Captain’s log 10-31-06
Departure Point / Start Time Midway Marina ICW NC 8:30AM
Arrival Point / End Time Little Alligator River NC 5:30PM
Distance Traveled / Engine 32 NM
The first thing on my mind was the site where we ran around. I was now convinced that Crystal was right, and that we went too far to the left. But the second thing was what if this was the middle of the channel as the chart was showing. We would have to backtrack about a week back to Norfolk and sail around the outside and around Cape Hatteras. The thing is, there are no tides in this section of ICW. So it’s not like you can wait for tide and pass through. Anyhow, we got to the tricky section and stayed in the middle of the channel. The depth meter started reading some 7s and 8s but for the most part we were in 9 and 10-foot deep water. So we made it through the hell section. According to the guide and local knowledge, there were two other hell sections to go through. I was just hoping that we get a day without running aground. That would be nice. So after motoring a while the entrance to Abemarle sound had some shoaling on the red (right) side of the channel). So we staid on the green side, slowed down and made it through. The day was sunny and nice, Abemarle sound had plenty of deep water and I could relax a bit with autopilot steering. At the end of the sound, the entrance to Alligator River presented another challenge. We heard a radio call earlier that day that our Canadian friends were stuck in the Alligator River. So this section was already giving me the creeps. But I was wrong. We staid in the middle, slowed down a bit, and went through it without the problem. But I still feel uncomfortable when the depth meter falls below 8 feet. As soon as I get a 7.9 it’s an all out state of emergency on board. We slow down, sails are rolled in, Crystal is on the charts guiding us to the center of the dotted channel lines, while I am gripping the helm, praying that the water would get deeper, and looking around for markers, triple checking that we are in the channel. I will have nightmares about this for a long while. With hundreds and hundreds of miles to go, things are not going to get any easier. We just have to not travel at night, stay in the channel, and consult local knowledge as best as we can. In South Carolina, tides are present and that will help a great deal. Knowing that water level will rise, at least 2-3 feet make me have hope. After entering Alligator River, we anchored on the west side and with calm evening and night forecasted, we had no trouble and got good rest. Crystal was worried about Bella falling in a getting eaten by the alligators. She said, why do you think they call it Alligator River? I didn’t think there was any Alligators in it, but didn’t want to try. The water was yellow. I took a few buckets to try to clean off the mud from few nights ago. The water in the bucket resembled the color of urine. Terrible.
Arrival Point / End Time Little Alligator River NC 5:30PM
Distance Traveled / Engine 32 NM
The first thing on my mind was the site where we ran around. I was now convinced that Crystal was right, and that we went too far to the left. But the second thing was what if this was the middle of the channel as the chart was showing. We would have to backtrack about a week back to Norfolk and sail around the outside and around Cape Hatteras. The thing is, there are no tides in this section of ICW. So it’s not like you can wait for tide and pass through. Anyhow, we got to the tricky section and stayed in the middle of the channel. The depth meter started reading some 7s and 8s but for the most part we were in 9 and 10-foot deep water. So we made it through the hell section. According to the guide and local knowledge, there were two other hell sections to go through. I was just hoping that we get a day without running aground. That would be nice. So after motoring a while the entrance to Abemarle sound had some shoaling on the red (right) side of the channel). So we staid on the green side, slowed down and made it through. The day was sunny and nice, Abemarle sound had plenty of deep water and I could relax a bit with autopilot steering. At the end of the sound, the entrance to Alligator River presented another challenge. We heard a radio call earlier that day that our Canadian friends were stuck in the Alligator River. So this section was already giving me the creeps. But I was wrong. We staid in the middle, slowed down a bit, and went through it without the problem. But I still feel uncomfortable when the depth meter falls below 8 feet. As soon as I get a 7.9 it’s an all out state of emergency on board. We slow down, sails are rolled in, Crystal is on the charts guiding us to the center of the dotted channel lines, while I am gripping the helm, praying that the water would get deeper, and looking around for markers, triple checking that we are in the channel. I will have nightmares about this for a long while. With hundreds and hundreds of miles to go, things are not going to get any easier. We just have to not travel at night, stay in the channel, and consult local knowledge as best as we can. In South Carolina, tides are present and that will help a great deal. Knowing that water level will rise, at least 2-3 feet make me have hope. After entering Alligator River, we anchored on the west side and with calm evening and night forecasted, we had no trouble and got good rest. Crystal was worried about Bella falling in a getting eaten by the alligators. She said, why do you think they call it Alligator River? I didn’t think there was any Alligators in it, but didn’t want to try. The water was yellow. I took a few buckets to try to clean off the mud from few nights ago. The water in the bucket resembled the color of urine. Terrible.
posted by sundowner-cruise at 1:29 PM
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