Ft. Lauderdale to Chesapeake

[hildegard78]

Hello,
i need your advice and your experience.
If I leave Ft lauderdale to go to the Chesapeake is possibile and safe to pass around Cape Hatteras and get to the Chesapeake channel??
If not what would be better to do:
- sail the Pamlico sound or going into the icw??
- Is it possible to make both with a 33’ sail 6’ draft?
- How much time would it take ??

Thanks a lot
Roberto

[WanderingStar]

Roberto. A year ago I delivered my boat from Lauderdale to NY. Partly ICW and partly ocean. I forget how long it took us to pass the Chesapeake, maybe 8 or 9 days. That was with anchoring four nights in the ICW. You can go along shore or offshore if you have experience and you boat is reliable. You may find 6' draft troublesome in some parts of the ICW. If you're going outside, watch the weather.

[PBzeer]

If capable and weather permitting, you could ride the Gulf Stream and make the Chessie in a week or less. To do so, you would certainly want to have at least 2 crew members.

My route, as a singlehander is Lauderdale to Fort Pierce, then to St Augustine, then Hilton Head Island (north end). All are overnight hops. If the weather looks favorable, I then go a day run to Charleston, then a two night to Beaufort Inlet, then the ICW up to the Chessie. There are a few place where you need to stay very alert in NC, but it is all passable with 6', and can be done in 5-6 days.

[hildegard78]

thanks a lot Pbzeer and Wanderingstar!
roberto

[EpicAdventure]

This thread got me to threading the ICW from the Beaufort Inlet up to the Chesapeake. Looks like the ICW splits into two: Great Dismal Swamp canal and the other to the east. What are some thoughts about the differences between the two?

[SVAuspicious]

Been around Cape Hatteras a number of times. Weather permitting much faster and less stressful to go outside.

[scottyt]

i just did a tampa bay to the chessy trip all out side. if the weather and the boat are up to it its a 6 day run. for the inside i have no idea, i say if the boat is solid look for good weather and do it out side. a 33 foot boat should be fine

here was my path with dates so you can figure out the time needed

[creedence623]

Originally Posted by EpicAdventure

This thread got me to threading the ICW from the Beaufort Inlet up to the Chesapeake. Looks like the ICW splits into two: Great Dismal Swamp canal and the other to the east. What are some thoughts about the differences between the two?

I've heard the Great Dismal Swamp is shallower, and depends on certain rainfall amounts to be at the controlling depth. If you call the controlling agency, they can provide the current canal conditions.

From what I understand, people use it when they want to stop in Elizabeth city on they way up/down, and it is also more scenic and less congested. The depth, again, is the big issue for sailboaters.


I'll let you know what the Almbermarle is all about in a couple weeks as I am leaving Norfolk on the 15th to Tampa.