Lock 103 - Coinjock to Norfolk

Reader Note: I published two articles this morning (i.e., 2:20 AM).  Be sure to check out "Calm after the Storm - Belhaven to Coinjock."

Strange title you say.  Well, not really.

We did a total of 102 locks on our Great Loop adventure.  We had to do another one today, our first with the 63.  Hence, "Lock 103."

A little background.  Diana dreaded the locks and worried for months about how we would meet this challenge prior to departure in October  2010. She rapidly became quite competent and we successfully negotiated 101 of the 102 locks without incident.  The lock on the Ohio gave as a big scare but we made it through (with a little rub rail damage) and the error, getting detached from the lock wall, was entirely my fault.

The Great Bridge Lock was our first with the 63 and it was a snap with the Glendenning Remote.  I stood on the Portuguese Bridge and guided the 63 into the lock and then moved to the port side walkway as we tied up to the wall.  We did not even need our communicators.  Adding to the "easiness" was a 2 foot drop.

Our 103rd lock

The rubber bumpers made it even easier

Now to the trip.  I had estimated an easy 43 nautical miles for the run between Coinjock and Norfolk, which is 33 less than yesterday's (76 NM from Belhaven to Coinjock).  What I forgot is the bridges.  This stretch has four bridge that do not open on demand.  The North Landing swing bridge opens on the hour and half hour.  The Great Bridge & Lock bridge open on the hour only.  We had some waits.  Diana got some practice "holding station" and did pretty well.

North Landing Swing Bridge opening

The 43 NM trip took one hour less than yesterday.  We departed at 7:43 AM and docked at 3:25 PM.  A very slow ride, which was reflected in our fuel burn (26.5 gallons) and fuel efficiency (1.6 NMPG).

This segment had some very skinny (shallow) water, especially on the Currituck Sound, which was our first major stretch of water.  In retrospect I should not have attempted this at low tide.  Live and learn.

Port screen: Chartplotter at 50 feet, Starboard Left: Chartplotter at .3 mile zoom, Starboard Right: Sonar

That said, the exercise helped me perfect my shallow water navigation.  Active Captain advises running the first part of this 14 mile sound by keeping the boat dead on the magenta sailing line.  This proved to be good advice for the entire Sound.  I perfected my technique by zooming my port (primary) navigation screen down to 50 feet (see Explanatory Note below), splitting the starboard screen between a chartplotter at .3 miles, so I could see the buoys ahead, and sonar on the other side so I see the depth trend line.  It didn't hurt that Darrell and I had used a lead line at St Simon to estimate the transducer's location.  I was confident that I had at least two (2) feet between the transducer and the keel.  The proved accurate when we got a sonar reading of 3.9 feet (or 3 feet 10 inches).  Add the two foot margin and you get 5 feet 10 inches.  Subtract out 5 foot draft and we were still floating on 10 inches of water (and going VERY slow).  I need to be more tide conscious.

Explanatory Note: The closer you zoom in the more precise the relationship between the "boat" sand the sailing line.  That's the good news.  Zoom in tight (50 feet) and all you can see is the sailing line.  Hence the need for the second chartplotter set to look at a larger area.  When the zoom level is 500 feet the boat will look like it's on the sailing line yet it could be off by 50 to 70 feet.  In a narrow channel like the Currituck Sound that could easily put us aground.

We arrived in the Norfolk / Portsmouth area around 2:30 PM.  Since leaving Florida we have been cruising in pastoral scenery.  The ship refitting industry in this area is obviously very different.

Norfolk scenery

US Navy warships being refitted

Approaching Waterside Marina

We docked at Waterside Marina, which is right on the city's waterfront with total access to downtown Norfolk.  This our kind of Marina.

Guided Discovery at Waterside Marina

We beat the forecasted rain and thunderstorms by at least two hours.  I spent at least 40 minutes tying up the 63 for the anticipated high winds.  The winds were gusting to 20 kts and I had to use the engines/thrusters to reposition the boat and fenders.  We had 5 fenders secured to the starboard site

We have now completed the first segment of our journey north to Hingham Massachusetts.  Those of you who regularly follow our travels know that we will be joined on May 1 by Dick and Phil who are driving our car up from Sarasota.  They will accompany me on a straight shot 465 mile 55 hour run from Norfolk to our final destination at the Hingham Shipyard Marina.  Assuming we have an adequate weather window, we will depart Thursday and arrive at the marina on Sunday morning.

Phase 1 Statistics: Fort Lauderdale, FL to Norfolk, VA

• Distance: 933 Nautical Miles (1,057 Statute Miles)
• Total Traveling Days: 25 since leaving Stuart on April 2
• Days on the Water: 14 since Stuart
• Fuel Used: 820.4 gallons (Fort Lauderdale to Norfolk)
• Fuel efficiency: 1.13 NMPG (1.3 Statute MPG0
• Average Marina Cost: $128.24 per night

Note: Total distance and fuel consumption is from Fort Lauderdale.  Time enroute is from Stuart, FL starting on April 2.  The nine days spent at the Palm Beach Boat Show and the week waiting for Darrell and Sue at Stuart are not considered as traveling days.

Written by Les.