You’d be forgiven if you thought that Bitchin’ was behind this, but no, it’s the Sail to the Sun ICW Rally, an annual 1095 nautical mile fun run down the east coast Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW.
The party animal behind this joyride is Wally Moran, who has been conducting the Sail to the Sun ICW Rally for ten years now. Each rally comprises from 12 – 16 boats traveling from Hampton VA, to Miami FL.
For most of the Rally participants, it’s their first time heading south and they are looking for the reassurance of a competent leader to help them get safely south. Moran fits the bill, having done the ICW some 48 times. As well he writes about it and lectures about the trip at boat shows and yacht clubs from Toronto to Annapolis to Miami.
According to Moran, “A lot of people aren’t sure what to expect and they’ve heard so many horror stories about the ICW, they start out intimidated. As a result, they just don’t enjoy that part of the trip. Joining the Rally changes all that.”
Part of the reason for feeling intimidated, according to Moran, is that sailors aren’t used to being constrained by channels surrounded by shallows as they are on the ICW. Sailors want open water, deep water, and there’s little of that on the inland route south. Having someone in the lead helps new cruisers gain confidence as they adapt to the different conditions.
Why not go offshore? Moran explains: “In the fall, the weather can be challenging and going offshore to be greeted by a 45 knot northerly isn’t how most people want to experience their first trip south. The ICW provides a protected route south where people can stretch their cruising legs without facing more than they are ready for. We do go offshore at some points so that new cruisers can experience it, but we choose the time and the weather so that it’s a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.”
Along with route guidance, Moran assists newer cruisers with handling the challenges that southbound cruising throws up. Those from the Great Lakes for example are not familiar with strong currents when docking or anchoring. In group seminars and one on one training when needed, Moran teaches the new cruisers the skills they need to handle those currents when docking, stopping for bridges and anchoring.
“I remember my first trip south”, Moran recounts. “I was completely overwhelmed. After one frustrating afternoon where a couple of minor things went wrong with the boat, and then I ended up aground, I nearly quit. It took me three days sitting on the anchor to get my courage back and start south again. Having someone who knew what was coming next would have made such a huge difference to me.”
“That’s what I want to give my Ralliers – the knowledge that they will make it south safely and comfortably, and they’ll enjoy the trip because there won’t be any unwelcome surprises on the way”, Moran adds.
Not everyone is a new cruiser, Moran tells us. Some of them are quite accomplished sailors but want the experience of doing the ICW, to explore the cities, towns and villages and learn about the sites and the history of this route.
And explore they do. The Rally stops at all the major east coast locations, spending time exploring marine museums in Beaufort NC, blue crab feasts in Oriental NC, the downtown delights of Charleston SC, the kazoo factory in Beaufort SC, seeing the lemurs on St. Catherine’s island and, if they’re lucky, the elephant that sometimes is seen being walked in the park alongside the ICW in Myrtle Beach. Plus dining at lots of great restaurants all along the route.
Then there’s the Cruisers Thanksgiving in St. Marys, GA, historic St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral… all of which explains why the average daily distance travelled is 28 nm.
Sometimes, though, there is drama. After all, we are cruising. It’s not all sunsets and sundowners. Shawn Hamill had this to say about his Rally experience:
“We had such a positive experience traveling down the ICW and that had a lot to do with Wally. When we had poor weather, under Wally’s leadership we were able to expand our comfort level and challenge ourselves safely. When we experienced boat issues, Wally was always there for us and often went above and beyond the call of duty. An example of this is when he hopped onboard our boat in St. Augustine to help us safely get our boat to a dock under severe conditions.”
Bob Figgs had this to say:
“When I lost my prop and part of my shaft on day one of the trip, you stayed with me until after I had anchored my boat. While I was contacting Tow Boat US, you contacted the US Coast Guard to make them aware of the situation. It was only then you rejoined the group as I was in a safe position.
Again, when I was late catching up to the group after repairs being completed, you came to my rescue. I was traveling after dark on a moonless night in an area that was difficult to navigate. You came to our boat, boarded it and took us to a safe anchorage.
The above examples and other times when you provided a hands on approach assistance and guidance, that was so very important to me, allowed me to continue on with my trip south.”
Stan and Jan Eure, who were not just new cruisers but new to sailing said:
You are the face of the Rally. You always assured me that nothing would come that we could not deal with…It was beyond fun!
What amazed Moran more than anything was what Ralliers told him was their biggest takeaway from the event.
“I started the Sail to the Sun ICW Rally to help people get south safely and comfortably. What I didn’t expect, but am the most proud of, is the amazing friendships that have developed amongst each year’s Rally crews.”
“New cruisers have left their homes, families, friends, jobs, everything that was familiar in their lives. That alone takes a lot of courage. It can be really scary for some. The Rally gives each crew a shared purpose – getting south – with a new “cruising” family, and every year, people bond in the most amazing ways.”
“These people have formed lifelong friendships and stay in touch, often getting together for short cruises or just visits. They tell of their adventures from faraway places, such as Frank and Mary Grace Stitch, who are currently in Neiafu, Tonga, where they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a local church.”
Not everyone heads out around the world as did the Stitchs, Moran says. Some satisfy their sense of adventure by exploring the Keys, or spending the winter in the Bahamas. Most return home after the Rally and continue to cruise locally, having checked “heading south to Paradise” from their bucket list.
“Whatever their ultimate cruising goal is, my mission is to help them get south to the jumping off spot, Miami, and while doing so, to give them the knowledge and confidence to go as far as they wish to.”
The Sail to the Sun ICW Rally runs from October 19 out of Hampton VA and ends on December 15 in Miami Florida. For more information, click through to www.SailtotheSun.com
