To keep Todd in line, please put up an "Invisible dog fence" on the course and attach the collar to his neck!

Why would we want to go to Sunset Grill when you've got all that free beer, margaritas and food at Jon's Country Club.That's the place with the free hot tub and free camping too, Just call Jon of "Jon's FREE Country Club" and as usual everything's FREE including parking. Rebate retained as dealer incentive offer expires on 6/12/06.

TCF

I've got my tent packed. Funny thing, I haven't seen Jon offer his place up. Hope Jon has a BIG screen for the Hurricanes game on Sat night.

There should be a good turn out of F18s. I spoke with Kevin B of Atlantic Boat and Supply and he was several F18s from the Vir Beach area coming.

Thanks to Jon and the Norbanks Sailing staff for hosting a great regatta. Can't wait til next year's race. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I concur Derek... Beautiful venue, great wide open flat water/ OBX sea breeze in the sound (OK I'm blocking out the last 2 hours on Sunday), gracious hosts, Lori was awesome Beertenter as we got off the water on Sat, Sat night party was on a deck of a cool sound side restaurant, and they even had burgers waiting for us on Sunday when we got of the water. Duck Cup will definitely be on my schedule next year.

I'm a bit late to this thread, but it's really pertinent to me - I see all the notes on Wrightsville beach, but I'll be staying on Oak Island for a week in July and was hoping to be able to beach land the boat - at least briefly during the day, but ideally overnight. I have googled for beach regulations, but had no luck finding out what the regs are for any of this. Does anyone here know the rules for Oak Island or where I might go look them up?

It's been several years since I've sailed there, but it is great area to sail. The beaches run East/West and the water stays pretty flat even when it blows. A nice trip would be to sail over to Bald Head Island. Look for the any beach access that Emergency Vehicles use. I think most of them have public parking near the access points. Just don't park on the side of the road. I did that once down there and got towed (trailer attached). It is not a good feeling to get back off the water to find that your car is not there. You may want to look up the Oak Island town hall or chamber to get info..

Thanks Mark!

I found the Oak Island official Town/municipality website. They have their muni code online, and I read through that - there is absolutely no mention of sailboats or beach landings - it's limited to rules about surfing near piers and age restrictions on "personal water craft" ie, ski-doos/jet-skis.

I would like to make a trip out to/around Bald Head island - I wonder if one can land there - private enclave that it is. The NC DOT shows a public ramp at the ICW just before the ICW enters the Cape Fear River, so that may be the easiest place to put in, and then just sail around to the beach access nearest the house I've rented.

You guys sound like you had a good time.

I think I found the map you're talking about
http://www.ncdot.org/it/gis/graphics/boatguide/11.gif
(I had to save it, then open it in Photoshop to enlarge it)
If you can't find a place to launch from the beach, the ramp near the Oak Island bridge at the ICW may not be a bad area. But there may not be any beach area to rig. Most of those ramps on the ICW have a lot of oyster beds along the shore. The ICW from the Oak Island bridge to Southport is not very wide, but the prevailing wind is normally SE , so hopefully it would be a nice reach for you. Once you get to Southport it will open up to the mouth of the Cape Fear with Caswell Beach(tip end of Oak Island) to your right and Bald Head Island on left. You can't sail around Bald Head, because the northern part is tidal marsh all the way up to Fort Fisher and you would have to navigate a lot of small creeks. Your best sailing is West of BH and in the ocean from the southern beaches of Oak Island. You can beach it on Bald Head. You may want to consider doing lunch at the Marina Restaurant or hiking up to Old Baldy lighthouse. There is some beach area just to the right of the jetties that lead into the marina. Good Luck finding a launch area.. Look for the Emergancy Beach Access points. Have fun!!

Thanks Mark! Yeah, I found that same .jpg deal

Well, I'm going to look for an emergency access spot on the beach - I'd just as soon not deal with trying to rig up the boat at a put-in ramp. Thanks for the tip on the wind!

I'm really glad to hear I can beach it on Bald Head - last time we were down there, we missed a ferry and then didn't have time to make it to the lighthouse - you have described the exact plan - sail some, head over, beach it, have lunch, see the lighthouse, and then head back.

I picked up a copy of the NOAA Chart for Cape Fear - it appears that we probably could make it up the ocean side of Bald Head to Ft. Fisher, but that's further than I'd likely want to venture...we'll see what happens!

Thanks for all the info about beaching on Oak and Bald Head - big help!

Well, I learned the hard way... I used to live in Wrightville Beach and made that day trip a couple of times. The first time I launched from a ramp in Fort Fisher which put you on the River side and all those tidal creeks I mentioned. If I had a 4WD at the time I could have pulled out on the beach there. The second time I did the trip was when I went to Oak Island and launch on the beach side (that was the time I was towed). But that was almost 20 years ago and I was young and stupid then. You'll like Bald Head. I've taken my wife there a few times on special occasions. I can't remember the name of the restaurants in the marina area, but I think there are 2. If you have some time, you can also rent a golf cart and buzz around the island. We were down in Wrightsville last weekend and met my parents in Southport for dinner. You'll have to eat at the Provision Company one night in Southport. There is not much to it and it looks like a bait shop, but it is on the water and you eat outside. They do have great steamed shrimp and crab cakes..... and most importantly COLD BEER

Just for fun. off hwy 17 turn off at porters neck rd head to the end of the rd. make a left on bald eagle ln. approx 3 houses down you'll see a grass field on the right side this field is public access. don't let the golf course people tell you otherwise. the house across the street from the access point in owned by Mike Bass. in case the golf club gives you a hard time. you will need beach wheels. but you can push off here. lots of protected water here on the intercoastal, if you feel adventurous you can walk the boat in a foot of water across the inlet to the ocean. and surf launch. the locals call this area the "red neck riviera" good luck

Isn't that across from Figure Eight Island? That would not do sruffer much good since that is north of Wrightsville B, but that sounds like a great launch spot. If that is where I think it is, it would put you close to Rich Inlet which is a beautiful spot with lots of open water. There is an uninhabited barrier island just north of the inlet. I take my family up there all the time with my old Grady.

Mark - Thanks for the restaurant tip...we had a great dinner in Southport last Labor Day, but I can't remember the name of the place - it's a neat town. We're looking at the Bald Head Conservancy museum/trail too...it looks like a neat place.

avalondarlyn - that's a little up the road from where I'll be, but I will file that for future reference - the Cape Fear area is my in-laws-to-be's preferred vacation spot, with a preference for Wrightsville, Kure or Carolina beach.

I build in Porters Neck and have lived there. If you are talking about the ramp with a gate off Bald Eagle it was built and owned by Porters Neck.

its been 5 yrs since i've been there. so maybe its built out sorry guys just thinking of spots.