Northbound ’19 – Travel Day 18: Belhaven, NC to Coinjock, NC

Distance traveled: 89 statute miles

Time underway: 7 hours 42 minutes

Average Speed: 8 kts

Max Speed: 18.7 kts

Fuel used: 105 gallons

When we awoke in Belhaven we found OLOH covered in a blanket of small black flies.  Perhaps they were hoping to hitch a ride to New York.  If it was a sign that Spring had sprung, then we’d take it!  We shoved off from Belhaven Marina by around 7:20 with a planned stop just a few docks away at River Forest Marina as we wanted to take on some fuel before the nearly ninety-mile day we had ahead.  While we’re sure we had enough fuel for the trip, we were cutting it close to the 10% reserve we always like to have on board and rather than stress out about our consumption we felt it best to just take some on and then fill up when we get to our next planned stop.  It was also good to see Henry, the exceptionally kind gentleman who runs the place who was our host the last time we passed through.

This stretch of the trip is something we had done in two legs when we headed south but we decided to take advantage of the amazing weather we were having and combine a five-hour leg with a three and a half hour leg and skip the Alligator River Marina in Columbia where we had stopped last time.  This was a day that included some big bodies of water that can really kick up with strong winds.  Fortunately, we were only seeing winds of around five mph and found the Pungo River, Alligator River, and Albermarle Sound to be nearly smooth as glass.

Coinjock Marina is an iconic stop on the waterway and a psychological demarcation for us as we are heading north that we are in the homestretch of the ICW.  It sits at mile fifty (Norfolk to the north is zero) and, as we’ve written about before, it’s a relatively small spot, not close to anything, that’s run like a world-class marina with a terrific restaurant and an incredibly friendly staff.  J.D. greets every boater on the radio with enthusiasm and gets you tied up like a pro with the same level of care given to all, whether you’re in a thirty footer or one hundred+ footer – they get them all at Coinjock.  And owner Louis is ever the gracious host.

With an unstable weather pattern including high winds and thunderstorms getting ready to set in we’ve decided to sit it out for two days at Coinjock.  It’s normally a place that you just pass through but it is also a very peaceful, easy and comfortable spot to sit and relax and it will give us a moment to catch up on life and a few boat projects before entering the homestretch.

We’re also thrilled that our dear friend, Captain Scott of Cabo Waboat hopped on here.  Thanks to his wife, the amazing Marla, for driving him all the way down from New York.  It was a welcome surprise for Jasper who has a special way of greeting the friends and family he’s known since he was a puppy that you have got to watch…

And that concludes your OLOH instructions. M/Y OLOH back to 1-6.