News and Announcements

Fringe Benefit -- Leaseholders on slips at Washington Town Dock who are 55 or older have access to the city's Senior Center, one block from the dockmaster's office. The facility includes a small library, pool table, computers and secure wifi, exercise room, and other nice features.

Whittaker Creek Update -- The vital channel into the boatyards and marinas of Oriental has long been prone to shoaling. Three years after a major dredging project, it still poses a tricky bit of piloting. Towndock.net recently published a letter from Friends of Whittaker Creek, the organization coordinating dredging efforts. They propose a slight realignment of the channel and additional dredging to alleviate some of the problems.

Will it Still Be Tammy? -- It's 10/27/23. The remnants of hurricane Tammy have a better than 60% chance of reforming into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. If if does, will it still be Tammy, or will it be Vince? Or, for that matter, maybe Whitney?

One More? -- As Tammy curves out toward the central Atlantic, as of 10/23/23 another disturbance with potential to develop into a tropical storm has popped up in the southwestern Caribbean. As always, monitor the National Hurricane Center Website.

Watch Out for Swimmers -- USCG BNM 0469-23 states "Mariners are advised that the swimming portion of the Ironman Triathlon will be held on October 21, 2023 from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Approximately 2500 swimmers will compete in a 1.2 mile swim race within Banks Channel and Motts Channel in Wrightsville Beach, NC" and adds that the Wrightsville Beach bridge will be closed from 5:15 AM to 10:00 AM that day. The Isabel S. Holmes bridge in Wilmington will be closed 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM, I'm guessing to accomodate runners. For my readers, "closed" means the bridge won't swing or lift to allow marine traffic. I don't know what the situation will be for automotive traffic. For boats transiting the area on 10/21/23, you should read the notice linked to above in order to understand all the restrictions.

It's Not Over Yet -- A low pressure system well out in the Atlantic will likely become tropical storm Tammy in the next few days. As always, monitor the National Hurricane Center Website.

What's New? -- Section for the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 in Know Your Boats.

Potter's? -- David reports from Potter's Marine on North Creek near Bath - "No real damage... The parking lot flooded, that was about it. Most of the boats were still prepped from the near miss a few weeks before, that may have helped".

Wind and High Water -- We got steady 30 knot winds and a few gusts close to 50 from Ophelia at the dock in downtown Washington, NC. The water came in with a rush Saturday morning, covering the docks and adjacent streets and parking lots, and just as quickly flowed back out as the storm center passed 8 miles to the west at 11:00AM. No boats on the town docks suffered any damage worth mentioning. The docks lost a few deck boards and received other minor damage. No reports of damage at McCotters or the other marinas. We drove down through Bath to Belhaven two days later, no damage evident at either location. The yardmaster at TJ's reported that the yard didn't flood but all the land around it did, and they were cut off for a few hours. Taylor reports that the water came up about 18 inches in Edenton but caused no problems. Click here for a photographs taken from aboard Terry Ann after the water had come down a couple of feet.

Don't Let Down Your Guard -- It's 9/5/23, and another storm with the potential to become a major hurricane is brewing in the central Atlantic. National Hurricane Center is issuing a tropical weather outlook for Tropical Depression 13, which they predict will become a full-fledged major hurricane by the weekend.

Wind and Rain -- As of 8/28/23, the National Hurricane Center predicts that tropical storm Idalia will pass 30-40nm southeast of Cape Lookout Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Potential for tropical storm force winds and six to ten inches of rain along the coast. The forecast is still far enough out that there could be a lot of variation, so anywhere along the sounds and coast should prepare for wind and rain.

Something's Brewing -- It's been a quiet few weeks, but as of 8/14/23 the National Hurricane Center has an eye on a disturbance far out in the Atlantic, southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

Great Bridge Lock Closure -- The lock will be closed 24 hours a day from July 24th through July 28th, 2023, then from 0700 to 1700 Monday through Friday July 31st through August 18th. The Coast Guard is encouraging vessels that draw six feet or less to use the Dismal Swamp Canal. Expect congestion at the Elizabeth City docks, the locks, and the Visitors Center docks.

Windex Count -- In 2017 I walked the docks at Matthews Point, counting the Windexes at the tops of the masts. I found that, out of the 65 sailboats, 54 had Windexes and 11 did not. Now it's July 2023, and my Windex count in TJ's boatyard shows, of 39 sailboats, 12 have just Windexes, 9 have just electrical gauges, 10 have both, and 8 have neither.

The First Real Threat -- The afternoon of June 18th the National Hurricane Center/reports "...a broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Environmental conditions appear conducive for additional development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form over the next day or so."

'Tis the Season -- It's time to start checking in daily with the National Hurricane Center website. Hmmm, it's June 2nd and we're already on Tropical Depression 2.

Splash -- Taylor's Hunter Never Enough goes back into the water after bottom work, new mast step, new running rigging, engine work, and other things to get her ready for 2023.

Heavy Weather -- It's shaping up to being a rough Memorial Day weekend. Northeast winds gusting to around 40 mph are forecast, along with rain and thunderstorms. Some coastal flooding can be expected, along with ferry cancellations. Keep an eye on the National Weather Service for updates. If your weekend involves a ferry ride, the NC Ferry Website can keep you updated.

Mighty Sparrow -- In TJ's Boatyard in early May 2023 I found Westsail 32 Mighty Sparrow. The owner Jerome Rand did a single-handed circumnavigation in this boat in 2017-2018 and has since parlayed it into a podcast, writing and motivational speaking career.

Progress -- Terry Ann has most of the caprails replaced, topside cleaned and bottom painted in this recent picture from TJ's Boatyard.

Gam with Charlie -- My friend Charlie Langworthy passed through Belhaven on his way home to Vermont from his latest trip to the Bahamas and rowed in for a gam.

Big Forest Fire in Croatan National Forest -- As of the evening of 4/1/23 35,000 acres have burned and the fire is only 10 percent contained. See the ABC New Bern affiliate WCTI News story.

Rodanthe in the News -- A story at the Washington Post looks at the collapse of several houses along the oceanfront, including one that was purchased for $550,000 in August 2021 and fell into the ocean nine month later.

Not Today -- Rocket Lab launch scheduled for this evening (3/11/23) scrubbed due to weather.

Watch for It! -- NASA's facility at Wallop's Island on the Eastern Penninsula, VA, will facilitate the launch of a Rocket Lab rocket this evening (3/11/23), weather permitting. The timing will be between 6:00 and 8:00 in the evening, and it should be visible over much of the eastern U.S. Of course, the closer you are to the launch point, the better the view. I saw the January 2023 launch from Edenton and it was spectacular! For more information, check out the article at this articleIsland Free Press.

Rough Weather -- Gale warning for the Pamlico Sound tonight and tomorrow, March 10-11, 2023. Small Craft Advisory on the Albemarle Sound and Alligator River. Northbound Island Girl and her tow are waiting it out under the U.S. 264 bridge at the south end of the Alligator-Pungo Canal.

New Article -- Read here about how a sailor in the boatyard saved a boat from sinking.

Diesel Fuel Fill Pads -- Take a large oil-absorbent pad and cut it in quarters. Then fold each quarter in quarters and cut off the folded corners. Now you have four small pads with the centers cut out. These can be placed over the fuel filler neck to soak up any splashes and small spills while refueling.

A Bit Unnerving -- 6:45 in the evening of February 17th, the front just came through with a 40 knot gust, and the rain poured. According to the NWS, it will all happen fast, and then it will settle down and get cold. That's ok with me, the way the boat is moving around on its stands is a bit unnerving.

In Belhaven -- It's February 17th, 2023, and I am in TJ's Boatyard. The last few days have been breezy and warm, good weather for laying up fiberglass, and I have one unnecessary through-hull glassed over and curing. I'm eyeing another - the one that holds the spinner for the Raymarine speedometer. These things only work for a short while after a haul-out before barnacles jam them, and at this point everyone, even me, has a chart plotter with gps that shows the boat speed, so who needs it? If you want to be traditional, stream a log. If anyone has a lead on a good salvage yard where I could get a set of aluminum spreaders, let me know.

I Should Have Called Them -- Finally, February 8th, 2023, the USCG has issued the notice on the destroyed Marker 1AS (LLNR 31485) that we noted as we sailed from Edenton to the upper Alligator River on January 28th. They also issued LNMs last week on Alligator River Lights 12 and 24 reported missing.

Jamestown -- I kid you not, I placed an order for bottom paint, fiberglass cloth and mat, and resin on February 6th and received it on February 8th! No special shipping, just standard UPS ground built into the prices - and the prices were good. Jamestown Distributors, Inc.

What's New -- This article about Bruce Mierke's rebuild of a Cape Dory Typhoon as an open-decked daysailor. Coming soon - Terry Ann to Belhaven in January.

Caution -- We passed from Edenton to Belhaven January 28-29 and found Marker 1AS at the corner of the danger zone along the south shore of Albemarle Sound broken off a few feet above the water. Anyone following a gps course through here at night should be cautious not to run onto this dangerous stub. On the Alligator River, Marker 37 at the south end of the spoil area is gone and has been replaced with a floating marker. It flashes, but not as bright as a standard marker, and is easily confused with a background light.

Batten Down the Hatches -- It's January 24th, 2023 and the weather in Edenton is fine. The sun is shining, it's 50 degrees, and a light wind is blowing. But tomorrow a fast-moving front is forecast to pass through eastern NC, bring a gale warning and 40 knot winds to the Pamlico Sound and rainy, gusty conditions to Edenton. By Thursday, it will all be past, and things will settle down for a pleasant few days.

Tropical Storm in January? -- The National Hurricane Center is tracking a disturbance off the Virginia coast but giving it a near zero chance of development.

Rogue Wave -- Watch this simulation created from data recorded by a buoy off Vancouver Island in 2020 of a 58 foot rogue wave.

New Channel? -- On January 5th, 2023, Island Free Press is reporting "New navigational channel now open in Oregon Inlet" but I have not been able to find the ATON and in fact the latest ATONs refering to the inlet suggest severe shoaling and several markers off station or missing. So perhaps the new channel has been established and now it needs to be dredged?

New Alligator River Bridge? -- The sometimes balky swing-span has been a headache for sailors and motorists alike. As part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, supported by NC Senator Tillis and signed by President Biden, $110 million has been set aside to help pay for a new high-level bridge that will be aligned close to the existing bridge. Construction is expected to start in 2025. For more information - Island Free Press.

Deal With It -- Outer Banks drivers are getting used to driving on submerged roads. The next stage in their education is learning to deal with black ice and slush. It's all part of life during the climate change end days, as the barrier islands come apart at the seams and vanish Atlantis-like beneath the sea. Won't it be strange when the only features separating the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean are the two new bridges to nowhere, the Basnight over Oregon Inlet and the Jug Handle at Mirlo Beach, jutting up out of the open sea?

It's 12/23/22 -- and all NC Ferry routes are suspended due to weather.

Anybody Use Discord? -- If you want to join me in trying to get a Neuse River Sailors Discord server going, email me.

Cherry Point Marker -- is reported "destroyed" USCG ATON 12/13/22 and "extinguished" in USCG ATON 12/15/22. This is the Neuse River channel marker "9" at the mouth of the ferry channel at Cherry Point. Mariners use caution. Thanks, David, for bringing this to our attention.

Heat Exchanger Zinc -- I completed a 100 hour service and winterization of the Beta on Terry Ann a few days ago and replaced this zinc that protects the heat exchanger core.

New Ferry Coming to the Neuse River -- The latest addition to the NC Ferry fleet, M.V. Salvo, will start her service on the Cherry Point-Minnesott crossing, in a few weeks. Story at Island Free Press.

Time to Winterize -- Parts of the NC coast have already seen several nights of temperatures well down into the 20s.

Ferry Suspensions -- Ocracoke has been cut off most of the day of 11/8/22 with all ferry routes suspended due to rough weather on the sound. Tomorrow doesn't look much better. Knotts Island, Aurora and Cherry Point ferries are also suspended. For the latest information, go to the NC Ferry System website.

Possible Threat -- As of 11/6/22 a low pressure system located approximately 200 miles north of Puerto Rico is generating gale warnings. That far north and east, the first inclination is to discount the chances that it would affect the southeast coast, but the NHC predicts that it may take a westerly or even southwesterly course. The NHC is giving this system over a 60% chance of becoming a tropical or subtropical storm in the next few days. Per the NHC Tropical Weather Discussion of 11/7/22 0005 UTC, "...there is an increasing risk of coastal flooding, tropical-storm-force winds, heavy rainfall, rough surf, and beach erosion along much of the southeastern United States coast, the Florida east coast, and portions of the central and northwestern Bahamas beginning in the early to middle part of this week".

Duckweed Inconvenience -- Charlie reports recent southbounders say the duckweed horror is broken up, so back to normal levels of inconvenience.

Hurricane Ian Effects? -- Recent ATONs: 10/5/22 BARNEY SLOUGH CHANNEL LIGHTED WRECK BUOY 8 (LLNR 28722.5) AID RPTD MISSING. 10/6/22 BAY RIVER LIGHT 3 (LLNR 33405) RPTD EXT. 10/6/22 HARKERS ISLAND STRAITS LT 17 (LLNR 29386) IS EXT. 10/8/22 NAVY AIR COMBAT MANEUVERING RANGE TOWER LIGHT C (LLNR 580) RPTD EXT.10/13/22 BOGUE SOUND LT 21 (LLNR 38925) RPTD DESTROYED. 10/14/22 CAPE LOOKOUT LT (LLNR 670) RPTD EXT. (That last one is the Cape Lookout Light). Thanks David for bringing this to my attention.

Duckweed Horror -- My friend Charlie Langworthy passed through the Dismal Swamp Canal in early October and ran into a real duckweed horror show at South Mills Lock. All snowbirds considering the Dismal Swamp route should read, and consider, Charlie's post at his blog site, The Horror at South Mills Lock. Everyone else, read the post for the sheer shock value of a 2-foot thick layer of duckweed, or, in Charlie's words, "a literal wall, a sort of miasma...a stinking, fetid mass, of duckweed, pine needles, branches, and trash".

Suspended -- As of 8:00 AM 9/30/22 all NC Ferry routes are suspended as hurricane Ian approaches the South Carolina coast.

Intrepid Mariners -- intent on exploring Juniper Bay on the north shore of Pamlico Sound - note this USCG Notice to Mariners dated 9/23/22 - JUNIPER BAY LT 2 (LLNR 32445), TRLB MARKED "WR2" WITH 5NFR, 30' OF 1/2" CHAIN AND A 135LB DOR-MOR 10 YARDS CHANNELWARD OF WRECKAGE. My interpretation - flashing red "2" at the mouth of Juniper bay is destroyed and has been temporarily replaced by (TRLB) a 5NFR-type buoy 10 yards channelward of the wreckage of the old marker.

Keep a Weather Eye -- on tropical depression nine.

Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree -- will be held October 28th and 29th in Ocracoke.

Georgetown Wooden Boat Show -- is coming up the weekend of October 15th and 16th, 2022. For more information, click here.

Earl is Spooling Up -- but will probably recurve toward, or east of, Bermuda and follow Danielle for the coasts of Europe. Here is the National Hurricane Center track prediction as of September 3rd, 2022. Just a reminder to keep an eye on things.

Celebrating 82 Years -- The USCG Station in Elizabeth City was opened in August of 1940 and now is the largest employer in northeastern North Carolina. Coastal Review has a nice article looking back at the history of the facility.

Incoming! US Coast Guard warns "SAFETY/NC – CHERRY POINT OPERATING AREA (CPOA) – HAZOPS - FIREX WEEK OF 18 – 24 JUL 22, CHANGE FOUR/HAZ OPS/CCGD5 BNM 0367-22. FIRING EXERCISES HAZARDOUS TO SURFACE VESSELS WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE FOLLOWING TIMES AND LOCATIONS IN THE CPOA". Rather than try to interpret Coast Guard lingo, I'll just refer you to this link.

Pop-Up Storm. As of the morning of 7/2/22 the National Hurricane Center is warning of tropical storm Colin proceeding up the South Carolina coast, potentially crossing the Pamlico sound by late this afternoon. NHC home page.

Looking Good for Now. The NC Ferry Division reports that Bigfoot Slough has been restored to adequate depth for the large Sound ferries to transit. So, as of 7/21/22, the full cross-sound summer schedules have been resumed. See the NCDOT press release: Pamlico Sound Ferry Routes to Resume Full Summer Schedules.

Time to Get Back in the Habit of checking the National Hurricane Center site every day. The current five day outlook shows a disturbance far out in the Atlantic, heading for the Windward Islands, with a 40-60% chance of development.

30th Annual WoodenBoat Show is this weekend, June 24-26, 2022, in Mystic, CT. Click here for details.

Prinses Mia is on the Mariners Wharf in Elizabeth City. I first made acquaintance with this remarkable boat and no less remarkable captain, Martijn, and crew, seven-year old Mia, in Oriental in 2019. Today in June of 2022 I found the boat closed up, so perhaps Martijn is away traveling by land, so I didn't get to speak to this person who I consider to be the finest seaman I know, as well as one of the most cordial and generous sailors I have met. It was a thrill to see the 50 foot Colin Archer on the dock. If you want to read more about Prinses Mia, Martjn and Mia, see my article Edenton to Oriental and Return, June 2019.

New Delivery Method -- You know the "Broadcast Notices to Mariners" that sometimes break in on VHF Channel 16? Now you can get them via email. To subscribe to the USCG North Carolina Sector, click on this link. All you have to provide is an email address. I checked out the supplier, govdelivery.com, and found them to be a private service that many government agencies contract with to provide push email services.

Passable with Moderate Draft -- A Neuse River sailor who attended Ocrafolk emailed me that he transited Nine Foot Shoal Channel going and returning and found depths of six feet between markers 4 and 5, and also around 8. This was at mid-tide. He reported the bottom profile as "very rough". Big Foot Slough is still accomodating the older Sound class ferries that draw 6 1/2 feet, but the two new boats that draw 7 1/2 feet can't make it. I'd suggest anyone wanting to go to Ocracoke might want to follow a ferry in. The captains probably know the deepest part of the channel.

113 Degrees? -- It's the evening of 6/12/22 and the National Weather Service is predicting a possible heat index of 113 Tuesday for the New Bern area.

Sorry - More OBX News -- I have to admit a degree of morbid fascination, watching the Outer Banks transportation infrastructure crumble. The latest is this long article by Catherine Kozak at Island Free Press, Worsening conditions challenge Ocracoke ferry operations. The article ranges from the Rollinson Channel leading out of Hatteras to Sloop Channel at the north end of Ocracoke Island, Big Foot Slough leading in to Ocracoke, potential dredging of Nine Foot Slough as an alternate route to the sound, and relocating the north Ocracoke landing to a point near the Pony Pens.

Racing on Taylors Creek -- Traditional sailing craft will gather for a rally and race on July 7th, 2022. For more information, click here.

Cancellations -- June 5th, 2022. NC Ferry is reporting numerous cancellations of ferries in and out of Ocracoke, both to the mainland and to Hatteras. Evidently some of the deep-draft boats are having difficulties with shoaling in the channel leading into Ocracoke. With today being the last day of Ocrafolk, I wonder if all attendees will be able to get home. Of course, no better place to be stranded. I hope one of my readers who attended the Festival will send a first-hand report of the condition of the channel.

Getting a 404 -- The article at Island Free Press regarding shoaling in Oregon Inlet has been taken down. Essentially the same article is available at Outer Banks Voice Oregon Inlet currently unnavigable to vessels. A followup has been posted on May 27th, 2022 - New navigational channel at Oregon Inlet. This temporary channel provides a vertical clearance of only 37 feet over mean high water. Thanks contributor Mike Doster for the links.

Cooperage Dock, Belhaven -- Regular contributor David Swanson reports that the Cooperage Docks (the free dock) "are in really bad shape. One section of the main dock has buckled & the cross member is gone. I would not say it is safe to use." Belhaven shoots itself in the foot again. They got grant money to build the dock and now they won't keep it up. This town could be another Oriental for cruisers, if they made an effort.

Back in Edenton -- Motor-sailed up the sound May 23rd in front of an east wind. Back to Winston on the 26th.

Bottled Up -- As of May 21st I am on the MACU dock in Elizabeth City, with southerly to southwesterly winds predicted for the next several days.

Ramifications -- The recent storm system that pounded the Outer Banks last week completely shoaled Oregon Inlet to the extent that the Coast Guard will remove the channel markers. See report at Island Free Press.

Ferry Cancellations -- due to mechanical issues and Covid among crew members. Updates on the status of all routes can be found at the NC Ferry System Website.

Plan Accordingly -- Cruisersnet reports that Norfolk Southern has requested a deviation allowing them to perform maintenance on the railroad bridge just to the south of the Gilmerton Lift Bridge, Mile 5.8 on the ICW. Quoting from the USCG RFC, The proposed maintenance requires a work barge to occupy most of the navigational channel and the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for several hours each morning and each afternoon for 5 weeks of Monday-Friday closures. The work will occur between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on each of the following proposed dates in June - July:

Monday, June 6th through Friday, June 10th.
Monday, June 13th through Friday, June 17th.
Monday, June 20th through Friday, June 24th.
Monday, June 27th through Friday, July 1st.
Monday, July 4th through Friday, July 8th.

During each weekdays’ closure period, there will be a 1.5 hour scheduled opening, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., where the work barge will be removed from the navigational channel to allow for marine traffic to proceed without any reduction in horizontal clearance and the bridge will be maintained in the open-to-navigation position.

Cruisersnet reports that these deviation requests by the railroad are almost always granted, so traffic to and from the Chesapeake should plan accordingly.

Roads and Ferries Closed -- On 5/10/22 Island Free Press reports NC 12 closed between Rodanthe and Oregon Inlet with sand and standing water on the road. Overwash is also reported at Buxton and Avon. Two houses collapsed into the sea in Rodanthe. The NC Ferry Twitter feed reports Cedar Island, Swan Quarter,Hatteras, Knotts Island and Cherry Branch ferries all suspended. Hodges Street in Oriental is flooded, the Bean is closed.

Sea History -- The National Maritime Historical Society's magazine Sea History is available to read or download free of charge here.

BBQ Fest on the Neuse -- will be held May 5th-6th in Kinston.

Ocrafolk 2022 -- There is usually a contingent of Matthews Point people at Ocrafolk, how about this year? June 3rd-5th, 2022.

News Archives -- For older items, click here

To Contact the Webmaster -- paul@neuseriversailors.com