Tag: Beaufort Docks

Beaufort NC

The sound of the anchor weighing lets you know that a new leg of the journey has begun.

First Light
Looking Back

The forecast for today included a fresh breeze. We understood that meant we’d be salting up the boat with the spray kicked up from the wind.

Pamlico River Wind Speed & Direction
Neuse River Wind Speed & Direction
Underway in the Neuse River

The trip to Beaufort, NC looked something close to this.

Alligator River Pungo River – Beaufort, NC

Buddy & Renee placed the anniheim, poblano & jalapeño peppers & onions in the stove for today’s green chile soup.

Green Chile Soup

Soon we were passing the USCG station in Hobucken, NC.

USCG station in Hobucken, NC

Just next door is the R.E. Mayo Seafood company with its fleet of commercial boats.

R.E. Mayo Seafoof
Commercial Boats

We entered Adam’s Creek and found a beautiful Kadey Krogen being pulled off a shoal by a tow boat. It’ looked like an ant pulling a boulder on a string.

Tow Boat US

Once in Adam’s Creek we passed another ICW statute mile marker as well as beautiful homes and yachts.

At this point I happened to see a Facebook group post about 50MPH gusts off the Jersey Coast. This made me smile thinking we made the right decision not to stop in NYC and get trapped by weather.

As we came into Beaufort, NC the wind was gusting and the current was flowing fast past the docks. Docking was challenging but we managed to back her into the slip with some assistance from the dock-hands.

MV Simple Life Slipped at Beaufort Docks

This pilothouse sailboat caught my eye and the yacht hailed from East Greenwich, RI. E. Greenwich is around the corner from where I spend my summers. Beaufort Docks Marina seems to always be chock full of northern boats.

  • Hailing from East Greenwich
  • Pilothouse Sailboat

Once in the slip it was time to check in and request use the sporty loaner car for provisioning.

  • Don’t lock the doors
  • Missing Stereo Knobs
  • Replace the Gas!
  • Two-Tone Paint

Now provisioned it was time to walk to Moonrakers for some Halloween dinner & drinks.

  • Renee & Tim
  • Buddy, Renee & Will
  • Buddy, Renee & Will
  • Buddy, Renee & Will
  • Buddy, Renee & Will
  • I got the special
  • Wee bit blurry
  • Marty goes down the rabbit hole into Wonderland

I snapped a few quick pictures on our walk back to Simple Life.

  • I’m not sure what this was all about?
  • Nice sailing yacht on the T-head

Tomorrow, it’s on to SJP – St. James Plantation.

Clawson’s Pub Beaufort NC

Adam’s Creek was a peaceful anchorage. 

At least until this fellow came blasting through..

Once the morning’s parade of boats down Adam’s Creek began, it was time to weigh anchor.

As you make your way down Adam’s Creek you’ll love the beautiful homes and boats along the water’s edge. 

  • House had it Own Helicopter
  • House Painted Like it’s in the FL Keys
  • Red Right Returning from Sea – You did it Wrong!
  • Morning Girl is a Sexy Commercial Sport Fishing Boat
  • Adam’s Creek Wavy Bottom due to Strong Tidal Currents

Somewhere along Adam’s Creek it turns into Core Creek where we passed more ICW statute mile markers and a derelict sailboat.

  • ICW MM 195
  • Delelict Sailboat (no dinghy = nobody aboard)

We were aware from the USCG securite warnings broadcasts that there was a 61′ capsized fishing trawler in Core Creek. When I had to dodge floating rope and netting coming down the river, I knew we were close. Then it appeared.

  • Boom Netting to Contain debris
  • Resting on her Side
  • FV Miss Melissa

Soon we were heading into an area called the Newport Marshes named after the nearby city of Newport, NC. This area can be a bit tricky as the channel bifurcates and we stay to starboard. I believe there is deeper water to starboard.

  • Crabber Working the Marshes in the Rain
  • Tow Boat US Racing to Pull a Baot off a Shoal

For a brief moment we had a motoring sailboat attempt to cross our bow from the port-side. We were on a collision course so I gave them a single blast of our air horns to indicate a one-whistle-pass (meaning port to port like driving a car on the road in the US). They did not alter their course so it was time to blast it again! That did it. They waved as we passed and the rain. The rain covered dodger and a crowded cockpit were probably the reason for the distracted captain. 

Morehead City, NC was next and the clouds were getting dark with rain and even some lightning strikes. 

Near Morehead City NC

We were fast approaching Beaufort Inlet and the strong wind could be felt. Our rearview camera’s view of our flag atop our VHF antennas showed the flag whipping around. 

To get into Beaufort using the East side entrance you need to head like your exiting Beaufort Inlet then turn hard to port after going by Radio Island. We did this as quickly as we could as a large cargo ship was fast approaching. Even the two tugs were joking on the VHF about “giving it all she had” to get out of the way of the large ship. The tug hailed the ship saying… he would have to point his bow directly at the ship but not to worry as he was crabbing his way in the wind and would soon be out of their path. On a boat unlike a car sometimes even though your bow is pointing in one direction, the wind and current can be moving you in a straight line that is not where your bow is pointing. 

Large Cargo Ship Coming in Through Beaufort Inlet, NC

We had timed our arrival into Beaufort at slack current. Last time we were here we docked in a max ebb current and it took all my skill to keep MV Simple Life from crashing into other boats at the docks. A full keel trawler at 90 degrees to a strong current moves down-current quickly. It’s not something that your thrusters can overcome.

We were thankful for our pilothouse as the rain was coming down pretty good at this point.

We passed Moonrakers and some sexy boats tied up in port.

  • “Moonrakers,” named after the rectangle sail flown at the uppermost height of a three-mast 17th-century ship
  • Nordhavn Trawler in Port
  • Sexy British Sailing Yacht

The Beaufort Docks Dockmaster had assigned us a great slip all the way in right next to the restaurant. The docking was a “breeze”, no literally, we simply turned sideways and let the breeze blow us sideways into the dock. Worked beautifully and Kelly was soon tossing our stern line to the dockhand. 

  • 1995 Saberline 43 Green Hulled Trawler Next to Us
  • Note our Flags Indicating a Beam Breeze

Once in our slip we quickly jumped ashore and walked the docks. 

  • Mums Line the Docks
  • Walk the Docks
  • Betting that is the Marina Loaner Car
  • Santa’s Workshop in Beaufort NC

I almost forgot there was one casualty along this trip and it was my slippers. Kelly demanded that my stinky slippers stay in Beaufort, NC. I will miss my favorite slippers but our boat and crew would thank me for giving them up. 

I’ll Miss You, Comfy Slippers 

I checked in at the dockhouse, paid the bill, got the WiFi password and two beer tokens! My favorite part is taking those wooden tokens straight to the sailor bar at the Dock House and enjoying a well-deserved beer. We were sharing dog pics with Shelby, our bartender. She showed us pics of her 3 new hunting hounds that her dad had given to her. 

  • Have a Draft on Us – Dock House
  • Welcome Shipmates
  • Sailor Bar Closed so we got to use the more Upscale Bar Upstairs

After a quick couple beers it was time to find something to eat at Clawson’s Restaurant & Pub. 

Good Food – All Smiles

Clawson’s bartender, Kayla set me up with a great Hazy NE IPA and life was great.

The bar itself dates back to 1905 and Kayla was entertaining us with ghost stories about the ghost-like little girl on the third floor. She offered to take us up to the 3rd floor to look for her but we chickened out 😉

  • Clawson’s Bar
  • Ghosts Straight out of 1905
  • Deer head amongst Boating Motif

We are thrilled to spend two nights in Beaufort, NC.

Our leg here looked something like this…