NCC 2014 Dock Water (Curtis Pack)
First of all, I want to say thank you to all of the Watertribers and family, with out their support we would not have been able to participate in this challenge.
We launched into the surf just after Chief announced that if you started in these conditions you were “crazy”. Several kayakers lead the way. Steve and I considered it was within our skill levels and we launched the Hobie TI just after Triman demonstrated it was possible to make it through in a TI. On the launch the front drive was damaged and we lost one fin off the drive but we still had a second drive and two paddles. The sail went up and we were on our way. As we crossed Pamlico to the Neuse River we passed Feral Cat and Dead Cat. FC was out of his boat doing a reentry. We sailed close observing and tried to hail them on the VHF. As we sailed by FC managed to reenter his boat and continue paddling (an amazing feat considering the waves and wind and the fact he used no paddle float or other support) a confirmation of his skill. Entering the Neuse and the down wind run we encountered 4 foot waves and at one point hitting 10.5 mph surfing down the faces (latter review of the data includes a few runs hitting 12 mph for a few seconds.) Steve kept us on course in the somewhat larger water than we are used to at home. Scooting down the Neuse to the mouth of Club Foot Creek we were able to sail deep in to the canal with a following current helping us through the Harlow .It was great to see the Watertribers on the first bridge ( I’d like to see that video Paul) ! Following in a threesome with Clean Slate in the lead and Mead G. behind, we exited the Harlow on the way to Beaufort and Check Point One. Their sleek crafts making good time, we followed along. Under the bridge was smooth with the quick take down mast of the Hobie TI helping, we did not even need to stop moving.
CP 1 was a quick stop for us, we said hello and filled our water bottles. We were trying to get to Harker Island before dark as we wanted to avoid navigating in the night if possible. Continuing into Taylor creek we arrived in stealth mode on the mainland side of Harker Island bridge and seeing a couple of boats anchored there we settled in camping on the boat as there is no camping on the ramp area or parking lot. A hot meal and a change to warm dry clothes for Steve resulted in a restful night. I was experimenting with a prototype Reflectix sleeping bag and slept in my wet in the bag and actually had a comfortable night. Off the next morning under the bridge and headed for Browns Island and Core Sound. We exited into Core Sound proper and began the upwind slog through waves and wind with multiple tacks often seeing Clean Slate just ahead. A convenient Waterfowl blind provided a dry spot to stand and stretch for lunch on the Cape Lookout side of the sound. This side of the sound is shallow and we did pat the sand with our center board gently one time. After lunch, Steve was hitting his stride with long tacks across the sound trying to determine a preferred tack and making good progress to windward. Just after making a tack and settling in to the new heading there was a pop, I said “Whoa” and the mast broke just below the furling roller with a complete circumferential break. We were both really surprised but wasted no time in rolling up the sail and securing the mast and began peddling the drives ( one whole and one half drive) toward the west side of the sound. We made landfall at a small grassy area on the near end of the village of Atlantic. We broke out the phone and text Paddle Dancer of our situation and hit the OK button on the spot. We began to look at our options 1. Try and repair the mast 2. Peddle/paddle the remaining miles. 3. Quit. Steve began to assess the gear and I went walking to the houses nearby to search for repair materials. Finding no one home at three houses I was eyeing a chain link fence post when I heard a car slow down and heard a voice say “Are you a Watertriber? (Yes!), Do you need help? (Yes!). It was Dead Cat searching the sound for Feral Cat, who found this Watertriber wandering along the road. Dead Cat has finished the race in 24 hours and 28 minutes by pushing straight through – another amazing feat. She walked down to assess the damage offering to take us anywhere we needed to go. Her advice was to “keep moving forward”. At this point, Steve and I realized the deadline clock was ticking and we did not have enough time to fix the mast and make the deadline without sailing in the dark on unfamiliar waters filled with pound nets. Choosing choice number two we stripped the boat of gear causing drag (the mast, the spray skirts, the hakkas and deck bag) while keeping the required gear on board. DC took the mast and the deck bag and we hid the hakkas in the grass on shore and geared up for a nocturnal slog into the wind. At the last minute Steve decided to get the damaged half drive (which turned out to be a good decision). Pushing off into the wind and waves we tried to use shore coverage as much as possible but the was right on the nose and our speed varied between 1.0 and 1.8 mph ,often feeling as though we were sitting still. By using the drive, the half drive and the paddle we were able to make head way and continue on. The next rest stop was a fishing harbor where the closed grill had open restrooms (bless them) which allowed a break and filling of our water bottles (we had plenty of water but did not want to be caught in the middle of the night needing water). Our next stop was after crossing Thoughfare Bay and a sweet and beach who we shared with a Raccoon who did not like our company and left. We took a short break, had a snack and drink, and then headed out into the head wind. At this point night navigation was becoming challenging as multiple lights and fatigue were taking their toll. Our speed had gradually improved to a steady 2 mph. We decided on a strategy to allow Steve to steer and navigate and I, on the good drive, would provide thrust to keep the rudder working (remember …keep moving forward). We managed to “find” three pound nets on our journey and because we were moving slowly we had no damage to us or the nets. This would have been much easier in the daylight! Needing a break we found a grassy bank just before Lola and stopped briefly to catch our breath and began the push to get to the corner and turn into Cedar Island Bay. Getting fatigue from 7 ½ hours of peddling /paddling short one to two minute breaks were required about every 30 minutes for the engines. Getting out of the wind really helped as we hit the bay and our speed rose to about 3 mph and we were headed to the campground ramp, which Chief had allowed as a landing for this race. Finally the ramp but our race was not over. Moving the boat into the campground ramp we followed Chiefs instructions and hiked to the beach launch site and triumphantly pressed the Spot button to finish our first Watertribe Challenge. I missed a few details here and there which will require reviewing the logged spot and GPS details but this should give you and idea of our view of the NCC 2014. Thanks to Chief and Paddle Dancer for their support, a special thank you to Dead Cat who provided help in true Watertriber spirit and substance and all the great people we met at the event.
