Vineyard Open House Blog

ICW Cruise: Tip-toeing Past Firing Lines from North River Club to Brunswick Forest

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a 43-foot Lagoon PowerCat from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read other posts by clicking on the list of headlines at the end of this entry.

On to Beaufort & North River Club
After leaving Oriental and River Dunes, we quickly made the 23 miles to Beaufort where an emerging golf community, North River Club, was my next stop.

As we entered Beaufort (pronounced BOE-fert), the distinctive building below caught my eye. It is the Harvey W. Smith Center for Watercraft, located just across the street from the NC Maritime Museum, whose purpose is to honor the history of wooden boats.

The Harvey W. Smith Center for Watercraft in Beaufort, NC.

The center provides demonstrations of traditional boat-building techniques, along with time-honored methods of repairing and renovating boats. The facility offers a build-a-boat-in-a-week class and a build-a-boat-in-a-day class.

The Watercraft Center is also the centerpiece of the annual Wooden Boat Show in April, April 25 - May 1, 2010, when wooden boats are displayed and visitors face off in the National Boat-Building Challenge. More of same returns to this huge, cavernous building during Maritime Week in September.

Once at the marina, we had a steak dinner at one of the many restaurants dotting the town and turned in for the evening. The next morning, I met Brett Michaud, North River Club's president and jack of all trades, who is the driving force behind the effort to bring the community into being.

North River Club is just five minutes from Beaufort and the waters of the Crystal Coast.

Brett picked me up at the marina in his truck and drove me through the picturesque town of Beaufort which is known for Blue Beard the Pirate (William Teach) and its location on North Carolina's Crystal Coast. The local buzz was all about the pirate, one of whose legendary ships had finally been found.

The golf course offers five sets of tees and measures 7,200 yards from the back tees and plays to a par of 72.

Centered around an 18-hole Bob Moore-designed championship golf course, the 620-acre North River Club is located less than 5 miles from the Beaufort waterfront and is clustered into separate villages with inviting home styles suited to match a variety of coastal lifestyles. In addition to the golf course, on-site amenities will include a Racquet Club, swim center, Club House and village center.

Sample homes include the Lowcountry style of double front porches. Home prices begin in the low-$200,000s.

On to Moorehead City & Camp Lejune
Brett drove me back to the marina, but before saying good-bye, he signed up North River Club to be featured on the GolfCourseHome Network where it will appear in mid-May. Captain Steve quickly took the PowerCat out of the marina and we soon passed through the port of Moorehead City.

Freighter at the dock at Moorehead City.

The marine training facility at Camp Lejune was the next landmark which signaled its presence with the friendly welcome mat below.

We had spoken with other travelers who had been delayed an hour while waiting for the flashing lights to go off. Fortunately, when we came through, the lights were dark.

Though the guns were silent, we saw evidence of past war games rusting in marsh and water.

Not a playground--we moved quickly past.

ICW homes come in all shapes and size. This stretch not far from Topsail Beach showcased attractive homes accompanied by elaborate docks.

We passed a Fleming 55, a luxury, raised-pilothouse motoryacht. Notice the 'ICW mustache' on the bow, proof of having passed many miles on the Intracoastal Waterway.

It's that time of year when the ICW sprouts a continuous line of boats heading north.

Sailors keep a respective distance while maintaining their place in the parade.

Motorsailing is the closest you can get to actual sailing on the ICW. Here we pass a good-looking boat that is clearly far from home.

Mile 283: Brunswick Forest & Cape Fear National
As the day ended we arrived at Mile 283 and Wrightsville Beach. Bridges were closed so Captain Steve eased up to a public dock, I stepped off onto solid ground and Brandy Marshall of Brunswick Forest picked me and we made the short drive to the community.

Located on North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast, Brunswick Forest is a master-planned 4,500-acre community only minutes from historic Wilmington. Ancient woodlands, slow-moving creeks and broad meadows provide the dramatic backdrop for its amenities and the new Cape Fear National® Country Club whose clubhouse and course had just opened only days earlier.

The newly opened Cape Fear National® Country Club.

Designed by Tim Cate, the course features gently undulating terrain that winds through abundant water features, tall trees and marsh. At the club I met Jerry Helms, director of sales, who has already built an impressive resume with his work at St. James Plantation.

Jerry took me on a tour of Brunswick Forest, pointing out all the activity at this growing community. We drove by the medical center that had just opened on campus, a major convenience for residents.

Evangeline Townhomes: 3 BRs/2.5 BAs, stacked stone fireplace, illuminated tray ceilings, double crown molding, garage space for two cars and 2,215 sq. ft.

First stop was the Evangeline neighborhood which is tucked into a private corner of the community and offers luxury townhomes, custom homes and homesites. Designed for low-maintenance living, the neighborhood is a short stroll from the Fitness & Wellness Center and Community Garden Center.

The Community Garden Center at Brunswick Forest is growing literally and figuratively.

The first home to be built on the golf course.

Sold!

A welcome sign: This lot  was sold to the Duffys who hail from Newtown, CT, my hometown. As if on cue, the Duffys drove by as we slowed down to take this picture. I asked them if they had sold their home in Newtown yet and they said 'yes.' How long was it on the market? 60 days. Good news for communities whose buyers first have to sell their homes 'up North' before they can purchase at communities such as Brunswick Forest.

Homesites around the course range from $165,000. Not in a hurry to build? Don't worry, you have 10 years in which to build your dream home.

Plenty of natural hazards make the course a challenging one.

Cottage compete with white picket fence.

Ready for showing.

Jerry points out the finer points of this home about to be the focus of an open house the next day. See below for its cozy breakfast booth.

Breakfast booth.

After we finished our tour, Jerry drove me to St. James Plantation to where Captain Steve had moved on ahead while I was at Brunswick Forest. My final impression of Brunswick Forest was of activity. As we drove through the community I frequently saw bikers, joggers, walking couples, not to mention honking Canadian geese, who all combined to say that this was a community that people enjoyed and were making the most of.

Mile 309 - St. James Plantation, Southport NC
The sun was setting over the marina as we arrived at St. James Plantation. Captain Steve had the boat in a slip and had already eaten. Looming over the marina was a massive boat shed that Jerry proudly pointed out, noting he was responsible for getting it done. An impressive legacy.

Dusk at St. James Plantation Marina.

The St. James Plantation boat shed.

Tommy Thompson's, the St. James Plantation marina grille.

I took this shot early the next morning, but it was bustling in the evening. The grille is a new addition. One young patron at the bar said, "This place is great! Why didn't they build this years ago?" Residents now enjoy it fully, perhaps trying to make up for lost time.

Next stop: St. James Plantation Gets Busy

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

Sparkman & Stephens Offers a Beauty That's Not a Yacht, but an Ultralight Canoe

13' Ultralight Double Paddle Canoe ~ Charlotte

Tom Hill, the master of ultralight boatbuilding, wrote the book on the subject and now you can own one of his extraordinary creations. This canoe is a rare find because Hill is not currently building boats to order.

Built of 7mm lapstrake marine plywood and epoxy construction, the canoe's total weight is 27lbs. The exterior is light blue with white interior and varnished trim.  She is beautiful to behold and a delight to paddle. Comes with collapsible Shaw & Tenney paddle. Offered by Sparkman & Stephens brokerage at $3,000.

For more information please contact Bruce Johnson: Office: 212-661-6170, or send him an email.

You could buy the book, but buying a ready-made canoe is easier.

Oyster Bay Harbour, Amelia Island, Florida Community, Joins WaterViewHome

Oyster Bay Harbour, FL joins WaterViewHome.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Oyster Bay Harbour in Fernandina Beach, Florida to the WaterViewHome Network. At Oyster Bay Harbour, residents live in luxury in their gated yacht club community with a roster of fine amenities plus entry to the Intracoastal Waterway accessing Cumberland Island, Fernandina Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

Oyster Bay Harbour is a Northeast Florida boating community with single-family homes, luxury villas and a prestigious yacht club. With its Florida Clean Water Marina, the community offers a secluded lifestyle just minutes away from historic Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island.

Equipped with a state-of-the-art yacht club, including a fitness center, pool, and bar and grille. The community is surrounded by the natural beauty of moss-draped ancient oaks, wildlife and spectacular water views, all a short drive from bustling Jacksonville.

At the Yacht Club, residents enjoy expansive waterfront views overlooking the marina and lush natural surroundings. Sundecks border a sparkling swimming pool, where members can also indulge in a savory meal from the poolside island grill and tiki bar.

The club’s fitness center is an athlete’s haven, with state-of-the-art equipment, locker rooms and nearby tennis courts. Nature lovers can meander to the fishing pier and take in water and marsh views. Kayaks and canoes will be available for exploring the waterways.

No Better Place for Boating: Oyster Bay Harbour’s floating docks, with 76 boat slips available in lengths of 40 to 65 feet, will feature both port or starboard full length fingers. Built with great attention to detail, there is a minimum of six feet of depth at low tide.

Real Estate: Oyster Bay Harbour, Fernandina Beach FL

• Island Villas townhome neighborhood
  • Close to Yacht Club and Marina
  • Views of the marsh, waterways and boat slips
  • Includes initial payment of Social Membership to Yacht Club
    
  • Two-car garages
  • Oversized balconies
  • Two Villas per building
    
  • Optional living plans and rooftop deck available
    
  • Elevators in every home 
  • Click here for more information about Oyster Bay Harbour!

Hampton Lake, Hilton Head Island-Area Community Joins WaterViewHome

Hampton Lakes, SC, joins WaterViewHome.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Hampton Lake, a Bluffton, South Carolina master-planned community, to the WaterViewHome Network. With wooded and waterfront homesites, most of which accommodate boatslips, Hampton Lake is a Lowcountry haven that’s all about waterside enjoyment–from the pools to the beach to the spa–with great golf around the corner.

SOUTH CAROLINA
=> Hampton Lake, Bluffton
Golf nearby, spa and fitness, pool complex, stocked fishing lake, homes from the $200,000s.

Hampton Lake is a 900-acre lake community minutes from Hilton Head, Savannah and Beaufort. It overlooks a 165-acre freshwater lake with 15 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by a 340-acre nature preserve, collectively offering more than 500 acres of open space.

Residents of this community, voted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as “Best Community in America," gather at the Lakeside Amenity Village, with its two stone fireplaces. Its spacious Lakeview Room is home to events of all kinds.
 
The Lakeside facility houses such attractions as the Spa and Fitness Central, the Tower Bar, waterfront Backwater Bill’s restaurant and the Adventure Lagoon pool complex. Nearby is Dog Paddle Park, the first pet park at any private community in South Carolina.

Explore from the Lakeshore: You can launch boats from Doc’s Boathouse and visit The Outpost campsite across the lake on the shorefront. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish species, including the quarry of choice in Hampton Lake’s popular Tiger Bass fishing derby.

Real Estate: Hampton Lake, SC

• Homesites from the $120,000s
• Villa Homes from the upper-$200,000s
• Arbor Collection - LifeSmart™ Homes from the upper-$200,000s
• Imagination Collection - LifeSmart™ Homes from the low-$300,000s
• Lakeland Collection - LifeSmart™ Homes from the mid-$300,000s
• Cottage Homes from the upper-$300,000s
• Coach Homes from the mid-$600,000s
• Custom Homes from the mid-$700,000s
• The Sanctuary Private Residence Club, priced from the $175,000s
  • 25 residences, 8 owners per residence. 6 weeks + unlimited other visits based on availability
  • All owners are full members of HL Club and golf members at Pete Dye-designed Hampton Hall
  • Click here for more information about Hampton Lake!

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ICW Cruise: At the Oriental Boat Show Residents Make It a Town-wide Celebration

 

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a Lagoon PowerCat 43 from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

DAY 3: The Oriental Boat Is Sailor's Delight

Coming back from visiting the waterfront community of River Dunes I stopped in at the 2010 Oriental Boat Show. Oriental bills itself as the Sailing Capital of North Carolina and for good reason--there are nearly three times as many boats in the town than residents! Several residents recited with obvious pride the numbers--850 residents and 3,200 boats. Now that's a sailing hub.

Boats lined up for the Oriental Boat Show.

The weather was bring and sunny, as it had been for the entire trip so far. Town officials later proudly proclaimed that more than 1,500 visitors came through the gates over the weekend.

The show's purpose was to raise funds for the two charitable groups that sponsored the boat show. More than $11,000 was raised for the groups, the Oriental Rotary Club and Pamlico County Committee Of 100 (a group which promotes economic development).

Vendors' booths at the show.

Vendors included River Dunes, Arlington Place (another master-planned marina community), multiple boat brokers, sailing school, a funky local marine consignment show, hot dog and hamburger grilling tent, Hunter boat dealership and many more. I must have met half the town walking around the show.

What impressed me was the friendliness of the people and how many of them had only recently moved there. A key attraction was that they didn't have to haul their boats for the winter and could sail year-round.

I immediately noticed the River Dunes burgee on the RD launch.

One of the first people I met was Marvin Bullock, a local real estate agent. He heard me speaking to a vendor and stepped right up and introduced himself. I mentioned to a vendor that I'd like to move to a warmer location where I could have my boat in the water even in the winter and that was his entre. I also met Paul, an elderly gentleman who called himself a "garbologist," still trying to figure out what that is.

The boat brokers were very welcoming and I got a chance to shoot some the boats for sale at the show.

Beth Schwartz (standing) from Triton Yachts, Oriental, NC, gave the scoop on her offerings. She is standing on the deck of Podjo (means 'old friend'), a Pacific Seacraft 37. Asking price is $127,500.

Kizmet displayed a comfortable pilot house.

The boats averaged 35 feet or more.

Bow detail.

One of the prettier boats for sale, a Cheoy Lee Offshore 31, was offered by Bob Applegate, broker at Cape Lookout Yacht Sales & Charters.

This 1968 Cheoy Lee Offshore 31 features a fiberglass hull, teak deck & cabin and is offered at $27,900

An attractive interior.

Kitchen/companion way.

A handsome teak deck with fiberglass cabin roof.

The Bean--the popular coffee spot at the edge of the water at Oriental.

The Boat Show ended at 3 pm and I walked back over the bridge to the marina and we shoved off for our next port of call. Before boarding, however, I bought a superb coffee milkshake at The Bean, the popular coffee shop perched right on the edge of the water. It was a sweet way to say good-bye to Oriental, NC, the quintessential boat town.

Next stop: On to North River Club

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

ICW Cruise: An Extended Stop at Oriental, Home to Thousands of Boats & River Dunes

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a Lagoon PowerCat 43 from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes Marina Community

On Sunday morning we take a quick two-hour run from Belhaven at Mile 135 to Oriental, Mile 182, where I visit our first marina community, River Dunes. Oriental is a tiny coastal community that is all about boats. Residents I met boasted that the village had 850 residents and 3,200 boats!

Oriental Marina, NC

What impressed me about River Dunes was the coastal architecture that resonated with quality. The clubhouse and homes are tucked around the marina so that the water and beautiful boats are almost always in view.

The Harbor Club overlooks the River Dunes Marina.

I was met at the Oriental Marina by JC Capplemann who has built an impressive resume base upon a lifetime on the water. JC had traveled the world in vessels great and small and is now using his experience to help create a truly memorable marina community at River Dunes.

You can now view River Dunes on the WaterViewHome Network and see more photos and learn more details about the real estate offered here.

View of the marina from the River Dunes pool.

JC described how he wanted boaters coming to the community by water from the ICW to turn the corner towards the community and be hit by a wow factor. The house below is the first home one sees and it is a 'wow."

Making a statement: the first RD home the boater sees.

Outdoor living: the outdoor kitchen gives residents the first glimpse of new arrivals.

The home comes complete with boardwalk and dock.

The Low country style at River Dunes.

Homes are priced from $489,000 at River Dunes and waterfront homesites for custom homes start at $175,000. Styles range from low-country waterfront cottages to stately Charleston-style homes.

Rental cottages: come for a visit.

You can come to visit up to a week at River Dunes, and the rental cottages are just as smart and photogenic as the larger homes. Picket fences, gas light posts, fireplaces, metal roofs, porches, clapboard siding and 6/6 windows project a warm comfortable feeling.

Rental cottages: That old maritime village feeling with 1-3 bedrooms.

River Dunes homes enjoying a harbor view.

The Harbor Club pool.

Stately Charleston-style home at River Dunes.

The RD marina had some impressive boats, both power and sail.

The sailboat pictured above was just one of several good-looking vessels at River Dunes. As JC drove me back to the Oriental Marina, he told me about the boat show going on this weekend. In a town of 850, it would be a great opportunity to learn more about this picturesque spot.

 Next entry: A town just for sailors.

Follow the ICW Cruise by clicking the headlines below:

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC  

DAY 3 - Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-wide Celebration - A Visit to River Dunes

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

ICW Cruise: Despite Fuel Problems, On to Locks, Swing Bridges & Finally, Georgie's

Editor's Note: The ICW series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a Lagoon PowerCat 43 from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read other entries by clicking on the list of headlines at the end of this post.

ICW Trip Announcement
DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble
DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC
DAY 3 - Oriental, NC - An Introduction to River Dunes
DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-wide Celebration
DAY 4 - Tip-Toeing Past Firing Lines

DAY 6 - Charleston's Mega Dock Showcases the World's Most Beautiful Boats

Captain Steve fills up and talks with Brooke the dock girl.

Despite the previous day's efforts to rid the diesel tanks of foul fuel, the inside portside fuel tank still refuses to last more than 30 seconds before it cuts off from the engine, forcing Captain Steve to switch back to one of the three remaining tanks. Since there are two engines, the bad tank effectively cuts our available fuel in half, thus forcing us to fill up more frequently.

Steve has to get the boat to Key West by May 1st where it is to join a charter fleet. More time spent refueling is not only inefficient, but it wastes time. We shove off from Liberty Marina, but we know that an extended stop awaits us in the future in which the fuel must be fixed.  

A quick fuel stop at Norview Marina give us a look at a vanishing method of boat storage--boat sheds. There were several at this stop, plus several rows of house boats which could easily be mistaken for trailers in an RV dealer.

House boat, anyone?

A disappearing method of storage--boat sheds. Note the metal corrugated roof. The thought occurs, when one boat catches fire, so do they all.

Part of the continuing parade of snowbirds heading back north. This one an Island Packet.

Stretches of the ICW are uninterrupted lengths of lazy river, thick trees and scrubs along the shore and a simple quiet of birds and wildlife with no signs of people.

Our first lock, at Great Bridge, NC. The lock doors close behind us and then water starts to drain out into the water beyond the lock in front of us until the water inside the lock is at the same height. Then the doors open and out we go.

Doors opening.

Still 734 miles to go to Jacksonville and just before it, Amelia Island, my destination.

US Boat to the rescue of a grounded snowbird.

A pretty pair of trawlers, going north in tandem.

One of the many heavy-metal ICW swing bridges that pirouette seemingly on a dime, dancing like hippos in 'Fantasia.'

This marina at Coinjock was one to skip.

When dinosaurs ruled the earth. The approach to Norfolk, Va, highlighted by a herd of "brontosauruses."

Getting closer to Norfolk: Four ostriches resemble giant cranes.

One of many big boats. We are unable to shoot pictures of military vessels, but they are there.

Another bridge and the continuing parade.

Arriving at River Forest for the night.

Captain Steve strides back to the boat after checking in and looking fit as a fiddle after a long day.

We walk into town and eat dinner at Georgie's Oyster Bar at the suggestion of the dockmaster. Shortly after we sit down, the dockmaster himself comes in for dinner.  The Hatteras clam chowder is so good Captain Steve has two large bowls.

Now I discover there are three types of clam chowder--Manhattan (water base), New England (milk/cream base) and Hatteras (clam broth base). Georgie and his wife were so friendly, we had to take a picture of them standing on duty behind the counter (below).

Georgie's storefront, below.

Georgie's is open on Sundays, lucky for us.

Next, on to Oriental and our first waterfront community, River Dunes.

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

ICW Cruise: Trip from Havre de Grace, MD, Starts (& Stops) with a Familiar Face

Editor's Note:
This series of blog entries details the April 2010 cruise down the ICW made by WaterViewHome Network Publisher David Lott. The purpose of the trip is twofold: to accompany Captain Steve Weisbrod who is delivering a Lagoon PowerCat 43 from Lewis, DE, to Key West, FL, where it will become part of a charter fleet, and to visit golf and waterview communities and report on them. You can read all other posts by clicking on the headlines on the list of entries at the end of this installment.

DAY ONE, ICW CRUISE ABOARD LAGOON POWER CATAMARAN 43
Havre de Grace to Liberty Marina, MD

Lagoon PowerCat 43 loaded and ready to go.

The day has finally arrived for the start of my trip down the Intracoastal Waterway. I had been saying Intercoastal Waterway for years, but was quickly corrected by Captain Steve as we loaded on previsions.

The trip has several purposes and a special meaning. I came up with the idea of the cruise last November as a carrot to pursue prior to undergoing treatment for Lyme disease. I had been battling this persistent and increasingly debilitating infection for two years.

 

Several regimens of oral antibiotics had failed to work and a specialist in Boston recommended a month-long treatment of antibiotics (Rocephin) delivered via IV. I was to have a port in my arm for 28 days and hook up every day for 20 minutes. I promised myself once the treatment was done and I was feeling better, I would a take cruise down the ICW. Happily, the treatment worked, I immediately started to feel better and four months later, a dream come true.

The second reason is to visit golf and waterfront communities along the ICW and report my travels to you. Previous trips have been to the western North Carolina mountain communities and by sailboat to The Bay Club, Mattapoisett, MA. The trip to The Bay Club, which was a blast and just two days, was the clincher to try another trip, this time to more communities and over a longer distance.

We start to move out from Tidewater Marina into the Bay.

Now it is Thursday morning April 15 and we have fueled up and are ready to go. However, a nagging problem with the portside outer fuel tank is not allowing the engine to switch from tank to tank and we will have to either get the fuel polished or replaced before going much farther.

We say good bye to Tidewater Marina in Havre de Grace.

Once we are underway, we get a text message from the dockmaster at Liberty Marina in Edgewater on the South River just below Annapolis that we can meet Bob Allen and the boys from Petro-Scrub there. This beginning was strangely similar to the start of my cruise to Martha's Vineyard on my recently purchased Cape Dory 270 Avanti in 2008 which also began with fuel polishing and a lost day. Bob is to scrub the fuel or simply take it out of the tank and we'll refuel.
 Capt'n Steve eases the Lagoon43 into the Chesapeake.

Rumor has it that the white dome is the site for 360-degree video simulation training for the Abrams battle tank. The dome is located on the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

Coming up the Annapolis Bay Bridge.

Thomas Point Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Bay. (Here's another one.)

Arriving at Liberty Marina to meet Petro-Scrub.

Kevin of Petro-Scrub, left, with his tools of the trade.

Elise drove down from Baltimore to deliver our official WaterviewHome burgee, sent from California by BurgeeMaker.com.

Kevin tell it like it is.

A resident boat at the marina.

By now it's late in the day and we decide to stay put. We'll see how the engine performs tomorrow morning. Miles traveled: 65 miles. See next blog entry here!

Follow the Complete Trip Down the ICW by clicking on the headlines below.

 

ICW Trip Announcement 

DAY 1 - Havre de Grace, MD - Engine Trouble 

DAY 2 - Alligator River Marina, NC - River Forest, NC   

DAY 2: A Visit to River Dunes, Oriental NC

DAY 3 - The Oriental Boat Show Is a Town-Wide Celebration

DAY 4 - Tiptoeing Past Firing Lines to North River Club & Brunswick Forest

DAY 5 - St. James Plantation Marina - New Home Construction

DAY 6: Charleston's Mega Dock Is a Showcase for the World's Most Beautiful Yachts

Day 6: Daniel Island's Mitchell Wharf Offers Deepwater Docks, River Views

Day 6: Harbour Town Yacht Club with All the Trimmings on Hilton Head Island

Day 7: Discovering Windmill Harbour's Elegance and Privacy on HHI, SC

 

Morris Yachts' New M29 Comes to Cedar Point YC So You Can Give It a Test Sail

M29: Reaching Under Spinnaker. Photo Credit Onne Van Der Wal

Morris Yachts announces that the M29 will be available for Test Sail starting this coming weekend (April 17) and through Mid-May. Hosting the new yacht is the Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Connecticut.

Designed to be easy to rig, launch and sail, the M29 is a perfect daysailer for single-handed sailing or can be raced easily by a crew of two or three. If you are interested in scheduling a test sail and taking a closer look at the M29, please call at 212-661-6170 and a representative will be happy to assist you.

New Alerion Sport 33 Unveiled by Pearson Marine Group to Rave Reviews

The new Alerion Sport 33.

At noon on March 13th Pearson Marine Group unveiled a parallel line of elegant dayboats that will offer a higher level of performance and appeal for those who love to race whatever they find on the water, one-design or not. Designated Alerion Sport 33 to differentiate from the already successful Alerion Express 33, the first three hulls have already been secured by previous AE28 owners.

The heart and soul of the new Alerion Sport are pure Alerion: classic appearance above the waterline, highly sophisticated and modern underbody, simplicity in rig to permit single-handed sailing and getting underway in just a few minutes, and an ability to sail well and securely in the full range of wind and sea conditions.

While the Sport model shares the same hull as the Express 33, the Sport has considerably less displacement, higher SA/Disp ratio, and carries an asymmetric code headsail for faster reaching and running. Tiller steering gives the skipper that sensitive feel that is both desired and delightful in a high-performance sailboat.

Sail Solo
In keeping with Alerion's belief that an owner ought to be able to sail alone, all sail controls are led within reach of the skipper, with on-deck lines led in tunnels to jammers at the aft-end of the cabin where their tails can drop into cockpit-neatening boxes. The mainsheet is mounted on a barney post, so it can be played actively. Both headsail and mainsail are fitted with multi-part fine-tune lines to eliminate tiller-between-the-knees winching.

A number of cockpit options gives owners some attractive personalization. The Port sail locker can become an on-deck cooler; since its Starboard twin is so commodious, the extra stowage space might not be missed. The aft sections of the long seats are removable to create forward-facing seats at both aft corners. Even with those sections open, the seats are long enough to stretch out for a nap or to handle a large party of friends or family.

The standard mast is carbon composite with Nitronic rod rigging. The hardware package is geared to sailing fast, in company, and winning prizes. But there is also great comfort with angled cockpit seat backs, wide coamings to rest elbows or derrieres, and clear decks. The hulls are produced with infusion molded SCRIMP construction for strength and lasting quality without excess weight.

Accommodations below permit overnighting but the overall intention for Alerion Sport 33 is one-day action. There are berths for four adults, a head and simple stowage. A 20 HP diesel with Saildrive is standard - for getting to and from the starting line when winds are not reliable. A Hoyt jib boom with extender is optional along with the hardware attendant to flying an asymmetric headsail.

The base price of (MSRP) $199,900 includes sails and all major equipment.