Oct. 22, 2025 Carolina Beach and More Family Visits

Wed. Oct. 22, 2025  Mile Hammock to Carolina Beach Municipal Marina  52 miles and  6.4 hours

Today's cruise is all dictated by bridge openings once again.  Luckily, we'll be able to fit under the Figure 8 Island bridge once we lower the VHF antenna, but the Wrightsville Beach bridge requires an opening.  And that is an on the hour only opening. Tight quarters, lots of boats and strong currents so not a place where you want to idle around too long.   Anchor up at 8:30 and on our way.   This is coastal cruising along NC's inland ICW.   Pretty straight forward.  Just stay in the ditch.  Solid land to the west which is largely developed with each house having a dock and boat lift. To the east are barrier islands and marshes.  At one time before all the development it was a beautiful natural landscape - sort of ugly now.

Abandoned and derelict boats - both private and commercial -
are becoming a bigger problem all up and down the east coast

Typical development along the ICW in NC

The cruising is easy.  Pass a few boats, get passed by a few boats. Make it to Wrightsville Bridge a few minutes early.  Several boats who had passed us are waiting. We get in line and the bridge opens precisely on schedule.    Couple of notorious areas ahead we need to watch for shoaling.  Both Topsail and Mason Inlet require some extra maneuvering to get through in deep water. Thankfully, between the COE sonar overlays and Bob 423 track overlay on our Aqua Maps navigation program we get through without issue.   

Looking back at the now closed Wrightsville Beach Bridge and marinas

Martha consulting the navigation programs and channel markers

We have reservations for one of the new slips at Carolina Beach Municipal Marina.  Stayed on their mooring balls in the past when these slips were under construction.   Follow two other boats into the channel who are also headed there.  We all get secured with the help of their friendly dockhands.  Wind on our beam gives me a bit of an issue backing in.  Second try is the charm and we're soon secured.   Looking forward to getting together with my brother and nephew and their wives for dinner.   Good meal, good fellowship, and good adult beverages.  Maybe one too many for me. It's the best excuse I've got for not taking a group picture! The extra day allows for some stronger winds to pass and gives me a chance to do a more thorough boat washing.  Amazing how quickly the handrails get covered with salt.  Run your hand down them and it's covered in course white salt after a day or two on the water.  Nephew and his wife gave a tour of the gorgeous new house they built.  Absolutely amazed by the extensive bourbon collection he's accumulated.   Then they were kind enough to take us grocery shopping for a few provisions.  Overall, a great stop. 

Journey for Oct. 22, 2025