Dec 2009 - Intracoastal Waterway - neaded north to Norfolk



Chess (Dad) at helm as we head to open sea in FL

Cold night as we approach Elizabeth City NC

The long stretch of the Dismal swamp northbound...37 miles of narrow canal 6' deep in places

Brent and Robert (lockmaster) talk at North end of Dismal Swamp canal


Dad and son Brent at Journey's end in Norfolk VA

As we left Cape Canaveral, FL headed north, an unannounced 1900 missile launch closed the start of our planned route to South Port, NC for 3 hrs. A fast moving low passed, as we averaged a SOG of 10kts. Otto (our Autohelm) held true as the seas went to 15-20 feet and winds over 30kt as the cold continental low passed over the warm Gulf Stream. The light jackets we wore in "the stream" quickly changed to cold weather gear as we neared the NC coast, and temps plunged to the 20s and 30s. Once on the ICW, the race between bridges and anchorages began, with departures 30-45min before sunrise to ensure we're at the head of any queue at the next bridge. Bridge tenders and southern bound boats all made the same point "hey, you're headed the wrong way!" as we continued the trek north. We ran Adams Creek north of Beaufort NC  after sunset and no moon with GPS and radar keeping us on the magentia line. At 2130, we closed into Oriental, a real slip, and a much needed sleep. The weather played to our favor with the next overnight just south of the Alligator Canal and a raft up with an Erickson 29 also headed north. Holding 6kt in the canal, we ran with all sails crossing the Albermarle sound and and our last overnight in Elizabeth City NC. 0500 the next morningy, we motored the winding route to the south end of the Dismal Swamp canal and its South Lock for am early 0730 opening. Frigid is an understatement. Out of the lock, we held 6+ knots as the lone boat in the canal. Robert, Lockmaster at the Northern Lock, used his Conch shell to bugle us into the lock; a quick 8' rise, and we could feel Norffolk around the bend. With a stead 20kt NW wind, we raced up the Elizabeth River, passing all the Navy aircraft carriers and destroyers to the starboard as we rounded the entrance into Willoughby Bay and the Norfolk Naval Base. Family and dockmaster helped secure the boat in her slip...and son Brent and Dad stepped ashore -- with wife Karen's hugs, knowing that the crew was finally home!