Cape Fear, NC to Charleston, SC

[SecondWind]

I am looking for recommendations for a trip I will make to Charleston soon. I am in Wrightsville Beach at the moment and plan to jump down to Southport NC. Where I need help is from Southport to Charleston. I have no experience with this route. I want to jump out of the Cape Fear and sail outside instead of the taking the icw route. I average about 5 - 6.5 kts in 10-15 kt winds. Looks like I have New River Inlet, Murrels Inlet, and Georgetown. What would be the best stops along the way? I am looking for anchorages and want to be settled before dark. I don't want to go too far into the icw to anchor if possible. Appreciate any help.

[Feral Cement]

Where are you at WB? I'll be down there later this week and would love to share a meal and drinks with another CF'r.

Sailing solo or multiple crew?

John

[doug86]

Cape Fear to Charleston is one hop, but if you want to break that up, Georgetown would be your best bet: easy, open, well marked and deep. There is a decent anchorage not too far up the river.

New River is north of Cape Fear. Maybe you meant Little River?

Murrells Inlet offers very little for a transient boat.

[CaptBarry]

Normally we go outside for this leg, but are just wrapping up a delivery we went inside from Southport to Savanna actually. To many issues with boat... For entering port just for the night, I'd second Georgetown!

[cheoah]

Little River is a decent inlet when calm, but that's a very short run from Cape Fear. A good confidence builder though.... The anchorage in Calabash Creek is very close to the inlet. Georgetown has civilization and marinas, a little bit of a hike from the inlet. I'd make the run overnight personally, but there's lots of beautiful coastal areas, particularly Cape Romain, N of Chas. if you draw 4' or less. Waccamaw is also nice. Watch opposing winds against a falling tide out Cape Fear, the waves get big and it will take you for a ride. I would try to catch the falling tide from Snows cut, but I think you said you were familiar with that section. Have a great trip-

csh

[teejayevans]

If you are heading South, Georgetown requires backtracking north 15 miles.

The anchorage at Calabash creek has shallowed up, at low tide it runs about 3ft (as of 2007).

For what its worth, the section of Waccamaw river through the Cypress swamps is one of the prettier sections of ICW.

Tom