This is the longest passage we normally do in a day. We got underway at 7:00 AM just before sunrise. Two other boats were also getting underway and heading for Ocracoke as well. We all conversed over the radio about charts, paths and speeds. SV Le Reve led the pack, SV Aquaholics Too was next and Liquid Therapy was guarding the rear of the Ocracoke bound armada. We all headed down the Roanoke Sound as the sun came up in our eyes. Yep hard to see where you are going, or read the chartplotter and other instruments for a while until the sun gets up a bit higher.

It’s about a 9 mile run down the Roanoke Sound channel to the Oregon Inlet channel. Also at this junction is the Walter Slough channel that leads to the Oregon Inlet Fishing center. All this confusing intersection makes you be very aware of what side of what marker you need to pass. We see a sportfisher boat that has taken the wrong side of a marker and is hard aground listing to port at a precarious angle. Two small boats are assisting him. He will be there until high tide or the tow boat comes to pull him off.

We make our turn and travel the Oregon Inlet channel a couple miles to the beginning of the Old House channel. Since we are now at the beginning of the Old House Channel the Red markers switch to the starboard side and green on our port. You have to pay attention to these channel changes because on the wrong side of the markers and even on the correct side near some of the markers you will run aground.

As we end the Old House channel we are now in the Pamlico Sound. It's a beautiful day with about a 10 Knot wind behind us. Our two sailboat friends ahead pull up their sails and are now pulling away from us going about 7 knots. We travel at 6.5 knots. I lock in the autopilot for a 44 mile run. We will be on this course for about 6 hours.

There is very little boat traffic on the Pamlico. I see on the AIS system a fast boat will overtake us several miles away. There is a shrimp boat at work and the car ferries. So, we take in the peaceful seas and sights for many hours.

As we approach the Big Foot Slough channel I see the Swan Quarter ferry heading for the channel. I can beat the ferry to the channel by about 10 minutes. The ferry is going 10 knots and me 6.5. So, If I turn he might catch me before I beat him into Silver Lake Harbor. Our friends in the sailboats go on into the channel and I’m thinking they might not have the ferry catch them. I decided to wait drifting around for 10 minutes on this beautiful day.

Uh oh, both sailboats run aground in the tricky channel. It appears they were on the edge of the ever changing channel. So, they use bow thrusters to turn them back into the deeper water. But the ferry is closing in and they are in front of it. I’m watching much of this with binoculars and AIS and realize the ferry will catch them before they get into Silver Lake harbor. I’m just glad I’m following the ferry in and following the ferry’s turns. The ferry does slow to 2 knots and the sailboats scurry into the harbor. Everyone is safe.

We dock at the Anchorage marina at 4:45PM. That’s a long day for us
Our sailboat friends joined us for dinner at Dajio’s restaurant. After dinner they came to Liquid Therapy for a drink and discussions of the day. Everyone was tired and it ended quickly.

Today’s picture is the schooner Windfall II out for a sunset cruise.