Southport, North Carolina

At North Myrtle Beach, SC, Spiritus is docked alongside her cousin, Haven.

Haven is returning to her homeport in Shelter Island, NY.

 

 

 

 

 

There were many beautiful, and sometimes, ostentatious homes along the waterway.

 

 

 

 

 

Waterways Golf Club has a unique way of getting their patrons from one hole to the other!

 

 

 

 

Is that "Jaws"?

 

 

 

 

 

Oak Island lighthouse, North Carolina's newest, flashes every 10 seconds and can be seen for 24 miles.

  It is the brightest in the U.S. and second brightest in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Hazel destroyed most of Southport's waterfront structures that were used for canning & shrimping businesses in 1954.

 

 

 

The city overlooks the Cape Fear River as it flows into the Atlantic.

Originally established as a British fort in 1745 called Fort Johnston, it was renamed Smithville after  Benjamin Smith, a Continental General during the American Revolution.  In 1887, the town's name was changed to Southport, in hopes that the name would bolster commercial shipping business.

  

 

 

 

 

 By any name, Southport today is a quaint fishing village where streets lined with live oaks invite you to slow down and enjoy its southern charm!

 

 

 

 

 

When it's better than just O.K., it's O-Ke-Doke!

The Captain is happy to find his favorite cheese popcorn at the Deep Point Marina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Smithville Burying Ground. 

 Captain Eddy looks for the grave of "The Gentleman Pirate", Captain Stede Bonnet, who made the Southport area his home.  He and 19 of his crew were hung after being captured in 1718.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The North Carolina Maritime Museum has a plethora of well displayed information.

 

 

 

 

 

My First Mate standing next to a marker buoy.

Remember, red markers are even numbered, green markers are odd numbered.

 

 

 

 

 

 This part of North Carolina has been the setting for many movies and television programs:

Domestic Disturbance, Nights in Rodanthe, Dawson's Creek, Weekend at Bernie's,

 A Week to Remember, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Secret Life of Bees

 

 

 

 

 The most recent box office hit is Safe Haven.

 

 

  

 

 

 We highly recommend the hand-pressed hamburger or marinated tuna sandwich at the Provision Co.

For our sailor friends back home, this is Southport's version of Pirate's Cove in Alberta, Alabama.

 

 

 

 

 There were too many restored 1800's homes to count!

This one was recently purchased by a couple from Boston who decided to retire in Southport.

 

 

 

 

 

 Beautiful oak trees fill the neighborhoods.

 

 

 

 

 

 In 1854, Mr Stevens built this home for his bride-to-be.  The engagement ended when she said "No" and married his best friend.  The newly married couple built a house across the street.  Mr Stevens never married.

 

 

 

 

 

The Brunswick County Jail was built in 1904 and served as the sheriff's headquarters until 1978.

The most famous "criminal" was actress Sissy Spacek who was jailed during scenes from the movie, "Crimes of the Heart".

 

 

 

 

  

 

Very gusty winds kept boaters from leaving the safety of Deep Point Marina for several days.

However, the nasty weather didn't prevent us from gathering for a pot luck dinner one evening at the marina office with fellow boaters.

  

 The bearded gentleman is a professional Santa . . . . . . really!

 

 

 

 

 

 No trip ashore would be complete without a visit to the local ice cream parlor!