Three at a time

This photo was taken on the 7th of July 2010. We where off the west end of Cape Lookout N.C. The wind was north east at 15k. Spinner sharks where breaching in all directions and I was lucky enough to catch some of them out of the water. Two breached at the same time with a third joining them right at the end of there spin. The first two rotated four times. What a sight!
Black tip Spinner sharks have suffered population drops in the last twenty years. This activity was common in the 1980's. Not so much any more.

You may see the video of the sharks on youtube search 20100618101335.

Right Whales video 3

Right Whales in MAY OF 2010

These are Right whales off of Cape Lookout in late May of 2010. The female was a calf with her mother six years ago. She came back with a calf of her own this year.

The tide is running

The tide refers to the increasing flow of tourists at this time of year. In order to trim the time it takes to answer all the questions you might have, and secure a reservation by credit card, you should call me at 252-241-6866. It is the best thing to do this time of year.
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I have completed the annual trip to the Bahamas to tag the elusive Rock Iguana. Cyclura cyclura ordinata is now the largest and rarest rock iguana in the world. We tagged another monster this year and a whole lot of smaller ones. It was a reunion trip with former Eharlam students dating back to 1981. We had good weather with lots of wind and a successful hunt. Photos to come.

A mom and baby right whale

These shots where taken off of Shackelford Banks on April 20th. If you look closely you can see the young whale right next to the mothers head. We all also saw a Humpback Whale but it was too fast to photo. We also saw six loggerhead turtles that day. It just does not get any better.

Right Whales off the beach

It has been very windy in April. We did manage to get out to Cape Lookout around the 10th. To our surprise, a whale sighting was in our future. We sailed into the Lookout bight and hove too for a lunch break. The wind was increasing to 20k so the jib was released, sheeted to Leeward and we set a course back to Beaufort inlet. Hundreds of birds and dolphins were clustered together just outside the bight. A blast of water vapor erupted from the middle of the chaos and I immediately realized a whale was the center of attention. We hove too and waited for the whale to rise again, and we where not disappointed. The Right Whale surfaced several more times right next to the boat. The seas where building towards six feet so we once more brought the jib through and headed for the inlet. Wow, This was high adventure. We, just three of us, had a fantastic sail back to Beaufort and landed with great memories.

Good Fortune will be available for the rest of April and first 9 days of May. I will be in the Bahamas with Earlham College working on an iguana project in the Exumas from the 11th to the 21st of May. I will reopen back in Beaufort around the 22d of May.
I hope every one enjoys spring and all the new life it brings.

4533 sandhill cranes

That's a lot of tall birds in one place. I went to the White Water Slough National Wildlife Refuge in Douglas Arizona this winter to see a gathering of Sandhill cranes. Boy, did we see a lot of birds! Yellow headed black birds and more gave us a great thrill. The photos where taken the third week of February 2010. The "bird on the rock", is a Mexican Jay waiting for us to pass the nuts to him.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WINTER?

Spring refit is under way between Spring showers. Lots of wood work on the cap and rub rails and paint and varnish every where. My ankle/foot is getting better. No crutches or canes, just some swelling and a slower captain.
It is not summer yet, Puffins where spotted at Cape Lookout on the 10th of March, but the sun is coming back and by April 1st we will be sailing again out of Beaufort.
I hope all is well with former sailors aboard Good Fortune and I'm looking forward to meeting a whole host of new sailors this season. 2010 is our 30th year of business, time flys when you are having fun. Or, as the frog said; "Times fun when you are having flies".