Please help - Relocating to Edenton, NC

connellyjc · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2012

I am in the process of possibly relocating to Edenton, NC. I am looking for anyone that currently is keeping their boat at the Edenton Marina. I have a 1975 Tartan 34c, so it only draws 3'11" (with centerboard up), so I think I will be fine with the shallow waters of the Albemarle sound.

However, I am having a very hard time finding any real information related to sailing in the Albemarle. Is is just a bad place to have a boat? I have found some information, but not much of it is positive (crab pots everywhere, rough, choppy conditions, etc.)

Can anyone local to the area give me some insight? I would be moving my boat from the Chesapeake Bay, near the Rappahannock River. My wife and I primarily do day sails and short trips, typically 3 days or less.

Also - can you swim in the sound? I have read some posts that talk about the high level of fertilizer in the sound from the farmers. Is this a real issue?

PBzeer · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2012

No real sailing until you get east of the highway (fixed) bridge, and then you're in a sea of crabpots. I was last there 4 years ago, so can't say exactly how things are at this point in time. Better suited for multiple day trips, than day sailing though.

Elizabeth City, Manteo, and the anchorage on the Alligator River are all within a day of Edenton.

SecondWindNC · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2012

I can't help much with the specific sailing info on the Albemarle but I'd think you'd be able to do some nice sailing with that boat. Board up to get into shallower marinas and creeks, board down in deeper areas for sailing. Your 34 should be fine in the chop except when it gets really snotty. For a longer trip it would be fun to come down our way and visit Washington, Bath, Ocracoke, etc. - so come say hello!

As for the swimming, there is lots of watersports activity on the sound side of the Outer Banks. Granted that's the eastern part of the sound but I wouldn't hesitate to swim in the area where you're going to be. We swim here, and the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds are pretty comparable.