Voyage 2007-2008: Chapter 5

22 May 2008, Pungo to Elizabeth City, 36 18.000 N/ 076 12.729 W

Yesterday, we anchored about 2 nm SW of the entrance of the Pungo-Alligator Canal. Weather was calm and the anchorage was great. As usual we did not anchor with the crowd but rather claimed our 5 acres. On a sad note, we have encountered a couple of larger sailboats typified by a Tayana 47 that steadfastly refused our visual greetings over 5 encounters (the last being Norfolk). Maybe we were too small or too ugly. Sad. Enough of the negative stuff. We left at our usual time of 0545 and headed for Elizabeth City. There was a bit of advection fog in the area but nothing serious.

23 May 2008, A Little Time in EC, 36 18.000 N/ 076 12.729 W

The Canal was mostly OK but there was a big 'deadhead' that caused a couple of cruisers a problem. Overall, the Pungo-Alligator Canal was pretty good. The wind was from the west but veering to the NW. The Alligator River was fine motorsailing as well was most of the Albamarle Sound. However, as we neared the Pasquatank, the winds veered more to the North (due to channeling?) . There were lots of crab pots! We were nervous of crab pots as we 'ate' one last year in the Pasquatank. Finally, we cleared the fish line and life was good. Josh, Billy, and Dave L. all worked together to ensure that we had a slip at the Pelican Marina, our perennial stopover at EC.