18 June 2013 – Tuesday

Got up early for another long day.  We also have to decide whether to take the Virginia Cut course or go through the Dismal Swamp route. The large yacht was pulling out just ahead of us.  We decided that we would experience the Dismal Swamp route another time. So, we are headed to Coinjock Marina.  It is the only place between Dowry Creek and Virginia on this route.  I called ahead to the marina and was told that they were full for the evening, but they would put us on a waiting list in case someone cancelled.  We had to cross the Albemarle Sound but before we got to the sound we determined that we should top off our fuel supply.  There was a fuel stop located on the Alligator River just short of entering the Sound.  It turns out it was a small marina next to the main highway with fuel pumps near the water.  Gas was only $3.67 per gallon.  We were initially delighted, then read the fine print that the gas had ethanol added.  The first ethanol in JULI-IVs tanks ever.  We shall see what happens.  Hopefully, we will be rid of it pretty quickly.  Pulled out of the marina and were surrounded by a plague of crab pots.  The wind was blowing 25 mph and waves were 3-4 feet.  The autopilot could not keep up and we drifted over a crab pot marker and I put the engines in neutral and asked Joe if the marker had appeared astern.  He said NO!  Now we were drifting abeam to these 3-4 foot waves and unable to use power since we now had a crab pot line wrapped around our props/rudders. Beth quickly provided the answer to drop the anchor to keep our nose into the wind/waves which we did (good thinking).  Joe then slid into the water and determined that indeed we had a line wrapped around the prop shaft.  He took his knife and went under to cut it free.  Now this is under the boat with it crashing up and down 3-4 feet every 10 seconds.  He not only succeeded, but survived with no injuries, other than a knife wound to his chest.  Anchor up and we were under way again.  The weather got much worse in the sound with rain so heavy we could not see 50 feet in front of us, thank goodness for radar. During the crossing, the Coinjock Marina called me and said they could fit us in.  When we arrived at the marina we were amazed at the quantity and size of boats tied up.  We were clearly the smallest.  

This dock was about 1500 feet long with many 100 foot plus mega yachts tied up.  They maximized every inch of space moving us between two mega yachts with inches to spare fore and aft.  This marina also advertised the finest prime rib available anywhere.  I can attest to the fact that is very good.  The Yacht that had been tied up at Dowry Creek with us the night before was magically right in front of us and we visited with the crew of three.  They were delivering it for the owner to Rhode Island, because that’s where he wanted to have cocktails on it next.  They had spent the spring in the Bahamas. (rough life, almost as rough as ours).  One of the crew was not an official member of the crew, just a friend of the Captains from a previous life.