Thoughts on the ICW

After a conversation with Peter & Annie Judge last night we thought we would share a few words about the ICW experience. Essential tools for the cockpit: chart, cruising guide/advice, personal notes gleaned from other cruisers , VHF radio, cell phone, binoculars, camera, captain following GPS and admiral checking the paper charts

Essential tools for the boat: full diesel tank, full water tanks, lots of food storage, working GPS & depth transducer) Tow Boat US unlimited tow insurance!

Essential tools for crew: sleep, food, advil (maybe a few tranquilizers), credit card, sense of humor!

All kidding aside. Travel on the ICW seems more difficult than ocean sailing because of the constant attention you have to give to navigation. You have to watch tides, markers (some are stationary and some float & change to mark shoaling), currents, and wind. There is little time to relax or sit back for either captain or admiral. Crossing the larger bodies of water, like Chesapeake Bay, Albermarle Sound, Neuse River is more difficult than NE waters because they are more shallow. If the wind picks up and opposes the tide then you get short choppy waves that beat your boat up. In the Carolinas you have to time your passage to meet those bridges that only open on the hour or half hour....sometimes waiting with 10 or more boats for the opening to occur. Most people with experience tell us to go outside for Georgia because they have not done dredging along the waterway. Once you experience your first grounding you travel with that in your mind and try to be extra careful. So every now & again you need to stop for a day to refresh, relax, and plan..plan..plan..before moving again (every day is new territory).

Some of the sights are beautiful and some are not so nice. There is no shortage of wealth along the ICW. Homes are big & beautiful, many with walkways & docks up to 200 yds long to get over the shallow marsh shore. The rest of the shore line so far is either commercial or military.

We don't know how people do this as a round trip every year. We find it long, a little overwhelming in length, and tedious at times. We try to keep days to 50 miles because of the constant attention to navigation. We don't regret our decision to do this. The trip is all and more than we expected (except it's too darn cold). We can't say enough about other boaters (sail & motor) who are willing to share food, drinks, stories, and advice. The camaraderie is awesome! You could party every night whether at dock or anchor. We keep crossing paths with people met along the way and collected lots of boat cards.

Fair winds and calm seas to all our friends & family.