Last couple of summers we chartered on Pamlico Sound and had a blast. Unless Murphy signs on as crew (or I don't finish installing bilge pumps or larger water, fuel and head capacity), my wife, son and I are planning to haul Windward to the sound for a week in October, and I'd like to line up launch options early.
Is Smith Creek ramp the best launch option in Oriental? If I leave the trailer connected to the truck, can I leave the rig there for a week? If I do, am I likely to find broken glass and an oil stain where my truck used to be?
While Bath is lovely and certainly another option, I don't think there's a ramp or parking there and since it's a ways from the sound it might limit our destinations, so Oriental would be first choice. Besides, gotta eat at Steamers at least once.
While I realize that attitude is the difference between ordeal and adventure, I want this to be fun for them. I love big wind and reasonable waves, but the rest of the crew's not wild about it. Going out Beaufort Inlet in an Ericson 28 last June did not please my wife or son,
but they'd never experienced real waves before. The waves were running 5-8 feet with the occasional sportfisher contributing a 6 foot wake at an odd angle, but we only shipped greenwater a couple of times. We also sailed through a decent squall (winds to 36 kt, waves commensurately sized) between Broad Creek and Turnagain Bay. Lots of spray there, and a couple of major dousings.I'm planning a couple of alternate itineraries to keep the crew with grins on their gobs, but if Wx is promising we'll at least sail up and spend a day at Ocracoke, and possibly head out to Cape Lookout. I'd love to go outside around to get from one to the other, but would probably do that the first time sans famille.
Input or alternative launch/parking tips welcome.
