As some of you know, I will soon be on my way south from New Jersey, heading back to Slidell with my new to me Seidelman 37. Plans are to run offshore from Sandy Hook to Cape may, and on to Norfolk if the weather co operates. In my preperations, I have tried to consider all the possibilities in case of really foul weather. Someone has told me it is possible to go inside, from the west end of Raritan Bay to the upper end of the Chesapeak. Do any of you north east people know of such a thing. I can't find anything out on line, and can't locate any charts. But the gentleman who told me this is a fairly reliable sort, so am unsure. But an escape route, if weather gets snotty would be nice to have.
- Status
ICW and Canal
I have never done it but you go north up Delaware Bay at Cape May to the Chesapeak & Delaware canal that goes from the Delaware Bay to the Chesapeak Bay and then down the bay to Norfolk. This will be quite a bit more mileage and you will have to contend with currents but it is inland. Tim R.
I have never done it but you go north up Delaware Bay at Cape May to the Chesapeak & Delaware canal that goes from the Delaware Bay to the Chesapeak Bay and then down the bay to Norfolk. This will be quite a bit more mileage and you will have to contend with currents but it is inland. Tim R.
Niceandeasy, Turn right at Cape May
Sail up the Delaware Bay to Reedy point, Take The C and D canal through to the upper Chesapeake Bay, sail the bay to Norfolk. Take The ICW to NC. http://www.nauticalcharts.gov/bookletcharts/ Check the link for free charts for the C and D canal and the bay. Buy a copy of Reed's nautical almanac. The tides are tricky in the Delaware Bay.
Sail up the Delaware Bay to Reedy point, Take The C and D canal through to the upper Chesapeake Bay, sail the bay to Norfolk. Take The ICW to NC. http://www.nauticalcharts.gov/bookletcharts/ Check the link for free charts for the C and D canal and the bay. Buy a copy of Reed's nautical almanac. The tides are tricky in the Delaware Bay.
C&D Canal
NiceNEasy, The C&D canal connects the Deleware and Chesapeake and is approxamately 13 miles and is 50' deep (lowest) and well lit. It has a decent current so motoring with the tide is the only way to go. There is a great marina (name currently escapes me) about half way just past the Raidorad bridge (approx 7 miles west from Reedy Pt) as well as 2 others down just a few miles further in Chesapeke City. Its a great "inside passage" and the Chesapeake is fantastic in the fall!!! Good luck! Regards, -Jim- S/V Forever
NiceNEasy, The C&D canal connects the Deleware and Chesapeake and is approxamately 13 miles and is 50' deep (lowest) and well lit. It has a decent current so motoring with the tide is the only way to go. There is a great marina (name currently escapes me) about half way just past the Raidorad bridge (approx 7 miles west from Reedy Pt) as well as 2 others down just a few miles further in Chesapeke City. Its a great "inside passage" and the Chesapeake is fantastic in the fall!!! Good luck! Regards, -Jim- S/V Forever
My back yard is chart 12324
Ross pointed you to the a great link which just became public past July. If you take the ICW anywhere near Manasquan Inlet (through the Point Pleasant Canal), though to Atlantic City, you make sure you stay in the channels the entire way. We only have 2 foot of water everywhere else. You could jump in or our of Barnegat Inlet, make sure you take it strigth in from the sea bouy, watch the locals before navegating the Inlet, follow a party boat. The horse flies through the ICW are terrible between Beach Heaven and Atlantic City. The ICW goes further south behind Atlantic city, but there is one fixed bridge (35 Feet) that might hold ya up. Hope that helps some.
Ross pointed you to the a great link which just became public past July. If you take the ICW anywhere near Manasquan Inlet (through the Point Pleasant Canal), though to Atlantic City, you make sure you stay in the channels the entire way. We only have 2 foot of water everywhere else. You could jump in or our of Barnegat Inlet, make sure you take it strigth in from the sea bouy, watch the locals before navegating the Inlet, follow a party boat. The horse flies through the ICW are terrible between Beach Heaven and Atlantic City. The ICW goes further south behind Atlantic city, but there is one fixed bridge (35 Feet) that might hold ya up. Hope that helps some.
C and D Canal
The marina Jim was referring to is Summit North Marina. He is right it is a great place to stop. In my opnion much better than either marina in Cheaspeake City. The resturant is very good. Try the flounder stuffed with Crab Imperial. We were warned about the commercial traffic but had no trouble. The is a fair current and it pays to time your passage accordingly. If you don't make Reedy point there is an anchorage in the Cohansey River.After the C&D there is a very nice anchorage at Warton Creek. If you stop in Cape May a good marina is Utches. The Cape May Canal takes you to the Delaware Bay. Watch for ferries at the Delaware Bay end.
The marina Jim was referring to is Summit North Marina. He is right it is a great place to stop. In my opnion much better than either marina in Cheaspeake City. The resturant is very good. Try the flounder stuffed with Crab Imperial. We were warned about the commercial traffic but had no trouble. The is a fair current and it pays to time your passage accordingly. If you don't make Reedy point there is an anchorage in the Cohansey River.After the C&D there is a very nice anchorage at Warton Creek. If you stop in Cape May a good marina is Utches. The Cape May Canal takes you to the Delaware Bay. Watch for ferries at the Delaware Bay end.
There are mixed opinions about Summit North
Also there are good anchorages on the Bohemia River and on the Sasafras and at Still pond before you get to Warton Creek. Still pond is exposed to the north and west. Four to six miles up the Sasafras you can find shelter and services. Stay to the east side of the bay as you pass Aberdeen proving ground. The shipping channel is well marked. Stay awake! After Worton Creek your next best is Rock Hall. South of Rock Hall someone else with more knowledge can take over.
Also there are good anchorages on the Bohemia River and on the Sasafras and at Still pond before you get to Warton Creek. Still pond is exposed to the north and west. Four to six miles up the Sasafras you can find shelter and services. Stay to the east side of the bay as you pass Aberdeen proving ground. The shipping channel is well marked. Stay awake! After Worton Creek your next best is Rock Hall. South of Rock Hall someone else with more knowledge can take over.
NJ ICW
I would not try to do the ICW thru NJ. Its bad enough with local knowledge. DTDT. The only good inlets are Manasquan Inlet, AC inlet and Cape May. The rest are marginal and can turn on you fast as the condition turn to $#&*. I would go out side and if thing get ugly pop in one of those 3 and wait it out.
I would not try to do the ICW thru NJ. Its bad enough with local knowledge. DTDT. The only good inlets are Manasquan Inlet, AC inlet and Cape May. The rest are marginal and can turn on you fast as the condition turn to $#&*. I would go out side and if thing get ugly pop in one of those 3 and wait it out.
NJ ICW????
Phil's got it right! Stay away from the Jersey ICW. I've made the trip several times. The inlets he memtions are the only ones to consider in anything but the best of weather, and they can get bad in bad weather. When you get into Cape May, the Cape May canal can save you some time to the Delaware, but check the clearance on the fixed bridge on the canal. Otherwise, you'l have go out Cape May Inlet and enter through the mouth of the Delaware River. Pay attention to the shoals and currents. The trip through the C&D canal and down the Chesapeake is a great trip. This is one of the great sailing areas of our country. The Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake abounds with scenic, quiet anchorages, and then there is Annapolis, my favorite sailor's town. Here wishing you fair winds and a good diesel!
Phil's got it right! Stay away from the Jersey ICW. I've made the trip several times. The inlets he memtions are the only ones to consider in anything but the best of weather, and they can get bad in bad weather. When you get into Cape May, the Cape May canal can save you some time to the Delaware, but check the clearance on the fixed bridge on the canal. Otherwise, you'l have go out Cape May Inlet and enter through the mouth of the Delaware River. Pay attention to the shoals and currents. The trip through the C&D canal and down the Chesapeake is a great trip. This is one of the great sailing areas of our country. The Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake abounds with scenic, quiet anchorages, and then there is Annapolis, my favorite sailor's town. Here wishing you fair winds and a good diesel!
Raritan Bay?
Phil, the ICW begins at Manasquan Inlet which is south of Raritan Bay as I'm sure you are aware. The information you heard has to be wrong as there is no waterway connection from Raritan Bay. So you have to go on the outside from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet as the first inlet to the ICW. The waterways that you have access to from Raritan Bay include the Navesink River, Shrewsbury River, and the Raritan River and numerous small creeks, none of which are connected to the ICW. One small creek at the west end of Raritan Bay leads to the town of Matawan where some people were killed by a shark that made its way up stream way back in 1906. If you go in at Manasquan Inlet, there are numerous drawbridges to cross before getting to Bayhead on Barnegat Bay and the current is pretty wicked, as I learned with a few frends when we tried to buck the current going from the Metedeconk River towards the inlet. The standing waves kept swamping the open bow of my ski boat, so we were forced to turn around! I think many people stay on the outside until getting to Atlantic City as a nice place to lay over. If this fall is anything like last fall, there was a lot of wind throughout October. Yesterday was another small craft alert day. It will be good if you have a lot of flexibility in choosing your weather window. It can be a nice trip, I'd love to make it myself!
Phil, the ICW begins at Manasquan Inlet which is south of Raritan Bay as I'm sure you are aware. The information you heard has to be wrong as there is no waterway connection from Raritan Bay. So you have to go on the outside from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet as the first inlet to the ICW. The waterways that you have access to from Raritan Bay include the Navesink River, Shrewsbury River, and the Raritan River and numerous small creeks, none of which are connected to the ICW. One small creek at the west end of Raritan Bay leads to the town of Matawan where some people were killed by a shark that made its way up stream way back in 1906. If you go in at Manasquan Inlet, there are numerous drawbridges to cross before getting to Bayhead on Barnegat Bay and the current is pretty wicked, as I learned with a few frends when we tried to buck the current going from the Metedeconk River towards the inlet. The standing waves kept swamping the open bow of my ski boat, so we were forced to turn around! I think many people stay on the outside until getting to Atlantic City as a nice place to lay over. If this fall is anything like last fall, there was a lot of wind throughout October. Yesterday was another small craft alert day. It will be good if you have a lot of flexibility in choosing your weather window. It can be a nice trip, I'd love to make it myself!
Agreed don't do the NJ ICW if not familur
I would agree then with Patrick and Phil, better to say offshore from Sandyhook to the Cape. Only use the Manasqan/AC Inlets for a quick port, don't travel the NJ ICW south of AC. But if you decide to come through north of AC, TOW BoatU.S. awaits as do the horse flies.
I would agree then with Patrick and Phil, better to say offshore from Sandyhook to the Cape. Only use the Manasqan/AC Inlets for a quick port, don't travel the NJ ICW south of AC. But if you decide to come through north of AC, TOW BoatU.S. awaits as do the horse flies.
Misunderstading
Sorry I wasn't clearer on this. Our plans are to run offshore, to Cape May, and on to Norfolk offshore,unless the weather turns snotty. My girlfriend has very little sailing experience, and even less offshore, and wanted to stay out of any really snotty weather if at all possible. I was told that you could go from the west end of Raritan Bay, and get into the Deleware River above Philadelphia, and take it on into the Chesapeak. This is what I can find no charts or anything for, and am about to come to the conclusion that the man who told me this was full of it.
Sorry I wasn't clearer on this. Our plans are to run offshore, to Cape May, and on to Norfolk offshore,unless the weather turns snotty. My girlfriend has very little sailing experience, and even less offshore, and wanted to stay out of any really snotty weather if at all possible. I was told that you could go from the west end of Raritan Bay, and get into the Deleware River above Philadelphia, and take it on into the Chesapeak. This is what I can find no charts or anything for, and am about to come to the conclusion that the man who told me this was full of it.
NIce and Easy
Need a gourmet cook? Got an e-mail from Bill. He is gettin itchy to go somewhere/anywhere again.
Need a gourmet cook? Got an e-mail from Bill. He is gettin itchy to go somewhere/anywhere again.
He might not be ...
if he is a REALLY old man!
In the 1800's the Delaware and Raritan Canal linked Raritan Bay with the Delaware River between New Brunswick and Trenton, NJ. Here's a little history! http://www.dandrcanal.com/history.html I am not sure if your Siedelman could make it upstream to New Brunswick, much less navigate the canal. But in the 1800's it might have been possible! It would be a scenic route if it were possible. The Delaware River is a beautiful, scenic river as you head north into the headwaters in the Catskill Mtns. If today is any indication of the weather for the week, you could be making it to Norfolk in fine shape. Today was about as perfect as it gets with a nice breeze from the west, perfectly clear skies, and temps in the low 70's. There couldn't be a better day for sailing down the coastline. The air is as clear as it gets! Are you picking your boat up in Keyport?
if he is a REALLY old man!
In the 1800's the Delaware and Raritan Canal linked Raritan Bay with the Delaware River between New Brunswick and Trenton, NJ. Here's a little history! http://www.dandrcanal.com/history.html I am not sure if your Siedelman could make it upstream to New Brunswick, much less navigate the canal. But in the 1800's it might have been possible! It would be a scenic route if it were possible. The Delaware River is a beautiful, scenic river as you head north into the headwaters in the Catskill Mtns. If today is any indication of the weather for the week, you could be making it to Norfolk in fine shape. Today was about as perfect as it gets with a nice breeze from the west, perfectly clear skies, and temps in the low 70's. There couldn't be a better day for sailing down the coastline. The air is as clear as it gets! Are you picking your boat up in Keyport?Chart 12332 the mouth of the Raritan River
That's correct, Raritan Bay west, passing under the Garden State Parkway bridge, bends back through into New Brunswick, I don't know what happens after that, but the guys is right. I have gone this route myself may years ago in a 16ft speed boat. I don't recall ever seeing a sailboat going that route, but I don't recall any bridges to giving you trouble either. It would be interesting to find out exactly where that route does wind up. I am courious now and will check my GPS to see if it's doable.
That's correct, Raritan Bay west, passing under the Garden State Parkway bridge, bends back through into New Brunswick, I don't know what happens after that, but the guys is right. I have gone this route myself may years ago in a 16ft speed boat. I don't recall ever seeing a sailboat going that route, but I don't recall any bridges to giving you trouble either. It would be interesting to find out exactly where that route does wind up. I am courious now and will check my GPS to see if it's doable.
WOH Dude
What you are talking about is the old Raritan-Trenton canal which would work fine if you were trying to deliever 100 tons of flour in 1860 on a mule drawn barge. The reason you can't find it on the chart is because the charts you are looking at are to current.
What you are talking about is the old Raritan-Trenton canal which would work fine if you were trying to deliever 100 tons of flour in 1860 on a mule drawn barge. The reason you can't find it on the chart is because the charts you are looking at are to current.
- Status