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The WaterTribe North Carolina Challenge started about 7am this morning off the Beach at Cedar Island. 19 boats according to the rooster, 2 are B&B sailboats. A Core Sound 17 with KDubs and Maggers (Kevin Wenger and daughter), and a Core Sound 17 Mark 3 with Chief (Steve Isaac) and SOS (our own Alan Stewart). With only 19 boats it’s easy to see the tracking map with all boats, you will have to zoom in and click on icon to see who they are. tracking map is https://watertribe.com/Events/ChallengeGMapper.aspx rooster of participants and their boats can be found here https://watertribe.com/Events/ShowRosters.aspx looks like our Guys are now on the Neuse. Dawn

Here is where we are in our build The anchor well floor has been glued in. The forward locker is constructed. The cabin bunks are done. We just finished glueing in the hanging knees. Epoxy coating of cabin bunks and sides will be next. In the cabin, the lids for the bunk storage compartment are held down by magnets. We recessed 4 magnets in the inside corners of the lids, and the underside of the hatch rings. The battery box in front of ballast tank waiting on electrical planning. We plan for the boat to be all solar, including an electric motor, so some planning needed on how to run the wires. The baffles in the ballast tank have been installed. The tops are not glued in yet as plumbing decisions still needed. Might wait to see what Alan plans for that. Bulkhead 3 (cabin door) not installed yet. Much of the cockpit structure is complete and epoxy coated. Still need to make hatch and hatch rings, and cleats for cockpit seat tops. We plan to use electric motor, installed inboard at the transom locker. Need to buy the electric motor in order to work on that. The idea is that the motor will installed in a well in the transom locker. Lots more to do. And more pics updated at https://photos.app.goo.gl/x31T1GQgSfhR7eDz8 IMG_0869.MOV

So..... even though very silent, Paul and I are now building. Life got in the way for awhile, I think we took about a 6 month break, and, we are very slow. Alan insists we won’t win the award for slowest build if we’d get at it. It just seems like so much more fun to sit with a beer and watch Alan’s videos on “how to” then to actually do it But we are back at it. Reacher I don’t know about any deleted photos, our photo album is here https://photos.app.goo.gl/x31T1GQgSfhR7eDz8 We have not been very good lately at taking pictures, but we do plan to take a bunch this evening and write up a report on where we are, and some of the creative things we’ve done and plan. So stay tuned.

So far this week we’ve had to hit the hardware store everyday for little misc stuff (more brushes, rollers, sandpaper, plywood). And daily phone calls with questions to Alan. He assures me it’s ok, he basically answers similar questions most days at work. Paul spent much of last night making a new top with flip-up extension on our workbench for more work surface. He’s got the centerboard trunk almost completed. I’m hoping he adds one to the other side too. Today, I’ll be sanding, sanding, and more sanding various parts and pieces I’ve epoxy coated.

It was with heavy hearts that we sold our much loved Core Sound 20 “Dawn Patrol” this past Spring. Paul, Alan, and I built the boat in 2007 (I really only did sanding and painting). We started in Nov with a deadline of March’s 2008 WaterTribe Everglades Challenge. Alan was in NC State and would come home for marathon building weekends to help Paul. And yes, they were still working out hardware and rigging on the beach the day before that Challenge. Over the years we’ve had some great vacations, and Alan and Paul continued to sail it (almost) annually each year in WaterTribe events. We think we found it a good home, it sure did look good after it was refurbished, thanks Alan. We’d already decided last year that we wanted to build the updated Mark3. I loved the larger cabin, and many of the other new features are just too attractive. This time we’d build from a kit. Even better, B&B has a new (not yet advertised) service where you can have them put the hull together, with BH1 and BH2 in place along with a few stringers holding it together. This would save us time, and space. The hurricane set us all back a bit, but last week we drove down with flatbed trailer and picked up our hull. We live 3 1/2 hours away from the shop. This weekend we finally got things started. I’ve been router-ing some edges and epoxy coat painting some of the pieces needed next. Paul’s building the center board trunk. We’re trying to get as much ready as possible for this upcoming weekend. Alan and Taylor will be here and I’m collecting on my birthday present from them. We’ve started a new build photo album here https://photos.app.goo.gl/x31T1GQgSfhR7eDz8 and we’ll report updates, questions, etc.... as we go. Stay tuned.

Love the idea of a calendar. Maybe next year folks can submit their best sailing pics of a B&B boat to make it up. Not so sure naked SAILORS works well Dawn

If your interested, there will be some great chatter about the Core Sounds and the EC22 in this years EC, as well as all things sailable on a thread already started on Sailing Anarchy here http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=164096, much of the commentary comes from Watertribers who have completed ECs in the past, and other colourful folks. Also our good friend Steve puts out a blog called Log of Spartina, he sails his home built Welsford Pathfinder, http://logofspartina.blogspot.com. He is Paul and Alan's shore contact and will be blogging a bit about thier challenge.

I am so sorry to hear this. I've followed your website for years (primarily kayaking) and I was really looking forward to meeting you all. Luckily it's an annual event, so should happen again. Dawn

Wes you might get a few takers for a rowing contest at the Messabout. I know Graham and Randy, as well as Paul and Alan will all be rowing thier boats at least 8 miles up the Harlowe Canal during the WaterTribe North Carolina Challenge next week. Possibly more miles depending on weather. So they'll be ready! Dawn

Ray, You got it.

Paul is generally a purist about a motor, but when we planned to do the week long 200 mile trip on the NC Coast this past June (with our friend Steve Earley in his Pathfinder), I told him I wouldn't do it with him without a motor. Too much rowing for me in the really hot NC summer days when the wind dies (paddling is different . We had a route and a schedule that we were going to try and keep to within reason. Luckily he acquiesced and Ken lent us his. We had a great time, very little motoring, but helpful when needed. Now of course I'm pushing to buy our own just to have. Paul's attitude is if we have one, we'll use it. Paul's just started a blog to post about our 'Dawn Patrol' trip reports, boat building etc... its at http://cs20dawnpatrol.blogspot.com/. As a statistician he was quite interested in looking at some of the details of our motor use during the trip, and is now writing an article that reports on it, how long, when, benefits, etc... Still no work yet about buying one though Dawn

Paul and I just spent 8 days on vacation at the NC Coast in our Core Sound 20 "Dawn Patrol", along with another boat, Steve Earley's John Welsford Pathfinder named "Spartina". We had a great time. I think I can now call myself a real sailor. And I can't wait for our next trip. Steve is a professional photographer and blogger, he's started posting pics and trip reports will follow at http://logofspartina.blogspot.com/ I too keep a blog and have started writing up the trip at http://sandybottomkayaker.blogspot.com/ We even managed to sail up to Graham's for a short visit when they were painting Marissa before leaving for Maine. Dawn

The issue of motor is one Paul and I have had many discussions on for our Core Sound 20. He prefers not to put a motor on her. He's done WaterTribe challenges which don't allow motor's, he's had success without, and we do have a good set of oars (he's and Alan rowed as long as 8 miles). For our day and weekend sailing (knowing the weather), and as I learn more and get comfortable with sailing, I'm getting fine without a motor, and even enjoy rowing with the oars when needed. But we are now planning longer weeklong (vacation) trips at the coast. These are planned to have flexable (to some extent) routing and scheduling, but it would be nice to have the motor if needed to keep with the plan or at least be able to get home after the week. And for other unforseen times especially for use in areas with high tidal currents, lots of boat traffic (Beufort area), and docking. It's a non-ending argument. But when all said and done, seems a minor issue to me to have it, and just plan not to use it. If it gives me some comfort of mind, makes me more interested in sailing trips together, than it seems a no brainer. Dawn

Oh and don't forget the WaterTribe NC challenges. These are scheduled for Sept 24-26 this year. NCC will be same event 100 miles, the NCUM will follow the NCC to it's first checkpoint, 50 miles. Basic route, Cedar Island up the Neuse River, Harlowe Canal to Beufort, up Core Sound back to Cedar Island. Graham and Randy placed 1st last year in the EC22, Paul and Alan placed 3rd in the CS20. A kayak racer placed 2nd The website has not been updated for this years event, but I'll post information when it is. Does not have to be done as hard core race. Come on Ken! Dawn

There is the NC OBX130 this summer, http://www.obx130.com/ Dawn

The Gear and Boat Inspection and Captains meeting is on Friday March 5th this year, on the beach at Ft DeSoto where the large pavillion is. Dawn

We just haven't gotten me in the 'Dawn Patrol' enough to be that comfortable sailing in an EC. Even if only crew, I believe the crew needs to be able to be the Captain, so right now it's not safely feasable for this years EC So the plan right now is plan a few sailing trips this summer, work on my sailing skills this year, and do it together in 2011. I'll do 2010 EC in Class 1 paddling, and Paul has volunteered to be the checkpoint captain at the Key Largo finish this year. Dawn

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Unfortunately Paul and I will also be unable to attend this year with our CS20 "Dawn Patrol". We had so much fun last year we hate to miss it. It seems our son Alan forgot to take this important event into consideration when planning his world wide sailing adventure http://www.eyeotw.org. They leave Nov 2nd from Hampton Roads VA, and we need to spend that weekend up there with him. We're good for next year though, kids have all grown and flown Dawn

I was on a kayaking trip that weekend paddling around Cedar and Piney Islands. I think we were keeping the little buggers too busy to bother Paul and Alan There were many thousands of mosquitos where I was, but none bothered us once we were about 50 yds from shore. Dawn

The websites describing the new NC WaterTribe Race/Challenges scheduled in late September is now up. Go to http://www.watertribe.com, and then click on either NC Challenge or NC Ultra Marathon on the left listing of website contents. Routing information, schedules, registration, etc

Hi Graham, KiwiBird and I found it to be a great route, though a bit disappointed it was only about 87 miles rather than 100. The Harlow is BEAUTIFUL, all forested, and definetly deep enough, in fact we had a few motor boats go by us. The toughest is the entrance to the Harlow from Clubfoot Creek. Clubfoot is plenty wide enough for tacking (stay away from shallows at shore) then it gets narrow as it enters Harlow. At this point it's salt marsh and muddy and you have to find and stay in the channel, marked by locals with sticks for a short while, but then the Harlow winds a bit with no markings and you have to pick the outside bends for the deeper channels. Once in the Harlow, it's plenty deep mid river (3 ft+), and wide enough for rowing. It borders the Croatan National Forest and is delightful. There are some homes along the banks with boat ramps and small docks. The first bridge from the Neuse end is the shortest, but our 90" paddle fit lengwise from water to the top, and it looked like we were 14" shallow from high water marks. Plenty wide enough. The other 2 bridges were even taller. There is a small dock on right, right before the 1st bridge that could be used to demast etc... (but Alan said "Mom the racers aren't going to stop to demast"). After the 3rd bridge still a couple miles from the Newport River it gets salt marsh again, and docked right at after the bridge there are 2 shrimp boats that clearly go in and out. We rode current in 3/4 into it the Neuse (about 1 kt) and the last 1/4 against a 1 1/2 kt current from the Newport. Going into Beufort from the Newport has some pretty strong tidal currents of course from the inlet. One danger with the low draft boats, able to cut corners and not have to stay around the deeper channels on Core Sound, are the net poles that are placed every 20 ft or so, for a couple hundred yards from shore sticking out about 6-8 ft, and not very visable at night. I am nursing about 300 mosquito bites after stopping to camp Sat night, and we had good wind that I thought would keep them away. We'll be posting more detailed trip report on our blogs later this week. Maybe I can talk Paul into heading down for the boat show this weekend. Have fun. Dawn

The canal routes measure out longer if your leaving from Cedar Island next to the Ferrys. It's shorter to just go north then west around the Island to the Neuse. But I'll recheck. Dawn

Thanks Oyster for the information. Picking the dates was the most difficult of the decisions, and I'm open to all information and suggestions, there is still time to tweak things regards the race, though I think there will always be some gamble involved. We chose late Sept for a number of reasons: - Summer is just too hot and buggy (though we probably still won't escape that) - Needed to stay away from the 3-day weekend at end of Aug (terrible time for people to travel and the boat traffic) - I think boat traffic going into and in Beaufort might be one of the bigger dangers, so we wanted to stay out of the summer season as much as possible - Oct and Nov might be worse regards hurricane season (still a coin flip though) - It looks to me like it blows all the time out there. I am trying to research historical weather archives. - Anything in summer or tourist season would be difficult to arrange with the campground etc.... - Spring would have been too close to the EC, these challenges obviously have a limited appeal regards participants, and we needed time to organize it all. I don't really know what the equinox effect is on weather, guess I'll have to look at that too. I do expect our NC coastal conditions could easily make this more challenging than most ECs in the Gulf, and we need to continue to promote the 'Expert in your Craft' philosophy. The route does have lots of places to tuck in from weather if needed, and boats can choose their own routes (thought we haven't decided on direction yet, or leaving that open), but the Thorofare and Old Canal if needed to avoid going around Cedar Island (it adds miles but might be more protected) is always a possibility, either side of Harkers too. And I think there is room to plan for some potential last minute options if weather is a problem (i.e. start the race Fri night when winds might have lowered, and shorten it to end in Beaufort if needed). We can't plan anything like this with a rain date, and money will already have been dispersed, so refunds are not possible. I think the best we can do is if in the event it's a blowout, we try and have something fun planned for those who came out. If anyone has ideas for us to consider, please let me know. Paul and I did scout the Harlow canal bridges last weekend, no measurements, though we estimated clearance at 6-8'. I'll know more about depths next weekend when I paddle it. Here's some pics we took there. http://picasaweb.google.com/SandyBottomWebShots/HarlowCanal?feat=directlink Dawn

I think we'll have to see how this one goes. WaterTribe is very interested in adding races, and a Fall one is perfect with the EC in March. Dawn