The Big Grin

Elizabeth City, NC

36 17.92 N 076 13.10 N

We had an interesting passage on Saturday from Manteo up to Elizabeth City. Total distance is about 40 nautical miles.

The day started out badly. I had been expecting light winds because that's what the NOAA weather radio said. (Grrrrrr I have to stop listening to NOAA). Instead we found stiff headwinds right on our nose. We had to motor into the wind making only 2.5-3.5 knots at full throttle. I hate that. It also seemed that we would have to do it all the way to Elizabeth City.

I thought about turning back. I thought about finding a sheltered place to anchor until the wind moderated. But we just kept on. After a while, the wind began to lessen and the direction shifted just enough to allow us to motor and sail. I did that for a couple of hours, then I wanted a break and called Libby to take over.

Wouldn't you know it, as soon as Libby took the helm, Tarwathie seemed to wake up and we traveled faster and faster. Then, something unusual happened. The wind abruptly shifted from blowing from the West to the East. Usually, winds shifts are punctuated either by an hour of dead calm, or by storms and a passing front. Not this time. Well, that easterly wind was just perfect and in no time Libby and Tarwathie together were making 7.5-8 knots. Wow, what a ride.

In the picture above, you see Libby with a big grin on her face. She absolutely moments like that

I also snapped the second picture as we went zipping past the Elizabeth City blimp factory (the only such factory in the country.) It appeared that a mother blimp was sitting out there with her baby blimp securely at her side. It reminded us of dolphin mothers and pups.