First Timers' Guide to the ICW

Wally Moran: Ladies and gentleman! Welcome to Sailing South The First Timers Guide to the ICW. My name is Wally Moran like yourself I am a cruising sailor, I am a Canadian. I write for SailMagazine and also for Waterway Guide. Just what is the ICW? The primary purpose of the ICW is that section of it which starts at mile 0 in Norfolk Virginia and continues on down the east coast to Miami Florida at mile 1195. Your entrance to the ICW as you see from the photograph can be a little bit intimidating. Coming down to the ICW and the first decision you are going to have to make is you going to go through the Coinjock where you will find two marinas. There is no anchored until several miles past. When you come to the Albermarle sound if the wind is against you, consider waiting a day or two because the wind against you can kick up a nasty vicious trap that will slow your boat to 2, 2.5, 3 knot. A lot of people will tell you that you can't sail on the ICW. And for large segments of it that tends to be true because it's too narrow or there's simply no wind in that particular areas. But clearly you can sail on in the Chesapeake Bay and you can sail on Albermarle sound obviously, that could be a really good sail. Your goal leaving Belhaven will for most sail boaters and trolleys will be oriental. Most sailors will find themselves ending up in some kind of impromptu race in the news river because oriental is probably, is definitely the sailing capital of North Carolina. One of the most important pieces of equipment that you will find to use for on the ICW is going to be your Hand-Held VHF. Dinghies all kinds of opinions on Dinghies, the one thing you don't want is a Dinghy that is in poor condition, its leaking air or this leaking water. Some of the things you do not need in the ICW, you may need them later. But you don't need them in the ICW. You don't need an EPIRB. One thing and I wish I was getting commission on this, don't forget to purchase a towing package of either Sea Tow or Tow Boat US. The charts that you need are all contained in the intericals to waterway chart book which is a script chart book; it's worth sixty five or seventy dollars. One of the things that naturally you need to know while you are cruising down the ICW is the Weather situation. Weather is a general rule. It's not a major factor on the ICW regarding communications and staying in touch with the rest of the world. Assuming you are not escaping from somebody, your primary means of communication will be your VHF radio. One of the issues that with sailors and powerboaters have in a ICW and then the narrow confines is about passing and being passed. Now, I hate that to tell you that sailors we are big part of the problem. This is what you don't want to it happening, the know keep flying, but you have to get slow down enough so that they can get passed you. Now powerboaters, as much as we sailors are at fault, we are looking to when we slow down, for you to slow down and pass, just by getting fully off the way. I would like to introduce you to some of the assignee's that you are going to meet along the ICW and explain what is important about each one, along with the help of my highly trained assistant who you see here standing at the top of the sign. In sailing stuff, lot of us are going to anchor out in a 100% of the time. Some of the rest of us are going to tie up at a dock at hundred percent of the time. Its nice to know that they are actually are some free docks available on your trip South. For upto-date information on show link, go online and check with waterwayguide.com which is already have been mentioned or cruisersnet.net. Very often I am asked about sailing outside along the coast rather than staying inside in the ICW. Unless you are prepared to commit to sailor twenty four hours or more, going outside is generally not a time saver. Ladies and gentleman here are some ICW images for you, some cruisers just taking it easy on the deck, the welcome dock at Indian River Fruit Company, an old gentleman conking in the Bahamas, Fernandinho beach Florida, a really interesting and attractive city. A mallard duck that decided to come visiting on the boat. Some condos along the ICW, very pretty actually along here. Seventeen friends have board the boat new year's eve, Buford South Carolina, Oriental North Carolina here. A happy face in North Carolina. A big ship coming out of one of blocks in the Welland canal. Cruising on the Alligator. The pride of Baltimore, wolf track on Chesapeake Bay. Ladies and gentleman thanks for joining this presentataion of Sailing South, The First Timers Guide to the ICW. I hope you have enjoyed it. There are winds and following sea.