We backed out of the free slip at Elizabeth City at dawn and motored down the perfectly flat Pasquotank River which was free of duckweed. The wind started coming up (5-10 knots) as we reached the first crab pots so we killed the engine and sailed the rest of the river and across Albemarle Sound. In the afternoon the wind turned light and variable as we motored up the Alligator River, following the rhumb line rather than the crooked channel all other boats take. They all must have a draft over 8’. (No, they’re just willing victims of the tyrannical magenta line.) We spent the night, as we usually do, anchored across from Deep Point.
Along this part of the North Carolina ICW we “do the 50s,” stopping near mile posts that are multiples of 50. Norfolk is near mile 0, Elizabeth City near 50, Deep Point near 100, Campbell Creek near 150, and Beaufort near 200. From Beaufort we go offshore to Wrightsville Beach avoiding one of my least favorite sections of the ICW. North Carolina has plenty of other well protected anchorages for those not doing the 50s. There are also some fine sailing rivers that are mostly wide and straight: the Pungo, Pamlico, Bay and Neuse. There are some useful towns in addition to Elizabeth City: notably Bellhaven and Oriental. And there are several marinas that get excellent reviews though I’ve never stayed at any of them.
The offshore leg between Beaufort and Wrightsville is a long one - 68 miles. We try to leave a bit before dawn to guarantee sunlight for arrival. Heading south, we stage the night before anchored by the Coast Guard Station near the inlet. The Beaufort channel is extremely well lit, maybe overly so. There are so many flashing red and green lights that it’s best to ignore them and just follow the electronic chart until a buoy is obviously close.
We like pleasant weather for the passage and will wait a day or two if needed. We want to be in North Palm Beach on December 10 so we can afford plenty of lay days. With rain likely the next two days we’ve gone into Deaton Yacht Service near Oriental to get some help working on our Whitlock steering pedestal that has begun making some worrisome noises. I’ve lubricated everything I can find but nothing has helped. Maybe someone here can figure it out.
Along this part of the North Carolina ICW we “do the 50s,” stopping near mile posts that are multiples of 50. Norfolk is near mile 0, Elizabeth City near 50, Deep Point near 100, Campbell Creek near 150, and Beaufort near 200. From Beaufort we go offshore to Wrightsville Beach avoiding one of my least favorite sections of the ICW. North Carolina has plenty of other well protected anchorages for those not doing the 50s. There are also some fine sailing rivers that are mostly wide and straight: the Pungo, Pamlico, Bay and Neuse. There are some useful towns in addition to Elizabeth City: notably Bellhaven and Oriental. And there are several marinas that get excellent reviews though I’ve never stayed at any of them.
The offshore leg between Beaufort and Wrightsville is a long one - 68 miles. We try to leave a bit before dawn to guarantee sunlight for arrival. Heading south, we stage the night before anchored by the Coast Guard Station near the inlet. The Beaufort channel is extremely well lit, maybe overly so. There are so many flashing red and green lights that it’s best to ignore them and just follow the electronic chart until a buoy is obviously close.
We like pleasant weather for the passage and will wait a day or two if needed. We want to be in North Palm Beach on December 10 so we can afford plenty of lay days. With rain likely the next two days we’ve gone into Deaton Yacht Service near Oriental to get some help working on our Whitlock steering pedestal that has begun making some worrisome noises. I’ve lubricated everything I can find but nothing has helped. Maybe someone here can figure it out.
