ICW in August?

[UncleRico]

Based on family planning constraints (boring stuff like work and school), we're looking at the possibility of "sailing" down the ICW (from Norfolk to Brunswick, GA, leaving the boat there at the end of the trip) in late July and traveling for three weeks into August.

My question is: How unbearably hot, humid, and still will the ICW be between Norfolk and Brunswick be in August? We're thinking of splitting our time between anchoring and marinas. I can read a climate chart as well as the next guy, but having never ventured south of the Chesapeake, I thought I'd ask others who may have done something like that (or known enough not too).

Thanks.

[a64pilot]

Since your not acclimated to the weather down here, your gonna roast.
Think Africa hot, watch the movie Biloxi blues, but on the bright side you will learn what "flying teeth" are

[Vasco]

Really really hot. And uncomfortable when anchored in some creek in Georgia when it's low tide. You'll need to get in the water to try and cool off, watch out for the alligators!

[Steve W]

Expect a mutiny.

[ohdrinkboy]

Don't forget the bugs in August. Make sure you have good fitting screens. A big piece of fine netting you can fit over your bimini/cockpit would be a huge plus. Imagine hot and stuck in the cabin.

[keepondancin]

Did it years ago. If you have sailed (drifted) the Chesapeake in summer heat, it is the same all the way down. If that is your free time, do it. I would also think about where to duck into if a tropical weather systems decides to appear. It is all part of the experience.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Steve W

Expect a mutiny.

At about day two


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tempest245]

Do you have air conditioning? If not it would make life a lot more bearable for sleeping. A portable crusair might be worth a look.

[fjwiley1]

Brunswick is a nice lil coastal Georgia town. In August it's gonna be Very HOT......the weather man will forecast the same daily..."chance of afternoon and evening Thundershowers", the "chance of" is what gets you. Today may be your "chance, tomorrow may be "my chance of"....

If you get bored you can go out to Jekyll Island or maybe go out on the Casino boat...one of the best discount electrical suppliers for boaters is located there, I'm not affiliated but have been a happy customer,"Genuine Dealz".

Enjoy the ICW....

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by fjwiley1

Brunswick is a nice lil coastal Georgia town. In August it's gonna be Very HOT......the weather man will forecast the same daily..."chance of afternoon and evening Thundershowers", the "chance of" is what gets you. Today may be your "chance, tomorrow may be "my chance of"........

Our current boat was situated in Brunswick when we purchased her. It was August. The above is a very accurate description. Brunswick is also a good hurricane hole - not a bad place to leave a boat for a while.

[JibGirl]

Well. I live in the area, have for a decade now and August is pretty grim. Happily, the bugs seem to find it all a bit much too, so those are not as bad as they are in the Spring and Fall. So there's that.

This may not be a fair comparison, but I spent the last August out on the water and it made my Summer really bearable. Not fair, because I was out on a Hobie 21 getting soaking wet on the trapeze. Still, just being on the water knocks the heat back. Just keep jumping in - no alligators in my experience, but we see our fair share of dolphins and turtles.

Stop in at Sunbury Marina and eat at the Sunbury Crab Co. And if you spot a Hobie 21 with obnoxious green sails making for open water (or stuck on a sand bar) - that's us.

[Magnawake]

I made the trip from NC to Floriduh starting Sept 1st through 14th. As we were traveling South, we noticed that were the only ones on the ICW. We had the whole ditch to ourselves. Do you know why? Because we were STUPID !!! Everybody else knows better than to travel the ICW in the summer. If you like bug infested, hot, grueling weather, go right ahead. But I wont be making that trip again. We like to anchor out mostly and we couldnt even think about anchoring for the night. The only thing we wanted was some A/C at a marina. We started early each day and by 10:00 it was really hot. By 12:00 we were roasting. By 3:00pm we were gasping for air and drinking large amounts of water and cokes. At 4:00pm we were docked at a trans dock and hugging the A/C vents too tired to even get off the boat. Most of the time we had a North wind about 5-10mph. Just enough so we had no wind in our face, just the smell of diesel. I would suggest going off shore for the trip South.

[bobconnie]

Let me put it this way, Connie and I live in Louisiana, so are used to heat and humidity! And we turned down 2 jobs last year delivering un-airconditioned boats from FLA. up the east coast !! Now we are old and weak lol, but it gets nasty hot anywhere in this area in July and August! And we wont cruise our own boat at that time of the year if the AC go's down !! Just our 2 cents

[BandB]

Biggest question is do you have air conditioning. If not, nighttime will be completely unbearable. As to day time, in the still of the ICW will be pretty awful. Now sail outside in the breeze and it will be much like the Chesapeake.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Magnawake

I made the trip from NC to Floriduh starting Sept 1st through 14th. As we were traveling South, we noticed that were the only ones on the ICW. We had the whole ditch to ourselves. Do you know why? Because we were STUPID !!! Everybody else knows better than to travel the ICW in the summer. If you like bug infested, hot, grueling weather, go right ahead. But I wont be making that trip again. We like to anchor out mostly and we couldnt even think about anchoring for the night. The only thing we wanted was some A/C at a marina. We started early each day and by 10:00 it was really hot. By 12:00 we were roasting. By 3:00pm we were gasping for air and drinking large amounts of water and cokes. At 4:00pm we were docked at a trans dock and hugging the A/C vents too tired to even get off the boat. Most of the time we had a North wind about 5-10mph. Just enough so we had no wind in our face, just the smell of diesel. I would suggest going off shore for the trip South.

LOL.. You really should write tourist brochures!