Thalia's Voyage

May 3rd was our day to sail to Ocracoke. After motoring out onto the Neuse river there was a wonderful 15kt wind from the SW. With Stan at the helm he pointed Thalia into the wind. I went up on deck and raised the main. Then back into the cockpit to pull out the gib. Stan pointed her toward the NE and with a great wind off the starboard stern quarter we were doing 6kts. With the engine off we watched Oriental fade away off the port stern and the quiet of just the wind. A couple of hours gently unfolded and then we were crossing Pamlico Sound. The wind kicked up to +20 kts and 4 ft seas as we started crossing the sound. Eventually with a shifting wind and not able to sustain 5-6kts I started the motor, we pulled in the gib. I went up on deck while Stan pointed Thalia into the wind and did battle with the main. Back in the cockpit we motored towards the Big Foot Slough Channel. I briefed Stan on the dayboards (Nav Aids) that red would be on our port going in until we reached the junction marker. Going in the channel Stan said "look there is a boat anchored outside the channel". A 50 ft Jeanneau had kept the red nav aids on his starboard and was now parked in 2 feet of water. I hailed them on the radio and they were fine and waiting for the tow boat. We continued in the channel and with the ferry behind us entered Silver Lake (Ocracoke bay) hailed the Anchorage Inn marina pulled in upwind and tied up. By now it was 19:00 hours and we were tired, dirty, and hungry. After a shower we took the Inn's van and drove to dinner. A good trip & with a nice meal we ended the day.