[Rhodes22-list] inside or outside?

[Peter Thorn]

Joe and Rob,

Summer storms can come up quickly on the NC coast.   At this time of year
NOAA often predicts "afternoon and evening thundershowers".  These localized
storms can pack high winds and rough sea conditions, both inside the Pamlico
Sound and outside on the Atlantic.  In the R22 archives there's an
interesting old article about a guy with a Rhodes at Blackbeard who was
swamped on the Neuse by an 8' wave generated by a summer storm pushing water
up the river, so rough stuff can happen even inside.  The boat didn't sink,
but needed total cabin rehab.  It's best to be prepared for anything.

It's about 50-60 miles of open water down the coast from Ocracoke Inlet to
Beaufort Inlet, directly against the prevailing SW winds. Ocracoke Inlet is
a tough one and I have never been through it, but have heard and read it is
best to follow a fishing boat out or in, because the channel changes because
of its exposure to rough conditions.  That, plus the fact that Ocracoke is
about 50 miles from substantial help (Boat US in Oriental west, Beaufort
south or about the same from the north - I forget the town), would cause me
to be very cautious.  It purely depends upon the conditions.  Just because
of the distance, you could depart Ocracoke early in the day with nice
weather and by the time you reached Cape Lookout at the end of the day
"afternoon and evening thunderstorms" could be forming.  If you ran into one
out there, you would be on your own.

Suggest you get a BoatUS policy with UNLIMITED towing.  Once on a
trailer/sailer trip a friend with a Paceship 23 (somewhat similar to a
Rhodes) ran aground in 19" of water in the sound entering Ocracoke and
BoatUS towing quoted him $1,300 to pull off the shoal because of the
distance.  Since then, all my sailing friends converted to UNLIMITED towing
policies.  Also, if you go outside with BoatUS, you must call them first to
get permission, or you will not have coverage with a coastal/inland policy.

Might be a good idea to rent an EPIRB from BoatUS, just in case.  Also a DSC
radio tied to a GPS would locate your position for the coast guard in the
event of a mayday.  Suggest a masthead antenna too.  An experienced delivery
captain delivering a new boat to the Miami boat show calling for help with a
5w handheld died in 2005 because they couldn't be located or heard as their
35' boat was sinking.

Not to be negative about  this, if the weather is right it could be a great
trip.  Many have done it, but many fewer in 22' boats.  I believe the best
time of year is mid October to late November, and then watch the weather
carefully.

Inside the Pamilco Sound it can also get rough, but there are many more safe
anchorages.  Suggest Claiborne Youngs' "Crusing Guide to NC".

Have a great trip!

PT







-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Joe Babb
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 10:32 AM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] good place to launch on Pamlico?

Peter,
Any general advice about Ocracoke Inlet to the outside?  If we have time 
and the weather cooperates we might try
that route.
Joe
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