2013 Sailing the ICW
It was time to move north after the check-in
sage and obtaining my
cruising permit. I pulled up the anchor and heading back out to
sea to get north to Cape Lookout and in at the start of this section
of
the Inter Coastal Waterway (ICW) This section is known as the Atlantic
ICW. Because is saves you confronting the wild seas of the Atlantic on
the East of the stormy Cape Hatteras see more when I sail South.
I left Charleston and exited into the open sea at about dawn with
little wind and a flat sea turned north and settled down for the 200
nm
sail to Cape Lookout. The Gulf Stream helped me along as did a slight
SE wind.
Out of nowhere a USA warship appeared not showing any register on the
AIS. I was making a good course which I thought would take me well
clear of their course but soon I was called on the VHF Ch 16 asking me
to change couse further out to sea. Which I gladly did and the
next minute a submarine surfaced not too far off my wake. They
must have been following me even at my slow speed of 6 knots.
The next day arrived with few ships and I was able to get some sleep
with all systems working but the sea state had changed and it became
quite confused still I was on target to reach my destination of the
Cape Lookout bay before sunset.
Speed dropped so I turned on the engine and saw the light at the
entrance so I turned into the channel and head towards what appeared
to
be a few anchor lights. I could see Jack Tar on the AIS so chose
a spot down wind and dropped the anchor Pedro came over to ask how I
was and if I needed anything which was a great gesture. I was OK
only needed some sleep. It rained all night.
We where all up early to get into the entrance at Beaufort which was
tricky and had many sand banks. I think Balvene had gone aground
here the previous year. Well Eye Candy was sent in first with
Jack Tar next and Malua taking up the rear. All went well until
from around the corner appeared a large freighter sounding it horn
demanding almost the full width of the channel. JT made a swift
turn to get out of its way while I slowed and let it pass but that put
some distance between our group. I had to hurry up to get through
the first bridge and into the real ICW for a short period and then
into
the wide open waters to the west of the Atlantic Ocean.
We all stopped to fill with diesel and then out into the waters to
follow the buoys that marked the channel known as the Albemarle and
Chesapeake Canal. On Active Captain you followed the purple line
and noted the crowed sources notes of where the channel had swallowed.
We all dropped anchor in the shadow of a small island called Alligator
planning to set off early to make the next major bridge at Great
Bridge
which we made at 9:00. The wind and rain made the passage along
with the featureless water and distant banks rather dull.
The cruising Guides are full of information but difficult to read if
you are going north against the mile markers and the normal cruise
route. They are filled with information we did not need so I
chose to use a set of charts I had purchased from another cruise in
the
Caribbean. This told us when the bridges would open so we could
schedule our arrival for the opening even . The Great Lifting
Bridge south of Norfolk Virginia was the major impediment to reaching
our goal along with another however we arrived with some luck at both
with only a few minutes to wait for the lift. It was onward and
upward (North) to Portsmouth and a great little harbour next to the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. Eye Candy had spent the last
season there and weathered the tropical Storm Sandy which swept up the
coast in October causing great damage
We all spent a great few days here in a very relaxed atmosphere with
the Norfolk ship yard across the river going at it all day long.
One only realises the size of the USA Defence budget when you look at
all these ships and aircraft carriers in dock to appreciate the fire
power the USA has at its disposal on the oceans of the work. This
work must contribute the the GDP of the USA.
Next off to the Chesapeake Bay but a small stop to look at the sites
of
the American Civil War plus a short haul to put some antifoul on and
clean the topsides which had become quite stained from the brack
waters
of the ICW.
Here are a few Photos of the trip here...
Now off to the sailing capital of the world Annapolis on the Chesapeake
Follow Malua.
