Pictures of the "Fighting Irish" in the Georgia ICW

pretty crazy with a boat that size in a channel/ditch system
i haven't heard from the ICW -till last week, i read a documentation of a german sailing from ft. lauderdales north about 700 miles up north

no my question is: what clearance does the bridges have? or are those most likely swing bridges?

Once you get north of St. Augustine they're mostly 55 or 65' except for the sisters in Mayport. So. Carolina would be a nightmare with that boat. only a couple of low bridges, but the traffic & docks would keep him down to 4 kts. Other than that it's clear cruising until North Landing (NC) through Norfolk.
That 1st shot shows quite a bow wake as she's approaching that boat. That radio probably crackled.
My guess would be she'll head outside at Mayport avoiding that open ocean shortcut from Charleston to Ft. Pierce if the seas are still kicking up.

I would say the sailboat probably never had their radio on and the Fighting Irish most likely tried several times to hail the sailboat on the radio. Every yacht of that size that I've encountered is always monitering the radio in inland waters. I don't know the circumstances, but I used to run a 97' MY through Georgia in the ICW and had a draft of 9'. I would say that the 140 MY needed to maintain a certain level of speed (at least 6 knots) to maintain steerage and also would be considered a RAM under Coast Guard law (Restricted in Ability to Maneuver) due to channel width. Who knows the circumstances of the passing in that photo, but as courteous a Captain can be there are situations in which you need to maintain a certain speed or heading for the safety of the vessel. Also the water it is pushing at the bow, may be entirely different once it comes off of the bow.

For the few boats that don't monitor their radios on the ICW a gentle sound signal always works. The killer sections of the ICW for anything more than an express are around Carolina Beach (There's also some bad shoals in that area) and from Southport through the pontoon bridge. Too many docks to damage forcing you to run at about 4 kts. Unless it's a pleasure cruise outside from Beaufort to Charleston is the way to go (weather permitting) as it saves a day. Same for the shot from Charleston to St. Augustine or Mayport. This year's been blowing up though.

I perfer to take the outside as it is quicker if it's in a fast boat, however almost always run the ICW from Beaufort to Norfolk as it's shorter or if the boat is slower then 14 knots I take the ICW all of the way. From Beaufort North to Coinjock, I avoid the ICW and run albermarle sound, it's much deeper, wide, and you can run at cruise the entire section of it and cut back into the ICW just south of Coinjock. It's wide enough and all deep to run a 1/2 mile off to the side of another vessel at cruise and not bother them without having to slow down, there are two bridges at the Northern end where you have to wait for them to open but they're fairly tall if I remember correctly 24' + and they open on demand. It cuts out A LOT of time, and I've made it from Beaufort to Norfolk in one day leaving at 7am, and being courteous in a 58' Searay SB (25 knot cruise). I've been bypassing Charleston and stopping at Georgetown lately, there is a great marina by the bridge there, cheap fuel prices, good restaurant, it's a little further in 17nm instead of 11 or 13nm into Charleston but you can run all the way in and it's deep. I've also been stopping at Golden Isles if I can make it further then St. Aug, or Fernandina.....it's a nice easy stop.

There are several spots that shoal in Georgia that you have to be careful of as well and that 6' spot is called the Devil's Triangle or something if I remember correctly.

"From Beaufort North to Coinjock, I avoid the ICW and run albermarle sound,"
I think you're referring to Pamlico Sound then into Albemarle. Personally I prefer Alligator River to Albemarle as Pamlico tends to kick up and you only lose a couple of hours. Beaufort to Norfolk on the inside is almost mandatory. That's Cape Hattaras. Did the outside there in a gale once...not twice.
"I've also been stopping at Golden Isles if I can make it further then St. Aug, or Fernandina.....it's a nice easy stop." Melissa is a good dockmaster there, and they now have a good restaurant. We recently tried to make Charleston to St. Augustine, but the seas weren't co-operating. Most of the boats that left with us headed into Hilton Head. We pushed on to St. Simon which put us within range of Daytona on the inside. Watch that inlet in a cross wind though. Bad stuff on both sides (channel is good though) and it's a long entrance.

Great photos. Thinking that if I were the owner I'd be enjoying the trip and patting myself on the back for paying someone else to be doing the driving and worrying about draught and bridge schedules.

Yeah I've been running Pamlico to Albermarle and haven't had any issues with it kicking up (most I've seen was 2ft seas in there). Most of the yachts I run don't have any issues with 4' seas or so (which is the most I could imagine it kicking up in there.) But, it's a nice easy run where you can have the boat on autopilot and pretty much watch everything.

Speaking of that area, has anyone run through Schoolhouse channel (from Pamlico to Oregon inlet?) I have never attempted it because I've heard the markers shift constantly.

Some other of my favorite stops on the way up are, Ocean City, Rudee inlet (just north of Ocean city) is real easy with a marina just inside the inlet, Manasquan inlet...... Cape May...... Beaufort is good, so is the one where Bald head island/southport is......

I am the skipper on Fighting Irish and am a supporter of Yacht Forums. Nice photographs, please send more. We ran the ditch for three days from Savannah, GA to Ponce Inlet with little or no problem. We are 145' LOA draw 7' and have a 28' beam. A lot of my colleagues were in disbelief that we were able to run inside for that long. With fair tides, good charts, competent helmsmen and a reliable depth sounder, it is straightforward. There are numerous misconceptions about the ICW - controlling depths, bridges, hillbillies, disgruntled sail boaters, etc. Run the ICW for a few days and you will understand just how close knit the boating community is. I am surprised at how many boaters thanked me for slowing down. Courtesy is karma. Just because we are big doesn't allow us to be irresponsible.

The ICW is a wonderful way to truly see the east coast and get a feel for the various rich cultures. It is also a good way to make progress while avoiding nasty weather, which is exactly what we were doing. Cheers for the good words, safe travels.

That's good to hear. I have never had any issues with rudeness on the ICW either and have travelled the entire ICW many times.

One of my favorite trips, ever is the ICW from Fernandina Beach to Charleston, S.C. I think everyone should experience it at least once. The Erie canal is a very nice trip also. As is the Detroit River. The Great Lakes, I could give or take. I could definately leave the trip down from Chicago to Mobile,AL. (via the Tenn-tomm) behind......Up The Rio Dulce is another nice trip......