooden boats. In 2006 I set out to find a Drascombe Longboat Cruiser for single-handed expedition sailing. This is the continuing story of how it came to be, our adventures, notes on the maritime world and other things I don't want to forget...


Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Colorless Markers

Wednesday May 8

Another still morning. I look down into clear blue water and then pan across a long ribbon of sand. Fifty yards or so away a small tent is set up. It's early but the two young inhabitants are alternately walking back and forth from the site to the inlet edge with fish they are pulling in one after another. Before long, small boats are anchoring nearby their spot to get in on the action.




We heated up Breakfast Skillet and have a cup of coffee with a dash of Irish. Determined to not run aground we start back to the entrance buoy and begin winding into the bight south toward anchored sailboats in the distance. Having read that there were channel changes after the somewhat recent hurricanes, I asked a fisherman if it was clear through to Core Banks. He affirmed and we pressed on.

Motored until turning north by the lighthouse then caught the ESE breeze that was picking up. Moved into Core Sound and saw that all the charted markers on the seaward side were bare except for a black and white sign stating Danger Shoaling. The reds and greens had been removed. We were making good way and keeping well to port just in case. Broad reach and close-hauled the entire sound. Intense sun encouraged us to cover up, towels coming in handy.


Cape Lookout Light



Core Sound










By 1500 we had passed the fishing village of Atlantic and decided to abort a previous idea to continue NNE to Ocracoke. It would be dark by the time we would make our approach and that seemed risky. Instead we ran up into Thorofare Bay and the canals by Cedar Island. The SE wind funneled up the route and only needed to motor through the short Old Canal. Anchored far up Broad Creek at 1900 and enjoyed a beautiful night.


Along Old Canal



Time out

Day total  42 NM, 48 SM



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