Beach Consulting

One of the tricks to managing the crossing of larger coastal bodies of water is to watch the tidal currents and the winds. If these two things are opposing each other the seas become steep, choppy, and wet and uncomfortable. The Cape Fear river is one of these. In November we had a rough ride down the river so this time we paid more attention. We waited at our anchorage until about 10 am and then headed out in order to be carried by both a favourable tide and a following wind. A good combination for a fast and comfortable sail. Our next stop was not very far at all at Carolina Beach. The anchorage there is a good one and in the fall we had found that one of the houses there allows boaters to tie up their dinghies at their private dock. You then walk through the backyard, cross to the next block and you are at a beautiful stretch of North Carolina beach without hotels or T-Shirt shops. The waves were pounding and it was fun to jump in them. The shore was fairly steep though and attempts at body surfing resulted in being scroonched into the sand, leaving you with grit lodged, possibly permanently, in every orifice imaginable. Not pretty.

Our next stop was a little further along at Wrightsville Beach. Here the anchorage lead to a public dinghy dock and another 2 block walk to the beach. This was one of the most vibrant beaches we have been on. There were loads of people mostly youthful, lots of jumping, body surfing and real surfing - right amongst swimmers! It had a very alive feeling and I fully expected to see Archie or Jughead go by.

Our last beach stop for the next while was Surf City. The approach was a bit wild. We left Wrightsville Beach early in the morning with clear skies. We had great weather heading up the waterway and then just before 11am we were approaching the Surf City swing bridge that only opens on the hour. It looked like we were going to miss it by 5 minutes. To make it worse, behind us coming fast was a black mass of cloud rolling its thunder our way. We had the sail up trying to eek out a bit more speed but we were fighting the current. A number of power boats went by all trying to get to the bridge. The sky got darker and darker and the bridge wasn't getting closer fast enough. Then the rain started. By now I was pushing our diesel hard and it looked like we might make it. Just as we were getting close I called the bridge and the tender said -"Keep it coming!" we were pushing hard at 6 miles an hour and then the skies really opened up. But we made it just in time and then made a hard right into the marina channel where we had made reservations. By the time we got to the dock the rain was straight horizontal, I could barely see the poor guys who had come out to help in their shirtsleeves, and Shirley was hanging on tight to the shrouds with the lines. Christopher went below to get out of the mayhem. I didn't bother slowing down for our usual cautious approach and next thing we knew we were jamming it in reverse, guys were frantically pulling and tying lines and then they all ran back to the office suggesting that we "finish it up" while they avoid the lightening. Ahh, we're here!

With the gale force winds, driving rain and temperatures in the high 50's our walk on the beach had its own distinct feel here. No Betty or Veronicas here.

And so by now we have been to about 20 different beaches, some multiple times and we feel that our credentials for consulting on things of a beach nature are substantial. We have seen pristine all natural beaches and beaches packed with hotels with vehicles driving up and down. This consultancy is likely a viable new occupation and I am sure there must be a market for it out there - there is for everything else. So if you see new business cards come out, you'll know who to call...