OBX130

Inspiration: My father, and I, Bill and Paul Moffitt, finished the Texas 200 this last summer with great success. I mean success in several ways. We met a bunch of incredible people enabling us to put faces to internet handles. We got a chance to spend some real time together doing what we love best. We sailed 200 miles in an untested prototype boat, christened Embers Watch, a design by Michalak Embers Watch - Texas200. The first day was also the maiden voyage for the boat. We finished almost everyday well ahead of the middle of the pack, but more importunately we were inspired and had more fun then a couple of drunks at Mardi Gras.

When we left we were determined to come back the next year... and I had promised several people who were in the know that I would return with my own love, SERENDIPITY, a catamaran designed by Jeff Gilbert, a very original and beautiful design in her own right, (ROONIO). Well, I got to pondering, then thinking, which invariably leads to planning. The problem for me is a 30+ hour drive from Philly to bring SERENDIPITY to the Texas200. That's a hell of a long haul. So if I couldn't bring SERENDIPITY to Texas, maybe Texas, or more specifically an event like the Texas200, could come a little closer to me.

My father, brother, and I have sailed in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a few summers. The islands and capes are gorgeous sailing. Even more inspiring than the outer banks of Texas. There are problems though. The course can, and most likely will, have contrary winds which means we may have to alternate camps for certain days. How do we plan a trip like this? Will anyone come?

Inspiration: My father and I, Bill and Paul Moffitt, finished the Texas 200 in 2008 with great success. I mean success in several ways. We met a bunch of incredible people enabling us to put faces to internet handles. We got a chance to spend some real time together doing what we love best.
We sailed 200 miles in an untested prototype boat, christened Embers Watch, a design by Michalak (Embers Watch - Texas200). The first day was also the maiden voyage for the boat. We finished almost everyday well ahead of the middle of the pack, but more importantly we were inspired and had more fun than couple of drunks at Mardi Gras.

When we left we were determined to come back the next year... and I had promised several people who were in the know that I would return with my own love, SERENDIPITY, a catamaran designed by Jeff Gilbert, a very original and beautiful design in her own right. Well, I got to pondering, then thinking, which invariably leads to planning. The problem for me is a 30+ hour drive from Philly to bring SERENDIPITY to the Texas200. That's a hell of a long haul. So if I couldn't bring SERENDIPITY to Texas, maybe Texas, or more specifically an event like the Texas200, could come a little closer to me.

My father, brother, and I have sailed in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a few summers. The islands and capes are gorgeous sailing. Even more inspiring than the outer banks of Texas. There are problems though. The course can, and most likely will, have contrary winds which means we may have to alternate camps for certain days. How do we plan a trip like this? Will anyone come?
Well we went on the Florida 120 in 2009 and then we did a trial run of the OBX130. You can find a recap of what happened to us Here, and my brothers story Here.

General Outine:
Start at Cedar Island.
Monday Night Camp 1 Dump Island
Tuesday Night Camp 2 Cape Lookout
Wednesday Night Camp 3 Shackleford Island (with the horses)
Thursday Night Camp 4 Great Isl North or Gun Club.
Friday Night back to Cedar Island.
This Course is subject to change and is only a guide line.

Now, I have camped at Shackleford Island before and you can read about that experience in a past article . It is also a short sail away from Cape Lookout. There are several place's on the island to camp but my favorite is on the north west end. So on Wednesday we will be at Cape Lookout and have plenty of time to explore and perhaps sail each others boats if anyone is interested. Then a short sail over to Shackleford to make camp for the evening. Then back on up. This course has everything and is all around beautiful. I hope that twenty boats will take the opportunity to join us next

May 23rd-28th
The 23rd we will have a captains meeting at some point in the evening and on the 28th we will have some awards and dinner at the Driftwood restaurant followed by a little party in the campground.

I would like to thank those who came this last year, 2009. There was a total of seven people and 4 boats that set out to explore, have fun, get home safely, and that is what we did.. I hope to make some new friends next year out there and have a drink with the old ones.