EP-151: Sailing from Coinjock to Chesapeake, VA | Cruising the ICW on a Hunter 44DS

Join us for another adventure aboard Mike Malekoff’s Hunter 44 Deck Salon as we sail from Coinjock, North Carolina to Chesapeake, Virginia along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Hosted by Bela Musits and Mike, this episode captures the day’s leg of our journey relocating Mike’s sailboat from Brunswick, Georgia to Burlington, Vermont. We’ll share insights on navigating the ICW, docking at a free city dock, managing day-to-day life aboard, and the beauty of slow, scenic cruising along the U.S. East Coast. 🔔 Subscribe for more sailing adventures up the East Coast! 📍 Episode Highlights 00:00 Welcome aboard from Coinjock, NC 02:12 Leaving Coinjock Marina – a cruiser favorite 05:00 Navigating swing bridges on the ICW 08:45 Life aboard the Hunter 44 Deck Salon 12:00 Entering Chesapeake, VA 14:10 Docking at the free city dock 16:45 Reflections on today’s trip 19:30 Recording a podcast from the boat 22:00 The value of flexibility on a sailing journey ⛵ Episode Overview In this leg, we cover approximately 35 nautical miles on protected waters, passing through canals, marshes, and under bridges. We highlight the conveniences of Chesapeake, VA’s free public dock, a hidden gem along the ICW. You’ll hear real-time insights on sailboat travel, local amenities, and what it’s like to record a podcast at anchor or in a marina. Whether you're planning your own ICW cruise, preparing for the Great Loop, or just dreaming of life aboard a sailboat, this episode offers practical and personal stories from our journey. 🎥 About This Series This podcast documents our full relocation trip up the East Coast aboard a Hunter 44 DS. We’re capturing the real-life moments—navigating, anchoring, provisioning, and relaxing along the way. 💬 Each episode is recorded on the boat, often in the evenings, giving you an authentic look at cruiser life on America’s East Coast. 📌 Key Locations Mentioned Coinjock Marina, NC North Landing River Chesapeake, VA city dock (free dock on the ICW) ICW swing bridges and canals 🧰 Gear & Boat Info Boat: Hunter 44 Deck Salon Route: Brunswick, GA → Burlington, VT Navigation: Charts, ICW bridge schedules, daily planning 🔑 Keywords for Search sailing podcast, ICW sailing, Intracoastal Waterway, Chesapeake VA dock, Coinjock NC marina, Hunter 44 Deck Salon, East Coast cruising, liveaboard life, sailboat relocation, free city dock, boating Chesapeake Virginia, Great Loop Subscribe & Follow: Don’t miss upcoming episodes as Bela and Mike continue their journey north! Subscribe to Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Thanks for Listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating and reviewing the podcast — it helps more sailors and dreamers discover the show. Have a sailing story or technical tip you’d like to share? Reach out via email at sailingtheeast@gmail.com