Delmarva cruise

[Ozana]

I'm planing on doing the Delmarva circumnavigation (clockwise)at the end of June, leaving and returning from Kent Narrows. I'm planing on stopping for a couple of days both in Cape May and Ocean City.Can anyone suggest good anchorages and/or marinas and how are the aproaches going in and out (tides, currents, etc.) of both Cape May and Ocean City?Thanks in advanceOzana Halik

 

[Hayden]

Ocean City offers a few places just inside.

I sail the bays behind OC in a Hunter 23.5. Once inside there are a few marinas just north of the inlet, before you go through the rout 90 bridge and there's some due west of the inlet at the West OC harbor and behind Shanty Town ( a tourist trap just south of the bridge on the western shore). You shouldn't have to go north of the bridge. If you prefer to anchor, theres some places behind Assateague Island but it gets real shallow there. I'd suggest anchoring just to the west of the main channel about 200 yards south of the bridge. I see a number of larger vessels anchored there. The inlet can get a bit hairy at the change of tides.I'm planning the same trip next June. I hope to stay in marinas most nights. I'm partial to creature comforts like fresh water showers and resturant food.Good luck on the sail.If I can be of any further help, e-mail me athayden_jones@renolan.com

 

[S. Sauer]

Circumnavigate the peninsula

We made this trip several years ago with 3-4 32 to 35' boats going north thru the C&D canal then joining up with our NJ friends behind the breakwater at Lewes,DE. We were off Ocean City with a storm starting up so all but one vessel stayed off shore thru the storm and went on off shore around the peninsula and thru the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel the next morning. Unless you have good local knowledge of the Ocean City inlet, I'd be prepared to stand off in bad weather and have enough crew aboard to run 24 hrs. The lightning in that storm was one of the most memorable and beautiful experiences in my 20+ years sailing, The slow hot doldrums comming up the southern end of the Chesapeake was not a high point of the trip, so if you go in mid-summer plan stops at marinas with swimming pools! Good Luck

 

[Hayden]

John, I plan on doing it next year. Everything

I read indicates clockwise works best to avoid current issues in both the C&D Canal and the Delaware River.

 

[John K Kudera]

I haven't done it, but,

I think too, that a counter clockwise trip is a better choice, summer winds are south east, and may make for a more enjoyable trip!

 

[jcherubini]

Anti-clockwise.

ANY opportunity to cruise up the Atlantic coast under multicoloured spinnaker past bikinied sunbathers on the barrier-island beaches should be availed of at all costs.JC