As we prepare for our upcoming cruise along the Gulf Coast and the East Coast of the US, we will face an interesting decision each day: should we go inside or outside?

Going inside means traveling along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), a protected route that winds through rivers, bays, and canals parallel to the coastline. The ICW offers calmer waters, scenic views, and fewer surprises from Mother Nature. However, it can be slow and tedious with bridges to navigate and shallow waters to contend with. And it means spending much of our time motoring through narrow navigation channels, always vigilant to stay on course and avoid running aground, all while enduring the constant hum of the engine. We will also need to time our journey around bridge openings, tides, and currents, adding another layer of planning and precision to our day.

Opting to go outside means setting sail in the open ocean along the coastline. This route promises the excitement of sailing and the sheer beauty of the sea stretching out to the horizon. But with this freedom comes greater responsibility—weather can be unpredictable, seas rougher, and finding safe harbors is critical. Since we are aiming to avoid overnight passages for now, when going outside, we need to ensure there is a safe inlet at the end of each day to bring us back inside for overnight anchoring. For us, safety means the inlet depth must accommodate our boat, and the current and wave conditions must be manageable. Wind against the tidal current can whip up dangerous waves, making some inlets treacherous or even impossible to pass.

As we dig deeper into planning our route, we will explore both options for each leg. While cruising, each morning, we will make the call: inside or outside? If the conditions are favorable and there is a safe inlet to exit in the morning and enter in the evening, we plan to embrace the open ocean. If not, we will stick to the sheltered waters of the ICW. It is great to have these options and switch things up based on the conditions and our mood each day.