From Norfolk to Oriental, NC Any recommended reading, things to watch out for? How long does this take? Just beginning the planning stages. Thanks, Paul
From Norfolk to Oriental, NC
- Thread starter Paul (Affinity C320)
- Start date
- Status
Doing just the reverse next week...
Great trip. 180 miles, I plan for 50 miles a day so it's 4 days. I do the Dismal Swamp Canal route because (1) you can't really beat the time going the traditional ICW route, (2) stopovers are more conveneint, and (3) you avoid all the traffic, especially yachts going fast and having to slow down constantly. Big factor will be whether you prefer to anchor out or want marinas. I anchor as much as possible and general route is: 1. Day 1: Leave Norfolk after the bridge restrictions lift (9:30am or so) to make the 11:00 Deep Creek lock/bridge opening. Take my time through the canal, overnighting at either the State Welcome Center or the South mills bridge. (You can tie up there for the night and catch the 8:30 opening easily the next morning.) 2. Day 2: South Mills to Alligator River Marina, and whether I need fuel, etc., or on to Deep Point to anchor (making a very long day). (All depends on the Albemarle Sound conditions. If the sound is up, it's not worth trying to cross it. Elizabeth City is the place to stay. Very nice, free dockage. Hopefully early the next morning the sound will be calm. Then it's on to Deep Point. Don't try to do the Pungo Canal late in the afternoon, setting sun will be diretly in your eyes and blind you in a difficult stretch. Been there, done that.) 3. Day 3: Down to anchorage just above Hobucken, NC. I forget the name of it, but it's a nice location right off the ICW. (Alterative earlier achorage is in Pungo Creek just south of Belhaven.) 4. Day 4: Easy day to Oriental. Lots of options, and you will probably get some other itenerary suggestions here at HOW. As for guides: the Moeller guide to the waterway is indispensible (see link below). Mile by mile guide to anything and everything on the route. I don't travel without it. Great trip...just watch out for the bottom. It's a lot different that sailing in the bay!
Great trip. 180 miles, I plan for 50 miles a day so it's 4 days. I do the Dismal Swamp Canal route because (1) you can't really beat the time going the traditional ICW route, (2) stopovers are more conveneint, and (3) you avoid all the traffic, especially yachts going fast and having to slow down constantly. Big factor will be whether you prefer to anchor out or want marinas. I anchor as much as possible and general route is: 1. Day 1: Leave Norfolk after the bridge restrictions lift (9:30am or so) to make the 11:00 Deep Creek lock/bridge opening. Take my time through the canal, overnighting at either the State Welcome Center or the South mills bridge. (You can tie up there for the night and catch the 8:30 opening easily the next morning.) 2. Day 2: South Mills to Alligator River Marina, and whether I need fuel, etc., or on to Deep Point to anchor (making a very long day). (All depends on the Albemarle Sound conditions. If the sound is up, it's not worth trying to cross it. Elizabeth City is the place to stay. Very nice, free dockage. Hopefully early the next morning the sound will be calm. Then it's on to Deep Point. Don't try to do the Pungo Canal late in the afternoon, setting sun will be diretly in your eyes and blind you in a difficult stretch. Been there, done that.) 3. Day 3: Down to anchorage just above Hobucken, NC. I forget the name of it, but it's a nice location right off the ICW. (Alterative earlier achorage is in Pungo Creek just south of Belhaven.) 4. Day 4: Easy day to Oriental. Lots of options, and you will probably get some other itenerary suggestions here at HOW. As for guides: the Moeller guide to the waterway is indispensible (see link below). Mile by mile guide to anything and everything on the route. I don't travel without it. Great trip...just watch out for the bottom. It's a lot different that sailing in the bay!
Dismal Swamp Route
Paul and D C, I have heard through Claiborne Young's website and also from Boat US and Sail Magazine that the Dismal Swamp Route is in Jeopardy regarding funding for the Locks. Check your sources before you commit to what may result in having to backtrack in the ditch. Fair winds and red sunsets, Steve
Paul and D C, I have heard through Claiborne Young's website and also from Boat US and Sail Magazine that the Dismal Swamp Route is in Jeopardy regarding funding for the Locks. Check your sources before you commit to what may result in having to backtrack in the ditch. Fair winds and red sunsets, Steve
Do it now
Its my understanding that they just got/found some funding for another half year give or take. So do it before it goes away.
Its my understanding that they just got/found some funding for another half year give or take. So do it before it goes away.
Dismal Swamp...
there is always a funding crisis with the swamp, and the local folks there, namely the welcome center manager, are heros in sounding the battle cry. It seems, however, that each year they are able to pull it out. Just call the NC State Welcome center before you leave Norfolk to confirm the water levels, etc. The Deep Creek Lock is just off the waterway in Norfolk, so you can talk with the lockkeeper there to confirm. Done it several times now, it's really worth the trip. MUCH better that the ICW/Coinjock route on a sailboat. Link to Claiborne's article is below. (Steve K...did you get my email re Oriental?)
there is always a funding crisis with the swamp, and the local folks there, namely the welcome center manager, are heros in sounding the battle cry. It seems, however, that each year they are able to pull it out. Just call the NC State Welcome center before you leave Norfolk to confirm the water levels, etc. The Deep Creek Lock is just off the waterway in Norfolk, so you can talk with the lockkeeper there to confirm. Done it several times now, it's really worth the trip. MUCH better that the ICW/Coinjock route on a sailboat. Link to Claiborne's article is below. (Steve K...did you get my email re Oriental?)
Dumb question?
Why not take a coastal route? Either enter at Pea Island or Hatteras Inlet? Is the time or weather window a factor?
Why not take a coastal route? Either enter at Pea Island or Hatteras Inlet? Is the time or weather window a factor?
D C
Yes, thank you. At this time it looks like we will go with McCotter's at Broad Creek near "Little" Washington. As we gain more familiarity with coastal N.C., get my feet wet so to speak, we may go further re: marina shopping. New Bern area would be, could be, a closer commute, if we wanted to travel I-26, I-20, and I-95 and have a slip on the Neuse, or, we can roll on I-85 and U.S. 264 to the Pamlico. Either way we are looking forward to this major new adventure. Steve
Yes, thank you. At this time it looks like we will go with McCotter's at Broad Creek near "Little" Washington. As we gain more familiarity with coastal N.C., get my feet wet so to speak, we may go further re: marina shopping. New Bern area would be, could be, a closer commute, if we wanted to travel I-26, I-20, and I-95 and have a slip on the Neuse, or, we can roll on I-85 and U.S. 264 to the Pamlico. Either way we are looking forward to this major new adventure. Steve
NY to New Bern
I will also be taking a similar trip. We moved to New Bern at the end of Oct and will be sailing our boat down from the Hudson River in June. Hopefully, we will be able to sail the Ocean off Jersey, up the Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal. Then sail the C - Bay to the ditch and motor down the ICW. I would welcome any advice since this is by far the longest we have ever traveled on our 32 foot Catalina. John S/v Lady K jsail320@cox.net
I will also be taking a similar trip. We moved to New Bern at the end of Oct and will be sailing our boat down from the Hudson River in June. Hopefully, we will be able to sail the Ocean off Jersey, up the Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal. Then sail the C - Bay to the ditch and motor down the ICW. I would welcome any advice since this is by far the longest we have ever traveled on our 32 foot Catalina. John S/v Lady K jsail320@cox.net
That coastal route....
is also known as "the graveyard of the Atlantic". That alone is the reason I would not take it. Even the largest of yachts come in at Beaufort, NC and take the ICW north to Norfolk and vice versa. Just not worth the risk unless you're a real cowboy. I'm not.
is also known as "the graveyard of the Atlantic". That alone is the reason I would not take it. Even the largest of yachts come in at Beaufort, NC and take the ICW north to Norfolk and vice versa. Just not worth the risk unless you're a real cowboy. I'm not.
Graveyard
I've often wondered why I rarely see a sailboat offshore when I'm at the outer banks. I've heard that Diamond Shoals is particularly dangerous. I just thought that most sailers would be tempted to make an offshore run by sailing, if time allows, rather than motoring along a ditch since there are stretches of benign weather (other than the occasional hurricane or nor'easter
). Is the weather window that touch and go to avoid it entirely? I was reminded of a young trio who left Virginia last December to spend their winter in the Caribean. They were pulled out of the ocean off Pea Island by the Coast Guard on Christmas day and their Mac 26 washed up on the beach!
I've often wondered why I rarely see a sailboat offshore when I'm at the outer banks. I've heard that Diamond Shoals is particularly dangerous. I just thought that most sailers would be tempted to make an offshore run by sailing, if time allows, rather than motoring along a ditch since there are stretches of benign weather (other than the occasional hurricane or nor'easter
). Is the weather window that touch and go to avoid it entirely? I was reminded of a young trio who left Virginia last December to spend their winter in the Caribean. They were pulled out of the ocean off Pea Island by the Coast Guard on Christmas day and their Mac 26 washed up on the beach!Norfolk to Oriental via the Intercoastal
I took the same trip you are about to go on 2 years ago. I assume that you are going the Intercoastal. There is a great video tape of the exact trip (that's what inspired me)by Jim Favors with Nautech Enterprises. Get a copy of the tape or e-mail me and I'll send you mine to look at. Great trip, lots of fun, easy to do except for the Albermarle Sound if the weather is rough. Get a copy of the Intercoastal Waterway Book and mark off each mile marker as you go by. It shoals in a lot, so be prepared to run aground. I liked it so much that the following year, I went back to Beaufort and proceeded to Charleston, S.C. I am one of those that am not into pain and torture, so I took the easy chair route. I don't have an ocean going boat, so, I enjoyed the safe and easy route. Your blood pressure will go down 20% and you will have the great adventure of your life! Richard
I took the same trip you are about to go on 2 years ago. I assume that you are going the Intercoastal. There is a great video tape of the exact trip (that's what inspired me)by Jim Favors with Nautech Enterprises. Get a copy of the tape or e-mail me and I'll send you mine to look at. Great trip, lots of fun, easy to do except for the Albermarle Sound if the weather is rough. Get a copy of the Intercoastal Waterway Book and mark off each mile marker as you go by. It shoals in a lot, so be prepared to run aground. I liked it so much that the following year, I went back to Beaufort and proceeded to Charleston, S.C. I am one of those that am not into pain and torture, so I took the easy chair route. I don't have an ocean going boat, so, I enjoyed the safe and easy route. Your blood pressure will go down 20% and you will have the great adventure of your life! Richard
- Status