7/9/15

We are in Dowry Creek Marina. Normally we are tied up on the outside of the fuel dock so we can get in and out easily but this time we are tucked in to a tight little spot on the other side. Getting out could be a little tricky.

Winds were forecast to be 10kts in the Albemarle Sound but they under estimated. Waves were to be one to two feet. Particularly in the early going as we came out of the North River boat handling was a distinct challenge. Seas were easily four to five feet. There are 3 axes of rotation, pitch (nose up or down), yaw (twisting left or right) and roll (laying over left or right). We had all three at once. The term cork screwing comes to mind. The rudder was only intermittently effective and with spoil bars on each side of the channel, we couldn’t change direction to head into the weather.

I have to add that Lynn was very good through this; not one complaint or even a whimper. We both gained a lot of respect of our little boat’s capabilities. Yesterday, I commented about one of my un favorite stretches of water. The Albemarle will always be one of Lynn’s.

Keeping things in perspective, while we were wondering what the heck we were doing out in this stuff, we look over to see a crabber bobbing along tending his traps. He is out in it no matter the conditions. If you don’t work your traps, you don’t feed the family.

Once into the sound where we had more leeway and could avoid taking the seas right on the beam it wasn’t as bad and the wind and sea conditions moderated as we crossed. By the time we entered the Alligator River it was becoming pretty nice and seas were about the one foot forecast.

Because we got away early and made good time in spite of the conditions, we chose not to go into the marina there but to press on to Dowry Creek. We arrived just before 1700 (5 pm) so a little over 10 hours underway and covering about 80 statute miles.

Going under the Alligator River Bridge

The Alligator River Bridge has 14’ of clearance; with the antenna down, we passed under. We did call the tender to let him know our intentions. He told us, winds were down to six knots at the bridge. Maybe if we had not left so early our crossing would have been better.

There were some good stretches where it would have made sense to crank her up and make better time, but after two fuel issues on this trip I was reluctant to trust. After we get her home, and unloaded, we will start making some progressively longer runs to regain confidence.

We took a quick shower and headed to the pool. The pool was downright warm but felt great floating around with a cold beer in hand.

We called Arne and asked him to take our pickup to our home marina because we might go all the way home tomorrow.

Again Wi-Fi is to slow to mess with. Cell phone coverage is weak so I will put off posting until we have better conditions.