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65ft BRIDGE vs. 66ft MAST in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) | Sailing Sunday | Ep. 227

10 December 2023 · 20 min · 26K views · Wrightsville Beach

What this video covers

A 66-ft mast height vessel navigates the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in North Carolina, requiring precise timing with tides to clear two 65-ft fixed bridges.10:32 The crew monitors bridge clearance markings while transiting at low tide to ensure safe passage.13:30 During the transit, the boat’s VHF antenna makes contact with the underside of a bridge, highlighting the risks of tight vertical clearances.15:38 The crew utilizes Navionics charts on an iPad and a Raymarine autopilot remote to maintain position within the narrow channel.18:00 Outside of the ICW, the vessel encounters 15-knot headwinds and a 1.2-meter swell while beating toward Beaufort, necessitating a 12-hour passage.7:25 The crew manages the transit while caring for a foster kitten, tracking its weight and feeding schedule.12:33 Navigation in the ICW requires constant attention to channel markers and the wakes of passing motorboats, which can create hazardous conditions for vessels clearing low bridges.16:02 Careful monitoring of tide levels and bridge height indicators remains essential for vessels with mast heights exceeding standard bridge clearances.

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