Today's journey was a good example. First we had to finish transiting the "Rockpile" around Myrtle B

It will bring up a map showing the last 40 position reports of Tides Inn (callsign AI4FI). The blue balloon is the latest position. Click on the balloon to see a short comment on the current situation onboard Tides Inn. Clck on the "satellite" button to see Tides Inn's exact location on a satellite photo view.
One of the ironic (dumb) aspects of insuring your yacht is that there are stringent requirements for offshore sailing including: number of crewmembers, experience level, safety equipment, area of operations, etc... but, there are no special requirements for operating within coastal best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california US waters and the ICW. There is no body of water more dangerous to incurring damage to your boat than the ICW.
Today's journey was a good example. First we had to finish transiting the "Rockpile" around Myrtle Beach where the ICW is very narrow and bounded on each side with sharp, jagged rocks. Fortunately we didn't have to pass anyone there. Then we had to wait for the Socastee Bridge tender to get around best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california to opening the bridge with current and wind behind us threatening to push us into the bridge. On the other side of the bridge we met two large tug/barges. The first forced us to stop and move to the edge of the ICW just feet from the cypress trees and a no-wake bouy. The problem is that on a boat, when you stop and have no motion, you have no steering and the boat will drift where it desires, like right into the path of the oncoming barge. So we had to keep minimum way on without running into the trees and bouy. Just made it.
I also got to use the rain filter on my Raymarine radar which worked very effectively. It cuts out the rain returns best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california when you want to look for contacts best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california and channel markers. Then you can switch back to normal mode and scan out to see when the next rainshower is coming and how severe it will be. Fancy tools for the modern sailor.
By 4pm we were anchored in the Georgetown anchorage area, after another trying, but successful best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california transit. The wind has picked up and forecasted to blow at 30-35kts for next couple best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california days so we will plan to stay here tomorrow as well.
You also meet interesting people along the way on the ICW. We had dinner last night with "Pancho" (aka James) from SV Muchacha at Barefoot Landing, best western stevenson manor inn calistoga california a fellow transitor along the ICW heading to Florida. This is not his boat though, he has a nice Tartan 40.