Normally, we try to avoid transiting the ICW through Georgia and South Carolina south of Charleston because of several factors: it is miles and miles of meandering and winding rivers and canals through completely flat grasslands and marshes, there are 6-8 foot tides which result in very shallow sections at low tides which are basically unpassable and challenging to anchor at night, and basically, it takes 3 days to get from Brunswick to Charleston via the ICW which can be done in under 24hrs transiting offshore. However, to make the offshore 24hr passage, one needs the right wind and sea conditions and Mother Nature was just not cooperating with us. Add to the uncooperative weather forecasts, our experience throughout this journey south and back was that the weather was never exactly as predicted so we were not keen to head out into questionable conditions. Besides, we are retired and not on any schedule, so why not take the slow but safe and picturesque route through the grasslands.
This is the view basically for 3 days between Brunswick and Charleston. One interesting result is that when you see approaching boats that are also winding their ways among the grasslands, they appear to be sailing across the grasslands as all you see are the approaching masts and superstructures out in the marshes until they finally make it to just in front or behind you.
We were a little surprised to see a large cruise boat come past us in the Georgia ICW given the many very shallow spots. But it turns out that American Cruise Lines runs weekly cruises between Charleston and Jacksonville through the ICW, apparently paying close attention to the 8ft tides and picking their transit times appropriately. We got this picture while we were at anchor up one of the creeks feeding into the ICW. The wind was brisk but there was enough protection to not cause too much rocking and rolling.
As sunset arrived, the wind normally dies down some and we were able to enjoy a comfortable cocktail hour.
