day one - brisk wind to Juniper Bay

Clear and sunny as I rig SPARTINA at Potters Marine, overcast moves in just as I get ready to launch. 10:10 cast off from the small dock, sails up on North Creek at 10:15. Breezy, more wind that I had expected. Wind is out of the southwest, perfect. A lone dolphin swims along the marsh. Tacking as we play the gusts and wind shadows along shore. 10:25 the creek opens up and fully exposed to the wind, 4.6 to 4.9 and choppy water. Cut across the shallows at Chambers Point, on the Pamlico River at 10:45. 11:00 wind on beam, stead sailing at 5.2 kts. Sun breaks through the cloud cover. Round up 11:25 to tuck in the first reef. Making 6.0 and then 7.0 with a gust. 11:45 past Wade Point and crossing the wind mouth of the Pungo River. Less wind, 4.4, then more and doing 5.8. 12:30 lots of gusts, spray coming on board. Watching a small dark shape on the horizon, a fish camp in the marsh near Willow Point, the marsh being a thin brown line.Pass the marker at Willow Point Shoal, aiming for the…