Here’s a warning against leeway I’ve not heard about before, nor experienced for ourselves. However, there’s no better advice than words of wisdom from a fellow cruiser.
Also, note the 5 foot soundings encountered by Captain Botkin in the Clewiston cut. This is always the shallowest part of the entire Okeechobee Waterway, and depths are getting critical here as water levels on Lake Okeechobee continue to drop.

Cruising News:
We crossed yesterday (4/27). With the southeast winds, there is a very strong westward drift leaving Clewiston. If you don’t watch behind you, and stay in the channel, you WILL run aground. The drift forces you to steer as much as 45 degrees to the east of the green marks, just to stay in the channel. We hit a section of 5 feet depth for about a quarter mile before and including G-9 leaving Clewiston. There were no other problem areas.
Dennis P. Botkin