Sunrise in Beaufort

Sunrise on Taylors Creek

Thanks to a few long days in the ICW we arrived in Beaufort, NC Wednesay evening.  No questions about route or destination accompany today's dawn.  We plan to be Beaufort residents until next fall.

Cheers to all the friends new and old that we encountered on the trip.  Thanks to C'est la Vie for another fine voyage. 

We hope to keep C'est la Vie on the water until mid summer and then haul her at Bock Marine during hurricane season.    I look forward to a couple Cape Lookout trips and some day sailing prior to the haulout.

See you on the water.

Marking Control Lines on C'est la Vie

 While Anne piloted us ever northward along the ICW, I took advantage of the mellow conditions to properly mark the reefing lines on C’est la Vie’s mainsail.   To aid in efficiently reducing sail, it rarely seems that enlarging sail area is done under pressure, we mark the reefing lines at the cleat on the boom.  The first reef line receives a mark for the full sail and for the reef point.  The second reefing line receives a mark for the full sail, the first reef, and the second reef point. 

mainsail reefing lines marked with indelible ink

Initially we make the marks using a sharpie marker.  After a couple months of sailing and assessing the position of marks it is time to properly mark the line with some whipping twine.

Marking with whipping twine has the advantage of being both easy to see and easy to feel.  When working at night or under duress feeling the marks saves time and effort.

The tools required are scissors and a sewing awl.  Using a high quality whipping twine will enhance the quality and longevity of the marks.  

Resources with quality directions on whipping line can be found on the internet, example - Finish Whipping Method 1.  Look around and pick your favorite.

A hint for finishing the whipping is to use a sewing awl to pass the ends of the twine through the line. Using the sewing awl, I pass the ends through the rope three to four times.  

passing the ends of the whipping twine through the rope

This trick keeps the whipping from unraveling and gives the mark a clean look without loose ends hanged about.

completed mark 

 We use this technique to mark various lines around C’est la Vie – reefing lines, halyards, dinghy painter,  topping lift, etc.

new marks on first and second reef lines.

Five Fathom Creek, SC to Cow House Creek, SC

After being caught off guard by Tropical Storm Alberto last evening, we awoke early eager get under way and place additional miles between C’est la Vie and the storm warnings.  Watching the morning sunrise over the marshes of Cape Romain it was easy to judge which direction to run.

Here is the view to our northeast towards Georgetown, SC

Sunrise over Five Fathom Creek, SC

And here is looking southwest towards Charleston, SC

Rain Bands from Tropical Storm Alberto

 No brainier.  We were underway by 06:00.  Being a morning person I took the first watch.  The 20 knot northeast winds on our nose made the 60 degree morning temps feel brisk.  Between naps Anne kept me supplied with warm tea.

Anne napping in the quarter berth

We anticipated rough conditions combined with a headwind in Winyah Bay.  The bay exceeded expectations.  We entered the bay at a high slack so waiting would have only added tidal current to the challenge. Initially we tacked up the channel under a small jib.  The waves were very short period 2 to 3 feet on the bow so tacking with a bit of foresail  made for a better ride.  Closing in on Geogetown the waves dimished along with the fetch so we completed the final couple miles motoring into the wind.

Rather than fight the afternoon ebb tide  we ducked into Georgetown Harbor and tied up at one of the free city docks.  Big Tuna Resturant’s atmosphere drew us in so we grabbed some lunch.  While not bad food the atmosphere was more impressive than my cheeseburger or Anne’s crabcake sandwich

. 

The highlight of our Georgetown layover was the opportunity to catch up with Susan & Lynn, friends from Beaufort that have relocated.  They are currently working to create the GeorgetownMaritime Museum. 

Tide waits for no-one so by 16:00 we were steaming out of town ready to ride the flooding tide up to an anchorage in the Waccamaw River.