Question On Sailing Cape May To Block Island

[Joe Mullee]

I'm going to be sailing north from Cape May leaving around September 4. The plan is to get to the Long Island Sound and back. On my way up I was going to hug the Jersey coast and go thru the East River and enter the Sound that way. After a week or so in the Sound I was going to get to Block Island and head back to Cape May from there.

One of my dock mates suggested I consider the opposite route and head directly to Block Island from Cape May and return hugging the Jersey coast. He said he thought the prevailing winds would be from the south in September and it wolud be better to ride them up. He said it will probably be a beat on the way back south and better to do that for the one day between Sandy Hook and Cape May than for the two day trip from Block Island to Cape May.

Anyone have any suggestions one way or the other?

Thanks.

 

[RAD]

Prevailing winds are usually SW and I agree heading to Block first and on the return trip you have a choice of the LI shore or the CT shore depending on where the wind is and when you get below the VZ bridge on the way home you'll be heading south and should be able to sail to Cape May

 

[Scott T-Bird]

If you are lucky ...

catch a SW on the way north and a NW on the way south. We seem to have more northwesterlies as we get into September (at least here in the "Highlands").

 

[RichH]

Weather and the prevailing winds will surely dictate which course you take.

I do this 'run' quite often. If the winds are S-SW and no cold fronts are approaching then a direct Cape May to Block is warranted. This will avoid the TIMING required to easily pass through Hell Gate on the East River between NYC and LIS. However, once past NYC going NE and if the weather turns against you there is NO 'reliable' place to scurry to on the south shore of Long Island. At that time of year you must be aware of 'whats "churning" in the North Atlantic' as large swells from Himmicanes can easily travel thousands of miles and make for a 'eventful' passage.
Once you leave Cape May there is absolutely nothing worthwhile on the New Jersey coast ... so plan to run NJ in one pass, then as you near NYC you can make your decision to either go up the East River to LIS or go direct to Block. Full moon should be around the 15th of Sept.

Coming 'back down' the advice of waiting (at Great Kills, Staten Is. NY, for example) for the tail end of a NW'er is a good one. Sandy Hook to Cape May is usually a 24+hour run, faster and less work if the wind is aft of the beam - NW to NE. To run the NJ coast going south with a moderate to strong S or SW is a lot of work, and is sloooow; either wait for the light winds from a passing 'high' and motor sail or wait for a NW or W'er.

The only problem in September is hurricaines, etc. far out in the Atlantic that can churn-up large swells on the eastern seaboard --- if you go out an inlet and there seems to be 'elephants marching across the eastern horizon', do a 180 and go back in and wait until the seas are returned to 'normal'. If you ignore that advice, be prepared to have a lot of motion sickness remedies onboard, and/but go FAR offshore so that the swells are not 'standing up' as they do on the shallower parts of the continental shelf.
Large swells from the E make 'running' the (few passable) inlets on the NJ coast very dangerous if you 'need' to enter during the wrong phase of the tidal flow; if youre not accustomed to 'shooting raging inlets' .... do your homework beforehand, and buy yourself the correct/current 'tide/current tables' (Eldridge, etc.). Its all too easy to fall into the trap of 'shooting' a raging inlet at the wrong time because you usually cant SEE what's happening IN the inlet (because you cant SEE over the tops of the large waves) until its too damn late to 'turn around' and stay out at sea.

 

[jviss]

Thanks

That was a great reply, Rich, thanks. I've speculated about circumnavigating Long Island, and your experiences match what I've figured out. Only place I thought I might have a chance to duck in on the south shore was Shinnecock Inlet, but this is right at the limit of the draft of my boat.

I wish you well, Joe, with this voyage, but I advise you to do a lot of research - both navigational, and weather/season.

 

[Joe Mullee]

Re: Thanks

I've actually done this trip four times, all as crew. Once to Block Island in July and three times thru NYC in August, September, and October. All four trips were heading north. I've never done the trip south though. We never had any problems with weather in any of the trips but there have been other times to other places that were not so pleasant. This will be my first trip out of the Chesapeake as captain. I appreciate all the advise I can get.

Joe Mullee

 

[Banooma]

Weather and the prevailing winds will surely dictate which course you take.

I do this 'run' quite often. If the winds are S-SW ando no cold fronts are approaching then a direct Cape May to Block is warranted. This will avoid the TIMING required to easily pass through Hell Gate on the East River between NYC and LIS. However, once past NYC going NE and if the weather turns against you there is NO 'reliable' place to scurry to on the south shore of Long Island. At that time of year you must be aware of 'whats "churning" in the North Atlantic' as large swells from Himmicanes can easily travel thousands of miles and make for a 'eventful' passage.
Once you leave Cape May there is absolutely nothing worthwhile on the New Jersey coast ... so plan to run NJ in one pass, then as you near NYC you can make your decision to either go up the East River to LIS or go direct to Block. Full moon should be around the 15th of Sept.

Coming 'back down' the advice of waiting (at Great Kills, Staten Is. NY, for example) for the tail end of a NW'er is a good one. Sandy Hook to Cape May is usually a 24+hour run, faster and less work if the wind is aft of the beam - NW to NE. To run the NJ coast going south with a moderate to strong S or SW is a lot of work, and is sloooow; either wait for the light winds from a passing 'high' and motor sail or wait for a NW or W'er.

The only problem in September is hurricaines, etc. far out in the Atlantic that can churn-up large swells on the eastern seaboard --- if you go out an inlet and there seems to be 'elephants marching across the eastern horizon', do a 180 and go back in and wait until the seas are returned to 'normal'. If you ignore that advice, be prepared to have a lot of motion sickness remedies onboard, and/but go FAR offshore so that the swells are not 'standing up' as they do on the shallower parts of the continental shelf.
Large swells from the E make 'running' the (few passable) inlets on the NJ coast very dangerous if you 'need' to enter during the wrong phase of the tidal flow; if youre not accustomed to 'shooting raging inlets' .... do your homework beforehand, and buy yourself the correct/current 'tide/current tables' (Eldridge, etc.). Its all too easy to fall into the trap of 'shooting' a raging inlet at the wrong time because you usually cant SEE what's happening IN the inlet (because you cant SEE over the tops of the large waves) until its too damn late to 'turn around' and stay out at sea.

Rich, I was waiting for someone else to chime in first, but what exactly is meant by 'nothing worthwhile on the NJ coast?'

 

[tommays]

I would agree with Rich in that while the inlets can be passed safely at certain times its NOT a good bailout plan as there are many times especially on the Long Island South Shore you would be surfing through at best as even the fishing fleet has to hang and wait outside for a safe time to pass

 

[jibes138]

One of the interesting aspects of the gulf stream is it creates a counterflowing current to the west of it that flows south from long island to the bay. You can take advantage of this heading south. Do a little research on this current to see what I mean. The prevailing southwesterlies mean you could be right on the nose between block and cape may heading south, running south along the Jersey shore might give a better wind angle. Not sure why you want to spend time in the NYC area but if it was me I'd avoid the whole mess and hang out at Block (very deserted in September), it is great that time of year, no crowds, water is still warm. Then cruise up to Newport, then head over to Sag Harbor, maybe take a sail up Peconic Bay to some of the small towns. There is a race called the Whitebread that time of year around Shelter Island, lots of fun.

 

[RichH]

Rich, I was waiting for someone else to chime in first, but what exactly is meant by 'nothing worthwhile on the NJ coast?'

Unless you have prior local knowledge of NJ coast and its inlets, the only 'all weather' inlet suitable for a sailboat (to anchor or go to a marina, etc.) will be Absecon Inlet (Atlantic City).
In AC, if not Gardners Marina (if still operating and there were rumors of its closure), then you are left with the only choice of the super-infamous Trump Marina ($4.00+ per foot and everything completely covered in bird $#iT) and their 'day' is 7AM to 7AM or you get 'double billed'. Of course you can anchor in the inlet in up to 4 kts. of current or if shallow drafted there is a small 'passage over a bar into a basin' on the opposite/north side of the inlet that you can anchor.
Mannesquan Inlet ... no marinas that cater to sailboats + the famous "sailboat eating railroad bridge" (confused/roiling strong currents and VERY rude sport fishing crowd)

Plus there was a recent furor of the NJ State Marine Patrol issuing humongously costly citations to those 'out of staters' who enter NJ waters and do not have a NJ boaters certificate (or approved equivalent) ... a permit principally to operate a PWC.

Thats it for the entire NJ coast: Cape May + Atlantic City ....unless you have specific and up to date local knowledge of the minor inlets.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Manasquan Inlet ...

Mile 0 on the ICW. http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/manasquan-northeast_4278/travel

 

[Joe Mullee]

Hey Jibes, LOL

"Not sure why you want to spend time in the NYC area"

HaHa!! It's where I grew up and it's always a thrill for me to sail into NY Harbor, by Lady Liberty, past lower Manhattan, under the Brooklyn Bridge, past The U.N, thru Hells Gate, and out into the Long Island Sound. I grew up on the north shore of Long Island and spent many a day on those waters.

Port Jefferson, here I come!!

Joe Mullee

 

[jibes138]

Hey Joe - LOL

My kid went to NYU, lived right near Washington Square park. Every time I dropped him off or went to visit I couldn't wait to get out of there. The whole place has a foul odor. Give me fresh air, open space, farmland, and open ocean anyday.

 

[Auspicious]

Of course you can anchor in the inlet in up to 4 kts. of current or if shallow drafted there is a small 'passage over a bar into a basin' on the opposite/north side of the inlet that you can anchor.

Head up the channel toward the bridge and turn left at the last green. You can carry 7' at least into the anchorage. I haven't seen 4 kts in there but it can be sporting - make sure you have a good set.

It's worth dinghying in to Farley State Marina and eating at the Chinese Restaurant at Trump Marina Casino. Great food at a good price. See ActiveCaptain ( https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=39.381680&lon=-74.420473&t=n&z=15 ) for a chart and my comments. I recall an additional green mark upstream of the last one shown on the chart.

 

[shemandr]

There is a race called the Whitebread that time of year around Shelter Island, lots of fun.

Thank you. Our group run it. Detail at pb a.net. That' Peconic Bay ailing A ociation. orry, my keyboard i kaput.

 

[gpd955]

Thank you. Our group run it. Detail at pb a.net. That' Peconic Bay ailing A ociation. orry, my keyboard i kaput.

Here's a upper and lower case S.

S s

Just cut and paste it... Won't need to buy a new keyboard, now!

 

[shemandr]

Thanks,
I'm almost cheap enough to do that!

 

[sea_casper]

Atlantic City Aquarium Dock

Unless you have prior local knowledge of NJ coast and its inlets, the only 'all weather' inlet suitable for a sailboat (to anchor or go to a marina, etc.) will be Absecon Inlet (Atlantic City).
In AC, if not Gardners Marina (if still operating and there were rumors of its closure), then you are left with the only choice of the super-infamous Trump Marina ($4.00+ per foot and everything completely covered in bird $#iT) and their 'day' is 7AM to 7AM or you get 'double billed'. Of course you can anchor in the inlet in up to 4 kts. of current or if shallow drafted there is a small 'passage over a bar into a basin' on the opposite/north side of the inlet that you can anchor.
Mannesquan Inlet ... no marinas that cater to sailboats + the famous "sailboat eating railroad bridge" (confused/roiling strong currents and VERY rude sport fishing crowd)

Plus there was a recent furor of the NJ State Marine Patrol issuing humongously costly citations to those 'out of staters' who enter NJ waters and do not have a NJ boaters certificate (or approved equivalent) ... a permit principally to operate a PWC.

Thats it for the entire NJ coast: Cape May + Atlantic City ....unless you have specific and up to date local knowledge of the minor inlets.

We stayed at the AC Aquarium dock, there are some transient spaces available, quite reasonable, no conveniences other than electricity and water, and bathrooms during the day. Boats dock there to eat at adjoining restaurant. Best to contact dockmaster via cellphone.

Check out pictures from my blog and our trip north from NJ via NYC & LI Sound http://fauxcastle.blogspot.com/.

Watch out for Atlantic Hurricanes, at BI we get huge surf from storms as far away as Bermuda, great for surfers, not necessarily for sailboats.