I
to verify our position. “What’s your heading?” he asked. “Don’t really have one,” I said. “I’m just running parallel to the coast until we reach the markers off our bow. Then we can fall off and head down the channel.” He peered into the darkness beyond the bow, and then went below to secure our latest coordinates. I saw him note the longitude on the legal pad and plot our position on the paper chart. Then he rubbed the stubble on his chin and looked out to sea. “Do me a favor,” he asked. “Turn ninety degrees and take us back out to sea.” “Why?” “Because we’re about to run aground.” “What?” “The entrance to the inlet is out there. See?” Sure enough, there on he horizon I saw the dim glimmer of red and green sea buoys. “Why didn’t you stay on the heading I gave you earlier?” he asked. “I thought we were almost home.” “Well, you thought wrong.” I would have sure looked stupid running aground near Beaufort after such a smooth sail home, but it turns out I wouldn’t have been the first one. That
Beaufort Pyrate Invasion
f you explore the new N.C. Pirate Trail, you can pick no better time than the second weekend of August when the annual Pyrate Invasion descends upon Beaufort, N.C. Sponsored by the Beaufort Business Association, the annual event draws a marauding rogue’s gallery of piratical fanatics to the seaside town. Swashbucklers and bawdy wenches swagger along the streets visiting pirate encampments, dance at the Buccaneers’ Ball, engage in sword play and watch sea battles rage just off the waterfront. New Bern’s skipjack Ada Mae will sail down for the event, and rumors abound that she might have a run-in with resident privateer Horatio Sinbad and his crew aboard the cannon-wielding vessel Meka II. Visit beaufortpyrateinvasion.com for details.
903 Shepard St. Morehead City, NC 28557
252.240.2826
honor belongs to Blackbeard. Given the way I navigate there’s a good chance that next time I sail home from the islands I’ll probably have another go at that sandbar, but if I do and should I get stuck, it’ll be comforting to know that I’m wallowing in the wake of an eternal shoalmate. I just hope I don’t have to wallow too long.
We do custom embroidery and logos in-house.
“Nautical but Nice”
• The Tilley Hat • Monogrammable Coolers and Boat Bags • Tervis Tumblers • Sperry and Dubarry Deck Shoes
127 Middle Lane • Beaufort, N.C.
(252) 838-0059
• Chelsea Clocks and Barometers • Hook & Tackle Shorts & Shirts • Adams Caps • Vera Bradley • Boat Models
9
(877) 369-4999
www.harborspecialties.com
The Boating and Waterfront Magazine
July/August 2009 Carolina Currents 13