Great Bridge VA to Broad Creek NC

Start time and hours                      0900                                            3391.61

Ent time and hours                        1600                                            3398.94

     We slept in a little and made the 9am Great Bridge opening for our day’s voyage.  The Great Bridge coordinates with the Great Bridge Lock for their openings.  After the lock opens for the southbound boats the bridge waits for them to all bunch together before opening.  We waited for the lock to open and then cast off the dock and waited in front of the bridge for it to open.  Fortunately, the winds were calm and eight boats could almost hold their position in the water without running into each other.  I could see this being a dangerous thing if the winds were up.  The bridge could open sooner and stay open about two minutes longer and everyone would be safer.

     After going past the Great Bridge we cruised with a group of about ten boats towards two other bridges that would open.  The same thing happens at these bridges.  A bunch of boats try to not run into each other while the bridge operator waits for the allotted time to open.   The bridges open on the hour and the half hour so you could be waiting for some time.  It is good practice trying to keep the boat steady in a crowd.

     Once past the two swing bridges the group of boats spread out on their journey south.  At times it seemed that we were the only boat on the water.  The scenery is picturesque in most spots.  There are lots of forests, marshes, side creeks, birds, and lots of stumps.  You always have to keep a sharp eye out for stumps beside the channel and for floating debris in the channel.

     About halfway through our cruise today we crossed into North Carolina.  We seem to be cruising right along.  North Carolina is a big ICW state so it will take some time to complete.

     The weather today was sunny and a little cool.  However, up on the flybridge with the sun shining through the isinglass it can get quite warm.  The water in the ICW is almost always calm.  This makes for comfortable cruising conditions.  We like to cruise slowly so we pass very few boats, mostly sailboats with small engines.  We get passed a lot, mostly by bigger faster trawlers and by much bigger and faster go-fast boats.  Almost all of the boat passing is done according to a polite procedure.  You call the boat you want to pass and request to pass them on either port or starboard.  They then answer your request for a slow pass.  The boat being passed slows down and the boat passing also slows down to minimize wake disturbance.  Once the passing boat is past the slower boat, both boats return to their normal cruising speed. 

     We use Active Captain and the Waterway Cruising guide to help us pick anchoring spots.  Today’s spot was from Active Captain.  It is near the end of the North River near Broad Creek in Shiloh NC.  From here it is an easy beginning to crossing Albemarle Sound.   It seems that everyone else must use these guides because there are about 22 boats in this anchorage for the night.  It is a huge anchorage and there is room for lots more boats.

     Beautiful sunset tonight and the wind died right down to about 5kts and the water is almost flat.  It should be great sleeping conditions.