A Safe New Way to Sail the Sound

Fall Sailing Tours from Avon are getting great reviews from Vacationers!

For centuries people have been sailing up and down the shores of the beautiful Outer Banks. Known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” the oceanside of Hatteras Island, in particular, is not for the inexperienced sailor. I have a replica map of some of the known shipwrecks along the Outer Banks, and the entire length of the coastline has numerous black dots, so much so that you could draw another coastline of just shipwrecks.

Needless to say, the waters surrounding our beautiful beaches are not to be taken lightly, especially when on a boat.

However, the soundside waters are known as a place where families can come to enjoy the water, instead of the ocean which can have strong rip currents. The soundside waters are calmer and shallower, which can be better for kids and less experienced swimmers.

I know nothing about boats or sailing, so when I first saw the vessel near Canadian Hole, I thought that it was another shipwreck, claimed by our ever-changing waters. However a visible, soundside shipwreck is pretty rare since the waters close to shore are so shallow, and in fact this boat was not wrecked at all, and is completely designed to operate in shallow waters like the ones surrounding the Pamlico Sound.

The Stiletto 27 sailboat is owned and operated by Captain Jay Phillips, who has had years of experience sailing, building boats, and running chartered sailing trips. This boat is light enough to be operated in the sometimes very shallow waters of the Pamlico Sound. The boat hulls are made with honeycomb core-vacuum bagged fiberglass, and other sections have custom carbon fiber panels, designed by Captain Jay, all which help make it lightweight and easy to maneuver through the shallow waters. The rudder is like a powerless depth finder, and when it hits shallow water, it just raises up and the boat keeps sailing. The entire time we were out on the water, he never needed to turn on the two-horsepower engine. It was cool to not have the roar of an engine interrupting the sounds of nature. All we needed was the wind in our sails.

When I arrived for our adventure, Captain Jay and his two adorable sons greeted me in the parking lot, and we walked 25 steps to the soundside beach where the sailboat was waiting. There had been thunderstorms the day before and lingering clouds from storms off the Atlantic, but Captain Jay said we were good to go for a morning sail.

His oldest son, Noah, pushed the boat almost completely to the shoreline, so I only stood in the sound for a few steps and hopped on up. It was fairly easy for me to get onboard, plus Jay was there to help if needed. Their 12-year-old golden retriever, Sunshine, hopped up there too with a little assistance, and then found his spot on the super-fun trampoline which is located towards the front of the vessel.

The Captain and crew dropped a few lines, raised the sails, pulled the anchor, and away we went. We pushed along into the strong winds for a little while so that we could turn around and cruise smoothly back to shore. It was so relaxing listening to the waves crash against the side of the boat, and to feel the wind blowing all over your body. We even had a crescent day moon for our viewing pleasure, and it was incredible to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse from the sound. I saw fish jumping in and out of our wake, pelicans dive bombing into the water, and even an osprey who flew right over head. It was a very relaxing and peaceful experience right from the start.

As we got closer to shore, Sunshine said “peace out” and jumped overboard. I’ll admit that it made me nervous, but Captain Jay said he was an experienced swimmer, and just in case, he sent his oldest son to monitor his safe swim and return to the boat. As we floated back to the shoreline, Sunshine swam back to shore while Noah walked alongside him. So I jumped in for a little swim myself, since it looked so enjoyable and seemed like a nice way to end a lovely morning sail.

The Stiletto 27 has interior head and stereo as well as a hard dry aft cockpit. You can easily fit six people on the boat plus the captain and crew. During these COVID-19 times, Captain Jay only does private bookings of up to 6 guests, but offers several types of trips. You can charter the sailboat for a 2.5-hour sunset, 4-hour half-day or an 8-hour full-day trip, where he typically goes 3 miles inshore from Avon, inside the reef, and between Avon and Frisco. You can take you and your family out exploring the sandbars in the sound, or try catching some fish, or just enjoy all the beautiful sights nature has to offer. The most popular excursion is the 2.5-hour sunset trip, which books up quickly because the sound is known for its breathtaking sunset displays.

If you are looking for family fun and a new adventure on the sound, or maybe you just want to party with a few friends, and enjoy some cold drinks and good tunes while sailing around the Pamlico Sound, then www.PhillipsBoatWorks.com is where you want to go because Captain Jay has you covered.

Phillips Boat Works is Owned and Operated by Jay Phillips in Avon, NC.  In addition to Sailing Charters, they specialize in boat design, construction and repair of Sail and Power Yachts and are a local Cape Hatteras Boatbuilding Company. PhillipsBoatWorks.com   email: info@phillipsboatworks.com  cell: 252-489-8193