Albemarle Sound to Pungo River

12/10/11

Fortunately the wind in Elizabeth City died down around 10:00 so we slept well and rose at 5:00 to cross the Albemarle Sound.  The winds were much less than the predicted 20 knots so we only sailed at 4 to 5 knots with a few bursts of 6 knots.  When it got down to 3.5 knots, we turned on the engine and motored for the last two hours though we did get in seven hours of sailing.  We wanted to get to the anchorage before dark, so pushed it a bit at six knots.  When we doused the sail, it first got caught in the small line that goes up the mast, so we had to raise and lower the sail a couple of times to set it free.  Then the sail did not come down all of the way, so I had to go a few steps up the mast to pull down the last bit by hand.  Both of these glitches were new and reminded us that it’s not a good idea to cut the timing so tightly on a sailboat.  



Rainbow in cloud (photo does not capture well)

The sun had set by the time we got to Deep Point on the Alligator River.  The anchor light atop the mast of another boat helped guide us to the anchorage.  We set the anchor and finished up in the cockpit by the mist-laced nearly full moon in a starkly beautiful setting weirdly punctuated by the deafening roar of low-flying fighter jets, which fortunately disappeared after the first hour.  Another sailboat pulled in after us.  One of the most peaceful nights we’ve had…

…unlike tonight where we are rolling in our anchorage at the entrance to Slade Creek on the Pungo River that protected us from the unpredicted south wind when we anchored but exposes us to the north wind that we’re experiencing now at 3:45 am.  I’ve set the anchor drag alarm on the handheld GPS, just in case.  I mark where we are with a waypoint; then it tracks our movement.  On a calm night you end up with a “smile” track as you gently pivot back and forth on the anchor.  On a night like tonight, you end up with sharp angled “fangs” as each gust stretches you out and you spring back as the gust subsides.  If we stray too far, the alarm alerts us.  It’s not gusting too strongly, but we set the anchor for a south wind and now it’s a north wind, so I’m hoping the anchor won’t pull up.  Anyway, getting up early gives me a chance to catch up on the blog. 

Want to add a photo of a friendly Canadian single-handler.  Didn't catch the name of his boat but chatted briefly as we motor-sailed by.  We see many cruisers escaping the Canadian winter for warmer climes.