Goose Creek Paddle Fest

It was another great weekend at the 2nd annual Goose Creek Paddle Weekend. Every time I go to Hobucken to paddle or sail, I’m reminded how great the people there are, and how welcoming Shawn and Pate’s BoatYard is. Paul posted a nice history of Pate’s Boat Yard that he researched while I was out there last year.

Hobucken is quite a rural community, though the Island hosts a small Coast Guard Station, is located on the NC Intercoastal Waterway, and another small community named Lowland on the North end.  The Island is quite popular among hunters and fishers, but I think kayakers are slowly finding its appeal, and as Steve and Paul have discovered, it’s become a nice convenient spot to start a weekend sail.

This past weekend was the 2nd annual paddle-fest. As usual all was well organized with delicious food, great camping (not a mosquito in sight), and the party (DJ and karaoke) was so much fun. The paddling was even better, and this year a bit challenging and with 20-25 mph winds, even occasionally impossible with 35 mph gusts. But perfect conditions to challenge oneself and see what they are made of. Shawn was motoring around in his pontoon boat playing safety boater and picking up a few of the short boats that had trouble in the winds.  




I’d brought down a new ‘used’ boat to test out, a QCC 600. Which I’m pleased to report is now a new addition to the family, 48 lbs and a little rocket.  The conditions were just perfect to really test it out.

Alan also joined me for the weekend with his new sailboat “Southbound”. See his post here. I’d brought an extra kayak, but with the winds it was all about the sailing for him. See his report here. On Sunday, John (one of the weekend hosts) and I joined him on the sailboat. What an exciting (windy) sail we had.

Thanks everyone, I had a great time.

I’m ready for more sailing, and have found myself looking through some of the well documented trips Steve has done and reported on in his blog "Log of Spartina"  (see right sidebar).  Paul and I will plan a week at the coast either May or June and it just makes sense that we take advantage of the planning Steve’s already done :)