Planning on taking the ICW south from Chesapeake to Oriental next year. Trying to plan when. Would April be to early? I was thinking of setting aside a few weekends for good weather to go from Rappahannock River to Norfolk. Then take a week off to make the rest of the trip. Suggestions on where to leave boat in Norfolk and when it's safe to schedule a week off and hope for the best. My schedule is flexible, my wife's is not.
Traveling South on ICW
- Thread starter Tripaddle
- Start date
Tripaddle, this website gives you average weather conditions for Elizabeth City, NC. April looks like the best month:
Average Temperatures: high-70; low-50
Wind: average-11 kts; max-18 kts
You know conditions in the Chesapeake in April, and can use the same website to check out Oriental.
Prevailing winds in April are S and SW. That says motoring/motor sailing in the Dismal Swamp to me. In the Chesapeake and the NC sounds, you can adapt your route and timing to sail more.
We have sailed out of Elizbeth City, not Norfolk. My only Norfolk experience is in the US Navy, "marina" long ago! We use cruising guides and Active Captain to help us find marinas.
Fair winds and following seas! Sounds like a good plan to me. My only advice is to leave lots of spare days in your plan, so you can relax in port if the wind is hard against you. This has served us well in 80+ weeks of cruising on the Great Lakes. (Doesn't apply as much in confined waters like the canal where waves are less of an issue.
Average Temperatures: high-70; low-50
Wind: average-11 kts; max-18 kts
You know conditions in the Chesapeake in April, and can use the same website to check out Oriental.
Prevailing winds in April are S and SW. That says motoring/motor sailing in the Dismal Swamp to me. In the Chesapeake and the NC sounds, you can adapt your route and timing to sail more.
We have sailed out of Elizbeth City, not Norfolk. My only Norfolk experience is in the US Navy, "marina" long ago! We use cruising guides and Active Captain to help us find marinas.
Fair winds and following seas! Sounds like a good plan to me. My only advice is to leave lots of spare days in your plan, so you can relax in port if the wind is hard against you. This has served us well in 80+ weeks of cruising on the Great Lakes. (Doesn't apply as much in confined waters like the canal where waves are less of an issue.
Norfolk to Oriental is an easy 3 day trip on mostly protected channels.
Your Chesapeake Bay trip has more potential for issues. The southern bay is a big body of water and can get sporty.
Your Chesapeake Bay trip has more potential for issues. The southern bay is a big body of water and can get sporty.
I have not done this trip but hard to predict weather each year and like this year so
much warmer here in Fl.
But last year we did our annual north trip Oct /Nov from Punta Gorda to Tarpon Springs but last year too much south wind and very very cool weather and did not make it to tarpon and some 20 of us headed south back home sooner,
This year every one packed warmer clothes but this year we used AC and used the pools at Marina's
Just pack and prepare for the good and bad
Nick
much warmer here in Fl.
But last year we did our annual north trip Oct /Nov from Punta Gorda to Tarpon Springs but last year too much south wind and very very cool weather and did not make it to tarpon and some 20 of us headed south back home sooner,
This year every one packed warmer clothes but this year we used AC and used the pools at Marina's
Just pack and prepare for the good and bad
Nick
I have stayed at the Tidewater and enjoyed the experience. It is before any bridge or lock which makes it a great place to start your southern route. You should be able to easily make it to the alligator river bridge in a leisurely day cruise which was another good stop. You might be able to make it further south depending upon hours of light in the day. I absolutely do not travel the intracoastal in the dark. Hope you have a great trip!
Thanks for the help. All good points. The Chesapeake part I will leave plenty of time for conditions to be favorable since we aren't that experienced. I'm hoping we can be able to travel Norfolk to the south on more of a schedule, unless the weather is really miserable. We will have 7 days and have heard it's a beautiful trip so not in a big hurry. We were told to be sure and eat ribs along the way but can't remember the restaurants name.
Asuming you are coming I64 Eastbound. I recommend you consider bridge/tunnel traffic in selecting the marina in the Norfolk area. Downtown Hampton has some marinas that allow you to avoid tunnel jam ups. There is a marina at Fort Monroe that is now open to the public, Joy's Marina, Hampton Public Piers, Bluewater, Sunset, Crown Pointe are all possibilites. Also, the Newport News city marina is Leeward Marina and it is on the near side of bridges. Downtown Portsmouth has a couple of places you can tie up free for a couple of days, in addition to several good marinas, and an excellent anchorage.
Coinjock marina on the Va Cut route is known for Prime Rib, perhaps that is what you had heard about?
I cant recall any other notable restaurants on the route.
That will bypass the Dismal Swamp canal which is quite scenic and historic. I would prefer that by boat. You can drive to Coinjock for the cow.
I cant recall any other notable restaurants on the route.
That will bypass the Dismal Swamp canal which is quite scenic and historic. I would prefer that by boat. You can drive to Coinjock for the cow.
aw come on man eat eggs and ribs for breakfast with hash browns or home fries and biscuits and gravy gotta be better than steak and eggsThe restaurant above the Tidewater was great but we've only eaten breakfast there as I don't often have ribs forbteakfast.
I made a trip from Deltaville to Cape Charles to Norfolk a couple of months ago..pretty easy days. It was about 25mi from Deltaville to Cape Charles, and it' probably 25 or so miles from Cape Charles to downtown Norfolk, Mile Marker Zero. Time your travel from Deltaville to Cape Charles on an ebb. Travel from Cape Charles so you hit the HRBT on a flood.
Tidewater or mile zero to Elizabeth City via Dismal Swamp: one day's travel.
Tidewater or mile zero to Coinjock via Great Bridge: one day's travel.
You will need to check bridge restriction times on Elizabeth River and lock schedules on the Dismal or the Great Bridge route. Use Salty Southeast Cruiser's Net or Active Captain.
Elizabeth City has a free 48 hour bulkhead with short fingers downtown, nice restaurants close by. Coinjock has two marinas with restaurants on site, one on east bank and one on the West Bank.
Elizabeth City or Coinjock to Dowry Creek or Bellhaven: one very long day, or break it with an overnight at Alligator River, depending on how badly Albemarle Sound treated you.
Dowry Creek or Bellhaven to Oriental: one day. When leaving Bay River leave marker NR and red 2 well to starboard as you enter the Neuse River. Enjoy the trip.
Tidewater or mile zero to Coinjock via Great Bridge: one day's travel.
You will need to check bridge restriction times on Elizabeth River and lock schedules on the Dismal or the Great Bridge route. Use Salty Southeast Cruiser's Net or Active Captain.
Elizabeth City has a free 48 hour bulkhead with short fingers downtown, nice restaurants close by. Coinjock has two marinas with restaurants on site, one on east bank and one on the West Bank.
Elizabeth City or Coinjock to Dowry Creek or Bellhaven: one very long day, or break it with an overnight at Alligator River, depending on how badly Albemarle Sound treated you.
Dowry Creek or Bellhaven to Oriental: one day. When leaving Bay River leave marker NR and red 2 well to starboard as you enter the Neuse River. Enjoy the trip.