Anchoring: Wind, Hold, Swing

For the past two days, we’ve been cruising on the Alligator River.  Last night we anchored out on the Little Alligator River.  Have we seen ONE alligator along the way?  NO!

Because this part of the loop has few towns to stop along the way, we've had a week of cruising north and anchoring out each night.  The tides are less noticeable and—because we have some larger bodies of water to cross (today:  Albemarle Sound), the direction and speed of the wind has been our focus.  We’ve been getting up at sunrise to cruise most of our miles in the mornings when the wind and waves are lighter.  We also consider wind when selecting a protected anchorage.

A good anchorage protects us from wind and gives us “good holding.”  A “good hold” means we’ve ample enough “rode” (chain or rope:  depth of water X 7=length of rode needed; too little rode will cause boat movement to unlodge the anchor) such that our anchor can get a solid grip on the surface bottom so that the boat—despite wind or waves—will not float away.  A sandy bottom is usually easier for an anchor to take hold than, let’s say, a muddy bottom.  For added security, we more often than not set two anchors each evening (we’re finding most boaters set one anchor, but setting two anchors has become our habit, so we continue to do so).

When at anchor Velsignet needs her space!  Velsignet is a trawler and trawlers like to swing at anchor.  Mike claims Velsignet at anchor with the appropriate amount of rode swings in about a 60-degree arc.  When in a bay with other boats we must consider our swing and keep an appropriate distance.  When on a narrow river or creek where there's flow and no room to swing, a stern anchor may be needed to prevent swing.

We’re happy when we can set an anchor on the first try; it’s not unusual that we have to make several attempts—and even move to a different nearby location—before our anchor sets.  Ahhhh…what a feeling it is when the anchor is set and the rest of the day has begun!

This is the dock at RE Mayo Seafood at MM 157 on the Atlantic ICW.  In the background is a shrimp boat at dock.  Hurricanes have flooded this river many times and the damage is evident.

Velsignet is docked at RE Mayo where seafood is sold at good prices. 
We stopped here to pick up salmon, tuna, shrimp, flounder and crabcakes for our freezer.  

Leaving RE Mayo.  Fishing boats such as the one in the forefront bring their catch to Mayo each week.  

Mike from the inside helm.  Yesterday, temperatures (and humidity) were in the mid-80s,
so we chose to captain in the air conditioned cabin.

This is a view of the Pamlico Sound.  Winds were form the southeast between 7-10 mph.

The Alligator River.  Straight.  Trees tell us we're not in Florida any longer!

Along the Alligator River:  Pine and Cypress

This was our beautiful sunrise this morning.  There was a bit of fog, but visibility exceeded 1/2 mile, so it didn't slow our departure from our anchorage.

The anchors are pulled.  We begin our way back towards the ICW. 
Mike is on the ship's bow with a cup of coffee watching out for crab pots. 
Crab pots can mess up a prop should we run over one.