The Intracoastal Waterway
Mile Marker Zero

Schooner Days will take place .5 miles  South from Mile Marker Zero on the IntraCoastal Waterway.  The Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW, is a toll-free channel - part canal, part natural waterway - that stretches 1,090 statute miles between Norfolk and Miami, Florida.

The Intracoastal Waterway, offers boaters a unique opportunity to travel according to seasonal changes, making the voyage a popular cruise. Skippers can plan their cruise down the Intercoastal Waterway such that it lasts almost any length of time, depending on speed and the route.

For the most part, the Intracoastal Waterway waters are sheltered, although a few stretches, such as Albemarle Sound, can be quite rough. The route is profusely marked with daymarks and lights. Occasionally, buoys are used in areas where shifting bottom conditions prevail. The overhead clearance limit is 65 feet maximum. Because several bridges are slightly under spec, boats needing more than 62 feet of clearance may have problems navigating the Intercoastal Waterway.  Vessels drawing up to 8 feet can transit most sections of the Intercoastal Waterway, but those drawing more than 6 feet  may go around from time to time.