We left Oriental, NC under cloudy skies, making 16 knots through the Neuse River, which was fairly calm today. As we left, we had ten knot southerly winds, which increased as we headed north.
Leaving the twenty five mile-long Alligator River/Pungo River Canal, we found 30 knot southerly winds and three foot, closely-spaced seas entering the Alligator river. The Duffy rode well, but conditions deteriorated as we covered 20 miles toward the Alligator River Swing Bridge. When I called the bridge tender, three miles out, he said that they had a 35 knot wind restriction and might not be able to open. If we couldn't pass the bridge, we had no alternative but to turn aroung, take a beating and try to find safer water 25 miles south.
Understanding our plight, the bridge tender bent the rules and opened the span partially. We squeezed through at 15 knots, bouncing three feet vertically and skittering left and right in the waves. Once through, we made a hard left and sought shelter in the Alligator River Marina, which sits at the western end of the bridge. In those steep seas; that short, mile-long trip was a wild ride!
The bridge officially closed after we passed and the Outer banks winds have increased to nearly fifty knots, and might get stronger until tonight's passing front drops some rain on us and everything subsides. I called the bridge tender and thanked him profusely for letting us through. What a day!!
Our original goal was to cross Albemarle Sound today, stop in Coinjock tonight, and be home tomorrow. Sea conditions had deteriorated so quickly that we had no option but to seek shelter here.
Ebb Tide II underway
