Adventure flies her tanbark mizzen.
Thursday, 30 October 50.2 SM
A nor’westerly puts 12 knots over the transom, giving Steadfast an extra kick out of Upper Dowry Creek and into the Pungo River. She turns to the west, the genny unfurls and just like that, she’s (motor-) sailing downstream at a sprightly five-and-a-half knots (six-and-a-half miles-an-hour). The Dudley Dix schooner Adventure follows, Lee and Dick having said they, too, plan to layover in Oriental while the wind becomes a nor’easter this weekend.
Shrimpers perch high above the water to spot their prey.
The four-miles across the Pamlico River are quickly astern and Steadfast turns due south down narrow Goose Creek. The genny’s no longer much help but there is a nifty current (enjoy while we can!) that sweeps her along past Eastham Creek, the first of a couple of anchorages that had been considered for an overnight stop. But it’s just lunch-time, far too early to call it a day, so on she goes past shrimpers working the flats, under the Hobucken Bridge and abeam of a big girl tied up at R. E. Mayo’s wharf.
Snowbirds sometimes share the wharf at R.E. Mayo’s, a pier that caters to the commercial fishermen.
Sailing up the Neuse under a mottled sky.
By 1400, she’s running down the broad Bay River to skirt Maw Point Shoal and join the Neuse. There’s more east in that northerly now. It’s coming over the Outer Banks with growing fervor. It’s become a tad lumpy out here but Oriental beckons.
Well ahead, off the starboard bow, Adventure’s tanbark foresail can be seen turning north to anchor in Broad Creek. Steadfast, undistracted, continues west, up river. The green “7” at Garbacon Shoal hides in the afternoon sun but eventually peeks out from the dark shore. Then it’s easy to spot the markers leading to Whittaker Creek and what will be “home” for the weekend.
Miss Helen’s makes the perfect home in a blow.
Up in the creek, there’s a hard turn to port to squeeze between Deaton’s Boatyard and Sailcraft Marina, down what seems sure to be a dead end. Instead, the narrow fairway of Tarpon Inlet splits, homes on each high bank hidden by towering pines. Each home with a pier, each pier a vessel and most of those sailboats. Steadfast turns here to the west and, by 1630, is tucked in at the pier behind Miss Helen’s house, masthead in the pines.
The day’s transit is done, much more quickly and easily than expected. The weekend, too, it turns out, will far exceed expectations.
More to come. Steadfast out.
At Sea with Steadfast 
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