Last night a catamaran and three Kady Krogans joined us in Broad Creek. This morning just after dawn we all pulled anchor within minutes of each other, and like an unrehearsed yet organized parade made for the Albermarle sound. We were glad we’d waited for yesterday’s winds to subside as the crossing was pleasant. With partly cloudy skies and 10-15kts wind on our starboard quarter we moved briskly along with the engine going and our jib set.

We had to wait briefly for the Alligator River Bridge, a swing bridge, to open. The bridge tender had to accommodate both local land vehicular traffic and a long parade of boats heading south. The tender did a good job and greeted each hailing vessel in a friendly southern drawl. For the five miles that the bridge was visible during our approach we saw multiple openings and closings.

Once through the bridge, we entered the wide, flat expanse of the Alligator river. In addition to typical recreational motor and sailing vessels, we saw the tug boat Dotti J, steaming forward while pushing two large barges and the elegant piratical Ketch out of New Orleans, a very old-fashioned and beautiful sight.

After 43+ miles, we chose Deep Point North anchorage for its proximity to the channel for a quick start tomorrow, and its relative protection from North winds. It was gusting up to 18mph NNE as we set the anchor. A little rocking from passing wakes seems a small price to pay as we also have a great view of all the passing boats. A catamaran just joined us in the anchorage and a very salty ketch with twin jibs is following suit.

As the next stretch of ICW is narrow canal for 20 miles without services or hospitable anchorages many of the slower sailing vessels will be availing themselves of this and several other nearby berths (Babbit Bay, Logging Camp Anchorage, Bear and Tuckahoe Points) as it is already after 3pm, and sunset is around 6:30pm.

We have very poor internet/phone connectivity here, so it is possible that today’s post will be delayed. We will publish once we have signal, which may not be ’till we’re underway tomorrow.