Docking Nightmare

Docking Nightmare   …   Wednesday 31st October

We filled up with diesel and left River Dunes Marina at around 8.30 this morning.  It was a bright day but the wind was pretty strong and made it feel really cold. We motored the entire way because with the exception of 5 miles up the Neuse river where winds were right on our nose, the rest of the route was far too narrow and shallow to sail. The highlight of the day was the sighting of many dolphins as we came out of the Adams Creek canal. Some of them were really close. Then we arrived at Town Creek Marina, Beaufort and had an absolute nightmare pulling in to the slip. We were more or less completely unprepared - we had some lines ready but no information on whether it was going to be a port or starboard tie up. As it turned out - neither / both. It was a slip where you needed to grab lines off the posts at either side or loop your own lines round. We decided to try and go stern in as it makes it easier to get on and off the boat and easier to depart. We have learned that in close manouvering we have no directional control at all in reverse (inadequate flow over the rudder) and were taught by a couple in Norfolk how to stop the boat using reverse then pivot around the keel with the engine in slow forward and full rudder. This works great in still conditions but today having come to a stop the 15 knot wind then pushed us right past the slip and we ended up having to come in to the dock at the end of the row. The marina guy said "pass me your stern rope and i'll pull you round". Well we should have paused and figured out what the rest of the plan was because we ended up drifting up against the front of a power boat and having a total fiasco trying to get the boat round and getting lines to and from the poles. We're now safely docked but it was the most miserable experience. We walked into Beaufort but I don't think either of us really enjoyed it because we are so bummed out about the docking. To add insult to injury - the only reason we are docked is because the guides write such off-putting descriptions of the anchorages, but there are lots of boats anchored in what appear to be beautiful situations. I'm feeling totally frustrated and have no hesitation about labeling this as far and away the low point of our trip so far.

Mike

34 43 32.3 N, 76 39 54.8 W

Boat aground - Not ours thank goodness. This boat was in Town Creek, Beaufort and had clearly been washed ashore during the storm. It wasn't the only boat we saw aground today.

Black crowned night heron - hanging out in Town Creek Marina. This bird did not like my flash gun and took off with much squawking