Ya Ha Ha Ting

The fun times aboard Liquid Therapy. With - Susan and Brooke Smith

15 March 2023 | Home
14 March 2023 | Blackwater Lodge
13 March 2023 | Blackwater Lodge
13 March 2023 | Blackwater Lodge
24 October 2022 | Stairway To Heaven, Ocracoke, NC
12 June 2022 | Coinjock Marina
10 June 2022 | Manteo Waterfront Marina
01 June 2022 | Anchorage Marina Ocracoke
31 May 2022 | Anchorage Marina
28 May 2022 | Manteo Waterfront Marina
26 October 2021 | Anchorage Marina, Ocracoke, NC
22 October 2021 | Coinjock Marina
15 June 2021 | Hudgins Horn Harbor Marina
15 June 2021 | Old Point Comfort Marina, Fort Monroe, VA

Monday May 30, 2022 Manteo to Ocracoke 66 miles

31 May 2022 | Anchorage Marina
Brooke Smith | 5-10 Knots out of the East
We left early. 6:12AM because it’s a LONG day. We travel about 7MPH so it’s gonna take really about 10 hours, fighting currents and winds and slowing for car ferries. Yep all of that and a slight miscalculation at a junction of 3 channels caused the water's bottom to come up and smite the hull for a few seconds. Bottom was not where the electronic charts ( completely updated ) indicated. Shoals occur and disappear often near Cape Hatteras.
We only got severely waked by one sports fisher. I’m not turning him into the Coast Guard but rather the owner, the owner’s insurance company. Not sure why, but sports fishers in the Roanoke Sound do not slow down for their dangerous 22 knot 4’ high wakes. But I got one of them on video camera and may follow though with the owner and insurance company for reckless operation.
OK, enough about $h!T head captains.

After we got into the Pamlico Sound it seemed we had the entire sound to ourselves. We saw two shrimpers and a few ferries and far away boats. But I only had two course changes in 47 miles. Some people love their dogs. I love my autopilot. I mean steering a single course for 5 hours and never being more than 15’ off course is a lot better than I can do. Mr. Autopilot is 11 years old. He shows no signs of failing. I really like the old fella.

So, I did have to dodge one shrimper. Nice to see them in the Pamlico. I’ll be having Pamlico Shrimp later at SmacNally’s. Yep I did and Susan had Spanish mackerel. We love seafood at Ocracoke restaurants. It’s always local. And, tonight, Tuesday, I’m cooking more Spanish and some tilefish from the local seafood co-op. Fish being taken off a boat, filleted and put in the case as we are buying tonights supper. But, I digress.

So, we are about 6 miles from the Ocracoke entrance channel and I can see a ferry about 12 miles away going twice as fast as we are. So, I slow to allow him to enter the channel ahead of me. The automatic calculations are amazing on my AIS figuring all the vectors out for me. Still I have to adjust my speed so I don’t end up there ahead and being in the way of the ferry. I get a 4 minute arrival solution with my reduced speed and just wait for the ferry to cross and then I speed up.

The Ocracoke Big Foot Sough channel is a real mess. Many, many temporary markers. I’m too far to the right apparently showing 3 1/2’ under the keel. I wonder how the ferry ever makes it in and out of here. Amazingly they only draw about 6-7ft fully loaded with cars. So, now we enter Silver Lake in Ocracoke harbor. Of course the wind picks up and the ferry I was following in is now loading cars. This means he is in gear pushing against the dock so that cars putting on brakes don’t make the ferry move away from the dock. He is also pushing a current all the way around Silver Lake. I get docking instructions from the marina and he lets me know this is not going to be a good situation. 1st I have to pass extremely close to a 55’ Hatters yacht with the owner’s wife in consternation. I try to turn to go in stern 1st and there is no room in the tight fairway. Instead of being a bit off, I’m about 90º off with the current pushing me sideways. No way this is going to work. The dock hands get the stern lines and I shift back and forth with full rudder and them pulling. I gain some and loose some. Finally, I get far enough in the slip that my rudder can actually help. We are tied up and both dock hands get good tips for their shoulder horse power efforts.
Hey, No insurance claim = good docking.

We get our golf cart and ride to the general store. I’m out of shaving cream. Back to the boat and actually stop at SmacNally’s which is completely full with a giant waiting list for a table. We see a corner vacant at the bar and the hostess says go for it. A corner at a bar is better than a table. We sit closer together with goo goo eyes you think and that is sweet you think. Hey we can hear each other better than sitting across from each other at a table. Nice shrimp for me, Spanish Mackerel for Suz.
We tried to stay awake for Mrs Maisel streaming. But both of us crashed fast.
Today’s picture is sunset over the Pamlico Sound.
Comments
Vessel Name: LIQUID THERAPY
Vessel Make/Model: ALBIN 36' DOUBLE CABIN TRAWLER
Hailing Port: DELTAVILLE, VA
Crew: BROOKE & SUSAN SMITH
About: LONGTIME BOATERS. SOLD OUR 33' CARVER IN 2002 AND HAVE BEEN BOATING ON OTHER PEOPLES BOATS SINCE. WE ALWAYS WANTED A TRAWLER AND SAID IT WAS TIME. SO, WE NOW HAVE A 1979 ALBIN. IT'S GREAT.
Extra: Headed south fall 2017 to Miami and then the Bahamas
Social:
LIQUID THERAPY's Photos - Main
Pictures of our stay in Ocracoke
3 Photos
Created 2 November 2015
Georgetown Marina, Osprey Marina and Barefoot Marina
6 Photos
Created 15 April 2012
Isle of Hope April 7, 2012
3 Photos
Created 8 April 2012
Passages from St. Augustine to Fernandina to South River Anchorage - Isle of Hope
9 Photos
Created 5 April 2012
Pictures along the ICW from Titusville to Marineland
9 Photos
Created 31 March 2012
The crossing March 24, 2012 from the West End, Bahamas to Fort Pierce, FL USA
11 Photos
Created 26 March 2012
Our last visit with the pigs and sea life of No Nam Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
11 Photos
Created 20 March 2012
Nippers Bar, Beach,
11 Photos
Created 18 March 2012
Our stay at Orchid Bay Marina and exploring the settlement
8 Photos
Created 14 March 2012
Man O War Cay pictures
6 Photos
Created 12 March 2012
Houses and buildings of Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas
23 Photos
Created 5 March 2012
Trip to the southern end of Elbow Key with Donna Brierley & Ron Nicholas from the boat No-Snow
11 Photos
Created 3 March 2012
A magical place. Kerosine light, hand wound lighthouse at Elbow Key, Abaco, Bahamas.
13 Photos
Created 1 March 2012
Susan & Brooke's great adventure aboard Liquid Therapy
47 Photos
Created 16 February 2012
Liquid Therapy - Pictures of Hollywood to Miami
6 Photos
Created 19 December 2011
Travels from Beaufort NC to Hammock Bay, NC
13 Photos
Created 15 November 2011
5 month cruise to Georgetown, Great Exuma, Bahamas
7 Photos
Created 8 November 2011