[Rhodes22-list] Outer Banks Sea Trials
Bill Effros
bill at effros.com
Wed Apr 27 13:00:11 EDT 2005
Bill,
I've never sailed the waters Alex described, but I do "sail" the NYC
"East River" from time to time. I put "sail" in quotation marks because
I would never actually sail there. I roll up the sails and do it under
power--always. If I do it enough, someday I might actually sail.
It is a challenge, and I think what most folks are saying is that you
must prepare for the challenge before hand, and not take it too
lightly. It is a very different experience from drifting on a pond.
Commercial boats have the right of way, and they will go right through
you if you don't already know that. Lots of Sunday sailors get hurt on
Long Island Sound because they think sailboats always have the right of
way.
You will not have the time to look at charts if you are in trouble.
Make sure you know what you are doing, and don't get into trouble. If
there are currents, know where they are, and which way they are
going--before you get into them.
Understand when the commercial fleets will be moving, and in which
direction.
Watch the crab pots, and the flotsam.
Put down your drink, and use all eyes on board to watch for things you
are not accustomed to seeing.
I find it exhilerating, challenging, and a general kick--and I enjoy
preparing for it weeks in advance.
An 8hp motor on a Rhodes is all you need.
Bill Effros
William E. Wickman wrote:
>Alex,
>I appreciate your insights, but you are painting a pretty bleak picture for
>me. I thought that this area was supposed to be great for shoal draft
>boats like the Rhodes. Is really that bad? I have charts of the area and
>can see where the restricted areas are. I'll stay away from them as I
>certainly don't want to be used as a target. :) I've got the 9.9hp
>Yamaha. Are you saying that it will not provide enough power to overcome
>wind and waves? I would think that it must be pretty intense conditions
>for the 9.9hp to be overpowered.
>
>Bill W.
>
>
>
>
>|---------+---------------------------------->
>| | Alex Bell |
>| | <alexbell at lpmonline.net|
>| | > |
>| | Sent by: |
>| | rhodes22-list-bounces at r|
>| | hodes22.org |
>| | |
>| | |
>| | 04/27/2005 05:18 AM |
>| | Please respond to |
>| | alexbell; Please |
>| | respond to The Rhodes |
>| | 22 mail list |
>| | |
>|---------+---------------------------------->
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
> | |
> | To: Peter Thorn <pthorn at nc.rr.com>, The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> |
> | cc: |
> | Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Outer Banks Sea Trials |
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
>
>
>
>
>William,
>
>I would consider going on your trip on a much bigger boat, but not the
>Rhodes. The trip from Oriental to Beaufort will take you 4 hours or
>more. Going across the Neuse River across to the Inland waterway you'll
>find it to be 8 miles wide. When you get to Beaufort, be aware that this
>is a major seaport and large ocean going ships come into port here. They
>are not slow lumbering boats. They move out. When we brought Kizmet up
>from Charleston, SC, we went via the Atlantic and put in at Beaufort.
>What a shock. We had freighters passing us in the channel like we we
>standing still. Adding to the fun was the early morning fishing fleet
>that storms out the inlet in the channel going full throttle. The
>freighter passed us while we were going 7 knots under full power and it
>was going at least 15 knots, more likely 20. The fishing fleet can be
>anything from 28 to 60 footers with mucho power. Most professionals
>with outboards have dual 200+ hp and they're using em to get to the
>fishing grounds first. Meanwhile you're wallowing in the troughs and
>wake they're churning.
>
>Trying to come in from the Atlantic at Ocracoke Inlet is for the
>veteran, seasoned boater. I would not try it myself. This is a tricky
>inlet that has constant shoaling and rough waters. Experienced fishing
>trawlers (professional seamen) have lost their boats there on a regular
>basis. I would not try it in a Rhodes. You don't have the enough power
>to fight the current and waves if your timing is off.
>
>You would do well to stay in the Oriental area and sail Pamlico Sound.
>It's plenty large and has lots of places you can anchor and overnight.
>You need to get a charat for the area and heed the warning areas. The
>Marine Corps has a bombing area out there. Never know when it's going to
>be in use. It's a prohibited area and marked as such, but if you don't
>have a chart, you won't know what it's all about. The chart indicates
>depth that you might not worry about with the shallow draft but you can
>still get into some trouble. It's only a foot deep in some places where
>you;d think it was deep water. You will find that the waters in Core
>Sound, the water inside the Outer Banks from Cape Lookout to Ocracoke is
>very shallow.
>
>We've gone aground in the middle of the Neuse River near New Bern with
>the Rhodes. Luckily we pulled the cb up and were off, but what a shock
>to be in the middle of a 3 mile wide river and go aground. The good news
>is that you won't hit rocks, it's sand and muck. Be prepared for
>anchoring with a suitable anchor (danforth or delta) and have at least 6
>feet of chain on your rode. I've seen the commentary about not using
>chain, but experienced boaters will choose the cautious side and be so
>equipped. I once had trouble anchoring in 7 feet of water with Kizmet
>when in a creek with the wind blowing. I was using a 35# CQR anchor with
>ALL chain rode. It took 150 feet of chain to finally get the anchor to
>set, then we reduced scope to about 80 feet. I don't know what would
>have occured if we did not have the chain. We've switched our primary
>anchor to a 33# Bruce with 20 feet of chain and 150 feet of nylon. It
>works better.
>
>We had a Nor'easter two weeks ago that lasted 3 or 4 days. That kind of
>weather action forces the water across Pamlico sound and up the Neuse
>River. We had water over the docks for a day and the water level was up
>for the extent of the strom. When that occurs, you will not be able to
>get out of some of the rivers that go into Pamlico Sound that are
>located on the South end of the Sound. You just don't have enough power
>to fight the wind and wave action. Keep that in mind. You really need to
>pay attention to the weather here.
>
>Alex Bell
>New Bern, NC
>Kizmet, IP35-170
>Blewdaze, R22
>
>Peter Thorn wrote:
>
>
>
>>Bill,
>>
>>I made the trip from Oriental to Ocracoke and back in a chartered Catalina
>>27 about 25 yaers ago. It can be a nice trip this time of year, but as
>>always it's very good to watch the weather. It's 50 miles of open water,
>>and if I recall correctly, tends to get very shallow near Ocracoke. If
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>weather blows from the NE bad waves can develop across the entire fetch..
>>Steep, choppy short frequency waves, much worse than deep water rollers
>>
>>
>with
>
>
>>a long frequency that don't ever break. On the eastern side of the
>>
>>
>Pamlico
>
>
>>you can be out of landsight (most of the land there is pretty low) and
>>
>>
>have
>
>
>>these bad conditions develop -- in 5 feet of water! Way out on the ocean
>>side Cape Hatteras is called the "graveyard of the Atlantic", so a little
>>caution there would be a good thing too. I think this is mainly has to do
>>with the gulf stream and how Cape Hatteras sticks it's chin out in it.
>>I've never sailed out there, so can't tell you much more.
>>
>>PT
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>>To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 9:34 AM
>>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Outer Banks Sea Trials
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>I'm heading out Wednesday afternoon to introduce my Rhodes to saltwater
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>for
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>the first time. My plan is to put in at Oriental, NC and sail/motor down
>>>to Beaufrot, NC (maybe catch lunch) then head out to Cape Lookout. From
>>>Cape Lookout I hope (weather permitting) to make a run up to Ocracoke,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>then
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>sail across Pamlico Sound back to Oriental. I am really excited to
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>finally
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>get my Rhodes into some big water and see how she handles in the ocean.
>>>Anyone make this trip before? Any must sees or must dos? Any advice?
>>>
>>>Bill W.
>>>
>>>__________________________________________________
>>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>__________________________________________________
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>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
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