We weighed anchor just after sunrise and continued ICW aiming for Atlantic Yacht Basin in Norfolk (65Nm).

Once coming out on North Landing River in quite open waters we had 30-35kts of wind and choppy seas. ICW follows a dredged channel with small margins and very shallow waters on the sides.

When passing Bell Island to port we started to have soundings of 1,6-1,8m and although being in the center of the dredged channel we sometimes pl owed through mud.

When soundings reached 1,5m we stopped not really knowing what to do..

Behind us though, there were 5 combat boats with US marines onboard and they all stopped when approaching Dora Mac. Reaching out to their officer in charge  they gave us advise and following their track we managed to pass what must have been silting banks.

Once reaching more safe waters with descent depths we came up to North Landing Bridge. Waiting for scheduled opening 10mins ahead suddenly John Deere stalled and shut down !

Dropping an emergency anchor and contacting the bridge tender to explain our situation anchored in the middle of the channel I then went to change fuel filters,pressurised the system and had the engine up running again. When talking on VHF to the bridge tender it stalled and shut down again.Two big barges were on their way to the bridge arriving in 1-2hrs so now it was time to contact BoatUS for towing. Once we had it arranged I started the generator but after a minute it stalled and shut down.

The gauge of the cruise tank showed 3/4 tank (around 1.000litres) but making numbers on fuel transfer,nautical miles passed and use of genset I realised we might have ran out of fuel ! (With a broken gauge)

After 1 hour of fuel transfer and bleeding the system both genset and main engine was up working again. I contacted the bridge tender and 10mins later we passed the bridge half an hour before arrival of the two barges (they would never have been able to pass Dora Mac at anchor). Embarresed but happy for having solved the problem we weighed anchor again but this time the anchor was stuck. With the help of engine and windlass combined we managed to get up a mixture of wood,trees,ropes but by managing to get a rope around it all and relieving the windlass we managed to solve this problem also. Only an hour left to Atlantic Yacht Basin and Norfolk we wondered what else could go wrong this day. As a consolation we saw a bald eagle watching us from his nest and made landfall in Norfolk during sunset.

In Atlantic Yacht Basin was compatriot Sven Ulfson with wife Nancy receiving us. They have a Diesel Duck as well and  had kindly arranged for us to have a place for the night.

Mama Mia-how many things can go wrong in one day…