Located three blocks from the town center of Swanquarter NC (not to be confused with Swansboro to the south on the New River) is a double public ramp with floating piers protected with conveniently placed fender boards. A small shoal protects the canal entrance but with clear water it is easy to find the 4’ deep channel on its west side leading to Swanquater Bay & Pamlico Sound. The north shore of Pamlico Sound is a remote area bordered by marshes with well sheltered anchorages 15 to 30 NM apart. Numerous shallow bays offer some shelter from north winds but do little to protect from South, Easterly, or West winds. A long fetch of 20 to 40 miles allows waves to build and swells to create lumpy anchorages even after local winds die out. Earlier this year I did find decent shelter after a day of 15 to 16 knot winds behind a small group of trees growing on a hammock of dredged soil. On this trip I went 3 NM to the head of funnel shaped Juniper Bay before finding a spot without swells. Sailing the marshes is interesting since it is possible to come within 2-3 boat lengths of shore on your tacks. Occasional short beaches offer places to anchor to stretch your legs or beach comb for crab pot floats.