Checking Out Sea Harbour

Neither June nor I was thrilled with the idea of trading a free slip for one that would cost nearly $300/mo. and require a year-long contract.  There were cheaper alternatives but each had its drawbacks - no hurricane plan, poorly maintained facilities, no shade or not conducive to meeting people.

It took more than 20 minutes to get the boat out of the slip on Smith Creek. The water level was the lowest I'd seen it.  It took three attempts at backing out before I was able to get the bow far enough past the rear piling to put the boat in forward gear and swing the bow around to plow out of the marina in forward gear.

We radioed Sea Harbour when we were at the outer channel marker to Pierce Creek.  Lisa responded and was standing at the end of A dock watching our progress as we made our way down the channel. She had given me a choice of available slips on the four docks and I had chosen to try out B30 at the beginning of B dock. It offered  a view down the channel to the Neuse and enjoyed shade in the late afternoon.

Sea Harbour Yacht Club - red arrow points to slip B30

After helping us tie up, Lisa took June, Buddy and me on a tour of the clubhouse, pool and bath facilities. Even though the temperature was in the 90's the clubhouse's breezeway and wrap around porch were shady with  a cool breeze.  The people we met were warm and welcoming.  No one seemed to be in a hurry.

  

 

Many of the boaters had dogs, so Buddy was welcome as long as he was on a leash and not inside the buildings.

 

Lisa suggested that the best way for me to improve my sailing skills was to crew on a boat in the local sailboat races.  Next thing I knew, I was asked to join  Doug Carmichael's crew aboard Whisper the next day.

Saturday's PHRF race was a real experience.  The winds were 20 kts gusting to 30.  I've never sailed in that kind of wind before but I was in good hands and for the most part held up my end of the bargain.  We came in third in our class.

 

That night we shared fresh (maybe not) boiled shrimp and roasted sweet corn with Bob & Robin Buntin and their slip neighbor, Henry (a Nonsuch 30).  The night breezes were cool enough that we slept comfortably with a couple of fans.

On Sunday, June and I decided that Sea Harbour would be our boat's new home.  We had already met many warm, friendly people and looked forward to meeting many more.  

Time for a New Home

I brought the boat back to her free slip at Oriental Plantation on the upper end of Smith Creek.   The summer winds were beginning to blow fairly consistently out of the South and Southwest.

The Inner Banks don't have much in the way of lunar tides but wind direction and speed dictate water level. They generate wind tides that have a more profound effect on water level in the creeks and tributaries.

A South or Southwest wind will blow water up into Pamlico Sound, draining water from the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers and the surrounding area. Conversely, a North or Northeast wind will  blow water out of the sound and into the rivers creating high water levels.  

Water levels at Oriental Plantation's dock at the far end of Smith Creek tend to be a problem because there isn't much to begin with. At 4'4", our Ericson has the deepest draft of any of the half dozen boats at this small residential marina.  I have never come in or out of the slip without having to drag my keel through the muddy bottom.  

Southerly winds only exacerbate the problem.  Backing into our slip was no longer an option and backing out was becoming nearly impossible.  

Unfortunately, it was time to start exploring other arrangements if we wanted to use the boat at all.  The approach of hurricane season was another reason. Everyone has to move their boat from the dock prior to a hurricane. We had no place to go and our planned September trip to Ireland wouldn't be much fun if we had to worry about the boat.

The two major, hurricane-safe, marinas in Oriental are Pecan Grove across the bridge from town and Sea Harbour Yacht Club on Pierce Creek about a mile down river.  

 

 Pecan Grove Marina is the largest, with more than 220 slips, 2 pools, 3 bath houses, and a new clubhouse overlooking Oriental Harbor.  What it doesn't have however is shade. It's a large, spread-out, U-shaped facility with a gravel road perimeter. There were a couple slips open near the new clubhouse on the far side of the marina.

Bob and Robin Buntin encouraged us to check out Sea Harbour Yacht Club where they keep their 34 O'Day. It's not as convenient to town but is located on a shady point on Pierce Creek. It's just a few hundred yards from the Neuse and well-protected from hurricanes.

I visited Sea Harbour and found the mood tranquil, friendly and most important in the summer - shady. I was greeted by Lisa Thompson, one of the managers that run the club. She explained that the marina was well protected and had survived many hurricanes with very little damage.  Each owner is responsible for preparing their boat for a hurricane but staff and helpers are there to adjust the lines as necessary during the storm.  

Lisa invited us to sail down and spend the following weekend at Sea Harbour where we could familiarize ourselves with the club and meet some of the members.  It sounded like a plan.