Virginia to Georgia Pilot Notes
Coastal Summary 136 Cape Fear to Charleston, SC 144
Intracoastal Waterway: Norfolk to Florida 137
Georgetown, SC 144
Virginia Cut 138
Charleston, SC 144
Great Dismal Swamp 138 Charleston to Port Royal Sound and Hilton Head
Albemarle Sound 138
Island 147
Offshore: Cape Henry to Cape Hatteras 138
Hilton Head, SC 147
Cape Hatteras to Beaufort Inlet 139
Hilton Head SC to St. Marys River GA 149
Beaufort, NC 139
St. Marys River, GA/Fernandina Beach, FL 149
Beaufort to Cape Fear 141
Wrightsville Beach, NC 141
Southport, NC 141
Coastal Summary
Vessels bound S that choose the coastwise
The offshore route between the Chesapeake route must basically buoy-hop as close to
Bay and Florida is marked by numerous the shore as possible in order to avoid the
challenges. Several sandy capes shape the northerly flow of the Gulf Stream current.
coastline and hazardous shoals extend miles The position and velocity of the Gulf Stream
offshore. Shallow waters and the Gulf Stream shifts regularly. Vessels crossing the Stream
current running near to the coast can cre- on an approach to the coastline must allow
ate extremely hazardous seas. There are few for at least 2 to 2.5kts of northerly flow as
safe havens as many of the inlets along this they cross the breadth of the stream. Varia-
stretch tend to shoal over. tions in the position of Gulf Stream’s W edge
Many yachts choose to bypass the offshore can allow a S-bound vessel to take advantage
hazards by taking the longer inshore route of eddies and counter-currents. By contrast,
through the Intracoastal Waterway. The wa- vessels bound N from the Florida Straits can
terway runs through a series of manmade pick up as much as 5kts.
canals and natural sounds beginning on the Most of the inlets are subject to shoaling
Elizabeth River at Norfolk, VA and contin- and generally require local knowledge to
ues through to the Florida Keys. Numerous be used safely. The exceptions are Beaufort,
inlets along the way connect the ICW to the NC; Masonboro, NC (Wrightsville); Winyah
open ocean, although, from Virginia through Bay, SC (Georgetown); Charleston, SC; and
Georgia, many of these inlets are difficult to Tybee Roads, GA (Savannah). Hilton Head
transit without local knowledge. The ICW is Island is best accessed via Calibogue Sound,
available to most vessels drawing less than which branches off from Tybee Roads. The N
6ft, although poor maintenance in recent end of Hilton Head can be approached from
years has lead to shoaling along some areas. the Atlantic via Port Royal Sound, but that
Following the offshore route, the coast is entrance is liable to be hazardous in adverse
generally low and sandy, with offlying barrier conditions.
islands, and is distinguished by three famous Shrimp boats are common along the Geor-
capes: Hatteras, Lookout and Fear. The coast- gia coast, but larger commercial shipping
line bends in a shallow arc between each, generally stays further offshore.
while following a SW trend to South Caro-
lina, Georgia and eventually Florida.
136