Onward to Bellhaven, North Carolina

Sunken shrimp boat

Monday- May 1st, 2017.  Windy again today - at least 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 30 knots.  We got into some rough choppy water and all of a sudden the engine started to idle back and die.  We were motoring with the staysail up.  Michael switched the Raycor filters and changed the fuel tanks.  We thought maybe we got some dirt with all the jostling.  Once we got on Goose Creek (on the ICW) the wind died down a little and the movement of the boat eased up as well.  We dropped the staysail as we were motoring down Goose Creek. But when we got onto the Pamlico River it got very bumpy and rolly again.  We hoisted the staysail which was a good thing as the motor died again!  The fuel level in the Raycor filters was quickly dropping.  As amazing a feat as it was Michael managed to change out the primary fuel filter as we were running under the staysail.  We managed to restart the engine and it ran for a bit.  At this point we wondered if we would make it to the marina at all.  We called ahead and told them we would need a diesel mechanic if we were able to make it there.  The engine died a few more times and each time Michael added some fuel to the Raycor and got it running again.  Now you may wonder why we didn't just sail.  Well for one we were on the intracoastal waterway which takes alot of turns and twists on rivers and creeks.  For two, we were anxious to reach our destination ahead of the predicted storms.  

 This is the channel to the marina.  We made it to this channel and were within site of the marina and.... yep, the engine died!  Now it was really, really windy.  Blowing steadily above 20 knots and the gusts were 30 or more.  Of course, we had dropped the staysail before reaching the channel.  Now fortunately, as we knew the engine would likely keep acting up Michael had the anchor ready to drop in an emergency.  The windlass was also turned on and ready to go.  As Michael was trying to restart the engine a big gust of wind began pushing us to shore.  We were at the mercy of the wind and so as a last resort we dropped the anchor.  But not before we were pushed up into one of those channel markers you see. 

You can see the channel and how close we are to land here. After taking out the channel marker we were pushed completely outside the channel and were in that space between the channel and the land.  And that is when the anchor dug in and we stopped moving towards the land.  The people at the marina were all watching and holding their breath.  A tense moment for sure.  Michael once again put fuel in the Raycor fuel filters and the engine started - we raised the anchor and made it to the marina.  Of course, once we were all tied up nice and secure the engine just ran and ran without a problem in the world!  Sure enough that night the storm hit and we thought we were in a darn hurricane!  Very glad we reached the marina!