Annapolis to Charleston (ICW trip)

[Alexei]

Hello again folks!

So I've been pondering life, the universe, and everything for the last couple of weeks. I remembered the answer to the ultimate question, but the question itself continues to elude me.....

So instead, I turned my thoughts to career prospects, and there is a potential that sometime in the next year or so I could swing orders back to Charleston again. This would, of course, be awesome, as Charleston is the place I'd like to retire to, and the more opportunities to put down roots there, the better. That said, I've been thinking about how to get my boat there if I move. I trucked it down from CT to Annapolis on the last move, because of time, baby, and crew constraints. A future move might not have all those same constraints, so I'm curious about sailing it.

I presume someone on here has done this before. About how long does it take to sail from Annapolis to Charleston, keeping mostly to the ICW (I'm not ready to take her offshore yet)? Are there any ICW little-known-factoids that a fellow should know (books, links, etc)? I've never doen the ICW, so any tips would help.

Of course right now this is all academic, but it never hurts to start thinking and planning early.

Cheers,
Alexei

[Vasco]

About nine days should do it if you go from Annapolis to Norfolk non-stop. The Wahpoo Bridge is Mile 470 and the Hospital anchorage in Norfolk is Mile 0 so if you do 60 miles days once you get in the ICW nine days should do it. Those miles are statute miles and not nautical miles. Depending on the time of the year (daylight is important in the ICW) and the speed of the boat nine or ten days should do it. That's no lay days and traveling from dawn to late afternoon.

[camaraderie]

Try 3 days of daylight sailing or a less than 24 hour run down the bay to Norfolk. Have one THAT twice.
On the ICW it is day trips of about 50-60 statute miles and Charleston is mile 470 so it is at least 10 days from norfolk and I would allow 2 weeks for weather and layover days as it gets tiring steering for 8-10 hours a day in the channels.
Vasco and I are essentially in agreement.
Get a copy of skipper bob's guide to icw anchorages as it will give you good spots to drop the hook and RATE the quality of the anchorage as well as latest shoaling and bridge opening schedules. The skipper bob website also updates the data in the guide with the latest reports from cruisers.
Skipper Bob

[Sunspot Baby]

Check Claybourne Young's Cruisers' Net - Home for updated information along the ICW.

George

[Hud3]

Tom Dove has a good ICW page

Tom Dove Home Page

[S/V Antares]

Daylight is a real factor. When do you plan (If you can) to go dictates the daylight . Running the ditch after dark is doable but not fun. Saber 28? depending on the month 50 miles will be all the daylight you might have. Better to take your time and enjoy.