C&D Canal

[Eleanor Q]

Anybody have any tips for timing the current from the Cheasapeke to Cape May?
Thanks,
Frank
Eleanor Q

[ranger58sb]

I've simply used the NOAA current predictions website...

-Chris

[SecondBase]

Just call the Delaware City Marina. Owner there is exceptionally knowledgeable.
Spending a couple days there was the most educational stop of an entire east coast run.

[Suijin]

Calling the Delaware City Marina sounds like a good idea. In general, you want to catch it right as it slacks assuming you're running 6 knots over the water. You're going to have to go around as you can't fit under the bridge on the Cape May Canal so that's going to add @ 15 miles to your trip.

[haw1961]

If you can time it so that you are in Del city when it is high tide in Cape May, you should ride the tide all the way. The tide is strong in Del bay esp around brown schoal. If you have outgoing tide you will ride it all the way. Good luck.

[ShaunJ]

When are you doing the trip, just curious?

[donradcliffe]

[QUOTE=haw1961;1245733]If you can time it so that you are in Del city when it is high tide in Cape May, you should ride the tide all the way. The tide is strong in Del bay esp around brown schoal. If you have outgoing tide you will ride it all the way. Good luck.[/QUOTE

You can ride the incoming tide all the way up the Delaware Bay and through the Canal, but you can't ride the outgoing tide all the way down the other way unless your boat can do over 25 knots.

[Eleanor Q]

Heading to Reedy Point tomorrow and on to Cape May Friday.

[cranki]

Made that passage last June. I found this site very helpful.

http://atlanticsailors.com/Delaware-bay.html

[haw1961]

Hey, Don Radcliffe 6hrs outgoing tide Del city to Cape May. I don't have a chart in front of me but I am sure it can be done. You say it can be done on incoming tide=6hrs. Why can't you do it on outgoing. It's the same distance coming or going. It's roughly the same time.

[hpeer]

Somewhere online is a animation of the Delaware Bay current flow. Can't find it now, of course.

Looking at hat you can see how the tide surge works its way up the bay in unbroken fashion.

Running down the bay is different, perhaps because it is a river? The outgoing tide is shorter, more of a pulse.

Ok, found it. Have fun planning.

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs...forecast.shtml