Lundy Charters begins Seafarer Sail On Program
Lundy Charters has begun the Camp Seafarer Sail On Program. Captain Jim Baker is leading the trip.The program will take us on a 14 day sailing trip around the outer banks of North Carolina. The girls arrived on the afternoon of June 13th and are spending their first two days at Camp Seafarer getting acquainted with the boat and prepared for the trip.The program will depart from Camp Seagull tomorrow morning after breakfast and we hope to make it to Belhaven, NC by tomorrow evening. There we will take on fuel and begin our trek up the Alligator River - Pungo River canal.
The girls spent their first day at camp team building on the ropes course and preparing for their voyage
Pulling their shipmate up the giant swing
After an exciting first day at sea the Seafarer Sail On Program arrived safely in Belhaven, NC. We departed from Camp Seagull and made our way out of the Neuse River. Our sail took us out out of the river and into the Pamlico Sound. The girls brought Jeanie B onto docks at the River Forest Marina
Navigating out of the Neuse River
Jeanie B Under Sail in the Pamlico Sound
Taking the Sails down on the way into Belhaven, NC
The girls left Belhaven, NC this morning after taking on fuel and a few provisions in town. The crew navigated Jeanie B through the Alligator River-Pungo River Canal and into the Alligator River. After putting up the sails we enjoyed a long down wind sail through the Alligator River and under the Highway 64 bridge.The girls docked Jeanie B at the Alligator River Marina and enjoyed dinner on docks followed by ice cream at the Marina Grill. They plan to sail to Manteo in the morning.
Plotting Our Course through the Alligator River
Jeanie B Passing through the Highway 64 Bridge
The Girls Docking Jeanie B at the Alligator River Marina.
The girls departed the Alligator River Marina this morning bound for Manteo, NC. After making our way into the Albemarle Sound the wind laid down long enough for the girls to stop and swim around the boat. After taking a swimming tour of the propeller and rudder the girls learned how to check a propeller for fouling. After leaving the sound, the girls navigated the narrow Manteo Channel with ease. They even managed to dock Jeanie B on the seawall in the town docks in a 65 ft slip. (Jeanie B is a 72ft boat....see picture below)
Getting the Sails Ready
The Captain of the Day Discussing the Navigation Plan with Captain Jim Baker
There was only a 65 ft slip for our 72ft boat, but the girls made it work.
After Jockeys Ridge and swimming in the ocean, the girls decided to head over to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The aquarium is the largest aquarium in the state — a 285,000-gallon ocean tank complete with sharks, sea turtles and hundreds of fish. Throughout the aquarium are exhibit tanks filled with fishes of North Carolina coastal habitats, including sharks and rays. They saw eels, sea turtles and more than 200 fishes in a shipwreck habitat displaying a 1/3-scale replica of the USS Monitor. They even enjoyed the hands on area of the aquarium in which they were able to pet sting rays.
The girls were able to touch sting rays at the NC Aquarium
The Girls in the Mouth of a Great White Shark
The crew elected to spend the day in port at Manteo and at Nags Head on the Outer Banks. We spent the morning at Jockeys Ridge State Park. Jockeys Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Located in Nags Head, it is one of the most significant landmarks on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The Girls at Jockeys Ridge
The Girls on Top of Jockeys Ridge
After looking over the chart and the cruising guide, the girls decided to depart for Ocracoke early this morning. They woke up around 4:30am this morning and completed their boat duties and began pulling off docks around 5:30am. We exited the Manteo channel as the sun was rising over the outer banks. Jeanie B is currently southbound and passing the Oregon Inlet, bound for Ocracoke.
Pulling off docks as the sun rose over the Outer Banks
The Manteo Waterfront at Sunrise
At 2pm, the girls calculated that they were 12 nautical miles away from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. We are sailing on a beam reach across the Pamlico Sound and making good time. They expect to arrive in Ocracoke around 5pm. The girls have taken part of the sail to tend to a few maintenance issues onboard. We have been cleaning and oiling the teak around the deck.
Raising the Sails as we pull out of Ocracoke
Cleaning and Oiling the teak during the sail
After sailing all day down the outer banks, the girls pulled into the channel and then onto docks. The girls docked at the Ocracoke Community Store with a plan to stay for a few days. The girls lined up surfing lessons, a clamming trip, and a kayak trip for their time on the island.
Pulling onto docks at the Ocracoke Community Store
Emma at the helm navigating the mooring field
The first activity the girls decided on was kayaking around Silver Lake. We would like to thank Ride the Wind Surf Shop for taking us kayaking.
Getting Ready to Kayak around Silver Lake
Kayaking around the Harbor on Ocracoke
After an exciting Kayak around silver lake the girls decided the next day to go back out with Ride the Wind Surf Shop, but this time to learn to surf. The girls woke up early and headed out to the ocean with the surfing instructors and learned to surf.
The Girls Learning to stand up on the beach
The Girls Ready to Hit the Surf
The girls decided to take a sunset cruise and invite some of the local guide from the surf show that had been showing them how to kayak and surf. They wanted to also offer their guests a meal. After some brief discussion it was decided that they would go clamming and make clam chowder. We grabbed a hold of one of the Captains from the Ocracoke Working Watermens Association and he ran the girls over to Portsmouth Island for a few hours. The girls clammed for dinner and made a delicious chowder for the sail. They also managed to navigate back into the difficult channel after dark with ease.
Clamming on Portsmouth Island
The Days Catch
The girls decided to take on the challenge of night sailing across the Pamlico Sound back to Oriental, NC. Before they could They planned to exit the Ocracoke channel as the sunset. We went through a few drills to prepare for the trip and pulled out of the channel at sunset.
Abandon Ship Drill Conducted on Docks in Ocracoke
Tied into the Jack Lines and watching the sunset as we cross the Pamlico
The girls struck their sails and motored into the harbor in Oriental, NC this morning around sunrise. Thanks to the webcam at Town Dock.net we were able to see that the spot on the town docks was clear. This was essential because of how tight the Oriental Harbor can be to turn around. If you catch the webcam in the next few hours you will be able to see the Jeanie B. sitting proudly at the town dock. Our plan for the evening is to pull off of docks after our mandatory 12 hours off after 12 hours of sailing (USCG regulation) and anchor across the river in South River. The girls are excited to spend a night out on anchor away from civilization.
Sunrise on the Pamlico Sound
Pulling into Oriental at Sunrise
After our required break the girls decided to head across the river and anchor in South River. We headed out the channel in Oriental, NC and made it into South River as the sun was going down.
Taking down our sails at sunset.
The girls enjoyed an easy morning and a pancake breakfast in South River. Having only a few miles to sail up river, the girls decided to spend the day sailing in the waters off Camp Seafarer. We met up with the SAIL program on their 37 ft boats and sailed together for a bit in the middle of the Neuse River. After sending our regards to the SAIL program, the girls brought the boat into Camp Seafarer and anchored just off the pier. Tonight is our last night aboard and the girls are enjoying their final night aboard by fixing a steak taco dinner and swimming.
Sailing Across the Neuse
Siriuslee and Stella et Vella under full sail
Siriuslee and Stella et Vella under full sail
The boys from the SAIL program passed by Jeanie B while we were crossing the Neuse River and we were able to snap these pictures. After snaping these photos, the girls wrapped up their program and departed. We hope to see them all again next year on our
SAIL II BVI trip . Click on the link for more information about the trip
