Delmarva - bypassing the Cheasapeak

[valhalla360]

We are looking at heading south next year and one idea is to bypass the Delaware Bay and Cheasapeak (I know sacralige but anyway)...

It looks like there are several inlets and even some inland portions that might be traversable.

We are shallow draft (less than 3') and we will be without the mast so bridges shouldn't be an issue. We like day hops (50 miles is usually our longer travel days) so it's not one big offshore run.

Thoughts suggestions...

[Tortuga's Lie]

Where are you starting from and going to????

[thinwater]

There are 3 reasonable stops with your draft, all of which I have made many times. I've post some trip reports under the decriptions.

Indian River. With no mast it will work. Strong current, perhaps the strngest of the shore, so go at slack tide. Also to close to Lewis to make sense. I have not used it in a sailboat, only in a center console.

Ocean City. Not good in on-shore conditions, but straight forward. Strong tide; wait until slack if you can't motor 6 knots. Typical loud summer resort, but can be a fun one-day stop.
Sail Delmarva: Search results for ocean city

Chincoteague. A long aproach, well marked with bouys but not charted (they move them as needed). Day light only, but safe in on-shore swell (used it in a 10-foot swell once). Nice town dock, nice place hole up for a week if you need to. The marinas will probably NOT be able to handle the size, only the town dock (water and elec).
Sail Delmarva: Search results for chincoteague

Watchapreague. Not good in strong on-shore conditions or at night. Strong current. But very straigth, well marked, and simple. You probably won't go to the town, just anchor inside the entrance in a nigh cove with good holding (south side--north is shell). Nice wilderness setting.
Sail Delmarva: Search results for wachapreague

The rest of the inlets are not for visitors. Too variable, not well marked.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Tortuga's Lie

Where are you starting from and going to????

Michigan to Bulgaria but for this first segment from New Jersey down to North Carolina (hence skipping Delaware and Cheasapeak bays) on the way to Charleston where we are looking to ship across to Europe.

[Tortuga's Lie]

Rudee inlet at Virginia Beach is do-able, with or without the mast. You just need to surf down the waves at the inlet and stay to the center. With a mast, hang a left into Lake Wesley and anchor, without the mast go under the bridge to several marinas.