We headed down across the Albermarle Sound which was, mercifully, much deeper. At this point we had to make a decision – to head back into the ICW and the Alligator River, or to head East toward the Outer Banks, Roanoke, and the town of Manteo.
There’s a notorious bridge on the Alligator, called the Wilkerson Creek Railroad Bridge, which is reputed to be less than 65. After touching on all the bridges the day before, we had no lingering doubts – Banks and Manteo. Besides, Roanoke Island was one of the first spots English speakers set up shop in the New World – older even than Jamestown – and the island is the site of the lost colony of Roanoke, which gives the kids (and the grown ups) a good case of the heebie jeebies. So east we headed, for sure.
A squall started stalking us as we made the turn around the top of Roanoke Island, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills clearly visible on the other side of the sound, and we had a few dicey moments getting into Manteo’s harbor. There’s enough shoaling here that the guys who run the municipal marina have made a youtube video on how to navigate the channel. We made it in without touching the bottom anywhere, though our depth meter indicated we didn’t have more than a few inches below us in a couple of spots.
A nice fellow helped us secure to the wall, all safe and secure.
Sailing Perseverance 