Summer East Coast Round Trip

[YOLO]

New (to me) Catalina 22 owner here...

I am planning a trip this summer from Norfolk to NY. I would like to take the coast one way, and the Chesapeake one way. Any suggestions of which I should take north, and which south? Also, any other tips and insights would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Skipper]

In a Cat 22? I'd stay on the bay both ways. You don't want to be offshore more than an hour from any harbor in a Cat 22. Even just moderately foul weather will be bad news and life jackets. Get in a blow or thunderstorm and you're toast.

The bay winds in the summer run right across much of the time, so you can sail up and down on a reach. If there's any wind at all. Summer is notorious for calms.

 

[RECESS]

I would say to invest in a larger gas tank. It never fails that in the summer there is either no wind or your wind vane is pointing the exact direction you want to go. Go inter-coastal the whole way. Day sail off the coast at your destinations. I have a C22 also, if it gets rough you will take a serious pounding.

 

[YOLO]

What about off of New Jersey? There's no intracoastal passage to NY from Delaware Bay to the Lower Bay, NY, is there?

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

In a Cat 22? I'd stay on the bay both ways. You don't want to be offshore more than an hour from any harbor in a Cat 22. Even just moderately foul weather will be bad news and life jackets. Get in a blow or thunderstorm and you're toast.

I am sorry, don't mean to be a jerk, but what are you basing this on?

The OP is talking about doing some text book coastal cruising. On the east coast where many of the conditions are more manageable compared to the west coast where this boat was designed and sailed frequently.

To the OP, it's like any other thread you will read on "can my boat do x?" Watch your weather window. Don't sail on a schedule. Have contingency plans where possible. Make sure you and the boat are ready for the trip by doing good maintenance and sailing it locally to get comfortable on the tiller. Know how to reef quickly and learn how to watch the weather.

Good luck and fair winds,

Jesse

 

[Scott T-Bird]

You can stay within inter-coastal from Delaware Bay to Manasquan Inlet. Manasquan is mile marker 0 on the ICW. From there, you will need to go outside to Sandy Hook, which might take you about 8 to 10 hours. You will have to choose your windows carefully just to enter or exit any of the inlets along the NJ coast. Manasquan is notorious for a fishing fleet that will give you no mercy. In your boat, just taking the canal from Bayhead to Manasquan will probably be a wild ride because of the current. You might need to choose some sections at slack tide.

http://www.app.com/article/20130909/NJNEWS/309090024/Manasquan inlet boat

Hopefully, you will have the time to choose your windows with care. Your boat is too small and lightly built to allow any room for mistakes.

 

[Skipper]

I am sorry, don't mean to be a jerk, but what are you basing this on? Jesse

A 2500 lb boat with a 500 lb ballast.

2 fat guys on the gunwale will flip the thing. Not really but you get the idea.

The 22 is sailed successfully on many oceans. Within running distance to harbors. There are not harbors at close intervals consistently along the East Coast. Also, the poster apparently has never done this before, let alone is a very small boat. My advice is logical. It's also what "I" would do if with this destination and vessel, not what everyone would or should do.

 

[YOLO]

So, would it be wise then to plan the inter-coastal, and maybe venture off the coast on the better, shorter legs? That is sounding good to me. I have 5 weeks to play with.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I pretty much agree with Skipper because the inlets along the coastline of NJ just don't provide any safety for a lightly built sailboat. But, I also would not tell anybody what they should or shouldn't do because with enough time on his hands and with a little luck, Yolo just may be successful! I'm sure plenty of people have run in an out of those inlets in lighter craft.

I'm sure Jesse isn't suggesting that there isn't anything to be concerned about, but I think conventional wisdom would suggest a fair bit of caution in this circumstance.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

My understanding is that most of the inlets along the way from Cape May to Manasquan are best done with local knowledge. Hopefully, some of the sailors that make their home from Barnegat to Cape May can share their knowledge.

To get to New York, you have no choice but to exit at Manasquan or some other inlet to the south (Barnegat is the next in line and a long stretch from there) and make it clear to Sandy Hook. I'm sure it's doable in your boat on a nice day, but it is worth plenty of caution. Make sure you have enough range with your outboard.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

One minor point- the official mile 0 of the east coast ICW is at Hospital Point, in Norfollk. There may be other mileage markers north of that, but that's the end of the mileage on the ICW chartage.

Just like Harvey Lock at the Mississippi River is mile zero of the Gulf ICW. Increments east and west from there.

But I do agree on staying inside, given his stated experience, and his boat.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I guess the NJICW has it's own marking system with Manasquan being 0 at the north end. Here is a guide that can be useful. Note the bridge clearances from Absecon to Delaware Bay may be limiting.

http://www.offshoreblue.com/cruising/njicw.php

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

A 2500 lb boat with a 500 lb ballast. 2 fat guys on the gunwale will flip the thing. Not really but you get the idea. The 22 is sailed successfully on many oceans. Within running distance to harbors. There are not harbors at close intervals consistently along the East Coast. Also, the poster apparently has never done this before, let alone is a very small boat. My advice is logical. It's also what "I" would do if with this destination and vessel, not what everyone would or should do.

It's a 60 nm trip. So 10-12 hours. Pick your weather window correctly and it's a slow day powering in some gentle swell. I am sure there are plenty of C22 sailors and other trailer sailors sailing out of this area that think this discussion is foolish.

Like you said, it's all opinion and up to each skipper.

 

[Benny17441]

Yes, it is good advice that you plan the trip inshore. In a 22' boat you can run the Intra-coastal from Cape May to Manasquan, NJ. and it can actually be a very nice trip. I don't know if you can get to Sandy Hook on the inside but if you can't you may need to go on the outside but choose a weather window. The New York Harbor itself can get pretty nasty in foul weather so look for at least a two day weather window. The Delaware Bay is no piece of cake as it is subject to strong currents, it is quite shallow and there is a lot of traffic. You will also need to time your passage through the C & D canal and unto the Delaware Bay to go with the current as progress when going against it will be futile. Do a lot of homework, plan your stays and refueling stops and sail the weather not a schedule.

 

[gpd955]

When you start planning, I'd be happy to help you plan from Little Egg Inlet down to Cape May. Scott is right...local knowledge of the NJ inlets is very important. Most are not very friendly, especially at night. It takes me about 5-6 hours from Cape May to Atlantic City...probably the 2 best places to stop for a rest or whatever. The trip from AC to Sandy Hook takes me about 18 hours with good wind in a mid-size boat. Coastal NJ is pretty much free of obstructions....except traffic up toward Sandy Hook and as you approach inlets early in the AM in the summer (some of the serious fisherman fly out of them at dawn!). I would recommend staying about 3 miles off of the coast....it will give you some sea room but will keep you close enough to the coast to get in quick if needed. The seas also have a tendency to be less confused. However, you know your boat and your comfort level with that distance from the coast. If you plan to stop anywhere south, I'd make it Cape May and/or Atlantic City (we'll be there to meet you with drinks in hand!). Most of the other inlets are a distance from any fuel, docking, etc. Cape May and Atl. City are a few minutes from food/fuel/slips. I've detailed the Absecon Inlet (Atl. City) in the SSCA Crusing Station resource so you can access that if you're a member. If not, I can fill you in on the information if you plan on stopping there. Of you're going inside, I know that you can't get from Great Egg Inlet to Absecon...the bridges at Black Horse Pike and Atlantic City Expressway are not high enough, even for some power boats....so plan on going outside between those inlets. From Absecon Inlet to Little Egg Inlet, tides will be your issue. There are some areas where you have about a boat length of wiggle room and the Great Bay isn't so great!

As far as the Delaware Bay goes....if you stay in the shipping channel, you'll be fine, go with the current and plan on travelling the Bay during daylight hours. The thing can be a mess and may times there are things floating there that you don't want to hit. The shipping traffic is moderate but you'll still want to be seen! If you plan on using the Cape May Canal, I'll help you plan that (you'll need to know where to turn!), otherwise, you'll have to "'round the Cape" which isn't bad (haven't done it in a 22' though!).

 

[Skipper]

It's a 60 nm trip. So 10-12 hours.

From Norfolk to New York? I don't think so. More like 300 nm.

If the captain of a Cat 22 can day-sail between harbors on this specific coastal cruising trip, which he can't, and the weather adheres to the forecast, which it won't, he'd likely be just fine. The Cat 22 is a great boat; very easy to sail, quick to accelerate, reasonable build quality, and good use of space. It is not, however, an Atlantic coastal cruiser for a novice blazing a new trail.

BTW, So Cal is different. There are close harbors from Santa Barbara to San Diego (including a couple harbors offshore), Deep water, and predictable weather. The So Cal West Coast compares favorably to the Atlantic re coastal cruising in a Cat 22.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

From Norfolk to New York? I don't think so. More like 300 nm.

Should have been clearer. I was referring to the section south of Sandy Hook along the NJ coast where there are not harbors within the 1 hour time frame you had said in your earlier post.

 

[slaume]

60 NM in a 22 foot boat would would seem more like a 12 to 16 hour trip. Or at least I would plan it that way. Is this going to be a solo trip? Is there some provision for self steering? This seems like a pretty ambitious trip for a new owner of a boat this size and build. Maybe he has a lot of other sailing experience and is just new to this boat but it doesn't seem to be the case. This might not turn out to be too much fun, even if all goes well.

I would spend my first summer sailing in the Chesapeake to gain, or temper, my confidence and get to know the boat and develop it's systems before planing a trip like this. If I was set on spending some time further north I might tow the thing up there and enjoy more time sailing and less time motoring through the ditches.

Sure you could do it, but would it be safe and fun? There is a lot of great cruising right in the bay, Steve.

 

[Skipper]

Should have been clearer. I was referring to the section south of Sandy Hook along the NJ coast where there are not harbors within the 1 hour time frame you had said in your earlier post.

Oh.

If that is the longest leg, then that's not too bad. Although, 60nm in one day would be a big challenge in a 22, especially depending on wind direction ie; is there a tack required. And, it would likely have him coming into harbor after sunset.

The one-hour thing is re the Atlantic. I sailed So Cal for many years, and the weather is very predictable and usually good. Out here in the East, the forecasts can change daily, and the ultimate result can be different than forecast on many occasions. I'd dread to be caught offshore in a gale in a very light boat, with several hours left to the next harbor.

In comparison to the Atlantic, the Chesapeake is relatively safe. The weather can get nasty there too, but it's much easier to run to a harbor, or anchor in a protected cove\river\finger. If you can sail it in the spring, the temps and wind will be much better.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I wouldn't venture into the ocean in a Catalina 22. Honestly, the Chesapeake Bay can beat the hell out of a small boat like that. My Catalina 30 has felt small at times on the Chesapeake Bay.

Stay inside for the trip. It is a safer bet. Storms kick up in the evenings and they can get nasty. Try to be in by 5pm to be safe. For Chesapeake Bay Cruising I figure that 30 miles is a good DAY. There are a lot of choices there.

Honestly, you should spend a little time cruising your local area and maybe take this trip next year so you know your boat much better.