close hauled towards Frying Pan Shoals

Once clear of the Winyah Bay Channel, Anne and I reviewed the forecast, tide predictions, and current conditions.  All the while C'est la Vie was sailing close hauled so perfectly balanced that we did not need to touch the helm for nearly one hour.  She seemed to already know that we would make the decision to sail around Frying Pan Shoals and then enter the NC coast at Masonboro Inlet.  This will allow us to avoid entering the Cape Fear River Inlet in the dark and then fighting tide upriver at night.  If the conditions remain as forecasted we should pass east of the shoals dark-thirty tomorrow morning and arrive in Wrightsville Beach by midday.

Jeff