CODA BAHAMAS BOUND 2024-2025 (31)

 CODA : Beautiful water and Carolina Beach

25 October 2024

Carolina Beach Mooring Field, Carolina Beach, North Carolina  

First rate dinghy dock on the beach side of the harbor.  A second dinghy dock

 gives access to the side of the harbor with shops and restaurants.

Marc-  Today started out with light North winds that turned to South light winds.  Neither had any effect on our trip.  The most helpful factor was timing the trip to the tidal currents.  We did have substantial currents for 90 % of the trip.  It was great to see beautiful sea water since this part of the ICW has many barrier islands and many inlets.  We did have to deal with two drawbridges 5 miles apart but on schedules that do not synchronize for sailboat speeds.  The first bridge opens on the hour and on every 1/2 hour while the second bridge opens only on the hour.  If you go through the bridge on the 1/2 hour, like we did, you have to get to the next bridge in 1/2 hour and since we cannot go 10 knots it can't be done.  You end up waiting close to an hour for the next opening.  There was also a significant increase in boats on the water since it was a Friday.  Carolina Beach was a welcome end to the days travels with a quiet mooring area in the middle of town.

We saw this fishing trawlerdeliberately set on its side to await low tide to scrape and paint the bottom.  This is called careening and is a lot cheaper than having these large boats hauled out at a marina even if it takes you two days to get it done.

The incredible water here due to white sand and many barrier islands and numerous inlets.

Carolina Beach mooring field.

Carolina Beach