Welcome aboard another episode of Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States! I’m your host, Bela Musits, and in this episode, we continue our journey north aboard a Hunter 44DS, as we relocate the boat from Brunswick, Georgia to Burlington, Vermont.

Joined by sailor, good friend, and boat owner Mike Maloff, we share real-life stories, challenges, and logistics of moving a cruising sailboat through the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and beyond. In this installment, we dive into a major topic for East Coast cruisers: navigating bridges.

Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a dreamer planning your own voyage, this episode is packed with helpful insights:

• 🚧 Bridge protocols and how to handle VHF radio communications with bridge tenders
  

• ⛵ Timing tides and currents to get under fixed bridges safely
  

• 🗺️ The importance of route planning through major ICW cities like Charleston, Norfolk, and New York
  

• ⚓ Real-world anecdotes from our anchorages, marinas, and passages
  

• 🔧 Unexpected maintenance stories and lessons learned while underway
  

• 🌉 The quirks of swing, bascule, lift, and fixed bridges along the ICW
  

Sailing the East Coast of the U.S. is about more than just beautiful scenery — it's about knowing the waters, understanding the infrastructure, and appreciating the people you meet along the way. This episode captures that essence.

🎧 Recorded live aboard Mikes boat, most segments were captured at anchor or in marinas after long sailing days. Expect an authentic soundscape with some natural background ambience — it’s all part of the experience.

📽️ Don’t forget: the video version of this episode includes bonus photos and video clips from our trip. Check it out if you want a visual look at the bridges and landscapes we discuss.

• 00:04 — Intro to the journey and boat
  

• 04:12 — Bridge opening schedules and VHF etiquette
  

• 11:35 — Tidal planning and mast clearance strategies
  

• 19:20 — Unexpected delay in South Carolina
  

• 24:55 — Night anchoring just before a low-clearance bridge
  

• 30:10 — Reflections on ICW vs. offshore sailing routes
  

If you’re enjoying this podcast, don’t forget to: ✅ Subscribe ⭐ Leave a review 📬 Share it with fellow sailors and dreamers

Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you on the next leg of our voyage up the beautiful U.S. East Coast. Fair winds! 🌬️⚓