Another close call at the masonboro marina. i was heading into the marina because i needed someone to help me retrieve my mainsail halyard which came untide and then flew up to the top of the mast. It happened as i was trying to lower and than raise the sail in the chop offshore as a huge thunderstorm was towering over New Topsail inlet just as i arrived and was prepareing to enter. That was a different problem, but As i was about to enter the mairna, another strom was brewing and i was getting blown closer to the row of tied yachts. I had thrown the anchor so i could lower the mainsail (which i had run up on the foresail halyard) so i had to start the little putt putt engine, climb to the bow, pull the anchor and then run back put the engine in gear and swing back out into the channel. I did so, but the wind blew me right in close and though i just managed to miss a very expensive boat i did hit the pilling with the engine bracket as i swerved into the wind. so there i was in 30 mph wind and oyster beds all around and my engine running but half submerged. Nothing to do but try to motor into the marina, and i did so, luckily because that storm increased in strenght all afternoon and became quite a torrent. it seems i must be very lucky to have survived all the scrapes with disaster in the last thirty days. That and a very inexperiencd sailor.

Today i am in Southport NC. on the Cape Fear River, after a lovely day on Carolina Beach where i rejoined the intercoastal waterway for the inside passage behind Cape Fear. i even met some folks who invited me to accompany them for the Spot Festival. Spot are a small smelt like fish that are fried and served with southern hospitality, grits and hushpuppies and all. Today i am waiting for the sw winds to shift into the north which is predicted this evening and forcast to hold for three or four days as high pressure finally blows all the clouds and showers out. I expect to make a run outside the coast as far down the south carolina coast as possible