Stranded at Cape Lookout

A few nights ago, safely anchored in a favorite spot here, I looked across the spit of land and saw a sailboat that sure looked WAY too close to the shoals. Moments later it came to a stop and I hoped they were reversing out of the maze.... but soon they were moving again, further into certain stranding. I sighed, checked tides (just past a very high full moon tide) and decided to visit them in the morning, after their initial upset had died down.

The next AM I had a good chat with the guys aboard. Apparently, the Southern Cross 39 had been purchased in Wells, ME, and they were sailing south of Charleston... I didn't really listen. I DID pick up that they had rounded Hatteras and come in here exhausted, that they were very new to the whole adventure, and that they had (foolishly) trusted the chart of this area.

I discussed options for getting off the sand and took a look at their supplies, then went back to look at mine. Then, at low tide (2pm) I took this photo:

Here is what I found at low tide: lots of shoals, waist-deep water before a very shallow sandbar offshore. Their keel had essentially no paint remaining on the bottom, but otherwise OK, although mostly buried.

They (and I) thought the boat needed to be pulled over on it's side to free the keel and move it into deeper water. With high tide forecast to coincide with sunset, 8:30pm, we hoped to free it earlier (7:30 would still be within 6" of highest water). They had little spare rope, but I was able to rustle up about 600' out of various lines. I anchored out in the open ocean at 5pm, where calm conditions had made my beloved bodysurfing worthless, but made anchoring and rowing rather safe. 

I secured the lines to the very questionable halyard to their masthead, then winched in as much as I could, checking frequently to make sure I was not dragging anchor (THERE'S another story!). At about 7:30, right on time, their boat shifted when we tried backing my boat up and they were free! A local then led them out of the shoals and over to a good anchoring spot. 

They were SO lucky that waves were negligible, that there is nothing more abrasive than sand and shells here, and that people are helpful! And I am so lucky to get to do these fun little projects!