Why are there so few sailboats in the Pamlico sound?

[SailVicEC]

For some reason I can''t edit my previous post, just wanted to clarify that that Crusing mag was Crusing World.

[bob-m]

Take a look at this months SAIL mag. They list Oriental as one of the top areas to sail in the US and give a very brief write-up.

[SailVicEC]

Thanks Bob, good stuff.

It looks like I will be sailing out of one of the Marina''s just east of Washington (only about an hour from where I will be living in Wilson NC) initially as I think I will stick with plying the waters of the Pamlico river for a while until I know what I am doing especially while I am single handing with my 5 year old on board. With experienced crew I might venture out on the sound if conditions allow but I have read about the very steep chop, sometimes 6ft + that can get kicked up in the sound by not too much wind and will wait until my child is older and really comfortable aboard before I put her through that.

I will get a cat so with the shallow draft I should still get a good deal of sailing in and it will be a faster cat with good motion and not subject to slamming for when I start to venture out in to the sound and down south. I am thinking about something like a Maine Cat right now, the Gemini 105M looks good especially with its screened cockpit but I am afraid that it slams a lot with is lack of tramps forward given what I have read on this web site about a Gemini sailing the Pamlico Sound http://members.tripod.com/gemini105/trips/TripsDeliveryPage.html

Just to be on the water again will be great!