CruiseNews #2
Date:  6/3/99
Port of call:  Beaufort, NC

We are now in Beaufort, NC, after a 3 day passage offshore from Savannah.  The repairs to the radar were finally finished on Friday, May 28.  We left Savannah the next morning with the first of the ebbing current, and rode the ebb (with a little help from the engine) out to the Savannah sea buoy.  With the wind less than 30 degrees off the bow, we wound up tacking frequently to keep our course, and when the wind went light, we motored.  We had several visits from pods of dolphin, who swam and played at our bow.

Sunset on passage to Beaufort
As usual, the first 2 days of an offshore passages are the worst, and I wound up "feeding the fishes" (one of our many euphemisms for being -seasick), while Cathy merely felt "gaack".  By Monday afternoon we were both feeling better, and by Tuesday noon we were anchored off the town of Beaufort, NC.

Wild horses, Beaufort, NC

Beaufort is a friendly Southern town, used to dealing with boaters.  There is a free dinghy dock, and many essential services within a short walk.  It is also home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum, perhaps the most "boater friendly" organization we have found. They offer a courtesy car, boaters library, and they will hold mail for boaters.
 
We have used our time here to track down some parts to fix the 'fridge (which gave up the ghost in the middle of our passage) and wait for mail.
 
So far the idea of using public libraries for Internet access has been a bust.  Neither the Thunderbolt nor Beaufort public libraries have internet access.  We are sending this from our first Cyber Cafe in Morehead City, NC.  We only have 2 hours with the courtesy car, and we also need to get some groceries, so we won't be able to answer any individual e-mails at this time.
 
We hope to head north in the next few days, leaving the Intracoastal waterway in favor of stops in Ocracoke and Manteo on the North Carolina Outer Banks.
 
Smooth sailing,
 
Jim and Cathy