May 1: Swansboro, NC, to Beaufort, NC

Saturday, May 1:  The current was racing at our stern at Dudley's Marina in Swansboro, NC, and we were behind Bum's Rest on the face dock. Wayne helped us out, then he could back out. Chuck used a spring line on the back, while Wayne helped us ease it back, then pushed off the bow.
Once we were underway, I made breakfast, then stayed downstairs and paid our bills online.

Winds were 10 knots, SOG was 5.9 and SOW was 7.4. The incoming tide was against us. Our son, Ryan, called and told us about a 16 ft. Newport sailboat he just got and had a few questions for dad. Then we motorsailed at 3200 rpms to catch up to Bum's Rest.

We arrived in Beaufort, NC, around 1:30 p.m. Dock with electric, water and cable was $72 for the night. I love the city marina...it's right in town and you can walk the boardwalk and in and out of the shops on the next street. They gave us tokens for free drinks at the Dock House restaurant, which we used later in the day.

The Beaufort Boatbuilding Challenge, part of the National Boatbuilding Challenge, was under a big tent, so we watched middle school, high school and community college two-man teams building wooden boats. At 4 p.m. they raced them.

We walked all through town and there was a classic boat show up and down the street. Chuck really enjoyed seeing all the old boats.

There was a tall ship docked near us and they were tying down the sails. I don't know how they can stand on lines way up there to work.

We went to dinner at Clawson's 1905 restaurant. It's a beautiful place and has a lot of history to the building. The food was excellent.

Tomorrow: Oriental, NC