SURF CITY, NC

DAY 301; MAY 14, 2012

DEP; SOUTHPORT 07:28 ARR. SURF CITY 1:10

D. 46.0sm / 4742.4

 As we approached Wrightsville Beach we received a call on Ch. 16. “Glory Days, this is USCG small boat. When was the last time you were boarded?”   Ans. “It’s been over a year.” USCG “Slow down and we will pull alongside and board you, do you have any weapons?” Actually it was pretty painless. The Coasties performed a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) which we passed, asked us a few questions, and departed without costing us any time. They were very courteous and professional, and doing their job, and they even called the Wrightsville Beach Bridge and had it open for us ahead of schedule . As it turned out that was unnecessary as we had enough clearance. Just past mm 265, as we entered Stump Sound, I happened to look back to see Something Special being violently rocked by the 75’ motor yacht, Moon Shine, passing him.   I immediately called on Ch. 16 to the vessel and yelled at him to slow down and give me a slow pass. I asked him what his hurry was as we would have to wait 15 minutes for the bridge to open. His response was he wanted to go thru the bridge first so he didn’t have to pass us on the other side. I politely suggested that he learn a little courtesy and that this didn’t make any sense as he could just as easily have waited until we got to the bridge and asked to go ahead, which is common practice. What I learned from another boater during this event is to call a securite’ on Ch. 16 warning other vessels of a “dangerous boater, by name.” This will not only warn other boaters but will be recorded by the USCG and hopefully embarrass the errant Captain into changing his behavior. We got thru the bridge as scheduled at 1:00 and entered the Beach House Marina at 1:10. Surf City is a small beach town bordered by the AICW on the west, and the ocean on the east. It is only a 5 minute walk from one side to the other. It has a very long pier into the ocean for which the town charges admission, not only per person, but for each fishing pole. Welcome to Surf City.

THE FISHING PIER AT SURF CITY, NC

FELLOW LOOPERS EVELYN & SID TILSTRA