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30-12-2020, 10:56
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Watch Hill, RI
Boat: Crowther Custom Performance Cat
Posts: 109
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Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
46’x24’ performance cat sailing southbound,RI to Florida this fall. Planning route. We would like to take time to enjoy some of the historic and scenic sites. No rush along ICW. Would like to plan for some outside sailing and balance with the best of the ICW.
Currently the plan includes:
Long Island Sound.
Fishers Island, north shore of Long Island and timing the NYC portion to the tides (Eldridge Tide Guide has me covered) and done this part many times.
Sandy Hook to Atlantic City or Cape May depending upon conditions.
Around Cape May (canal bridge less than 55’) so go around and up Delaware Bay.
Q1: What about the Maryland outside route. Much less written on this - why?? Anybody enjoy the outside route along Maryland? I have always done the canal through Chesapeake. My wife has never l, so I owe it to her to sail down the Chesapeake at least one way. (And I have never taken a boat with 3.5 draft into the Chesapeake so I am kinda psyched about the possibility of not getting stuck and gunkholing in thin water). But .... What about Ocean City and Chincoteague areas of Maryland? Can we go inside at Ocean City for a bit. Are bridges too low (64 foot mast). I’m thinking too low but not a clear conclusion.
Assuming too low, is this part of the coast special enough to deserve some attention either on way south or upon return journey in the spring/summer?
Q2: Plan is to use ICW from Norfolk VA to NC. What are the good stopping points between Norfolk and Beaufort NC? Are outer banks of NC worth the stop and of so where is a good anchorage along this stretch - marinas look sparse and tight for a larger/beamy boat.
Finally,
Q3: Any sections of ICW (in current condition Winter 2020 onward) to avoid? We are hoping to include some outside sailing in the Atlantic with some gunkholing
Along the SC and Georgia coastline. This is new territory to me and don’t want to miss the good stuff along the way. Savanah is in the mix as is Fort
Sum tent and St John Island. Any mist see places, secret anchorages or places to avoid between NC and Georgia? We draw only 3.5 feet so blessed to sneak into some neat spots with this boat.
Any comments or suggestions appreciated. Thanks so much for sharing your experience/suggestions.
Cheers and may 2021find you good health and an effective vaccine soon enough.
Jimmy
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30-12-2020, 11:29
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Boat: SAnta Cruz 27
Posts: 7,198
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
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30-12-2020, 12:07
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Watch Hill, RI
Boat: Crowther Custom Performance Cat
Posts: 109
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
Air draft 64’ at most. Measured twice.
Thanks
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30-12-2020, 12:44
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: North Atlantic
Posts: 474
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
I’ll take the first q. I just did the MD outside route a few months ago. I chose to go straight from Cape May to Chesapeake Entrance. It is about a 24 hour run in a sailboat. It is possible to go into OC inlet. But you can’t go N or S from there (bridge clearance and depth) in a sailboat. So unless you want to spend the day at the beach, there isn’t much there for you. Most sailboats stay away.
As far as comparing the outside run to down the Chesapeake, there isn’t much comparison. The outside keeps you from having to endure the Delaware. But that is it. You just get 24 hours with a view of a beach you can’t access (unless you go into OC).
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30-12-2020, 14:03
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: edmonton alberta
Boat: 1992 lagoon 42 tpi
Posts: 1,745
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
For q2.
We enjoy the norfolk to Beaufort inside run. For reference, our 42'cat has 63.5' air, and 4.5' draft. We have no problems in this stretch. With the exception of coinjock bridge, it can be tight in strong winds
Just past norfolk there is a free dock both sides of great bridge(just south of lock). There is a nice park at the south one, and grocery and restaurants within walking distance on the same side as north dock.
The next night puts you in coin jock if you want a dock, or a little south you can anchor port side just before green 153(actually lots of spots in that few mile stretch)
Next night we anchor in alligator river, winn bay prior to red 52. Fighter jets commonly fly over and put on a pretty good show. They stop before bedtime though. It's also a great place to see the stars no light pollution.
The next day we push a bit and go to Adam creek. There are a few big anchoring spots there, we typically go in behind green 9.
From there it's a 1/2 day or less to Beaufort. We go outside from there if weather permits. I really dont like that next section inside.
We pushed through pretty fast (last 2 years) and there are lots of places we jump past, so please take this as an example only. There are a lot of cool spots that we intend to stop at next year if covid settles down.
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30-12-2020, 16:44
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Watch Hill, RI
Boat: Crowther Custom Performance Cat
Posts: 109
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
Thanks very much Chris Mac for the details. Very helpful. What section of ICS specifically do you not like very much (your words) and where do you hop out to the Atlantic to avoid it?
Thanks again.
Jimmy
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30-12-2020, 16:48
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Watch Hill, RI
Boat: Crowther Custom Performance Cat
Posts: 109
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
I'm assuming you mean you head out just south of Beaufort into the Atlantic - by Shackleford Banks? Do you sail to Wilmington or come into ICW again earlier than that?
Thanks
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31-12-2020, 06:22
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Boat: Tartan 37 #6
Posts: 519
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
If you are going down the Chesapeake ,in no hurry,I think a trip up the Potomac and take a mooring in DC is a worthwhile side trip.
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31-12-2020, 06:49
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: edmonton alberta
Boat: 1992 lagoon 42 tpi
Posts: 1,745
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
We went out the Beaufort/morehead inlet and did a 24 hour run to Georgetown or Charleston.
We found a lot of shoaling inside in that stretch and not much for anchorages. We had issues dealing with marinas in sneads ferry, and bridge tender marina. Then got the last spot at barefoot landing. (Plus went past rock pile as the sun was setting) So it was an expensive and frustrating stretch. But bear in mind that was our experience last fall, one season only. Others, and you,may love it.
From george town we went outside again to brunswick, then outside to Jacksonville.
Since you are thinking of seeing savanah you will be inside for that area. It is very pretty, but winding. So it does take a while but if you aren't in a hurry, it is really nice. I dont remember much for the bridges there, try to time fixed 65's for low tide.
After Jacksonville we stayed inside right to lake worth. The second bridge past Jacksonville (Atlantic bridge) has huge current and can be quite low. Definately hit at low tide. There is a decent anchorage just before on the port side.
Daytona bridges are marked for lowest point. (On their curve) we made it thru when marked 62 and change. It was stressful.
The last bridge before vero also is stressful, mostly because of how busy the waterway is. Its pretty hard to go thru slow without someone trying to pass you.
Vero to lake worth wasn't bad for height restrictions. And was pretty. You do have to time somelift bridges though. They seem to be set up for 7-8knot speeds
With a 64' mast the fixed bridges are your biggest issue. We bent our antenna over more often than not. And the side boards(when present) are not always accurate. We paid a lot of attention to the water height on green and red markers. It's easy to see where mean high is on them. It's a good way to judge where tide is. This year we anchored 4 times to wait for levels to drop. It's entirely doable, and enjoyable. As long as you have time and patience.
We do have a log of all our stopping points last year if you are interested. PM me if you want
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyDarci
Thanks very much Chris Mac for the details. Very helpful. What section of ICS specifically do you not like very much (your words) and where do you hop out to the Atlantic to avoid it?
Thanks again.
Jimmy
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31-12-2020, 06:51
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#10
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,737
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyDarci
Air draft 64’ at most. Measured twice.
Thanks
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Study... I mean study HARD the waterway guide. I moved a boat with a 64 1/2 air draft from SC to Marathon. At the owners insistence we stayed in the ditch. There are several bridges purported to be 65 that are slightly under. While our VHF ‘tickled’ the bridge it did not break. Earlier this year moving a powerboatm in Daytona during a full moon tide, the clearance was 63. Also north of St Augustine in,et, that bridge was under 65, under the same conditions. So moon will impact running the ditch.
With 64+ of clearance, consider long hops outside.
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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31-12-2020, 09:52
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southport, NC
Boat: Pearson 367 cutter, 36'
Posts: 665
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
What Snore said. Outside runs are going to be best (not around Hatteras, of course). But Beaufort to Cape Fear, Cape Fear to Charleston or Georgetown, Charleston to Hilton Head or Savannah, HHI to one of the Georgia islands - I like Sapelo and Cumberland, then to Fernandina or St Mary's. If you make an appointment, you can tour Sapelo.
My draft is deeper, so I would only consider Mayport, Canaveral, Fort Pierce, and Lake Worth in FL, but you could do some of the shallower inlets; just be careful of currents and east winds in the smaller inlets.
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31-12-2020, 09:57
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,763
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
St Michaels on the Chesapeake has some interesting stuff ashore.
Charleston is a nice historical spot. Much current there in the ICW, get a slip.
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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31-12-2020, 10:25
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oriental, NC
Boat: Baba 40
Posts: 537
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheechako
St Michaels on the Chesapeake has some interesting stuff ashore.
Charleston is a nice historical spot. Much current there in the ICW, get a slip.
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Or the MegaDock, particularly if the current is running.
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31-12-2020, 10:29
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Watch Hill, RI
Boat: Crowther Custom Performance Cat
Posts: 109
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
Thank you all for the valuable comments. 9 months or so and counting... I am reading the waterway guides and studying the charts regarding all your fantastic suggestions.
Thinking I would get bored just riding the ditch the entire way and really appreciate the outside suggestions mixed with interesting stops.
Cheers!
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31-12-2020, 10:37
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Boat: sabre 456 and leopard 42
Posts: 145
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Re: Best stops down ICW(inside and outside route)for larger sailboat. Planning route
I’ve made this trip many times, both inside and outside. My air draft is 64’ without instruments and will never do the trip inside again. As states previously, although many bridges are reported to have 65’ clearance, this is far from accurate. Additionally, water levels fluctuate with wind and tide, risking getting stuck between bridges with no escape route to the outside.
Your suggested route to the Chesapeake is good. The East River is interesting if you’ve never done it, as well as New York harbor. I’d recommend jumping outside from Norfolk and Putting in at Beaufort. As long as you have the time to wait for a good weather window, running around Hatteras has always been an easy overnight. From Beaufort you have some options. Wilmington and Baldhead Island are all within reach. Charleston is definitely worth a visit, and then from there a bunch of easily accessible anchorage and ports.
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