Rock Hall to Chesapeake City

[bnort33]

I'm a new sailboat owner with a 36 foot Beneteau kept in Rock Hall, MD. I want to take it to the Cape May/Lewes area in another week or so and am looking for advice as to how to navigate the trip. I'm thinking of moving the boat from Rock Hall to Chesapeake City or someplace close to it. Leave it for the week then take it from there to Cape May the following weekend.

Looking for advice re: best tides to navigate the C&D canal, where to keep the boat for a week, etc. Are there any safe, inexpensire anchorages? Any advice is welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Ron20324]

You will want to start with a low tide on the Chesapeake Bay end of the C&D. Rock Hall to Ches City is only 44 miles+-. Is it worth leaving the boat there for a week to restart your trip?

 

[Ross]

You may be able to find space at Chesapeake city but down on the Bohemia for certain. Check the tide and current table for the C&D canal. You may not sail in the canal. Check with traffic control Chan. 13.

 

[catsailor]

Great destination.

I'm a new sailboat owner with a 36 foot Beneteau kept in Rock Hall, MD. I want to take it to the Cape May/Lewes area in another week or so and am looking for advice as to how to navigate the trip. I'm thinking of moving the boat from Rock Hall to Chesapeake City or someplace close to it. Leave it for the week then take it from there to Cape May the following weekend.

Looking for advice re: best tides to navigate the C&D canal, where to keep the boat for a week, etc. Are there any safe, inexpensive anchorages? Any advice is welcome.

Thanks!

My father (Ken Frye, http://www.winterwoodgift.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=151 ) has been taking the whole family there for over 35 years - he is one of the local artists by now. I practically grew-up there.

I've sailed that leg about 8 times.

Generally, the tide on the Delaware dominates, as the Delaware has 3x the range as the upper Chesapeake. Generally, leave Ches City just before high tide on the Delaware, so as to get the best boast down the Delaware. You can get to Cape May in one long day, but may motor part of it.

If the wind is strong against you, go back to bed. The Delaware gets NASTY chop, unlike anything in the Chesapeake, when strong wind and tide oppose. Not dangerous, but not worth the pounding.

Be warned that the tide in the Cape May Canal is VERY strong at peak ebb and you will need to really push to get though the railroad bridge opening. Stay in the middle. The tide can approach 5 knots, but is generally ~ 3 knots. I have seen folks get sideways and kiss the bridge.

I have one the trip from Deale to Cape May in 2 days twice, with my 10 year-old as crew. We did not run at night, but we did get up in the AM!

 

[RichH]

Suggest you leave the boat at Summit North Marina (near the Rt. 896 bridge on the C&D) and then when ready, depart 1.5 to 2 hours BEFORE high tide (use Reedy Point, DE as your tide Reference). That way you can 'ride the high tide wave' most of the way down the Del Bay to Cape May. The tidal currents in the Del Bay can be strong (depending on the rainfall in northern Penna / lower NY), so its best to take advantage of the tidal flow when you travel it. Bucking against the tidal currents on the Del. Bay is not a 'good thing'.

Use a tide/CURRENT program or "Eldridge Tide Tables" to see if your departure time matches with the tides/currents.
You DONT want to be on the shallow Del. Bay with a 'SE blow' on an outgoing tide, nor with a 'NW blow' on an incoming tide .... unless you enjoy extreme 'chop' while you essentially go nowhere slowly.

Its a good trip; enjoy but take a fly swatter along.

BTW ... the Cape May canal (canal from the Del. Bay into C. May) has a bridge with only 55ft. clearance. If your mast height exceeds 55ft. ... it can take 1-2 extra hours to go around the shoals, etc. and enter C. May via the ocean side inlet - depending the tidal current AT/NEAR Cape May.

 

[Witzend]

If you choose a marina on the Bohemia such as Bohemia Vista, beware at low tide, it becomes very shallow. I live on the ELK and the currents can be nasty from Turkey Pt. Northward. So plan accordingly. Also when pass Chesapeake city prime time on a weekend, plan to be boarded by the DNR, or Coastguard for a safety check. See... the DNR keeps their skiff right there and the Coasties are just down the channel, so they pretty much have a check point setup. The other weekend they were out there stopping anyone who came by. They had a system going where DNR would run them down and detain them until the Coasties were finished up with the previous victim. No out of date flairs on the boat!

 

[richk]

C&D Chesapeake City current predictions

at http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/currents09/tab2ac5.html#60

Between tides and currents in the C&D, currents will probably be of more concern.

Rich in Annapolis

 

[Dan Johnson]

Bnort...

Take Rich H's advice and plan on a stop at Summit Point North. It has a first class floating dock system, a very good restaurant under new management, and is a quiet place to overnight. Chesapeake City's anchorage can become a bit loud on a weekend.

We just did a club cruise there a month ago and our fleet captain keeps his boat there. It was a well run operation.

Highway access is very good--much closer to the north side of the canal's major roadways.

Beware of the currents in both the canal and Delaware Bay. Timing is everything!

 

[noprob2]

Wind and Tide against and Respect the Ferry

All of the above comments are right on the money. If you do theDel Bay with wind vs tide, anything loose on your boat, including your fillings and maybe your lunch is falling off or out. Its a real banger in those conditions. Last time I did it I stopped overnight at a marina on the Cohansey river about half way down. Really nice people. But oh those flies!!!
It is a long slog under power and BORING
But the destination is great. I went around the cape May Light outside of the shoals on way in and then in the channel to the North. I did not chance the bridge clearance. but I came back close to the beach there was a deep cut there I followed a local dolphin watch boat. Chart was lousy.
One big thing Watch out for the Cape May Lewes Ferry. It really moves and will be on you in a heartbeat DO not attempt to cross in front of it.

 

[Prime Time]

How tall is your mast? The bridge clearance over the canal might be tight.

 

[Prime Time]

I was referring to the canal into Cape May.

 

[bnort3]

I hear you. I'm re-thinking the plan and may just do it in two days. I really appreciate the advice!

 

[bnort3]

Wow, thanks to ALL of you for such great insights. What a fabulous resource this forum is. Thanks, again and happy sailing!