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Launching Grit: Storms Delay the Start of Our Shackleford Banks Voyage

Published March 17, 2026

I, Bernie Harberts, did not use generative AI to write or illustrate this article. Spell check and grammar check, yes. AI, no.

Thunder storms, downpours and a tornado. Whew. Today was the day Julia and I were going to launch our sailboat Grit in the Neuse River and head toward Shackleford Banks. Only that didn’t happen on account of the, er, bumpy weather.

Hand-drawn card by artist Laura Turgeon depicting solo circumnavigator Bernie Harberts and Julia's homestead life and sailboat Grit, marking Oriental, North Carolina as the launch point for the Shackleford Banks voyage — Artist and friend Laura Turgeon drew this card for us. It perfectly captures the energy of our life and upcoming trip, from rescue border collies Rescue and Diggity taking cosmic leaps to horses, mules and birds all over. Oh, and yes, *Grit*. The red “X” marks Oriental, North Carolina, where we launch *Grit* for our upcoming watery ramble to Shackleford Banks.

Here are some pics from the last few days.

Mule Polly feeding at night in front of the hay barn where sailboat Grit spent the winter — The scene two nights ago at 10 pm: our mule Polly enjoying a late-night feeding in front of the hay barn where *Grit* spent the winter. *Grit* is our 1992 Nimble 24 sailboat. Look closely and you can see *Grit*‘s green hull way back in the barn.

Solo circumnavigator Bernie Harberts' sailboat Grit, a 1992 Nimble 24, stored in the hay barn over winter — The scene yesterday morning: our sailboat *Grit* in our hay barn where she’d spent the whole winter

Pulling sailboat Grit out of the hay barn to tow toward Oriental, North Carolina — Pulling Grit out of the barn. An hour later, she was hooked to our pickup heading toward Oriental, North Carolina, where we plan to launch her.

Julia and I are currently in Oriental, North Carolina, on the coast of North Carolina, ready to give it another try. With any luck, Grit will be floating tied up to the town dock this evening.

Solo circumnavigator Bernie Harberts' Nimble 24 sailboat Grit tied up at the town dock in Oriental, North Carolina — *Grit* at the Oriental town dock last fall. This is not far from where she almost tangled with an expensive motor boat when I fouled the propeller in the dinghy I was towing.

Julia’s side of the voyage at Saddle Under the Stars:

More about:

stories from Julia's and my trips aboard Grit.
Julia's and my time with the wild ponies of Shackleford Banks.

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