Can anyone in North Carolina comment on the ocean areas east of Raleigh or Goldsboro? I'm only 45 but I'm sick of New England's winters. Yesterday, I watched my son play lacrosse in May in 40 mph wind gusts, driving rain and 42 degrees. I had my Columbia double lined fleece and water-proof winter jacket on tested to -20 degrees. I was so cold I had to retreat to my SUV. I'm tired of this godforsaken frozen waste land I've called home all my life! Are there nice areas there to keep a boat and sail? Any advice appreciated, thanks. Chilling
Sick of the N.E. winters looking in N.C.
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Kerr Lake
If you are going to move to the Raleigh area, Kerr Lake is only 1 hr away and is a large man- made inland lake with great sailing. Here is a map of the lake . http://www.kerrlake.com/map/map.htm If you are set on sailing down at the coast, Oriental is one of the sailing havens on the Pamlico sound. http://www.oriental-nc.com/
If you are going to move to the Raleigh area, Kerr Lake is only 1 hr away and is a large man- made inland lake with great sailing. Here is a map of the lake . http://www.kerrlake.com/map/map.htm If you are set on sailing down at the coast, Oriental is one of the sailing havens on the Pamlico sound. http://www.oriental-nc.com/
I was told to keep it secret, but
Try the Pamlico River area from Washington, N.C. to the Pamilco Sound. Great sailing, close to the ICW, two day sail to any number of great spots along the Outer Banks (Ocracoke, Hatteras, Nags Head, Albemarle Sound). Never very crowded-I was out with the family on Saturday and saw no more than 8-10 boats in the 10-12 visible miles, 73* with 15 knot winds. Good marinas in the area with several racing clubs. Enough nice days in the winter so that you can sail year round. A word of warning to those from the frozen North, there's always a trade-off. It's hot as Hades here in July and August with enough biting insects for the entire planet. Still, it's a great place to sail.
Try the Pamlico River area from Washington, N.C. to the Pamilco Sound. Great sailing, close to the ICW, two day sail to any number of great spots along the Outer Banks (Ocracoke, Hatteras, Nags Head, Albemarle Sound). Never very crowded-I was out with the family on Saturday and saw no more than 8-10 boats in the 10-12 visible miles, 73* with 15 knot winds. Good marinas in the area with several racing clubs. Enough nice days in the winter so that you can sail year round. A word of warning to those from the frozen North, there's always a trade-off. It's hot as Hades here in July and August with enough biting insects for the entire planet. Still, it's a great place to sail.
NC?
Its at least 2.5 hrs drive time to anywhere from Raleigh to a marina. Oriental? pray you dont draw more than 5' when the wind shifts SW. How many times can you wait for an open table at the M&M and love the service? Learn to dodge huricanes. You should really check out the lower Cheasapeak. Deltaville rocks!
Its at least 2.5 hrs drive time to anywhere from Raleigh to a marina. Oriental? pray you dont draw more than 5' when the wind shifts SW. How many times can you wait for an open table at the M&M and love the service? Learn to dodge huricanes. You should really check out the lower Cheasapeak. Deltaville rocks!
Eastern NC
I grew up in Raleigh, worked for 12 years in Greensboro, and moved to Morehead City 16 years ago. We love it here, and it's close to the Neuse River (Oriental, New Bern, etc.) Your main challenge will be finding a good livelihood. I could be making much more money in Raleigh or Greensboro (I'am a CPA), but we prefer to be here. By the way, the no name hurricane this past week generated winds over 75MPH just east of here, and we got over 6 inches of rain. But very unusual for this time of year.
I grew up in Raleigh, worked for 12 years in Greensboro, and moved to Morehead City 16 years ago. We love it here, and it's close to the Neuse River (Oriental, New Bern, etc.) Your main challenge will be finding a good livelihood. I could be making much more money in Raleigh or Greensboro (I'am a CPA), but we prefer to be here. By the way, the no name hurricane this past week generated winds over 75MPH just east of here, and we got over 6 inches of rain. But very unusual for this time of year.
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the
Research Triangle area is where you are should look if your children are involved in sports like lacrosse, hockey, soccer, etc. It is about 2 1/2 hours to Oriental, sailing capital of NC, anc about the same to Morehead/Beaufort area and Wilmington. The best sailing is based around Oriental and the upper Tar River (Washington, Bath, Belhaven) area. You will have to pay attention if you draw 6' as areas and some marina channels are skinny in heavy SW winds, but otherwise you would be in good shape. Good marinas and anchorages are aplenty within 4-8 hour sail and very friendly to boaters. Wide variety of options from racing to cruising and something for all the family. Take a weeks vacation and come down and drive around Washington, Belhaven, take the ferry over to Oriental, take the ferry over to Morehead City/Beaufort, ride up to Cedar Island and take the ferry to Ocracoke Island, then take the ferry to Hatteras and drive to the lower Chesapeake. Insofar as restaurants, there are plenty to chose from in each area, depending on your taste. Good luck in your decision...
Research Triangle area is where you are should look if your children are involved in sports like lacrosse, hockey, soccer, etc. It is about 2 1/2 hours to Oriental, sailing capital of NC, anc about the same to Morehead/Beaufort area and Wilmington. The best sailing is based around Oriental and the upper Tar River (Washington, Bath, Belhaven) area. You will have to pay attention if you draw 6' as areas and some marina channels are skinny in heavy SW winds, but otherwise you would be in good shape. Good marinas and anchorages are aplenty within 4-8 hour sail and very friendly to boaters. Wide variety of options from racing to cruising and something for all the family. Take a weeks vacation and come down and drive around Washington, Belhaven, take the ferry over to Oriental, take the ferry over to Morehead City/Beaufort, ride up to Cedar Island and take the ferry to Ocracoke Island, then take the ferry to Hatteras and drive to the lower Chesapeake. Insofar as restaurants, there are plenty to chose from in each area, depending on your taste. Good luck in your decision...
Going South
I have also had it with the weather here in the north and going south to port charlotte,fl. I fell in love with new bern a few years ago but the wife did not fall with me so were going to florida. I want to use the boat more so off to the south we go,I don't know if I can wait two more years to retire. We did a lot of vacations this winter away from the winter here but now paying for it with this cool wet weather. I love long island and its great sailing here but the weather and work keeps us from enjoying the boat more. nick
I have also had it with the weather here in the north and going south to port charlotte,fl. I fell in love with new bern a few years ago but the wife did not fall with me so were going to florida. I want to use the boat more so off to the south we go,I don't know if I can wait two more years to retire. We did a lot of vacations this winter away from the winter here but now paying for it with this cool wet weather. I love long island and its great sailing here but the weather and work keeps us from enjoying the boat more. nick
Problems
This is anecdotal, but my doubts about NC are low water and too much rain. Prefer southeast Virginia, namely Hampton Roads.
This is anecdotal, but my doubts about NC are low water and too much rain. Prefer southeast Virginia, namely Hampton Roads.
New Bern
I took early retirement last Sept and we moved to New Bern. SO far we love it. The weather is nicer than NY, the people are friendly and there is no traffic congestion. We will be sailing our Catalina 320 down from Ossining NY during June. This will be by far our longest trip but we are looking forward to the challenge. John s/v Lady K
I took early retirement last Sept and we moved to New Bern. SO far we love it. The weather is nicer than NY, the people are friendly and there is no traffic congestion. We will be sailing our Catalina 320 down from Ossining NY during June. This will be by far our longest trip but we are looking forward to the challenge. John s/v Lady K
NC is too far north.
If you are going to have a decent sailing winter you need to be at least below Orlando. The winter sailing is better than the summer sailing up here. The Frost line is somewhere around Ft. Myers on the west coast ... to whereever on the east coast. Couple of weeks ago at the local Messmer Cup race in Naples, we had 75-80, 15+Knts, sunny ... then i put Seven to bed and came back up here to Newport. Which today was supposed to be the best day in the last two weeks ... i think it hit 70 but was nice and sunny. The trees haven't really leafed out yet. and you could see the difference driving up from NY through CT. as it looked more and more like New England was still in way early spring.
If you are going to have a decent sailing winter you need to be at least below Orlando. The winter sailing is better than the summer sailing up here. The Frost line is somewhere around Ft. Myers on the west coast ... to whereever on the east coast. Couple of weeks ago at the local Messmer Cup race in Naples, we had 75-80, 15+Knts, sunny ... then i put Seven to bed and came back up here to Newport. Which today was supposed to be the best day in the last two weeks ... i think it hit 70 but was nice and sunny. The trees haven't really leafed out yet. and you could see the difference driving up from NY through CT. as it looked more and more like New England was still in way early spring.
Oriental
My wife and I visited Oriental last October with thoughts of looking into a winter home. It is a quaint small (and I emphasize small) town. We checked on some properties and found them to be very expensive. This opinion is based on comparable (w/out a nearby ocean) property in the midwest where we live. Grandted, the Midwest has some really great prices compared to the Coasts but we were not prepared for that much sticker shock in a such a small town that still gets too cold in the winter for me to sail. We will try the gulf coast on our next foray into winter coastal living. I'm not sure that we'll find anything priced more to our budget.
My wife and I visited Oriental last October with thoughts of looking into a winter home. It is a quaint small (and I emphasize small) town. We checked on some properties and found them to be very expensive. This opinion is based on comparable (w/out a nearby ocean) property in the midwest where we live. Grandted, the Midwest has some really great prices compared to the Coasts but we were not prepared for that much sticker shock in a such a small town that still gets too cold in the winter for me to sail. We will try the gulf coast on our next foray into winter coastal living. I'm not sure that we'll find anything priced more to our budget.
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