Sailing a 22ft Cape Dory from Boston to Southern Florida

[Davidasailor26]

Not sure about slack tide, typically I just look at times for high and low tide. If you want more granular info, then you need to look up the specific weather bouys which i did not do, I just did a quick look at the generic tide table for the Delaware Bay without getting specific.

If there is a weather Bouy say at the entrance to the C&D and another down at the mouth of the Delaware, you might get more granular information.

I just looked at a tide app I have on my phone and posted the times it told me. Not sure where the confusion might be. Perhaps however you are looking at the tides uses a different set of bouys than my app...

dj

Navionics has a good interface for that. It shows both tides and current flow at multiple stations. You can also set a specific time and see the tides and currents at that time. Here’s what Delaware Bay looked like at 9AM today for example - current still ebbing out for the most part. The lower part of the bay started flowing northbound closer to 11.

 

[dLj]

@Davidasailor26 - I didn't even think to open up Navionics... In complex waterways especially like the Delaware Bay where you have a river running out as well as tidal changes, tides and currents can get confusing - guessing that's what @Scott T-Bird is referring to as confusing?

dj

p. s. I'd find it very interesting if you could post the currents at the low tide time I originally stated just to see how low tide and the currents look....

 

[Kings Gambit]

Not sure about slack tide, typically I just look at times for high and low tide. If you want more granular info, then you need to look up the specific weather bouys which i did not do, I just did a quick look at the generic tide table for the Delaware Bay without getting specific.

Folks cruising the PNW often use a yearly publication, Ports and Passes, to plan for transiting areas with swift currents, etc. It gives the times for slack water in relation to tide reversals. And they do not directly coincide much of the time. If it’s critical to transit an area during slack water, one had better consult the proper reference. In the PNW it might also be a matter of decision to transit during slack associated with the flood tide reversing, or slack associated with the ebb tide reversing. The latter is usually preferred. Up there, currents associated with a flooding tide are swifter than those associated with an ebbing tide in the same location. So, near the “bottom” of the ebbing tide currents are at their slowest.

 

[dLj]

Folks cruising the PNW often use a yearly publication, Ports and Passes, to plan for transiting areas with swift currents, etc. It gives the times for slack water in relation to tide reversals. And they do not directly coincide much of the time. If it’s critical to transit an area during slack water, one had better consult the proper reference. In the PNW it might also be a matter of decision to transit during slack associated with the flood tide reversing, or slack associated with the ebb tide reversing. The latter is usually preferred. Up there, currents associated with a flooding tide are swifter than those associated with an ebbing tide in the same location. So, near the “bottom” of the ebbing tide currents are at their slowest.

Here on the East Coast, I use Eldridge, Tide and Pilot book. It also gives times for tides and currents. It also gives good piloting information in areas where you would want it - such as the C&D canal. For the East Coast, that's the reference book of choice, in my opinion...

There are a few places where it is indispensable - I would hope Captain Fiero has one with him....

dj

 

[jssailem]

Free with internet access is DeepZoom Trip

Just relocate the map to the east coast and you can get tide data, current speed, for different periods of time.

A nice free tool for tidal info in the US waters.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

@palcuz , how is Guy's trip progressing? I've followed his vids but nothing posted since Atlantic City. Hopefully he is much further south as weather is getting cold finally!

 

[DAVA390]

Sounds like a grand adventure. Certainly doable. Dave provides sound advice.

We had a member here Roger Long, who over several years documented his travel s aboard his boat Strider from Maine to Florida. His postings might help to give you the flavor of the trip and the adventure that is coming. See the link below:

Roger Long - Cruising on Strider

Tales of cruising, prep, and generally interesting comments from Roger Long, naval architect

forums.sailboatowners.com

Strider was 32 ft., gonna be a different game..but i agree,great reading.

 

[palcuz]

Here's an update on Captain Fieros progress down the East Coast. His 10 hour days at the tiller leave little in energy to get some really "entertaining" content for videos but he has come through with some that I've been able to piece together to give an update. Anchorages up the Delaware and down the Chesapeake were sometimes in places that didn't have too much access (that he knew of) so this leg of the journey has been difficult for many reasons including rough wind/wave conditions in those estuaries and very limited energy....the captain keeps his spirit up in his updates but the journey has been trying. With that he moves on to outrun 'ole man Winter... here's the link for anybody interested in his solo journey.

 

[Alan Gomes]

His 10 hour days at the tiller leave little in energy to get some really "entertaining" content for videos.....

No autopilot?

 

[kappykaplan]

No autopilot?

Nope . . .

 

[palcuz]

No autopilot?

No sir

 

[rgranger]

With a cheap block from lowes and a few bungee chords… he could set up sheet to tiller self steering. I e sailed a true course for 5 hours with this set up.

 

[palcuz]

With a cheap block from lowes and a few bungee chords… he could set up sheet to tiller self steering. I e sailed a true course for 5 hours with this set up.

I will tell him. I'm pretty sure he is usually in tight boundaries within the ICW as far as depth so he can't keep much of a straight course. It could come in handy later. I think me makes too many adjustments.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

What's his current location? The video should be pretty far behind. Has he been through the Carolina's by now, or at least N.C.? Cold weather is here now!

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Like the others, I dont know where he is. Cold weather (for us) is setting in.

If he needs anything as he passes thru Hampton Roads Virginia (Hampton/Norfolk Virginia) give me a shout. Shoot if he can get to White House Cove marina in Poquoson Virginia, I will rent the slip and buy him a hot meal.

 

[dlochner]

The video is short and he is just south of Annapolis.

 

[PaulK]

Hope he has heat then, or a lot of blankets. 27º F forecast for Annapolis tonight.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

The video is short and he is just south of Annapolis.

He was in Cape May over a month ago (Oct. 18th). Hopefully, he's a lot further than Fairhaven (where he ended up in the video) by now. The video must be quite a bit behind. He should have reached the Carolina's by now. If he is still in the Chesapeake, the journey is going to be much more difficult than anticipated!

 

[kappykaplan]

he journey is going to be much more difficult than anticipated!

And cold!!!

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Hope he has heat then, or a lot of blankets. 27º F forecast for Annapolis tonight.

The Chesapeake Bay water temperature is down to 55°F as measured on the local buoys. Air temperature today was 50°F