Despite the transition from summer to fall, the Heide Trask Drawbridge that passes over the Intracoastal Waterway and connects Wrightsville Beach to Wilmington was still raised almost every daylight hour throughout October and November.
The frequent drawbridge openings can leave drivers vexed and fuming while boats pass through, but are a sign of an often-overlooked part of the Wrightsville Beach economy. Called transients by some and snowbirds by others, the stream of live aboard boaters heading south for the winter pours money into the local boating economy.
“The bridge openings are a pain but they’re good for local marinas,” said Chris Brock, manager of the Seapath Yacht Club. The drawbridge will open every hour for boats that can’t clear the 65-foot height and on demand for commercial vessels.
October and November is the season for transient boaters as insurance policies regulate when they can travel south, said Adam Meyer, director of marine insurance for Wells Insurance.
Because of rules designed to prevent damage during hurricane season, most East Coast boaters are prevented from traveling south of the Georgia-Florida border before Nov. 1, Meyer said. He said an estimated 90 percent of boaters heading south at this time have insurance that restricts their transient movement to the East Coast, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The results of these travel rules mean good late-season business for marinas up and down the East Coast, especially those on the Intracoastal Waterway. Sam Clary, dockmaster for Wrightsville Marina, said an average of 10 boats a night were tying up at its docks.
Not all transient boaters choose to stay at a marina. Some will anchor in nearby waterways like Banks Channel. Regardless, almost all will make a stop at a marina, whether it is to stay or just resupply, Clary said.
“Some people need to get provisions for their boats. Some people want easy access to the showers, laundry and restaurants that we provide,” he said. “But some will prefer the tranquility of anchoring out.”
The parade of boaters will continue through Thanksgiving, Clary said, until it begins to taper off.
Wrightsville Beach is a popular overnight stop for transient boaters because of the facilities and activities it offers.
“Boaters love Wrightsville Beach because it’s an easy inlet to get into,” said Meyer, whose offices overlook Wrightsville Marina. “There are fuel docks close to the inlet. They can come in during the evening, refuel, go to dinner and be gone before I even get to work.”
For Ken Ferrari and Ludi Sujanova, who anchored in Banks Channel during the weekend of Nov. 13, the journey southward is an opportunity to meet interesting people.
“There are tons of snowbirds, mostly retirees, but we did meet a really cool couple from Canada in their mid-30s,” said Ferrari, who is younger than a retiree himself. “We spent a little time with them. Unfortunately, their engine blew up on them in Oriental so they’re working on replacing it.”
Ferrari and Sujanova are making the journey on the HuskaBean, a 38-foot 1981 Morgan 382 sailboat they spent more than three years repairing and upgrading. They set sail on Oct. 30 from Cobb Island, Maryland, located on the Potomac River. Their journey has taken them through the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia, with other stops including Norfolk, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, Belle Haven, Oriental and Morehead City in North Carolina.
Their goal is to make it to Grenada by June 1, Ferrari said. They travel about 240 nautical miles before needing to refuel. At Seapath Marina, after refueling for $61 — one of their cheapest refuels of their trip so far — they encountered attentive dock hands and took use of the showers that are free for customers.
Ferrari said the experience at Seapath Marina was part of an enjoyable stay in Wrightsville Beach, as the couple even elected to stay an extra day.
“The people here are especially friendly,” Ferrari said. He and Sujanova chronicle their journey on a blog called Don’t Pay the Ransom at www.dptransom.com
Sujanova said she’s overwhelmed with the experience of boating south, especially seeing the different styles of boats and meeting the people on them. Their experiences include seeing a boat made of concrete and meeting a boater from South Africa making the trip on a 25-foot yellow sailboat.
“I’m still pinching myself that I’m doing this,” Sujanova said. “I grew up landlocked and had never been around sailboats. Seeing all this is wonderful. The sailing community is wonderful. Everyone has some interesting stories.”
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