icw newport news to beaufort SC

[ramminjammin]

I plan on taking my boat from annapolis to beaufort sc
I'd like to sail out on the ocean as much as possible
would appreciate any advise or tips
such as ,
good places to get in and out of the icw ?
once out of the icw is it practicle to anchor out there
without coming back in ?

how long should this trip take ?


any other info would be appreciated?

thanks

[Vasco]

This time of the year it's better to go the ICW route. Cape Hatteras might be a bit much. You can do Annapolis to Beaufort in less than a week. Lots of spots to anchor along the ICW.

[ramminjammin]

thanks Rick
in the chart book i was looking at they suggested I could do 50 miles a day
it looks like 550 miles of icw , plus a day to get from annapolis to newport news

i thought like 12 days ?

[Vasco]

Sorry, my mistake, you're going to SC. I though it was Beaufort,NC. Yes it'll be a bit longer than I said as Beaufort NC is only at about Mile 200.

A day and a half from Annapolis to Portsmouth and then ten days or so weather permitting. You may be delayed by fog and uncooperative weather in the Albemarle this time of the year and the days are shorter too.

[blowinstink]

I've only done the trip once, but I think 50 miles a day on the ICW is very ambitious particularly as the days get shorter. You can do it some days, but other days you'll need to stop earlier than that or risk not finding a decent anchorage before dark. Tides / currents can play a significant role in how much progress you make each day as well. I'd plan on averaging no more than 40 and take anything beyond that as a bonus.

There are definitely places you can head outside for a day. Conditions permitting, you can take day sails in the ocean in places. Beaufort / Morehead City NC to Wrightsville Beach (Masonboro Inlet) is one possibility for a long day sail with good inlets. The biggest problem you'll have heading outside is the distance from the ocean to your anchorages. Your destination, Beaufort SC, for instance is a good 3 hours from the sea marker.

I'd suggest you get your charts and start planning and then ask questions about specific legs and inlets (the Maptech chartkits and any of the ICW chartbooks). Then you'll get some very useful advice here.

Have fun!

[blowinstink]

Originally Posted by ramminjammin

plus a day to get from annapolis to newport news

I show this as 128 statutory miles. You might wasnt to recalculate that part of the trip.