Ossabaw Sound Inlet

About

Introduction:

Ossabaw Sound is located on Goergia’s Atlantic Coast about 17 miles southeast of Savannah and 100 miles northeast of Jacksonville. The image above is a view from the southeast looking over the South Channel of Ossabaw Sound with Raccoon Key and the North Channel visible just off to the right (north). Ossabaw Island is the large point of land occupying the left hand portion of the image.

The Intracoastal Waterway runs across Ossabaw Sound behind Raccoon Key in a channel known as Hell Gate, and then runs farther south and east up the Ogeechee River before it turns south again into the Florida Passage.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Charts 11507 and 11511.

Ossabaw Sound has two distinct entries - the South Channel and the North Channel. There are plenty of aids to navigation, and if you follow them religiously, you should stay out of trouble. Make sure you have a current paper or electronic version of Chart 11511 (the offshore, not inland version) handy if approaching the sound from offshore, or if you want to make an offshore jump from the Intracoastal Waterway.

The approach to Ossabaw Sound from the Atlantic, first pickup red and white Morse (A) buoy “OS” near waypoint N31 47.283 W80 56.192. Once you have picked up the Morse (A) buoy, set an approximate course of 278 degrees magnetic for 2.5 miles to intercept green nun buoy “1.”

Once you have picked up the green nun buoy, head farther east to intercept red and green nun buoy “N.” South Channel (to port of the nun buoy) is the preferred channel, however you can also head north toward green nun “5,” and use the North Channel as well. Both routes eventually meet up with the Intracoastal Waterway north or south of Raccoon Key, so northbound cruisers, should, as the name suggests, use North Channel and southbound cruisers should utilize South Channel.

Local Notices to Mariners:

Local Notices to Mariners are available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.