ICW from WPB to Charleston

[Uno Mas]

Hello, My husband and I are planning a trip from Palm Beach area to Charleston SC this summer. Past summers have been spent in the Bahamas, so this is a first for us. We are hoping to run outside at least to Jacksonville, but need a backup plan.

So... how many days are we looking at if we have to stay in the ICW from Palm Beach to Charleston? I really have no idea how to plan this trip so any help would be appreciated!

[Harriet]

According to Kettlewell, the distance from Palm Beach to Charleston via the ICW is 369 miles. If you want to travel full days, you should have nearly 10 hours of good daylight for traveling in the summer. So figure what your average cruising speed is per hour, multiplied by the number of hours per day you want to travel, and divide that into 369 to get the number of days it will take. I would also add a bit of time to that for bridges, sightseeing (especially if you have never done the trip before), etc.

If I were you, I would take the outside route at least to Jacksonville to avoid all the bridges in Florida. It would even be worth waiting for a weather window to do it. Last year, we went from Ft. Lauderdale to Charleston on the outside in 2 1/2 days, and it was delightful.

There's a lot to see along the way, so if you choose the ICW, I would allow lots of time to visit St. Augustine, Cumberland Island, Jekyll Island, Savannah, etc. Just my two cents.

[Jentine]

but a royal PIA. The section through Georgia is mile after mile of switchbacks. The last time I did it was aboard a power boat at 28 kts and it was still a pain. I would never do it in a sailboat. I would wait for that weather window and go outside. Once above Charleston, the route becomes more straight forward and much easier to tolerate.