For Week-Long Cruise I we start by heading across Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke, the "Pearl of the Outer Banks," for two nights. From there we set sail on a NNE heading to Long Shoal River Point Anchorage on the western side of Pamlico Sound. Active Captain gives a this anchorage a four-star rating. 
After a night at anchor, we'll sail back across the Sound and enter the Old House Channel toward Oregon Inlet, turning north into the Roanoke Sound Channel, which takes us north to Manteo on Roanoke Island for two nights at the fabulous Manteo Waterfront Marina. We'll schedule a group activity in Manteo, which has many cool destinations.
Leaving Manteo we'll sail NNW to Albermarle Sound and then turn west and sail to the entrance to the Alligator River, picking up the ICW and motoring south to Tuckahoe Point Anchorage, one of the NSA's favorite spots to drop the hook for the night. And yes, there are alligators in the Alligator River (ask Tony Nelson), so swimming is not recommended! Sunsets at Tuckahoe Point are hard to beat!
Change in plans for our final destination. Due to concerns about the 50 nm distance from Tuckahoe Point to Bath Creek, and the possibility that weather will be a factor, we've decided instead to go into the Dowry Creek Marina near Belhaven on Friday, June 23. That's 25 nm from Tuckahoe Point. Steve and Carol Persche have graciously agreed to bring the social to us, including fresh crab from Bath Creek. We'll use the clubhouse at Dowry Creek and enjoy the pool. Dowry Creek is offering us a discounted rate of $1 a foot, plus $6 for 30-amp power, $8 for 50-amp. We'll grill out, but plan on making a side dish for the social.
The next morning we'll rise early and motor into the Alligator River-Pungo Canal section of the ICW and head south to the Pungo River. We'll follow the Pungo to the Pamlico River, then turn WNW toward Bath Creek. Just up the creek a short ways we'll anchore off the waterfront home of NSA members Steve and Carol Persche. Last year, Steve and Carol had dropped crab traps a day or two before our arrival and we enjoyed a fantastic fresh crab appetizer before a feast of grilled burgers, hot dogs and sides. It was a marvelous evening.
After a nice night at anchor, we'll head home across the Pamlico, down the Hobucken cut to Bay River and to Pamlico Sound and the Neuse River.
We will provide more navigational information and details about port visits from our Cruise Captains as our departure date gets closer. We will also be offering Cruise Mentors this year for members who have not ventured far from their home port before. Avoiding shoals in Pamlico Sound and understanding the channels is important. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. We want members to feel confident that we will provide assistance and advice as needed.
[The photo above is from a Dinghy Excursion to the islands in the Pamlico River off Little Washington during the 2016 Week-Long Cruise.]
