Sailing Zephyr · video

What this video covers

James and Natalie, sailing the 40-foot monohull Zephyr, transit the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) from Beaufort, North Carolina, to Norfolk, Virginia. The crew covers 76 nautical miles in 12 hours during the first day, motor-sailing through the Alligator River-Pongo River Canal—locally known as "the ditch"—and across Albemarle Sound.4:04 They maintain a speed of six knots at 1,600 RPM, utilizing following swells to assist their progress.2:11 After an overnight stop, they complete the final 37-nautical-mile leg to the Great Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia.5:33 The crew utilizes the free public docks located at the Great Bridge, which offer 48-to-72-hour stays and proximity to local amenities, including a laundromat and restaurants.8:20 The route serves as a viable alternative to sailing around Cape Hatteras for vessels with an air draft of 65 feet or less.9:17 While walking their two Weimaraner puppies on the trails adjacent to the Southside Free Dock, the crew observes an Eastern box turtle nesting and laying eggs.12:08

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