Intracoastal Waterway Sailing

[drgbanks]

Anyone planning to run the ICW should look up the Skipper Bob ICW long tracks Bob423 ICW Tracks and Routes and get a paid subscription to the AquaMaps app. Then import Bob's long tracks into AquaMaps and also load the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) overlays and ActiveCaptain data.
There are also a few relevant Facebook groups to join which will help you keep up to date.

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Thanks Captain Larry! I've submitted my request to join all groups.

 

[kloudie1]

Different part of the ICW; we had a great sail from Pensacola, Fl. to Mandeville, La. during the week of 23 May.. I was helping a friend take his boat back to his home slip.. Winds were northeast through southeast resulting in some fine sailing (most of the trip is to the west) even though we had some small craft warnings for some of the trip. We were able to sail even in some of the narrower protions; and only one draw bridge .. I was surprised that we encountered only three barge tows during the trip.. usually we see several per day on this route. We saw no ships around Gulfport nor Pascagoula where we normally see some. On our way out of Pensacola, we got a close fly-by from the Blue Angels as they were out practicing..

 

[drgbanks]

What kind of boat? Draft and bridge clearance height? What time of year? Heading north or south?

O'day daysailer 3 with 3'- 9" ft draft
Specs suggest 23'-4" mast. I have not measured it myself yet.
Summer sailing heading south from Richmond. I want to ease into it as this is my first sailing season.

 

[Davidasailor26]

The region you’re looking to sail is outside of what most of those ICW groups would consider the ICW proper. You may want to checkout William Shellenberger’s “Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholers Guide“. That has some good suggestions for places to see around the southern bay.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Will you be trailering down from Richmond?
Seems like it would be a whole day from Richmond to Hampton.
Hampton would be your entry into the ICW.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I found this: Greater Richmond Sailing Association - Home

Welcome to GRSA!​

The Greater Richmond Sailing Association is a membership organization whose purpose is to promote sailing in the Richmond, Virginia area. Located southwest of Richmond on the Swift Creek Reservoir, GRSA has hosted over 30 years of one-design and PHRF handicapped racing. We feature a full season of racing and social events, with several active fleets.

The GRSA Daysailer fleet is one of the most active racing fleets in the club. The fleet, with help from the club, hosted the 2004 North American Daysailer Nationals. The fleet is active in support of social functions at the club as well.

Fleet Captain: Position Currently Open

Day Sailer links:
Day Sailer Association
Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co.

You might contact them for updated information about sailing in your area. They sound like they would know.

-Will

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

O'day daysailer 3 with 3'- 9" ft draft
Specs suggest 23'-4" mast. I have not measured it myself yet.
Summer sailing heading south from Richmond. I want to ease into it as this is my first sailing season.

Welcome to the forum and to sailing. We all start somewhere, and you’ll find that the more you ask the more you learn. This forum is a good place to start asking.
I suggest you take some local courses on sailing and basic boating safety and navigation. This link is a good place to start Richmond Sail and Power Squadron - Education

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

As I was going across the James River Bridge today, I remembered.....
The James River is deep water channel running all the to the Port of Richmond. I do not know how deep or how much commercial traffic transits up and down the river.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

May I suggest the local lakes near you to include Lake Anna, Smith Smith Mountain Lake and Claytor Lake.. From the confluence of two rivers forming the James River outside of Clifton Forge, VA to the Port of Richmond, there is nothing to sail on the James. In fact tge James is narrow with winds blowing over the river due to trees.

The Greater Richmond Sailing Association or GRSA is a good group to start out with. I am a former Virginia sailboat dealer now retired

please learn your boat and how to sail first before you go out on the James River in Tidewater and on the ICW. I sold a Hunter 26 and went out on the. James River with the new owner who thought he knew everything. We saw a sub coming into NOB but the owner refused to listen. I finally took over the helm and motored at top speed to get out of the way of the sub. A patrol boat from NOB came out and scared the crap out of the new owner. Owner was not cited as the skipper of the patrol boat was a customer of mine too. @drgbanks I hope you are listening

Dave

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

please learn your boat and how to sail first before you go out on the James River in Tidewater and on the ICW. I sold a Hunter 26 and went out on the. James River with the new owner who thought he knew everything. We saw a sub coming into NOB but the owner refused to listen. I finally took over the helm and motored at top speed to get out of the way of the sub. A patrol boat from NOB came out and scared the crap out of the new owner. Owner was not cited as the skipper of the patrol boat was a customer of mine too. @drgbanks I hope you are listening

Dave

Ahhh, Story time. If you look up Old Point Comfort Marina, Fort Monroe on a NAV map you will that when you leave you pull out into the commercial shipping channel. A very good friend and sailing buddy used to rent a slip there (key words "used to").

He had several incidents with huge commercial container ships the left him frustrated. He had to that him decide to move. The first was a tangle with a Nimitz class aircraft carrier where the Capt. yelled at him on the radio. The second involve an Arleigh Burke class destroyer (500 ft in length), a commercial container vessel (1000 ft in length), and a 30' Catalina. To make a long short the US Navy thought they had the right away, The Container ship was not held course and we were in the middle of the channel. We were between them and maintained our course. Rules of the sea based on tonnage. There was some radio advice on sailing, the container vessel announced her presence with whistle blast and we maintained course.

He switched marinas after that trip. Got away from the commercial channel where you can plan better when crossing it.

I wanted to moved to Old Point Comfort Marina, Fort Monroe until the last incident. I will stay at Whitehouse Cove Marina for now.

 

[drgbanks]

May I suggest the local lakes near you to include Lake Anna, Smith Smith Mountain Lake and Claytor Lake.. From the confluence of two rivers forming the James River outside of Clifton Forge, VA to the Port of Richmond, there is nothing to sail on the James. In fact tge James is narrow with winds blowing over the river due to trees.

The Greater Richmond Sailing Association or GRSA is a good group to start out with. I am a former Virginia sailboat dealer now retired

please learn your boat and how to sail first before you go out on the James River in Tidewater and on the ICW. I sold a Hunter 26 and went out on the. James River with the new owner who thought he knew everything. We saw a sub coming into NOB but the owner refused to listen. I finally took over the helm and motored at top speed to get out of the way of the sub. A patrol boat from NOB came out and scared the crap out of the new owner. Owner was not cited as the skipper of the patrol boat was a customer of mine too. @drgbanks I hope you are listening

Dave

 

[drgbanks]

I'm definitely listening. This is why I came to SBO. I really appreciate all of the advice. Thanks

 

[Will Gilmore]

US Navy thought they had the right away, The Container ship was not held course and we were in the middle of the channel.

The 30' Catalina was the most maneuverable vessel; thus, they were the giveway vessel. Plus, every captain has the responsibility to do everything they can to avoid a collision regardless of right-of-way. Restrictions to maneuverability, may include tonnage, speed, and draft that restricts them to the deepest part of the channel. It is best to identify potential conflicts well before and steer away from the intersection point before the question of right of way even comes up, if you can.

-Will

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Ahhh, Story time. If you look up Old Point Comfort Marina, Fort Monroe on a NAV map you will that when you leave you pull out into the commercial shipping channel. A very good friend and sailing buddy used to rent a slip there (key words "used to").

He had several incidents with huge commercial container ships the left him frustrated. He had to that him decide to move. The first was a tangle with a Nimitz class aircraft carrier where the Capt. yelled at him on the radio. The second involve an Arleigh Burke class destroyer (500 ft in length), a commercial container vessel (1000 ft in length), and a 30' Catalina. To make a long short the US Navy thought they had the right away, The Container ship was not held course and we were in the middle of the channel. We were between them and maintained our course. Rules of the sea based on tonnage. There was some radio advice on sailing, the container vessel announced her presence with whistle blast and we maintained course.

He switched marinas after that trip. Got away from the commercial channel where you can plan better when crossing it.

I wanted to moved to Old Point Comfort Marina, Fort Monroe until the last incident. I will stay at Whitehouse Cove Marina for now.

If I understand you correctly, you were dangerous and didn’t understand what to do in those situations. That’s why I recommended the US Power Squadrons training above.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

O'day daysailer 3 with 3'- 9" ft draft
Specs suggest 23'-4" mast. I have not measured it myself yet.
Summer sailing heading south from Richmond. I want to ease into it as this is my first sailing season.

Based on this, definitely find a lake to sail. Refreshing fresh water is so much easier to enjoy on a small boat than polluted brackish water with much larger boats harassing you while you are learning!

 

[dlochner]

The Norfolk-Hampton Roads area is not a place to mess around in a small boat. NYC harbor is much easier.

When we left there last year on my Starboard was a 1300' container ship with 100+' tug and several other tugs waiting to assist, and a shoal separating us. On port was a small flotilla of Great Loop powerboats, trying to get out of the way a freighter coming with tugs. At the mouth of the Elizabeth River where it meets the James River another freighter was approaching, a few more recreational boats, tugs waiting for assignment, and of course various Navy Patrol boats. I was glad to get out of that area.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

NYC harbor is much easier.

you might be right.