Josh;
At least in the stretch between Norfolk and Beaufort, NC you can sail much of the ICW. I do it all the time, and watch circus parades of snowbirds sailing south most every day. You can't sail everywhere or in all wind conditions, but I'm guessing that you an sail in 30 to 50% of the 200 mile stretch to Beaufort. >From North Landing River across Currituck Sound to just north of Coinjock is 12-15 SM. Sailable in a west wind (a broad reach) but you would have to watch the channel markers pretty closely if you drew over 5 ft. North River across Albemarle Sound and down the Alligator River - about 30-35 SM - is wide, deep, and sailable in almost any wind. Except, of course, when you pass through the Hwy 64 swing bridge across the Alligator River. I once sailed down the Alligator River Cut (25 SM) when the fuel pump on my engine failed. But I would not recommend it except when there is no other choice. >From just south of the Wilkerson Bridge, down the Pungo River, across the Pamlico River, and down Goose Creek part of the way to Hobucken (maybe 18 SM) you can sail most of the time - say 90%. These are my home waters and I sail here all the time. South of Hobucken (well East, actually) you sail the Bay River and then turn right into the Neuse and sail to either Oriental or Adams Creek. Call it 24 SM to Oriental or 26 to Adams Creek. If you're going into Adams Creek you can add 4 or 5 more miles of wide, deep water going east and then turning south. When you come out into the Newport River north of Beaufort you have 6-8 SM of open water, but it can get really shallow along the edges depending on the tide so I usually motor or motorsail. So in about 200 miles from Norfolk to Beaufort you have about 90 sailable miles of ICW. >From Beaufort west to the SC line there are a couple of 5/6/7 SM stretches but for the most part you are limited by the prevailing SW wind (on the nose) and by the depth of the ditch. There are 12 miles or so of deep wide water (65 ft and 2+ miles) in the Cape Fear River. For the most part, those that want to sail go out at Beaufort and sail about 85 miles west to come in at Wrightsville Beach (and avoid going around the shoal guarding the Cape Fear River. There looked to be a few stretches of sailable water in South Carolina, but someone else should comment on conditions there. To paraphrase Samuel Clemons, you will regret the things you did far less than the things you did not do. Explore. Dream. Discover. Rick Brass Washington, NC From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Josh Muckley Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11:04 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Andrew running the ditch south It is great hearing all of the encouragement to do the ICW. Honestly I have resisted any inclination simply because of the inability to sail. What are people's thoughts on the merits of sailing vs. those of the ICW? Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk On Nov 26, 2013 10:40 AM, "Rick Brass" <rickbr...@earthlink.net> wrote: Certainly. Beaufort is only a bit over an hour drive, and it won't be raining after tomorrow around noonish. Of course, that's if you believe NOAA. Where do you plan to dock/anchor in the Morehead/Beaufort area? If you're in the Pungo River and making 6.7 KT, it will probably take you another 8 hours or so to make Beaufort. If the weather gets snotty you might duck into Oriental and lay over there. From there to Beaufort or Morehead would be about 5 hours after the weather clears up. Give me a call at 252-946-2244 and we will work out the logistics. Rick Brass Washington, NC -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Andrew Burton Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 10:08 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Andrew running the ditch south Rick, I'd love to get together for a libation. Not sure what time we'll be in tonight; can you get away tomorrow night? Andy Andrew Burton 61 W Narragansett Newport, RI USA 02840 _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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