myself. I plan a 400 to 500 mile sail around the Delmarva peninsula next year and have begun a sail plan. I figure on averaging 4 to 5 knots and sail/motor 8 to 10 hrs per day. Thus 32 to 50 miles per day seems to be an aceptable range for planning. I will also be sure to look for gunkholes aloing the way that'll permit me to pop in should weatehr turn bad, or I just get sick of sailing (I really don't see how that could happen, but....). I have a bimini to keep me from cooking in the sun and am installing a tiller pilot to avoid a locked elbow at days end. My boat is a Hunter 23.5........ Advice is welcomed. Thanks Hayden
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Bill O'Donovan
Ambitious
4-5 in a 23 is a tad high. You may want to consider an alternative schedule averaging 3 knots and space your gunkholes accordingly. There's a wonderful book of places all around the Chesapeake Bay that you can pick up at any ship's store or Maryland bookstore.
4-5 in a 23 is a tad high. You may want to consider an alternative schedule averaging 3 knots and space your gunkholes accordingly. There's a wonderful book of places all around the Chesapeake Bay that you can pick up at any ship's store or Maryland bookstore.
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joe phibbs
quick question, hayden:
I too plan to make the 'great circle' around the Delmarva next year, in my Hunter 31. Most cruising guides and accounts Atlantic Ocean portion of the trip wave folks away from even trying to enter Ocean City: just go two nites overnight and bypass Ocean City, as it is too treacherous to enter with a 4foot draft. What do you think? Joe
I too plan to make the 'great circle' around the Delmarva next year, in my Hunter 31. Most cruising guides and accounts Atlantic Ocean portion of the trip wave folks away from even trying to enter Ocean City: just go two nites overnight and bypass Ocean City, as it is too treacherous to enter with a 4foot draft. What do you think? Joe
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Chip Tobey
Gunkholes abound on the inside, but
I'm not sure what you'll find on the Atlantic. Most circumnavigators with whom I've spoken have made the outside passage non-stop, sailing all night long and making landfall in Norfolk. I personally wouldn't try it in a 23.5 either, but perhaps I'm too cautious. I've read articles in Spinshhet magazine about a cruising rally that does the Delmarva trip. (See the link below.) Of course the advantage of a rally is you have other folks nearby ... just in case.
I'm not sure what you'll find on the Atlantic. Most circumnavigators with whom I've spoken have made the outside passage non-stop, sailing all night long and making landfall in Norfolk. I personally wouldn't try it in a 23.5 either, but perhaps I'm too cautious. I've read articles in Spinshhet magazine about a cruising rally that does the Delmarva trip. (See the link below.) Of course the advantage of a rally is you have other folks nearby ... just in case.
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Ruth Ann
What's your opinion of the Ocean City Inlet?
We're thinking of going around this summer, starting in Salisbury. Would like to stop in OC. We draw around 4' and can motor around 7 knots.
We're thinking of going around this summer, starting in Salisbury. Would like to stop in OC. We draw around 4' and can motor around 7 knots.
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Lance
Delaware Bay can be quite a ride
Delaware Bay can be very rough with strong current and heavy seas. It is the roughest sailing I have ever been on (and I did it on a 44' sailboat) - and I have heard similar comments from others as well. The cruising rally link Ruth Ann has is good - notice that they want boats 29 ft minimum. Many, many great sailing destinations in the Chesapeake Bay more suited to a smaller boat.
Delaware Bay can be very rough with strong current and heavy seas. It is the roughest sailing I have ever been on (and I did it on a 44' sailboat) - and I have heard similar comments from others as well. The cruising rally link Ruth Ann has is good - notice that they want boats 29 ft minimum. Many, many great sailing destinations in the Chesapeake Bay more suited to a smaller boat.
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Hayden
Ocean City Inlet .. depth
OC inlet runs hard and fast as the tide changes. Going in a full high or low tides is the best time. The inlet is deep enough for bigger boats (I've sailed out of there on a 36 footer. The key is to stay south of the route 50 bridge, just north of the inlet. There are two marinas that can handle a 4 ft draft,even at low tide. 1. Straight in from the inlet (headed almost due west) is the harbor at West Ocean City, where 4 ft isn't a problem. 2. Just below the bridge and to the right of the light house look alike on the western shore is an entrance to another marina and it can handle deeper drafts. Be sure to stay in the main channel going west before heading north to the marina entrance or you'll be around on sand on the south side of the bridge. DO NOT go through the draw bridge. The channel can handle 4 ft, but if you drift out of the channel you can be in 1 ft real quck. Hope this helps. Hayden
OC inlet runs hard and fast as the tide changes. Going in a full high or low tides is the best time. The inlet is deep enough for bigger boats (I've sailed out of there on a 36 footer. The key is to stay south of the route 50 bridge, just north of the inlet. There are two marinas that can handle a 4 ft draft,even at low tide. 1. Straight in from the inlet (headed almost due west) is the harbor at West Ocean City, where 4 ft isn't a problem. 2. Just below the bridge and to the right of the light house look alike on the western shore is an entrance to another marina and it can handle deeper drafts. Be sure to stay in the main channel going west before heading north to the marina entrance or you'll be around on sand on the south side of the bridge. DO NOT go through the draw bridge. The channel can handle 4 ft, but if you drift out of the channel you can be in 1 ft real quck. Hope this helps. Hayden
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Ruth Ann
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