Maurice River NJ Delaware Bay

Banooma · Jun 5, 2009

Delaware Bay

Hey Bill,

I'm not familiar with the waters south of LBI either, but just picked up A Cruising Guide to New Jersey Waters by Donald Launer. He covers a lot of practical and historical information about the entire NJ coastline, and it reads very easily. Check it out!

John

Loose Ends · Jun 5, 2009

Cruising Guide Book

John,

I have that book also, I will pull it out and check the Del Bay section. Thanks for the sugestion.

Barnegat Bay sailing is great no doubt about it, Where do you do most of your sailing on the bay, I am docked in Barnegat. Mariners Marina.

Bill

catsailor · Jun 8, 2009

It's not the Chesapeake, but there are some nice towns:

Bill5763 said:
What is the sailing like in the Delaware Bay?
I currently sail in Barnegat Bay, but I am looking for some new scenery, and places to sail to.

Any input appreciated.

Bill

You did not hint at your draft, so I am guessing it is not over 4 1/2'.

Lewes is nice with lots of shops and eateries. The new town dock is nice, right next to a restored light ship. Ft. Miles is worth a visit but too far to walk.

The C&D canal and the upper Chesapeake Bay are not too far at all, for a weekend trip. Get a Chesapeake Bay guide.

Cape May, of course. You can day-anchor rather near nice beaches at Higby - it is deep in close to shore. For the night, there are many marinas in town. You'll need bicycles for the town.

Bowers Beach / Murder Kill is not much, but I've been there. Just a fishing place, really.

The Cohonesay River is a nice wandering path to some good marinas.

Stayed in the Biddwell Creek Marina once. Nice, very quiet, but remote. However, I would go again, in a heartbeat, for the quiet.

I've written a guide book about circumnavigating the Delmarva (see my blog), but to be very honest, the NJ guide suggested is better for the Delaware Bay. My focus is further south and on the needs of smaller boats.

A friend of mine is actually sailing around the Delmarva in an 18' dingy as we speak! I am hoping he gets fair weather. He's a real adventurer.

Warren Milberg · Jun 8, 2009

I've sailed the length of Delaware Bay twice, once in daylight and once at night. I don't like that body of water. I found the wind and tides flukey and unpredictable. I found the west side of the deep water channel full of shoals, the deep water channel full of commercial shipping, and not enough good stopping off places on the east side other than Cape May and the Cohansey River. As the saying goes, it's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live (sail) there.... Just one man's opinion.

catsailor · Jun 8, 2009

I have sailed there ~ a dozen times, not counting a summer of sailing a beach cat off the Cape May..

Bill5763 said:
Catsailor,

Thanks for the reply, I sail a Catalina 27 with a 4' draft. It looks like one could sail for hours on the Dlaware Bay. I would be interested in sailing to Lewes Delaware, or Ocean City MD.

I made a trip down the Bay from the Chesapeake through the C&D several years ago, I remember the bay being a snotty, but could just have been the wx conditions that day.

Looks like sailing out of Maurice river would give a lot of opportunities for cruising to places for overnight stays.

Just wondering what the wind conditions are like.

On Barnegat Bay there is ALWAYS wind, and no tide change so to speak. When I kept the boat in Ocean City NJ, there was a 4-5' tidal flow and I believe the Del Bay has the same, but unsure of the winds.

Hopefully some Delaware Bay regulars will speak up.

Bill

Point beach years ago.

The winds are variable - who can say. They seemed very reliable at Cape May, but perhaps less so further up. The waves get a bit nasty when a good breeze and tide opposes. Generally that is a NW wind, so if you stay on the north side, it is just fast sailing. I once took my Stiletto from Cape May to the C&D, very close reaching up the north side, in about 5 hours, averaging ~ 10 knots and loving it. It drew 4'. The only shoaly areas, as said, are on the west side and around CM Point, and you soon learn where they are.

Sure, take your boat there for a few seasons. Then go elsewhere, if you like.

I made the trip around the Delmarva in a Stiletto 27 three times - far more tender and with a 10-12 year old for crew (she grew). Go farther! I would suggest Chincoteague over OC - the place isjust too noisy, and Chincoteague is a more memorable expereience. It is a good entrance in daylight; confusing to some, but less prone to breaking than OC and deeper (12').

I will say Warren can be right. Once I started north into about 20 knots and awful seas. I went back to Cape May and waited a day, after 15 minutes of getting absolutly pounded. The Chesapeake is more forgiving, lacking the strong tide.

John Denlinger · Jun 29, 2009

I have had no good experience with DB, but may be weather. Very short steep chop in any northerly. Current keeps you on your toes. Suggest you head to Chesapeake

Banooma · Jun 29, 2009

Hi Loose - I'm docked in Mariner's as well. Which boat is yours? When do you plan your Delaware Bay trip?

Maurice River NJ Delaware Bay

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