sandy hook to cape may but gail coming in

[snokid]

As I type this I'm anchored at sandy hook, I would leave in the morning but I need to get fuel and they closed before I could get there. Day light is pretty short this time of the year. fuel dock opens at 730, I'm single handing also.
So my choices are.
1. (monday)get fuel leave around 8am putting me in atlantic city to anchor infront of Cg station after dark or at least close to sunset. (Tuesday)Then off to cape may. (Wednesday) up the river During the blow.
2. (Tuesday) head to atlantic city and ride the blow out there.
3. stay put till Saturday.

So what do you smarter people than me think?
Is there another option I didn't take into account?

40' sailboat 54' mast draws 6'6"
thanks Bob

[Sparx]

If I was in Atlantic Highlands right now, and needed fuel I would move to the fuel dock at 7 am to get fuelled and gone first thing Monday morning. I would target Barnegat Bay or Atlantic City by Monday evening, and try to get a good rest, then leave early Tuesday with the goal of Cape Henlopen.

If I got to Atlantic City in the afternoon and was feeling up to it I might consider continuing into the night to make Cape Henlopen. The wind looks favorable for running the coast Monday night versus a little lighter and coming south Tuesday afternoon.

Once in Cape Henlopen I would take a rest. There are two departure windows; 4 pm Tuesday or 4 am Wednesday. This timing is to ride the tide up Delaware Bay. With either departure there is time to get into the Chesapeake before the storm arrives. The Chesapeake offers much better places to ride out a blow than Delaware Bay or any where on the NJ coast.

This is based on weather data from Windfinder, and personal experience from making this run a few times. As captain of your ship you must choose your own path and react to the realities of what you encounter versus the forecast.

[Nicholson58]

I don’t like to give weather a crack at me. Can you dinghy fuel to the boat? Atlantic City is not a place to be approached after dark, my opinion. Once in by the big marina/casino life is good. The narrows as you turn left from the main channel toward the casino was shallow and tight especially at the sea wall. We also found the approach to the main channel confusing. How do you feel about a night ride and daylight arrival?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by snokid

Is there another option I didn't take into account?

Don't stop in AC and just continue down the coat to Cape May or into the Delaware.

Isn't there another front coming on Wed?

[snokid]

First thank you.
(atlantic city)
I know theres the anchorage by the casino's but reading active captain it looks like something I shouldn't try after dark. Near the coast guard station I would feel much better in the dark.

once I leave Cape Henlopen it doesn't seem like I have enough time to get thru the canel and out in the bay.
Is the Cohansey River a good place to ride out the blow?

Monday around noon it looks like its blowing straight down the Delaware bay being so long doesn't that create large fetch?

9

Originally Posted by Sparx

If I was in Atlantic Highlands right now, and needed fuel I would move to the fuel dock at 7 am to get fuelled and gone first thing Monday morning. I would target Barnegat Bay or Atlantic City by Monday evening, and try to get a good rest, then leave early Tuesday with the goal of Cape Henlopen.

If I got to Atlantic City in the afternoon and was feeling up to it I might consider continuing into the night to make Cape Henlopen. The wind looks favorable for running the coast Monday night versus a little lighter and coming south Tuesday afternoon.

Once in Cape Henlopen I would take a rest. There are two departure windows; 4 pm Tuesday or 4 am Wednesday. This timing is to ride the tide up Delaware Bay. With either departure there is time to get into the Chesapeake before the storm arrives. The Chesapeake offers much better places to ride out a blow than Delaware Bay or any where on the NJ coast.

This is based on weather data from Windfinder, and personal experience from making this run a few times. As captain of your ship you must choose your own path and react to the realities of what you encounter versus the forecast.

[snokid]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Don't stop in AC and just continue down the coat to Cape May or into the Delaware.

Isn't there another front coming on Wed?

yes Wednesday/Thursday is what I'm worried about.

[snokid]

dinghy won't help they aren't open.

This ocean stuff is all new to me. Great lakes sailor.. Not that we don't get weather/waves mackinaw bridge area gets both.

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

I don’t like to give weather a crack at me. Can you dinghy fuel to the boat? Atlantic City is not a place to be approached after dark, my opinion. Once in by the big marina/casino life is good. The narrows as you turn left from the main channel toward the casino was shallow and tight especially at the sea wall. We also found the approach to the main channel confusing. How do you feel about a night ride and daylight arrival?

[Sparx]

QUOTE: once I leave Cape Henlopen it doesn't seem like I have enough time to get thru the canel and out in the bay.
Is the Cohansey River a good place to ride out the blow?

Monday around noon it looks like its blowing straight down the Delaware bay being so long doesn't that create large fetch? END QUOTE

There is a 1 to 2 knot tidal current to help get up Delaware Bay. For me it has been about 6 hours from Cape Henlopen to the CD Canal, then another 2 hours to get through the canal and into the Chesapeake. So departing Henlopen at 4 pm I would expect to be in the Chesapeake by about midnight. I dont mind running the canal in the dark, the shore is actually well lit.

The wind against the tide in Delawre bay will make some chop. But the wind Monday and Tuesday looks moderate in the forecast I am looking at, and may actually shift north into a close reach. Not to bad to my eye, but I would plan on motoring.

There are two marinas in the CD Canal if I didn't make enough progress. There are good anchorages immediately after the canal in the Chesapeake. I have pulled into these anchorages in the dark, no problem.

Of course riding the 4 am tide up Delaware Bay Wednesday will have the wind at my back and leave just enough time to get through the canal and get settled in the Chesapeake before the big blow arrives.

[snokid]

Thank you Brent!
I'm going for it. Will report back how it went.
Will check back in the morning, while getting one more look at the forcast (predictwind).
Bob

[Joli]

Sandy Hook to Henlopen is doable in a day with a good northern breeze. Granted it’s a long day and you’ll be anchoring in the dark but it’s doable. We made this sail last month, leaving at 7:00 am and dropping a hook in Henelopen around 10:00 pm. We’re to big to go into Cape May but it should work for you and save at least 10 miles for the next leg, up the Delaware. Leave Cape May or Henlopen with a favorable breeze and time it with the tide. We left Henlopen at 11:00 am and anchored in the northern Chesapeake around 10:00 pm. Leaving at 11:00 am we were about 1 hour ahead of the current switching. We had favorable currents all the way.


My wife and I mostly do long days and anchor at night if the approach is straight forward. Like you, we hail from the Great Lakes, we haven’t found ocean sailing much different than the Great Lakes. The waves can be larger but generally the period is greater so the ride is comfortable. The only exception to that was leaving Halifax after a large low, those waves were fairly large with a short period. We were happy to pull into Shelbourne later that day.


Good luck and keep moving south.

[bobnlesley]

I there's a good northerly breeze forecast, why all the concern about fueling up? Provided there's a few hours worth in the tank, just hoist sail and stop the motor. As an aside, we once went into Atlantic City at dark o'clock (partially lit by the lightning I suppose) and found no difficulty with the entrance or the anchorage area just N of the marinas; wouldn't do it (or anywhere) out of choice, but've been in to more that're worse than better.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Sparx

If I was in Atlantic Highlands right now, and needed fuel I would move to the fuel dock at 7 am to get fuelled and gone first thing Monday morning. I would target Barnegat Bay or Atlantic City by Monday evening, and try to get a good rest, then leave early Tuesday with the goal of Cape Henlopen.

If I got to Atlantic City in the afternoon and was feeling up to it I might consider continuing into the night to make Cape Henlopen. The wind looks favorable for running the coast Monday night versus a little lighter and coming south Tuesday afternoon.

Once in Cape Henlopen I would take a rest. There are two departure windows; 4 pm Tuesday or 4 am Wednesday. This timing is to ride the tide up Delaware Bay. With either departure there is time to get into the Chesapeake before the storm arrives. The Chesapeake offers much better places to ride out a blow than Delaware Bay or any where on the NJ coast.

^^ This. Cape Henlopen is a much better choice than Cape May in my opinion, especially if you don't fit under the bridge. I checked the times cited and concur: slack before flood at Delaware Bay Entrance.


I would consider Barnaget and Atlantic City only as bail-outs and focus on Henlopen. Good anchorage inside both the outer and middle breakwaters.

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

I there's a good northerly breeze forecast, why all the concern about fueling up?

Don't go offshore without pressing up tanks. Even a small run like this. It leads to constrained options when something goes wrong.

[Suijin]

You're too tall to fit under the Cape May bridge.

I would NOT go into Barnegat Light under any circumstances with your draft and being unfamiliar with it. Serpentine, constantly shifting shoals once inside with limited anchoring space.

Wind against current at any of the NJ inlets can make them dicey, particularly your first time. Standing waves with deep troughs that can be immensely exciting if you get stuck in one.

If it were me I'd post up at the Coast Guard station at Cape May. Going up the river stay close to the channel for the first few miles if you're on the NE side, depths are less than charted depths in some areas.

[vlathom]

I'd head to Atlantic Highlands to get fuel and overnight. Having anchored at Sandy Hook in a gale, I wouldn't do it again.

[David Sandowich]

I would not consider the Cohansey a place to sit out a northeaster. There are two marinas up the river but all exposed and a nasty current. The whole area although beautiful is a giant marsh with no protection from the wind. Of all the NJ inlets Barneget is most effected by wind an waves esp out of north. Been there often but would avoid unless ideal conditions. Wish you the best . Put the sail up and go.