More Local Knowledge

The Pungo River, N 35 33.578 W 76 28.035

Today must have been rough offshore. We heard two distress calls from vessels 30 miles or so off the outer banks. The Coast Guard told one of them to anchor and to wait for a tow boat. It seems bizarre to anchor that far offshore.

We just passed through the Alligator-Pungo Canal. It's a rather boring canal.

I was reminded of the first time we passed this way. It was a day with strong north winds and as we approached the end of the Alligator River, the route passes through some zigs and zags and narrow channels flanked with very shallow waters.
I was feeling at risk because we had too much sail up and we were overpowered, but the channels didn't provide enough room to drop the sails. The worst part was the last 1/2 mile of the river to the entrance to the canal. The entrance is invisible from 1/2 mile away as are the day markers at the entrance. I had to have total faith in the GPS to guide me correctly and I was rather scared. Today, at the same spot, I had local knowledge and we had the sails down so there
was nothing to be nervous about.

I hoped to make Belhaven today. We should get there by noon tomorrow.