Next Spring I will be sailing my Catalina 320 from NY to New Bern, NC and I am a little worried about the Jersey Coast. The way I see it, I have two options ... one is to sail from NYC to Cape May, NJ in one leg. Problem with this is that my wife ( First Mate ) seldom takes the helm and is not fond of sailing at night. My second option is to split the sail into two legs and come in from the ocean at Barnegat Bay but I have heard this inlet is dangerous with standing breaking reaching 8 feet. If anyone had had either experience I would appreciate any advice. Thanks John s/v Lady K JSAIL320@COX.NET
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Forget Barnegat
Before you get to Barnegat there is ana all weather safe inlet called, starts with an M, sounds like manasquan. I can't spell it but I've taken my 34' in there single handed in bad weather. Inside there are marinas, fuel, resturants and an anchorage that required going under a draw bridge that opens every 30 minutes. The other inlet that is safe is Atlantic City if you don't want do Cape May in one day. It took me 14.5 hours to get from cape may to manasquan inlet doing seven knots
Before you get to Barnegat there is ana all weather safe inlet called, starts with an M, sounds like manasquan. I can't spell it but I've taken my 34' in there single handed in bad weather. Inside there are marinas, fuel, resturants and an anchorage that required going under a draw bridge that opens every 30 minutes. The other inlet that is safe is Atlantic City if you don't want do Cape May in one day. It took me 14.5 hours to get from cape may to manasquan inlet doing seven knots
Ifey
Barnaget can be no problem-difficult-major problem, it all depends on wind and or tide speed and direction. You might consider either using Manasquan or Atlantic City. Problem with Barnaget and Little Egg is that you really won't know you have a problem until you in the middle of it. If you knew the inlet and knew what you were looking at before getting into it in a sailboat OK, but I would probably not make either of those my first choice.
Barnaget can be no problem-difficult-major problem, it all depends on wind and or tide speed and direction. You might consider either using Manasquan or Atlantic City. Problem with Barnaget and Little Egg is that you really won't know you have a problem until you in the middle of it. If you knew the inlet and knew what you were looking at before getting into it in a sailboat OK, but I would probably not make either of those my first choice.
Thanks - how about this
Wow, thanks for the input. First time I used this and with immediate assistance. How about this plan of attack. Sandy Hook to Manasquan for the first leg. Manasquan to Atlantic City for leg two and then leg three to Cape May. This may be the safest way to go for my wife and myself. Again, thanks for the good responses. John s/v Lady K
Wow, thanks for the input. First time I used this and with immediate assistance. How about this plan of attack. Sandy Hook to Manasquan for the first leg. Manasquan to Atlantic City for leg two and then leg three to Cape May. This may be the safest way to go for my wife and myself. Again, thanks for the good responses. John s/v Lady K
Nice Trip
That should be a nice trip without having to push to hard. The inlets between AC and Cape May aren't particularly good either. I am not real familar with north Ocean City it could be so-so, Corson I believe is closed , Townsend can be highly questionable depending and wind and tide direction and speed, Herford may be closed, and now your at Cape May. Have fun.
That should be a nice trip without having to push to hard. The inlets between AC and Cape May aren't particularly good either. I am not real familar with north Ocean City it could be so-so, Corson I believe is closed , Townsend can be highly questionable depending and wind and tide direction and speed, Herford may be closed, and now your at Cape May. Have fun.
Try this
I've gone as far as Cape May. Try for Manasquan inlet for your first leg. If the weather turns you can then take the ICW inside all the way down. If the weather is good, try for Cape May next with Atlantic city as an alternate for weather. From there on, maybe somone else can pick it up ffrom here for advice. Remember, never try to push yourself because of a set schedule--have alternate plans--safety first.
I've gone as far as Cape May. Try for Manasquan inlet for your first leg. If the weather turns you can then take the ICW inside all the way down. If the weather is good, try for Cape May next with Atlantic city as an alternate for weather. From there on, maybe somone else can pick it up ffrom here for advice. Remember, never try to push yourself because of a set schedule--have alternate plans--safety first.
Plan your trip,
A prudent skipper plans their trips, you won't leave Sandy hook in bad weather, a trip to Barnegat is very doable in one day. At six knots, the Barnegat inlet is two hours from Manesquan. My thoughts are you would leave the Sandy Hook early in the day (like 6 or 7 AM) you will reach Manasquan before noon. If the weather looks threatening, use Manasquan, continue to Barnegat on the Inter Coastal, your boat will be fine, just stay inside the marked channel. If the weather is good continue to Barnegat on the ocean. Barnegat to Atlantic City is 43 to 45 miles. A long day sail. I personally like to stop at A/C and have anchored in the river, east of Harrahs, and in the area to the north, on the east side of the bridge. In the Basin there is Farley State Marina, however, they charge $4.00 per foot per night. Cape May is another long day sail from A/C. There are several marinas in the harbour, and anchoring at the Coast Guard station is permitted. There are delivery resturants, and bus service to downtown if you stay for more than just to sleep. Tide info, I would check the tide information, leaving Sandy Hook at high tide is best, that will add 1 to 1.5 kt to your over the ground speed. You leave Cape May, up Delaware Bay at the end of the ebb tide, our last trip up the bay in October we saw a steady 8 to 8.5 kt. over the ground. The boat was the new H41! Have a great trip.
A prudent skipper plans their trips, you won't leave Sandy hook in bad weather, a trip to Barnegat is very doable in one day. At six knots, the Barnegat inlet is two hours from Manesquan. My thoughts are you would leave the Sandy Hook early in the day (like 6 or 7 AM) you will reach Manasquan before noon. If the weather looks threatening, use Manasquan, continue to Barnegat on the Inter Coastal, your boat will be fine, just stay inside the marked channel. If the weather is good continue to Barnegat on the ocean. Barnegat to Atlantic City is 43 to 45 miles. A long day sail. I personally like to stop at A/C and have anchored in the river, east of Harrahs, and in the area to the north, on the east side of the bridge. In the Basin there is Farley State Marina, however, they charge $4.00 per foot per night. Cape May is another long day sail from A/C. There are several marinas in the harbour, and anchoring at the Coast Guard station is permitted. There are delivery resturants, and bus service to downtown if you stay for more than just to sleep. Tide info, I would check the tide information, leaving Sandy Hook at high tide is best, that will add 1 to 1.5 kt to your over the ground speed. You leave Cape May, up Delaware Bay at the end of the ebb tide, our last trip up the bay in October we saw a steady 8 to 8.5 kt. over the ground. The boat was the new H41! Have a great trip.
Barnegat Inlet
As others have already mentioned Barnegat Inlet can be rather rough. Towboat US makes a great living just waiting for people to come through. I have taken the IC from Atlantic City to Barnegat Bay with drawing four feet. Try and avoid the IC if you can. Very shallow and easy to run aground. I needed a full bottle of wine after that trip. Good luck.
As others have already mentioned Barnegat Inlet can be rather rough. Towboat US makes a great living just waiting for people to come through. I have taken the IC from Atlantic City to Barnegat Bay with drawing four feet. Try and avoid the IC if you can. Very shallow and easy to run aground. I needed a full bottle of wine after that trip. Good luck.
NJ Coast
Don't know Manesquan inlet, but if Daryl says it's good , it probably is. He doesn't pull his punches. I know Barnegat inlet pretty well, and although it isn't for the faint of heart, it can be done pretty easily under the right conditions.The worst are westerlies with an outgoing tide, because your sails are no help. The way through this inlet is POWER wherever you can get it. Also it is a trough full of humps, so if you go there stay on your throttle (sandy bottom thankfully), stay north in the channel until you come to BIgMO. Marinas both north and south. Stay in the west part of the channel,mark your sounder , and you should be ok. Little Egg is wider, with obvious currents, but you"ll run out of depth right quick. A.C. inlet is a piece of cake. Hope this helps, Jim
Don't know Manesquan inlet, but if Daryl says it's good , it probably is. He doesn't pull his punches. I know Barnegat inlet pretty well, and although it isn't for the faint of heart, it can be done pretty easily under the right conditions.The worst are westerlies with an outgoing tide, because your sails are no help. The way through this inlet is POWER wherever you can get it. Also it is a trough full of humps, so if you go there stay on your throttle (sandy bottom thankfully), stay north in the channel until you come to BIgMO. Marinas both north and south. Stay in the west part of the channel,mark your sounder , and you should be ok. Little Egg is wider, with obvious currents, but you"ll run out of depth right quick. A.C. inlet is a piece of cake. Hope this helps, Jim
I sail NJ and I would
Go Outside! I would stop and sleep in Barnegat Inlet (two hard 12 hour days). There is a cove just past the light house. If you really want to take it easy stop at Manasquan inlet and Atlantic City too. (Four Six Hour day). Don't go inside unless you have time to Kill or it's rough!
Go Outside! I would stop and sleep in Barnegat Inlet (two hard 12 hour days). There is a cove just past the light house. If you really want to take it easy stop at Manasquan inlet and Atlantic City too. (Four Six Hour day). Don't go inside unless you have time to Kill or it's rough!
Your comfort zone
John: It should be a great trip. As for where you pull in for a stopover, I see it as largely a matter of your own comfort zone. Manasquan Inlet is usually very forgiving in almost all conditions, although you'll do yourself a favor by hitting it at slack, or just after the flood starts. The current does have some kick to it, so why sacrifice too much forward progress by trying to buck a full ebb current? As noted, there are numerous marinas along the Manasquan River, but only one is outside the railroad bridge (usually open; it only closes for an approaching train). From there, you can either head back after out to open water to continue the trip (probably faster) or go a mile or so upriver to the Point Pleasant Canal, which leads you into Barnegat Bay (after passing under two lift bridges). The bay could provide you with a respite from open-water sailing, but it comes with a few caveats: watch the channel like a hawk, and don't expect to do a whole lot of sailing for the first couple hours. As you'd see from a chart, the channel is winding, and in many places there's not a whole lot of water under the keel. Barnegat Inlet is not necessarily as user-friendly as Manasquan, but it's not your worst nightmare, either. Wind and current will determine how much of a brute it is to enter, and depending on time of arrival, there may be a whole bunch of party fishing boats running the inlet. The channel inside the inlet winds a whole lot, so don't think about too many short cuts. As mentioned, once inside there's a very nice anchorage, a little cove, to port just past the lighthouse. I've overnighted there, and it was very pleasant. As for following the ICW down to Atlantic City, it's an option, but certainly not the fastest way to go. You'll be motoring the entire way down a very twisty channel. You're far better off heading back out and sailing open-water to Absecon Inlet (Atlantic City). One other thing, FWIW, and that's the winds off the Jersey Shore. I've had great times (westerlies that had us beam-reaching all the way from Manasquan to Sandy Hook) and lousy ones (winds right on the nose that forced us to tack our brains out all the way down the shore). Some days you get lucky. But either way, sailing down the shore is terrific -- highly recommended by one who's done it numerous times. Enjoy the trip -- and tell the first mate not to worry. Pete s/v "Crossroads" (ODay 322) Little Silver, NJ
John: It should be a great trip. As for where you pull in for a stopover, I see it as largely a matter of your own comfort zone. Manasquan Inlet is usually very forgiving in almost all conditions, although you'll do yourself a favor by hitting it at slack, or just after the flood starts. The current does have some kick to it, so why sacrifice too much forward progress by trying to buck a full ebb current? As noted, there are numerous marinas along the Manasquan River, but only one is outside the railroad bridge (usually open; it only closes for an approaching train). From there, you can either head back after out to open water to continue the trip (probably faster) or go a mile or so upriver to the Point Pleasant Canal, which leads you into Barnegat Bay (after passing under two lift bridges). The bay could provide you with a respite from open-water sailing, but it comes with a few caveats: watch the channel like a hawk, and don't expect to do a whole lot of sailing for the first couple hours. As you'd see from a chart, the channel is winding, and in many places there's not a whole lot of water under the keel. Barnegat Inlet is not necessarily as user-friendly as Manasquan, but it's not your worst nightmare, either. Wind and current will determine how much of a brute it is to enter, and depending on time of arrival, there may be a whole bunch of party fishing boats running the inlet. The channel inside the inlet winds a whole lot, so don't think about too many short cuts. As mentioned, once inside there's a very nice anchorage, a little cove, to port just past the lighthouse. I've overnighted there, and it was very pleasant. As for following the ICW down to Atlantic City, it's an option, but certainly not the fastest way to go. You'll be motoring the entire way down a very twisty channel. You're far better off heading back out and sailing open-water to Absecon Inlet (Atlantic City). One other thing, FWIW, and that's the winds off the Jersey Shore. I've had great times (westerlies that had us beam-reaching all the way from Manasquan to Sandy Hook) and lousy ones (winds right on the nose that forced us to tack our brains out all the way down the shore). Some days you get lucky. But either way, sailing down the shore is terrific -- highly recommended by one who's done it numerous times. Enjoy the trip -- and tell the first mate not to worry. Pete s/v "Crossroads" (ODay 322) Little Silver, NJ
Your comfort zone
John: It should be a great trip. As for where you pull in for a stopover, I see it as largely a matter of your own comfort zone. Manasquan Inlet is usually very forgiving in almost all conditions, although you'll do yourself a favor by hitting it at slack, or just after the flood starts. The current does have some kick to it, so why sacrifice too much forward progress by trying to buck a full ebb current? As noted, there are numerous marinas along the Manasquan River, but only one is outside the railroad bridge (usually open; it only closes for an approaching train). From there, you can either head back out to open water to continue the trip (probably faster) or go a mile-plus upriver to the Point Pleasant Canal, which leads you into Barnegat Bay (after passing under two lift bridges). The bay could provide you with a respite from open-water sailing, but it comes with a few caveats: watch the channel like a hawk, and don't expect to do a whole lot of sailing for the first couple hours. As you'd see from a chart, the channel is winding, and in many places there's not a whole lot of water under the keel. Barnegat Inlet is not as user-friendly as Manasquan, but it's not your worst nightmare, either. Wind and current will determine how much of a brute it is to enter, and depending on time of arrival, there may be a whole bunch of party fishing boats running the inlet. The channel inside the inlet winds a whole lot, so don't think about too many short cuts. As mentioned, once inside there's a very nice anchorage, a little cove, to port just past the lighthouse. I've overnighted there, and it was very pleasant. As for following the ICW down to Atlantic City, it's an option, but certainly not the fastest way to go. You'll be motoring the entire way down a very twisty channel. You're far better off heading back out and sailing open-water to Absecon Inlet (Atlantic City). One other thing, FWIW, and that's the winds off the Jersey Shore. I've had great times (westerlies that had us beam-reaching all the way from Manasquan to Sandy Hook) and lousy ones (winds right on the nose that forced us to tack our brains out all the way down the shore). Some days you get lucky. But either way, sailing down the shore is terrific -- highly recommended by one who's done it numerous times. Enjoy the trip -- and tell the first mate not to worry. Pete s/v "Crossroads" (ODay 322) Little Silver, NJ
John: It should be a great trip. As for where you pull in for a stopover, I see it as largely a matter of your own comfort zone. Manasquan Inlet is usually very forgiving in almost all conditions, although you'll do yourself a favor by hitting it at slack, or just after the flood starts. The current does have some kick to it, so why sacrifice too much forward progress by trying to buck a full ebb current? As noted, there are numerous marinas along the Manasquan River, but only one is outside the railroad bridge (usually open; it only closes for an approaching train). From there, you can either head back out to open water to continue the trip (probably faster) or go a mile-plus upriver to the Point Pleasant Canal, which leads you into Barnegat Bay (after passing under two lift bridges). The bay could provide you with a respite from open-water sailing, but it comes with a few caveats: watch the channel like a hawk, and don't expect to do a whole lot of sailing for the first couple hours. As you'd see from a chart, the channel is winding, and in many places there's not a whole lot of water under the keel. Barnegat Inlet is not as user-friendly as Manasquan, but it's not your worst nightmare, either. Wind and current will determine how much of a brute it is to enter, and depending on time of arrival, there may be a whole bunch of party fishing boats running the inlet. The channel inside the inlet winds a whole lot, so don't think about too many short cuts. As mentioned, once inside there's a very nice anchorage, a little cove, to port just past the lighthouse. I've overnighted there, and it was very pleasant. As for following the ICW down to Atlantic City, it's an option, but certainly not the fastest way to go. You'll be motoring the entire way down a very twisty channel. You're far better off heading back out and sailing open-water to Absecon Inlet (Atlantic City). One other thing, FWIW, and that's the winds off the Jersey Shore. I've had great times (westerlies that had us beam-reaching all the way from Manasquan to Sandy Hook) and lousy ones (winds right on the nose that forced us to tack our brains out all the way down the shore). Some days you get lucky. But either way, sailing down the shore is terrific -- highly recommended by one who's done it numerous times. Enjoy the trip -- and tell the first mate not to worry. Pete s/v "Crossroads" (ODay 322) Little Silver, NJ
John, are you in New Bern?
I'm down here at Bridgepoint Marina for the winter on my H375. I've mapped this trip out several times but never had the opportunity to do it. Be glad to discuss it over a cup of coffee sometime. Don dcdon@hotmail.com
I'm down here at Bridgepoint Marina for the winter on my H375. I've mapped this trip out several times but never had the opportunity to do it. Be glad to discuss it over a cup of coffee sometime. Don dcdon@hotmail.com
Thanks again
I just want to thank you all again for your insights and help. Gave me a lot to think about and I will shortly start loading my way points into the GPS John s/v lady k
I just want to thank you all again for your insights and help. Gave me a lot to think about and I will shortly start loading my way points into the GPS John s/v lady k
New Bern
Don, I sent you an email. If you have not received it send me a note at JSAIL320@COX.NET John s/v Lady K
Don, I sent you an email. If you have not received it send me a note at JSAIL320@COX.NET John s/v Lady K
Old Barney Not Too Bad
John, Never did Manasquan but I did run my C310 from Cape May Harbor to Barnegat Inlet in 12 hours doing a motor sail. Atlantic City is about half the time and distance. Depending on your time constraints, i would think you could do Sandy Hook to Barnegat on day 1 and Barnegat to Cape May on day 2. If weather turns bad on either day, you could duck into Manasquan on day 1 or AC on day 2. Try to plan your entry into Barnegat Inlet at slack tide. It was blowing 22 knots when I arrived at the inlet and it calmed right down once between the jettys. Not as bad as they say as long as you are observant and plan carefully. I found plenty of water depth in the inlet. Have a nice trip. Tim
John, Never did Manasquan but I did run my C310 from Cape May Harbor to Barnegat Inlet in 12 hours doing a motor sail. Atlantic City is about half the time and distance. Depending on your time constraints, i would think you could do Sandy Hook to Barnegat on day 1 and Barnegat to Cape May on day 2. If weather turns bad on either day, you could duck into Manasquan on day 1 or AC on day 2. Try to plan your entry into Barnegat Inlet at slack tide. It was blowing 22 knots when I arrived at the inlet and it calmed right down once between the jettys. Not as bad as they say as long as you are observant and plan carefully. I found plenty of water depth in the inlet. Have a nice trip. Tim
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