I am leaving next week from Buffalo down the ICW to Fl. I have not found a lot of information on the Delaware Bay. Any suggestions on "must see places" or "places to avoid" would be appreciated. Any suggestions for other areas are also welcome. I have a Catalina 320 with about a 4 1/2 foot draft.
Delaware Bay
- Thread starter Chuck15486
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Del. Bay is not for sailboats !!!!!
I grew up on the Delaware Bay and offer the following advice: Its the reason that the Chesapeake has ALL the sailboats!!! Plan to stay in Cape May - its an old Victorian 'sea-shore' town that should be visited (crowded and touristy). If I dont take a slip at a marina, I usually anchor right close off the CG station (bahamian moor because of the strong tidal flow). There is NOTHING to see or do once on the Del. Bay (except to fish), There are NO marinas, NO quaint little towns, etc. ...just a shallow bay ringed with low-lying salt marsh. Most sailboaters try to make it from Cape May to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in ONE quick leg. Check your mast height with the bridge clearance through the Cape May Canal - will save a LOT of time instead of rounding the cape. Plan according to the tidal flow so that you ride the flood all the way through to the C&D canal. Leave Cape May well before the flood. Dont attempt on a strong SE or NW blow ... when the Del. Bay becomes a 'snotty bitch' with very steep chop. Violent thunderstorms rise on the Delaware side without warning when the conditions are right - NOAA usually alerts when such storms are 'over'. Lots of ship traffic in and outbound for Philadelphia, so dont fall asleep in the channel .... keep close and parallel to the channel ... but watch out for the shoals and ships. The best first stopover is in the middle of the C&D canal at the Engineers Cove at Chesapeake City. Favor the western side of the entrance of the Engineers Cove to avoid the shoal in the middle of the entrance - follow the western shore all the way in. Anchor as 'far-in' as you can in the basin. The tide/flow of the C&D is gauged at "Reedy Point" - lots of flow through the canal when not at slack/flood tide. Two Rivers on the NJ side of the bay, in case of bad weather: Cohanesy R. or the Maurice. Maurice is a looooooong way off the normal track and is the drainage for a huge salt marsh - VERY buggy with lots of biting flies. Try to make it from Cape May to the Engineers Cove on the C&D in one fast leg. Be sure to consult 'Eldrige' for the tidal flow. Be aware that heavy rain in southeastern NY and NE Penna can adversely affect the tidal flow on the Delaware 2-3 days later. Hope this helps.
I grew up on the Delaware Bay and offer the following advice: Its the reason that the Chesapeake has ALL the sailboats!!! Plan to stay in Cape May - its an old Victorian 'sea-shore' town that should be visited (crowded and touristy). If I dont take a slip at a marina, I usually anchor right close off the CG station (bahamian moor because of the strong tidal flow). There is NOTHING to see or do once on the Del. Bay (except to fish), There are NO marinas, NO quaint little towns, etc. ...just a shallow bay ringed with low-lying salt marsh. Most sailboaters try to make it from Cape May to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in ONE quick leg. Check your mast height with the bridge clearance through the Cape May Canal - will save a LOT of time instead of rounding the cape. Plan according to the tidal flow so that you ride the flood all the way through to the C&D canal. Leave Cape May well before the flood. Dont attempt on a strong SE or NW blow ... when the Del. Bay becomes a 'snotty bitch' with very steep chop. Violent thunderstorms rise on the Delaware side without warning when the conditions are right - NOAA usually alerts when such storms are 'over'. Lots of ship traffic in and outbound for Philadelphia, so dont fall asleep in the channel .... keep close and parallel to the channel ... but watch out for the shoals and ships. The best first stopover is in the middle of the C&D canal at the Engineers Cove at Chesapeake City. Favor the western side of the entrance of the Engineers Cove to avoid the shoal in the middle of the entrance - follow the western shore all the way in. Anchor as 'far-in' as you can in the basin. The tide/flow of the C&D is gauged at "Reedy Point" - lots of flow through the canal when not at slack/flood tide. Two Rivers on the NJ side of the bay, in case of bad weather: Cohanesy R. or the Maurice. Maurice is a looooooong way off the normal track and is the drainage for a huge salt marsh - VERY buggy with lots of biting flies. Try to make it from Cape May to the Engineers Cove on the C&D in one fast leg. Be sure to consult 'Eldrige' for the tidal flow. Be aware that heavy rain in southeastern NY and NE Penna can adversely affect the tidal flow on the Delaware 2-3 days later. Hope this helps.
Thats about Right
Rich pretty much hit it on the head. By Sept the green heads should be backing off but proir to that thoses marshes are the center of the blood sucking bug universe. If u r leaving in late August the bugs shouldn't be a problem bye the time u get there. yYu will want to ride the incoming tide coming from Cape May as a out going tide can give you a substantial head current.
Rich pretty much hit it on the head. By Sept the green heads should be backing off but proir to that thoses marshes are the center of the blood sucking bug universe. If u r leaving in late August the bugs shouldn't be a problem bye the time u get there. yYu will want to ride the incoming tide coming from Cape May as a out going tide can give you a substantial head current.
did it last year
We did the trip last year. There are several plces along the canal to stop at, with the best ones on the Western side. The closer you get to the Hudson, the less there is to see. Stop at Waterford. Two bars there and both very friendly. Next stop at West Point for a few days. Go to the Museum and tour the campus. Check their website for reunion weekend and see if you can hit it. Next is New York City. The marina on the RIGHT, in New Jersey, is great. The trains are a long walk away, but doable. See the Statue and Ellis Island. From those, you can take the ferry to the tip of Manhatten. You catch the train back to NJ at the World Ttade Center site. Next stop was Cape May. Then, get into the canal to the Chesapeake. About half way through, there is a restaurant and filling station. Stop and go to the restaurant. They have about 50 model boats that are awesome. Next is Baltimore. You can anchor next to the Constellation. The marina across the bayis great. Annapolis follows. Walk around town. Hit Eastport (where the old Trumpy yard was). There is a bar there where the REAL sailors hang out (met three America's Cup sailors). Next stop was Solomon's Island. Then Norfork. Here are the rest of the places WE STOPPED AT. sOME GOOD, SOME SO-SO. Elizabeth City, Oriental, Morehead City, Wrightsville Beach, Southport, Brunswick Ga. (a LONG way in). Get a map and plan your own way. If you've never seen Savannah, stop there. Search the net for cities to hit.
We did the trip last year. There are several plces along the canal to stop at, with the best ones on the Western side. The closer you get to the Hudson, the less there is to see. Stop at Waterford. Two bars there and both very friendly. Next stop at West Point for a few days. Go to the Museum and tour the campus. Check their website for reunion weekend and see if you can hit it. Next is New York City. The marina on the RIGHT, in New Jersey, is great. The trains are a long walk away, but doable. See the Statue and Ellis Island. From those, you can take the ferry to the tip of Manhatten. You catch the train back to NJ at the World Ttade Center site. Next stop was Cape May. Then, get into the canal to the Chesapeake. About half way through, there is a restaurant and filling station. Stop and go to the restaurant. They have about 50 model boats that are awesome. Next is Baltimore. You can anchor next to the Constellation. The marina across the bayis great. Annapolis follows. Walk around town. Hit Eastport (where the old Trumpy yard was). There is a bar there where the REAL sailors hang out (met three America's Cup sailors). Next stop was Solomon's Island. Then Norfork. Here are the rest of the places WE STOPPED AT. sOME GOOD, SOME SO-SO. Elizabeth City, Oriental, Morehead City, Wrightsville Beach, Southport, Brunswick Ga. (a LONG way in). Get a map and plan your own way. If you've never seen Savannah, stop there. Search the net for cities to hit.
Agree with Rich about Delware Bay
Cape May is a nice stop over. One thing though is Chesapeake City on the C&D, I would stay out of there. The entrance is tricky, went from 40ft to 4ft in the length of my boat. Stop at Summit North on the canal (39 32.766N 75 42.68W) nice place - got everything you want. Enjoy the ride down the Chesapeake Bay more stopping placing than you can possibly stop at. Jim S/V Java
Cape May is a nice stop over. One thing though is Chesapeake City on the C&D, I would stay out of there. The entrance is tricky, went from 40ft to 4ft in the length of my boat. Stop at Summit North on the canal (39 32.766N 75 42.68W) nice place - got everything you want. Enjoy the ride down the Chesapeake Bay more stopping placing than you can possibly stop at. Jim S/V Java
Ches City just dredged?
Just read in the local rags that the Ches City basin has been dredged. I haven't been there or talked to anyone who has, but it sounds like great news. (Of course the same rag seemed to say there are now moorings at Solomons, but no one seems to know where they are?!?)
Just read in the local rags that the Ches City basin has been dredged. I haven't been there or talked to anyone who has, but it sounds like great news. (Of course the same rag seemed to say there are now moorings at Solomons, but no one seems to know where they are?!?)
Leaving Saturday
Good luck on you trip. We are leaving for Florida this Saturday. Look for (Hunter 37.5) "Just Ducky" and say Hi. Thanks to all for the info about the Bay. S/V Just Ducky
Good luck on you trip. We are leaving for Florida this Saturday. Look for (Hunter 37.5) "Just Ducky" and say Hi. Thanks to all for the info about the Bay. S/V Just Ducky
Skipper Bob's Guide Books
In June, my wife and I sailed our Catalina 320 from the Hudson River to New Bern, NC. We found that two guide books were extremely helpful. 1) Skipper Bob's Guide to Marinas along the ICW and 2) Skipper Bob's Guide to anchoring along the ICW. They were relatively inexpensive, $13 or so each. It was nice to know if whether the marina you are planning a stop over has floating or fixed docks for example. And his recommendations on places to anchor were spot on. John s/v Lady K
In June, my wife and I sailed our Catalina 320 from the Hudson River to New Bern, NC. We found that two guide books were extremely helpful. 1) Skipper Bob's Guide to Marinas along the ICW and 2) Skipper Bob's Guide to anchoring along the ICW. They were relatively inexpensive, $13 or so each. It was nice to know if whether the marina you are planning a stop over has floating or fixed docks for example. And his recommendations on places to anchor were spot on. John s/v Lady K
Del BAy /C
First, all the bad things you have heard about the Del bay are true Second Cape May is a great stop I went around point and not thru canal Look out for the Cape May -Lewes ferry it really moves and will be on you before you know it Third, You can do Ches City dredging is done to 10 feet in Marina i was just there Weekends are a little "Motor-boaty" but a neat little town Have a great trip t
First, all the bad things you have heard about the Del bay are true Second Cape May is a great stop I went around point and not thru canal Look out for the Cape May -Lewes ferry it really moves and will be on you before you know it Third, You can do Ches City dredging is done to 10 feet in Marina i was just there Weekends are a little "Motor-boaty" but a neat little town Have a great trip t
Do it in One Shot
RichH is right on the money. Last time I did this run was last April. Left early in the AM, waited for decent weather, timed it so the heaviest currents would be behind me, and ran the engine (on my Catalina 27) the whole way. Utsche's Marina in Cape May is pretty friendly and is right next to the Lobster House, which has a lunch counter serving cheap breakfast & lunch (and an expensive seafood restaurant). The anchorage is also not so bad. Try to avoid the Cape May Canal at low tide. Always lots of fishing boats & wakes to deal with, and it gets real shallow real fast as you move away from the center. I draw 4 feet and had no problem cutting across the wide part of Deleware Bay to get to the narrower river section up north. It gets a little choppy on the shoals, and you have to watch out for oyster traps. From there, just run parallel to and outside of the channel. I had the tide behind me in this part of the river and was doing 9 knots with my outboard at 50%! Make sure you get the currents right in the C&D canal. If you stop at Engineers Cove, hug the west side of the channel, almost like your coming alongside the dock. I was about 3 feet out and ran aground. The town dock is free and the anchorage is soft mud with good holding. Nice tiki bar on the cove where you can get beers and crab pizza!
RichH is right on the money. Last time I did this run was last April. Left early in the AM, waited for decent weather, timed it so the heaviest currents would be behind me, and ran the engine (on my Catalina 27) the whole way. Utsche's Marina in Cape May is pretty friendly and is right next to the Lobster House, which has a lunch counter serving cheap breakfast & lunch (and an expensive seafood restaurant). The anchorage is also not so bad. Try to avoid the Cape May Canal at low tide. Always lots of fishing boats & wakes to deal with, and it gets real shallow real fast as you move away from the center. I draw 4 feet and had no problem cutting across the wide part of Deleware Bay to get to the narrower river section up north. It gets a little choppy on the shoals, and you have to watch out for oyster traps. From there, just run parallel to and outside of the channel. I had the tide behind me in this part of the river and was doing 9 knots with my outboard at 50%! Make sure you get the currents right in the C&D canal. If you stop at Engineers Cove, hug the west side of the channel, almost like your coming alongside the dock. I was about 3 feet out and ran aground. The town dock is free and the anchorage is soft mud with good holding. Nice tiki bar on the cove where you can get beers and crab pizza!
Skip the Bays!
If the weather is favorable, skip the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. Catch them on your way north. You will have plenty of time to explore when you have had your fill of the ditch on your retrun trip. It is just an overniter to Norfolk and points south. It is a long slog up the Delaware at 6 kts. Your time will be better spent heading south. Jim
If the weather is favorable, skip the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. Catch them on your way north. You will have plenty of time to explore when you have had your fill of the ditch on your retrun trip. It is just an overniter to Norfolk and points south. It is a long slog up the Delaware at 6 kts. Your time will be better spent heading south. Jim
Cape May to Norfolk on the Outside
Is there anywhere to duck in if the weather gets bad between Cape May and Norfolk if you take the outside?
Is there anywhere to duck in if the weather gets bad between Cape May and Norfolk if you take the outside?
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