First open water sail-hopefully.

[sailordad46]

Thanks for reading this post.
My daughter and I will be delivering her new (to her) Downeaster 32 from Norfolk to Washington, NC by way of the Dismal Swamp Canal and, obviously across the Albermarle Sound. I am 60 and a "growing in experience" sailor. I have progressed from lake sailing a Sunfish, to AIWW motor/sailing a 25' Catalina and 25' Bruce Roberts from Wilmington to Washington, NC and up several rivers-including the sail around Oriental to the Pamlico River. My last sail of any significance was a step up in "bigger water" sailing west to east on the Albermarle and down the Alligator River. Weather was nice. Wind was not bad, but due to the direction I had 2-4' following swells and the down Alligator I jarred my teeth as the wind switched from the South.
The point being, I am becoming more competent, but...... I am downright scared of crossing the Albermarle Sound from North to South! I have the luxury of picking my weather since we will leave the boat in Elizabeth City and drive up when the weather is perfect. But it will be my first "out of sight of land" sail. Land is always my comfort zone. The boat can definitely take more than I intend to give it.
What I am asking, or seeking, is advice and wisdom-or honestly, comforting thoughts-to allow me to reach this next level in my sailing growth. Thanks for your kind replies.

[JPA Cate]

Hi, sailordad 46,

Well to me, after many miles offshore sailing, I think out of sight of land is way, way, safer. It is land where the hard bits are. Also there is more traffic near land, both larger than sailboats, like commercial traffic, fishing boats, and even big sailboats, but the added blessings of kayakers, canoeists, and little motorboats also fishing. Get offshore and enjoy the relative peace and quiet. The longer the voyages you undertake, the more accustomed to not seeing land you will become. You may also see more sea life.

Comforting thoughts, well you may actually find it kind of spiritually healing: it is so for us. And comfort yourself, too, any landing you walk away from is a good one. Still looking down at the grass? All good.

Ann

[Don C L]

That's a good stout boat, easy on the motion. I used to sail a Downeast 38. The boat doesn't know if you're out of sight of land. Whether you're a mile offshore or 100, it's still water. You can keep the EPIRB close at hand if you need to, but I'd bet big bucks your white knuckles will soon relax and you will be hooked! You may not WANT to see land after a while! Good luck in your adventures! And, if needed, the engine will be your friend.
Welcome aboard by the way!

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by sailordad46

The point being, I am becoming more competent, but...... I am downright scared of crossing the Albermarle Sound from North to South! I have the luxury of picking my weather since we will leave the boat in Elizabeth City and drive up when the weather is perfect. But it will be my first "out of sight of land" sail. Land is always my comfort zone. The boat can definitely take more than I intend to give it.

What I am asking, or seeking, is advice and wisdom-or honestly, comforting thoughts-to allow me to reach this next level in my sailing growth. Thanks for your kind replies.

You'll be fine.

Abermarle Sound is an estuary and although you may be out of sight of land at a small point, you won't be for long.

The Sound is inland, part of the ICW. The reasons sailors take the ICW route is because it's vastly more safe and moderate sailing.

Remember to pay attention to the tides and have an excellent trip. I find it takes about 4 hours once I've shoved off to be completely relaxed and into a passage.

A perfect next step! (And remember what Ann Cate said): Someday, you will get far, far *away* from land and that will feel more like home than being landbound.

For your own comfort, run jack lines fore-to-aft, always wear your autoinflate lifejacket over your foulies and clip on every time you're on deck - day or night (ALWAYS at night).

Fair Winds! You're gonna have a great time on an emminently seaworthy boat.
<And Breathe>
Warmly,
LittleWing77

[sailorboy1]

I have crossed the Albermarle Sound in 25’ knot conditions. If was bad, but wouldn't call it terrible (i have not doubts the Sound can be terrible). I also have crossed it a few times in “normal” conditions and it was a nice trip. If you pick a standard good weather day you should have have a good worry free trip! It isn't really all that far across and you shouldn't be worried about it in a boat you aren't worried about to start with.

Good luck and have fun as you should (or wait another day at the free dock in Elizabeth City for better weather)

Btw - when you get to the south end to rejoin the ICW don't cut the corners or you are going to ground. Go fully into the curves to the buoy far side before turning. If you are in less than 10-12 feet of water you are NOT in the channel..

[thomm225]

You will be in protected waters and within radio range of the Coast Guard Station at Elizabeth City, and the Albermarle Sound is only like 15-20 miles across.

Also, you should easily be able to pick a day this time of year with a nice Northerly wind.

I routinely cross the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in winds of 20-32 knots and my boat is a 6600 lb displacement Bristol 27.

Now I wouldn't try to go against a 32 knot wind but the boat does fine downwind in those conditions although when it's near 30 knots it does get me thinking about my old rigging.

Last time I did it I had only one reef in the mainsail and couldn't lower it as I was sailing singlehanding.

Your boat is a total beast compared to mine. You'll be fine plus you won't have the ocean input waves to deal with or the long 150 miles or so of open water to the North where the waves can get larger or NE winds of coming in from the ocean pounding the last few miles of the bay at the entrance to Little Creek my home creek.

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/downeaster-32

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/bristol-27

On this day (lower Chesapeake Bay) the winds had been near 32 knots but the boat rode the waves fine after I turned DDW. Before that I had waves breaking over the side. Point is the boat did fine and probably would have been able to sail it on autopilot had I had less main up or jib only.

Check out all the water the boat is pushing thru....the bow on your boat would have been nice to have had on this day. Wind in the video was still strong enough to be whistling in the rigging. Earlier it was whistling a louder tune.....

I was crossing the 20 miles of the lower Chesapeake Bay at the ocean entrance. Waves were 4' - 7' closely spaced, steep, and breaking especially at the deep water shipping channel edges

I was having trouble steering and filming at the same time. Plus I had the hatch open to get the camera which I didn't really like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nXfjcCuiPk

[dougweibel]

Hi SailorDad,

You said you have the luxury of picking your weather window, and if that is the case then you can put most of your worry aside. I am not a local to that area but have been across Albemarle sound five times on whatever day I happened to arrive there while taking the ICW north or south. I understand it can get pretty unpleasant on the sound but on most days it will be a pleasant sail. If things deteriorate for some reason and the swing bridge is not operating you can head east at the mouth of the Alligator river and into nice anchorages in either East Lake or South Lake.

While it is a way across the sound the aspect of being out of sight of land has never occurred to me while transiting. It will be a good stepping stone for you. Later you will think more about how many hours (or days) away from land you are.

[SV__Grace]

Congratulations on your adventure!

Seems like you're experiencing fear, which happens if danger is real or imagined.

Imagined fear usually disappears after experiencing the reality, and if you pick a good weather window I'm confident you will have such a glorious time once you lose sight of land that you won't want it to be over.

Be safe and have a blast!

[SRQsailor]

I have to echo Littlewing77's advice to have jacklines and harnesses available, and know how to use them anytime you go offshore. Practice moving around the boat and clipping onto the mast Etc. at the dock or in calm weather. Most harnesses come with a 6' tether for the jack line and a 3' tether for clipping around the mast or something else appropriate. Shortening sail at night in a breeze is a snap if you can clip on, lean back against the tether and use both hands on the lines. Without, it can be a frightening thing. Smooth sailing, Painless

[thomm225]

I doubt you will actually lose sight of land totally if it is a decent day.

You should be able to see water towers if there are any in that area.

When out of sight of land during beach cat races on my Nacra 17, I could still usually see high rise condos or high rise Casino buildings.

Same with the Chesapeake Bay. There are several land marks available most of the time except up near Tangier where the bay is near 30 miles wide.

It does get you attention though when you pitchpole out that far.

[grandmaR]

If you can pick your weather, you will be fine. Albemarle Sound can be flat calm and you have to motor. You are only out of sight of land for about half an hour.



If you really didn't want to be out of sight of land you could do the Albemarle Loop - Elizabeth city and to west to Edenton and then cross at the bridge and go east along the south short to the Alligator.



I've crossed it 6 times - 3 times going south from Elizabeth City and 3 times going north to Coinjock. The first time it was windy enough to sail but not so windy that the bridge didn't open. It was fun sailing and I was more concerned with sail handling than the waves.



The second time the predicted waves in the Sound were 2 feet. But it was flat calm in the river and the only waves in the Sound were 3-6 inches.


The third time it was quite foggy in Elizabeth City and the Sound was flat calm.



After the first time going south when we anchored at the canal entrance, we always stayed at the Alligator River marina just before the swing bridge.

[PineyWoodsPete]

I'm intrigued by your passing mention that the boat is your daughter's, but no reference at all to her sailing abilities or past boat-owner experience. Who's the designated skipper? Who will be the diesel/plumbing/electrical systems trouble-shooter for the un-expecteds that will will show up in most new-to-you boats? This would concern me more than the sailing with your experience.

About the Sound, we have transited it in both directions at least six times since '79 in an Endeavour 32 heavy mono, and Gemini 34 and FP 37 cats. Wouldn't choose to do it in a blow, but aside from checking weather for a frontal passage, never worried about the tides.

[Cadence]

Do your prep. and have at it. Not seeing land can be a plus generally no bottom problems.

[sailordad46]

Wow!! Great replies. Friendly insight and advice. I appreciate it all and will keep it all close to heart. My daughter is the fearless and confident one and she is developing her skills too. She is ready to go to the Bahamas. Wow! She is going to be the skipper. I am really the muscle on this trip and her reference for questions she has. But, if I am at a 4/10 (or whatever) on sailing skills she would be a 2/10 so this is also a jump for her. That is why we are going to pick good weather, so we can both improve our skills without getting white knuckles. Logically, my fear is unfounded. The boat is strong and I am not foolish. I am the one who just needs the comforting thoughts, and ya'll have provided that.
Thanks.

[The Perfessor]

You can lose site of land at about 12 miles assuming there are not tall structures; still well within the ability for fast rescue in an emergency. So while you may not see land, it is just over the horizon.

I agree whole-heartedly about being clipped in. You don't want that to give you a false sense of security, but when I am sailing in unknown waters or with few crew, I will clip in. Night time is a no-brainer; always clip in.

You might want to re-think who the skipper is in that if you are more experienced, you may want to set at the outset that you are the skipper so that your call is the "law"; that way there is no question as to what to do when you disagree. That doesn't mean you don't talk things through or ask each other's opinion, but in the end you need to have some chain of command, especially if things get challenging.

The worst part for me when sailing out of site of land is sailing with my children; until they became competent, experienced sailors, I was always worrying about them. Now they make me feel more comfortable because I know and trust in their skills.

I expect you will be fine; it will (and should) push your comfort zone out a bit and add to your experience level. The preparation you are doing and choosing your sail date is key. One of the best decisions a sailor can make is "not to sail", so not being tied to a schedule just increased your safety by lots. Good luck and I hope we hear how it went!