Nor'easter on Pamlico Sound

[Captain Smollett]

I've been hearing and reading for years how rough Pamlico Sound can get in strong winds from the NE.

For the past three days, we've had a pretty good blow from the NE sitting right on top of us - sustained winds around 20 knots or a touch more.

So, I thought I'd check out the Sound to see it with my own eyes.  I wish I had brought a camera.

We drove down to the ferry terminal on Cedar Island yesterday.  This is the ferry that goes out to Ocracoke or Swan Quarter - both routes via the open Sound.  Ferry  Service on the Sound was canceled yesterday due to conditions.

What I saw made me realize that the stories were not only NOT exaggerated, but may be understated.  With about 70 nautical miles of fetch and shallow water, the Sound was whipped into chaotic white froth.  There was no readily apparent wave pattern, just white water swirling much like a white water river tumbling over steep rocks.  Waves were breaking over the rock jetties in spectacular fashion.

It WAS beautiful in its wildness.

[MJWarner]

Oh, I know what you mean! In April '08 (the week before the Easter snow) Al and I had to take our Islander28 from Jordan creek (off the Pungo R.) to Captain Sam's at Washington NC for our haul-out appt. If I hadn't been livin' it, I would never believe the tale.... At times we could only make .3 MPH. We were motoring into the wind, and I now know what people are talking about when they say"I couldn't keep her pointed into the wind!" She kept falling off, and we could not drive her back on point; we had to do circles. We did a lot of those. At the bottom of the trough, we couldn't see anything but green water 360' around us. We thought the waves to be approx. 7 to 9 ft. Heavy driving rain and marble sized hail cut vis. to almost the end of our bow. This was in the Pungo River! Who would have thought? When we got to Sam's, William the yard worker pulled up the satellite pics from earlier that day, the darn thing had the shape and circulation of a mini hurricane! We learned a lot about how our boat handled in heavy weather; that she would take care of us, and we learned that we don't panic, we just keep on doing our jobs, "cause this too will pass."
Martha and Al sailing s/v Journey

[Captain Smollett]

Wow, Martha, quite a story.  And here I was 'enjoying' the Sound from shoreside.  (Okay, I'm a wimp I guess).

Here's a grog to enjoy while you relive those memories, and Welcome To SailFar.

[jotruk]

I've never seen Pamlico sound in any state except fairly calm (only seen it a couple of times) but it looked like it could get bad out there
Welcome to sail far MJ and heres a grog for ya!

[MJWarner]

Arrrr.... all that grog.. the boats getting tippy. Oh, wait, I'm on the couch at home! Someday I'll tell the story of our first sail in Journey; to move from Minnesott Beach to Jordan Creek, Dec24th,'04. No depth gauge, one chart and handheld GPS... and a husband in charge of directions! What a hoot!