Day 21! Sailing to the Bahamas

🥶🧤feeling like December

Starting port: Black Creek (anchorage), VA

Ending Port: Alligator River (anchorage), NC

Distance Traveled: 46.9

Frigid 640am departure this morning! I had on leg thermals, sweats, long sleeve, flannel, Patagonia jacket, bibs, jacket, ski mask, hat and gloves. It was around 30 - 35 before it peaked at 2pm at 45 degrees. Definitely needed to bundle and will likely be like this the rest of the week 😱

We were anchored behind Gusto and around the bend was Vardo. We put up the sails and we were cruising ahead of the group until about 8am. Vardo passed us right before we made it into the little pass before Coinjock. Gusto was still behind us as this point also with their sails up.

Thankfully, we had a nice westerly wind and were able to keep a decent pace for us. Around 9/10am we crossed into our fifth state, North Carolina! Beautiful homes were lining the ICW as we went under the Coinjock bridge.

We later found out, our other friend boat T.Rex ran aground just before we all got there. We learned later on he ran aground a second time but was able to get off the mud and eventually caught up to Neem.

As we emptied out of the pass all of us were in a line, Vardo heading the fleet followed by Neem, T.Rex, Gusto and then us. We all rounded the curves of the ICW until we hit the long Albemarle Sound. This sound can get pretty gnarly, with 10 mile fetch, confused seas and chop. We reefed in the main and let the genoa out about 60% to prepare.

We were still cruising along but way more uncomfortable with the 3’ seas and confused wind. I was skippering up until the sound where I happily let Pete take the tiller. It was a pretty hands on steering with the waves, some crashing right at the bow. Spray would come off the bow and a few things would fly off the settees below. It was a long 2 and a half hour crossing. Once we got into the Alligator river, the swell dropped and we ended up anchoring near T.rex and Neem right before the Alligator bridge.

Here’s to another day on the ICW and hopefully another day closer to warmer temps 🤞

Onward,

Sweet Rain