18 December - Day #16. The current rips through Taylor Creek at about 1kt. Becuase of this the anchor bridle wasn't used last night. Nellie's bridle, like a horses', is made up of two reins with a bit in the middle. The bit attaches to the anchor chain while the reins, which are made of hefty nylon rope, go to the bow's hawse cleats. The bridle serves two purposes. First, it acts like a shock absorber between the anchor and the boat. In big puffs or strong currents 
the chain goes taught but the nylon rope stretches. This greatly reduces the stress on the boat and the strain on the crew's nerves. Second, the bridle keeps the chain from rubbing against the stem. And chain on stem can keep the crew awake all night. Why then wasn't the bridle used last night? Because sometimes, when Nellie's constanly turning to an ebb and flood, the bridle can wrap itself around the chain. And that's bad, because in an emergency (like running out of beer) the anchor couldn't be recovered quickly. Dressed like eskimoes we got in the dink and headed for Beaufort before noon. As evidenced by the several free dingy docks, this is a cruiser friendly town. We walked several of the streets where the houses date back to the 1700's and most are immaculately maintained. The Beaufort Maritime Museum is a jewel. Lots of cool nautical stuff sure, but the way it's exhibited is outstanding. Back in the dink we toured the waterfront before getting our cold bones home to Nellie. The rain and winds arrived after dark. We're very ready for this bad weather to blow through. At anchor in Taylor Creek, Beaufort, NC. 0nm today and 322nm total. DBH
