Once clear of the breakwater at Oriental, we started to run into some 1 to 2 foot waves from the Neuse. By the time we had cleared the channel markers and were in the Neuse proper, the waves were closer to 3 feet. I had heard over and over about the infamous "square waves" of the Neuse and Pamlico sound, which are generated due to the distances the wind can drive them and the shallowness of water depths, but this was my first official meeting. With the 9.9 Honda running we turned east into the waves to take them on the quarter. Spray was breaking over the boat and the wind was running 15 to 20 mph. This was not what I had in mind! But off in the distance, I could see a couple of boats with sails up, so what the heck. I raised the main and killed the engine. We were soon running 6.4 mph by GPS. This is screaming under mainsail only on this boat! The tiller had severe weather helm but I wasn't about to try to go forward on that plunging bow to raise the jib! It only took about twenty minutes for us to decide we needed to run for some shelter. The other (much larger) sailboats had dropped their sails. Hmm, more likely just furled em'. A luxury we don't have. While Rich manned the tiller, I took a look at the chart and we set course for Adams Creek and the Intercoastal Waterway. This required us to turn southwest and take the waves on our stern. The GPS recorded 8.5 mph as we surfed down the face of the waves. I don't have any pictures of this as we were hanging on best we could and trying to keep dry!

                               Rich on board as we motor out by the Oriental Yacht Club.

We launched the boat without incident. This involves unhitching the trailer, extending the tongue, hitching the trailer back up, backing the boat in the water, pulling the trailer out of the water, unhitching the trailer, retracting the tongue, well, you get the picture. Rich got stuck with this duty coming and going. But he said he preferred to do that than deal with the boat. Smart man.

 Rich drove the truck and trailer back to the Neuse River Suites where they had obligingly agreed to let us park it there on the grass while we were gone. He then hiked the two blocks back down to the Oriental Inn and Marina, where I picked him up at the fuel dock and then we motored out towards the Neuse. Let the adventure begin!

                                                       Rich on the boat wondering what next...

On Sunday morning, we pulled the boat to the public ramp at the end of Midyette Street. It is a very nice launch area with lots of room and a wide ramp. We hoisted the mast in place using the boom as a jib pole and the main sheet tackle for muscle as per the Chrysler manual. I have done this about nine times now. It was very nerve racking the first time I did it. I learned a little bit more each time and now it is relatively easy to raise and lower it by myself. It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour to raise the mast and rig the boom, sail, and various pieces of rigging. About 30 minutes or less to take it all back down and lash it for transport.

                                                                Just arrived at Oriental

                                                               At the Neuse River Suites

Starting Out

Sunrise on the Neuse

We left Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, October 8 heading for Oriental, North Carolina. This is a pretty long stretch of about 525 miles. My life long friend Rich Roberts had foolishly agreed to spend a week sailing on a 22 foot Chrysler Sandpiper sailboat. He had contributed to the preparations by installing a much needed second axle on the original Chrysler trailer. This trailer is built lightly by anyone's standards. When you sighted down the length of the frame rail, you could detect a 2" bow over the single axle caused by the weight of the boat over time. I suspect they designed the trailer lightly to save as much weight as possible as the GVWR of the trailer exactly equaled the maximum load of the tires. Always one to take two when one will do, I elected to install the second axle and halve the load on the tires.Rich straightened the bow as much as possible and lengthened the fenders. Thanks Rich! We stopped once for fuel for the Ford F350 and for us. The 7.3 Powerstroke will generally get about 19 mpg on the highway at 70, but with the boat in tow we averaged a little under 13 mpg. The advantage to a trailer sailer is that it will go 70 miles an hour, (or more) on the trailer and thus can be launched anywhere there is an adequate ramp. We cruised into Oriental, A Friendly Little Drinking Town With A Sailing Problem, about 6:30 that evening, about 10 hours on the road. We stayed at the Neuse River Suites, which is a very nice place right on the river with a wonderful view and very nice accommodations. This was the last night of the trip with a comfy bed!