Seafarer Sail On Program Sails past Cape Hatteras on our way to Ocracoke

At 2pm, the girls calculated that they were 12 nautical miles away from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. We are sailing on a beam reach across the Pamlico Sound and making good time. They expect to arrive in Ocracoke around 5pm. The girls have taken part of the sail to tend to a few maintenance issues onboard. We have been cleaning and oiling the teak around the deck.

                                             Raising the Sails as we pull out of Ocracoke

                                                 Cleaning and Oiling the teak during the sail

Seafarer Sail On Program Departs Manteo at 5am bound for Ocracoke

After looking over the chart and the cruising guide, the girls decided to depart for Ocracoke early this morning. They woke up around 4:30am this morning and completed their boat duties and began pulling off docks around 5:30am. We exited the Manteo channel as the sun was rising over the outer banks. Jeanie B is currently southbound and passing the Oregon Inlet, bound for Ocracoke.

                                      Pulling off docks as the sun rose over the Outer Banks

                                                       The Manteo Waterfront at Sunrise

Seafarer Sail On Program Visits the NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island

After Jockeys Ridge and swimming in the ocean, the girls decided to head over to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The aquarium is the largest aquarium in the state  — a 285,000-gallon ocean tank complete with sharks, sea turtles and hundreds of fish. Throughout the aquarium are exhibit tanks filled with fishes of North Carolina coastal habitats, including sharks and rays. They saw eels, sea turtles and more than 200 fishes in a shipwreck habitat displaying a 1/3-scale replica of the USS Monitor. They even enjoyed the hands on area of the aquarium in which they were able to pet sting rays.

                              The girls were able to touch sting rays at the NC Aquarium

                                           The Girls in the Mouth of a Great White Shark

Seafarer Sail On Program Visits Jockeys Ridge

The crew elected to spend the day in port at Manteo and at Nags Head on the Outer Banks. We spent the morning at Jockeys Ridge State Park. Jockeys Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States. Located in Nags Head, it is one of the most significant landmarks on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

                                                        The Girls at Jockeys Ridge

                                                       The Girls on Top of Jockeys Ridge

Seafarer Sail On Program Arrives in Manteo, NC

The girls departed the Alligator River Marina this morning bound for Manteo, NC. After making our way into the Albemarle Sound the wind laid down long enough for the girls to stop and swim around the boat. After taking a swimming tour of the propeller and rudder the girls learned how to check a propeller for fouling. After leaving the sound, the girls navigated the narrow Manteo Channel with ease. They even managed to dock Jeanie B on the seawall in the town docks in a 65 ft slip. (Jeanie B is a 72ft boat....see picture below)

                                                               Getting the Sails Ready

                      The Captain of the Day Discussing the Navigation Plan with Captain Jim Baker

There was only a 65 ft slip for our 72ft boat, but the girls made it work.

Seafarer Sail On Program Sails from Belhaven, NC to Columbia, NC

The girls left Belhaven, NC this morning after taking on fuel and a few provisions in town. The crew navigated Jeanie B through the Alligator River-Pungo River Canal and into the Alligator River. After putting up the sails we enjoyed a long down wind sail through the Alligator River and under the Highway 64 bridge.The girls docked Jeanie B at the Alligator River Marina and enjoyed dinner on docks followed by ice cream at the Marina Grill. They plan to sail to Manteo in the morning.

                                    Plotting Our Course through the Alligator River

                                  Jeanie B Passing through the Highway 64 Bridge

                                  The Girls Docking Jeanie B at the Alligator River Marina.

Seafarer Sail On Program Arrives in Belhaven, NC

After an exciting first day at sea the Seafarer Sail On Program arrived safely in Belhaven, NC. We departed from Camp Seagull and made our way out of the Neuse River. Our sail took us out out of the river and into the Pamlico Sound. The girls brought Jeanie B onto docks at the River Forest Marina

                                                 Navigating out of the Neuse River

                                          Jeanie B Under Sail in the Pamlico Sound

                                     Taking the Sails down on the way into Belhaven, NC

Lundy Charters begins Seafarer Sail On Program

Lundy Charters has begun the Camp Seafarer Sail On Program. Captain Jim Baker is leading the trip.The program will take us on a 14 day sailing trip around the outer banks of North Carolina. The girls arrived on the afternoon of June 13th and are spending their first two days at Camp Seafarer getting acquainted with the boat and prepared for the trip.The program will depart from Camp Seagull tomorrow morning after breakfast and we hope to make it to Belhaven, NC by tomorrow evening. There we will take on fuel and begin our trek up the Alligator River - Pungo River canal.

The girls spent their first day at camp team building on the ropes course and preparing for their voyage

                                          Pulling their shipmate up the giant swing
                

Lundy Charters Begins Summer with Camps Seagull and Seafarer

Lundy Charters began our summer with camps seagull and seafarer on June 13th. We have moved Jeanie B to Camp Seagull and will be moving the two 37 foot sailboats to camp over the next two days. Jeanie B is to begin a 14 day sailing school trip and the 37's will take 1-4 night sailing trips around the Pamlico sound.

                       Jeanie B on docks awaiting a summer of YMCA Sail On Programs

Lundy Charters takes the sophmore class of Arendell Parrott Academy‎ for a cruise

Despite early inclement weather, Lundy Charters Captain Jim Baker and First Mate Julie Daniel were able to get in a few hours of good sailing aboard Jeanie B Tuesday June 2nd. The trip was a good sendoff for Captain John Hyde who joined us as a mate. John has been teaching at Parrott Academy and is now working with Lundy Charters as the Program Director at Camp Seagull.

                                                           Group shot on the bow

                                                     Sunset on the way into Morehead

Lundy Charters takes Church Group out to Cape Lookout aboard S.V. Jeanie B

On Saturday May 22nd Captain Jim Baker, and Mates Wooten Jones and Julie Daniel sailed a Church group out to Cape Lookout....the group came complete with their own pirate.......

                                                                       Putting the Sails up

                   Group Shot on the bow                                  On the Sail out to Cape Lookout

                                                

Lundy Charters Takes Y-Guides Parents on Cruise off Shakleford Island

Lundy Charters Captain Jim Baker took a group of 26 Y-Guides and Parents on a sailing trip off Shakleford Island. The Jeanie B departed from Morehead City Friday May 14th for a day Sail out by Shakleford Island and down to Cape Lookout.

                                                                   Jeanie B Under Sail

                                                  The crew working the lines on Jeanie B.

Lundy Charters Participates in Civil War Re-enactment

Recounting 300 years of New Bern history would be remiss without acknowledgement of one of the city’s most devastating days — the Civil War Battle of New Bern in March 1862. The Union victory at the battleground east of town left New Bern under occupation for the remainder of the war and affected lives on both sides, black and white. The New Bern 300th Committee’s “Remembering the War” this week spans four days, Thursday through Sunday, and covers aspects of the battle and its aftermath. The feature event will be the most ambitious local Civil War re-enactment ever — a naval and artillery battle at Union Point Park on Saturday featuring more than 200 re-enactors. Lundy Charters staff provided our 72ft vessel the Jeanie B. to participate in this historic re-enactment.
 
Captain Jim Baker  with the Re-enactment Captain

Jeanie B On Docks in New Bern awaiting the battle

Soldiers fighting in the Re-enactment

Anegada -> Bitter End Yacht Club

This morning we headed south from Anegada to the Dogs. We went scuba diving at The Chimney which is one of the most popular dive sites in the British Virgin Islands. After our dive we enjoyed lunch on the mooring and then headed to North Sound on Virgin Gorda to the Bitter End Yacht Club. We enjoyed the evening on docks and dinner at the Pub at Bitter End.

Having a beer with Sam from Whistling Pines and Altons Brown's "Feasting on Waves"

Captain Jim with his family at Cow Wreck Bay

Family Charter Begins - Trellis Bay -> Anegada

After turning the boat over we headed back over to Trellis Bay to pick up Captain Jim's family who are coming down to enjoy an end of season charter. We started out early from Beef Island and enjoyed an upwind sail to Anegada.

Once we reached Anegada we headed to Loblolly Bay for a dive and then to Cow Wreck Bay to spend the afternoon with Alex at his bar. We enjoyed a lobster dinner at the Anegada Reef Hotel and then headed over to Whistling Pines to have a couple of drinks with Sam.

At the helm heading for Anegada
Loblolly Bay
At the Bar at Cow Wreck Bay
Captain Jim playing "the ring game" at Cow Wreck Bay

YMCA Sail II BVI Program Departs

The girls enjoyed the short commute to shore via dingy this morning to Trellis Bay on Beef Island. Trellis bay is a short 100' walk to the Beef Island Airport. After checking their bags in for their early afternoon flight they walked around explored Trellis Bay's art gallery and cafes. There flight departed on time from Beef Island bound for Raleigh, NC. We are sad to see them go... We can't wait to do it again next year.

Roadtown - Trellis Bay

We left the bight at Norman Island early this morning and sailed across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Roadtown. The girls explored Roadtown during Festival, which is the a celebration of the end of Slavery in the BVI. After lunch we headed back out for one final sail up the Drake Channel. We practiced man-overboard procedures and tacking as we worked our way upwind to Trellis Bay. We had a final banquet dinner at the Loose Mongoose. The girls will enjoy a short commute to the airport in the morning (via dingy) and then they will be off on there way back home.

Captain Chris Instructing on how to Pick up a Mooring Ball

The girls at the Loose Mongoose

Sandy Cay - Sopers Hole - Norman Island

This morning pulled off docks at Sydney's House of Peace and Love and left Little Harbour on Jost Van Dyke bound for Sandy Cay. We anchored on the downwind side of the island and swam in for a short walk around the island.

Laying out on the Beach at Sandy Cay after the hike

After pulling up anchor at Sandy Cay we enjoyed a downwind sail to the home of Blackbeard the Pirate, Sopers Hole. We picked up mooring balls headed to shore to explore. We stocked up provisioning at Sopers Hole and did a little shopping in East End before heading back out.

Renoir II Sailing out of Sopers Hole from the mast of Mad Dog II
Mad Dog II on a Beam Reach sailing to the Indians

We sailed the boats side by side from Sopers Hole on our way to snorkel the Indians and the Caves at Norman Island.

The Indians, from the Mast of our boat

An underwater group picture of the girls snorkeling at the Indians

We anchored off Norman Island (the inspiration for the book Treasure Island) for the evening. Tomorrow morning we are bound for Roadtown, the capital city of the British Virgin Islands

Jost Van Dyke - White Bay/Little Harbour

Today we enjoyed a nice downwind sail from Monkey Point on Guana Island to Jost Van Dyke. We practiced jibing, sailing wing on wing, and our man overboard procedures. We reviewed keel boat nomenclature as we passed in between Sandy Cay and Sandy Spit.

Sailing a downwind course to Jost Van Dyke

Our first stop was White Bay to swim and enjoy the pristine white beach (thus the name). After our stop at White Bay we headed to Sydney's House of Peace and Love in Little Harbour for an authentic Caribbean style BBQ, courtesy of Sydney himself. The girls docked the boats "Mediterranean Mooring" style to the docks.

Grinding the winch
Hailing Renoir II on the VHF to coordinate Anchoring

Monkey Point

After a smooth downwind sail from Anegada, we headed to Marina Cay to top off on provisions and water. We headed through the Camino Cut and over to the southern end of Guana Island to an anchorage called Monkey Point. The anchorage is protected and has wonderful snorkeling. The girls spent the evening snorkeling and with the help of Captain Chris Davis, the girls are preparing a local Caribbean dish, Chicken Roti, for dinner.

The girls on the beach

Sailing through a bit of rain near Virgin Gorda

Anegada - Lobster Dinner with Sam - from Food Network

This evening we enjoyed a lobster dinner with Sam at Whistling Pines on the west end of Anegada. Sam has been featured on the Food Network with Alton Brown, on his show Feasting on Waves. Sam is a friend of the Lundy Charters crew and helped teach the girls how to cook lobster. He showed the girls how to catch, clean, and prepare what Food Network considers to be the "best rock lobster in the Caribbean."

Helping Sam carry the lobsters from the ocean

Captain Jim and Captain Chris with their friend Sam, pulling lobsters

Picking our own lobsters for dinner!