Has anyone made this trip, either by the Virginia Inner Passage or by making stops in Wachapreague, Chincoteague, Oyster etc.? I read of many that run the outside as a passage, but no one stopping to smell the roses. With a shoal draft boat, why not? I am assembling a guide, but have found very little information.
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Try this link for on line chart viewer
and make the land trip by car this fall and winter and talk to people along the way. Even get the charts and buy a few beers and get some local knowledge. I plan to make such a passage when I can convince Nancy that we won't die trying. http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12210.shtml Sorry about that!;-)
and make the land trip by car this fall and winter and talk to people along the way. Even get the charts and buy a few beers and get some local knowledge. I plan to make such a passage when I can convince Nancy that we won't die trying. http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12210.shtml Sorry about that!;-)
Did it twice!
I liked it so much, I went to Cape May in 05', around in 06', and then repeated it in 07', all with my 12 year-old daughter for crew. OK, she was 10 the first year. You wont die. We did it in a Stiletto 27 cat. Yes, we got knocked around a little, but they were avoidable. Get the on-line chart for Machapingo - the markers have been moved. Great anchorage at the southern tips of Cedar, Hog, and Cobb Island. Watch you mast height. We are 40' and had to do 2 bridges at very low water. Check the visitation rules (Virginia Seaside Water Trail). Do the Delaware on a nice day. No gas from Cape Charles to Watchapreague. Stop in Tangier. Spend an extra day in Chincoteague. Stay inside if it's bad. Take a lay-day where you need to.
I liked it so much, I went to Cape May in 05', around in 06', and then repeated it in 07', all with my 12 year-old daughter for crew. OK, she was 10 the first year. You wont die. We did it in a Stiletto 27 cat. Yes, we got knocked around a little, but they were avoidable. Get the on-line chart for Machapingo - the markers have been moved. Great anchorage at the southern tips of Cedar, Hog, and Cobb Island. Watch you mast height. We are 40' and had to do 2 bridges at very low water. Check the visitation rules (Virginia Seaside Water Trail). Do the Delaware on a nice day. No gas from Cape Charles to Watchapreague. Stop in Tangier. Spend an extra day in Chincoteague. Stay inside if it's bad. Take a lay-day where you need to.
No chain-pulling... Sharing info
The barrier islands and the inner passage are a unique experience. I am trying to start some discussion. It amazed me each time that I saw no sailors, other than those running outside - and running outside is boring. Our first trip was outside, with stops at OC, Chincoteague, and Cedar Island. The next time we ran more inside and stopped at more islands. But all I find in books and guides are dire warnings about dangerous inlets (you do need to pay attention) and shallow water (some, but only a few places). Try the NOAA Coast Pilot: http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/nsd/CP3/CP3-40ed-Ch08_3.pdf. They only describe a few inlets as requiring local knowledge, and we used OC, Watchapreague (Watchapreague seems to be changing - there is a new channel near shore the canyon boats are using), Great Machapingo, Sand Shoal, and Chincoteague without incident. Quinby inlet is bad and has been removed from maintenance.
The barrier islands and the inner passage are a unique experience. I am trying to start some discussion. It amazed me each time that I saw no sailors, other than those running outside - and running outside is boring. Our first trip was outside, with stops at OC, Chincoteague, and Cedar Island. The next time we ran more inside and stopped at more islands. But all I find in books and guides are dire warnings about dangerous inlets (you do need to pay attention) and shallow water (some, but only a few places). Try the NOAA Coast Pilot: http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/nsd/CP3/CP3-40ed-Ch08_3.pdf. They only describe a few inlets as requiring local knowledge, and we used OC, Watchapreague (Watchapreague seems to be changing - there is a new channel near shore the canyon boats are using), Great Machapingo, Sand Shoal, and Chincoteague without incident. Quinby inlet is bad and has been removed from maintenance.
its the draft (and bridge clearance) stupid
I believe if you stand back and look at the requirements for an inside passage you will find that only cats and power boats can participate. If memory serves me correctly greater than 4' draft and greater than 41' bridge clearance will eliminate you from taking the inside passage. That is a pretty small sail boat. Course the Bay side is still open. I approach it from the "get up the coast and through the Delaware bay as fast as possible and then spend my time in the bay"
I believe if you stand back and look at the requirements for an inside passage you will find that only cats and power boats can participate. If memory serves me correctly greater than 4' draft and greater than 41' bridge clearance will eliminate you from taking the inside passage. That is a pretty small sail boat. Course the Bay side is still open. I approach it from the "get up the coast and through the Delaware bay as fast as possible and then spend my time in the bay"
I think that this could be a great trip in a
powerful slow speed workstyle boat that is outfitted for comfort. A big slow turning prop and nothing more than hull speed. The lowest bridge I saw on chart viewer is 9 feet. The water can go from 50 feet deep to 2 feet in a hundred feet, so the ability to back off a grounding would be essential.
powerful slow speed workstyle boat that is outfitted for comfort. A big slow turning prop and nothing more than hull speed. The lowest bridge I saw on chart viewer is 9 feet. The water can go from 50 feet deep to 2 feet in a hundred feet, so the ability to back off a grounding would be essential.
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