Mystic Ct to Annapolis

Rich Stidger · Sep 28, 2014

Check the weather conditions in Delaware Bay. It is a funnel and if the current is setting east and the wind is blowing into the bay, a very nasty seas will be produced. We experienced these conditions once and I think that the Delaware Bay is one of the nastiest pieces of water that I have ever seen.

Cape May is easy with anchoring by the CG and many marinas for dockage if you wish. The shoals extend out 5-8 nm from the Cape, so you will have to go out beyond them before you turn up into the bay.

The C&D canal is easy and there is a marina on the north side about half-way that you can get overnight dockage and they have a restaurant.

I can't say if the 2.5 days is about right because the only times I have gone/returned from the Chesapeake I have taken the longer route to NYC and run down the NJ coast.

Good luck and enjoy the passage.

woodster · Sep 28, 2014

that sounds like a fun trip and will give you lots of experience have a safe passage

Mulf · Sep 28, 2014

2-1/2 Days

I have sailed from the Annapolis area up the bay and down the Delaware to Cape May, and then straight to Block Island on my 41' Hunter. Although the boat you will be on is longer and presumably faster, I would say that 2-1/2 days is probably close to best case. Our sail through the night from Cape May to Block Island with steady wind behind us from a good quarter (we turned on the motor at 6am to maintain our minimum 6 knot goal) was 30 hours. We departed at 8am Sunday and were anchored in the Great Salt Pond by 2pm Monday.

isaksp00 · Sep 28, 2014

I crewed on a 43 ft Island Packet from Newport RI to Rock Hall. We left Newport about 9AM on a Sunday and were in the north end of the Chesapeake (the west end of the canal) by early Tuesday morning. We loitered for 4 or 5 hours off Cape May to wait for the incoming tide.

We were lucky with weather. This was in the summer, and the last day into the bay and through the canal was very hot, little wind and all motoring.

seadaddler · Sep 28, 2014

Outside

I sailed my 07 H-36 back in 08 from montauk to Fl in 9 days all outside with a stop over in NC and so 2 1/2 days sounds good.
All depends on weather and when we left Montauk we were doing 6.5 knts
on a wild ride for sure but the wind kind of died some times and we had to do some motor sailing.
Nick

Ed Caldwell · Sep 28, 2014

Reverse trip recently completed

Marc14857 said:
A friend invited me to help sail his Oyster 49 from Mystic Ct to Annapolis over the Columbus Day Weekend. Expects to leave Mystic at 3:00 AM on Thursday and Be in Annapolis late Saturday afternoon. Anyone have any idea what type of weather we can typically expect? Also does 2 and 1/2 days seem right. Going to go around Montauk and head for Cape May. Up the Delaware River through the C&D canal out to the Chesapeake.

Thanks
Marc

I crewed on a reverse of almost the same trip (Deale MD to Westport MA) about 2 months ago. Our problem was lack of wind and some big thunderstorms. Deale to Cape May via the C&D was about 28 hours (almost all motoring) and Cape May to Westport was almost 2 days (mostly motoring).

Dan Johnson · Sep 29, 2014

Marc...

Try to time your trip up the Delaware on the incoming tide. Wind against tide creates a nasty chop in the river. Stay away from the west shore of the Delaware River due to jetties and other obstructions.

Be aware that the C&D transits large, fast moving ships--give them as much room as you can in the canal.

MLampner · Oct 2, 2014

I would second the opinion on the Delaware have run the river to Cape My from the Baltimore are several times wind and tide make a huge difference to time and comfort. The other problem with the Delaware is between Cape May and the C&D there are relatively few good places to pull in or find repiars. Generally that isn't an issue but we got caught about half way five years ago with an anemic engine and the current turned and the wind was on the nose. It was a very rough ride which seemed without end and we began to worry about fuel. We had plenty in jerry cans on deck but with 8 ft seas and short periods between them we were not convinced we could refuel safely without getting out of the wind.

C&D currents are controlled mostly by the Chesapeake so you must check them separately from the Delaware. In a large powerful boat it's not an issue but it can run 4 or 5 at peak flood.

Sounds like a great trip made our first run up the coast to NYC and enjoyed it greatly. Have a ball.

woodster · Oct 2, 2014

Marc14857 said:
My wife says I psych myself out always thinking about the what if scenarios but that is my nature. I'm an engineer in the Nuclear power industry for 40 years and I'm prone to that type of thinking. I'm sure the trip will be just fine.

Thanks again

Marc just consider that trip NON Q and have fun