Inland Seas

Pamlico Sound
35 50.67 N 075 36.43 W

Yesterday and today are outstanding sailing days.   The sky is clear, the winds are just right.  

One of the reasons we love sailing in North Carolina is the pleasure of open waters inside the barrier islands.  We have the breezes and the freedom of navigation of the open ocean without the waves and ocean swells to knock us around.  We also get to sail all day, then sleep in a comfortable anchorage at night.   It is the best of both worlds.

Pamlico sound, inside North Carolina's outer banks is a prime example.  It fits all the criteria.  The only thing bad is that it is only 15 feet deep.  Therefore, if the weather gets really rough, as in gale, the waves in the sound grow too big too fast.  For us, that means keeping a sharp eye on the weather forecast and not heading out if there's a chance of a gale.  Otherwise, it is comparable to sailing on the Bahamian banks.

We picked up a second buddy boat.  Gradditude with Richard and Karen on board.  The start and end of today's trip take us through long and tricky channels.   This morning especially, the red/green channel markers are so far apart they are very hard to see.  The first time we came this way I was frantic with doubt.  Am I going the right heading?  Am I really in the channel?  Is that thing I see really my marker?  In such cases it's nice to travel with someone who has been there before and who has confidence that we're heading right.

My friends might think it is due to our superior nautical knowledge, but I'll let you in on the real secret.  The last time we passed this way we saved the GPS track.   Now all we have to do is follow the blue track line on our screen to duplicate what we did before.  Cheating?  Who cares?

Tonight - Okracoke.