Boston to Chesapeake

[Springbok]

Are there channels/canals joining Boston MA to the Cheasepeake or would one have to sail S in the Atlantic to do this journey and if so how difficult, best time of year, still against current etc Need info/advice please

[Tempest245]

The only time you HAVE to be on the Atlantic is along the coast of NJ ...from Sandy Hook to Manasquan and then depending on your draft Maybe Barnegat Inlet to Atlantic City....Atlantic City to Cape May....best to get a couple of Cruising Guides that offer alot of good information...

The Route goes something like this: Basically, the Intracoastal Waterway

Cape Cod Bay to Cape Cod Canal to Buzzards Bay to Block Island Sound to Long Island Sound, to East River to NY harbor...around Sandy Hook, N.J. to Manasquan Inlet to Point Pleasant Canal to Barnaget Bay...Depending on your draft...you may want to exit the Bay at the Barnaget Inlet and then back in at Atlantic City..AC to Cape May...( dependant on Mast Height) Cape May Canal to Delaware Bay to Chesapeake Canal...into the Chesapeake Bay....

Not overly difficult...Catching favorable currents are essential in places like the Cape Cod Canal, The Race of LI..the East River...The point pleasant Canal.....desirable in and out of the inlets along the jersey coast...and the Canals...

Prevailing winds in the summer months are SW for most of this ..Spring might be best...for wind....

This is not a difficult trip, but it does pose some challenges...and requires some research....it holds an infinite number of options for layovers.....take a look on google earth and the overall journey and then consult some of the cruising guides....tides and currents are very important...

[chuckr]

agree with tempest245-- i have done the cheaspeake bay to cape cod single handed and from cheaspeake bay to gloucester and north and back with the admiral - it is fairly stright forward and sailing depends on the winds - we have had at times both to much and not enough - there are a lot of places to anchor and wait on the weather -
you also need to read and understand Reeds for the tides - you need to run the tides at a couple of places and if you go against them you can get into major issues -
to cape may we view there are two options - the first is from city island ny to sandy hook and layover then continue the next day
the second is a direct run from city island to cape may which is about a 24 hour run and the one we do -- not a tough run if you watch the weather -
also if your mast exceeds 56' and ours is 56' you need to go outside from cape may to delaware bay as there is a low bridge 56' i think - so again you need the correct tides and weather to round cape may point
just my thoughts
chuck patty and svsoulmates
on a mooring miami reprovisioning for the bahamas