Which Route to Take North of Norfolk, VA

[lorenzo b]

Should we go up the Chesapeake and down the Delaware to Cape May or go outside to the barrier islands being careful of the weather?
Never been to either. Need your advise.
Thanx

[Alan Brown]

I'd opt for the Chesapeake- C&D Canal- Delaware River route. It's scenic, offers interesting places to stop and explore along the way and is about as hassle-free a trip you'll ever take.

[ActiveCaptain]

I wouldn't go outside unless you had a very, very tight deadline to make. First, you'd be missing one of the best cruising grounds along the entire east coast. Second, there are almost no bail-out points for your draft vessel going outside.

Be safe, take some time, and enjoy the Chesapeake. You can easily spend a year just on the Chesapeake and see very little of it.

[osirissail]

Definitely stay "inside." There is so much history and fabulous places to stop with your boat. Wash D.C., Annapolis, Baltimore, Havre de Grace, Philadelpia to just mention a few "big ones." Then there are tons of little favorites Fishing Bay; Deltaville; Reedville; Oxford; Sassafras; Georgetown; C&D canal; Delaware City; Wilmington; Pea Patch Island; and on and on.
- - Depending upon your draft you may make the long run up/down the N.J. Coast to Atlantic Highlands and then . . . .

[Bruce B]

Done both. Strongly recommend the inside route for the view and the overall experience unless you are way short of time. Keep an eye out for the currents as you can ride the flood/ebb cycle almost all the way from the Bay Bridge to Cape May. B

[motion30]

So which route did u take?

[lorenzo b]

Going up the Chesapeake, very nice and the seas are wild on the outside right now. Need to get up to RI for some family celebrations in late June so we will be moving along as fast as this scow seems to want to go, 6 knts. Could go a little faster, but that Jimmy really screams when you open her up, and I just can't take it for 10 or 12 hours a day. This is my first long haul in a boat and this one is tough to handle, so every few minutes I have one of those anxiety attacks. If I was on land I would take a fistful of barbies an chill a few days, but that not a good idea out here.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

Going up the Chesapeake, very nice and the seas are wild on the outside right now. Need to get up to RI for some family celebrations in late June so we will be moving along as fast as this scow seems to want to go, 6 knts. . .

Whatever you do - DO NOT go direct from the Chesapeake (Norfolk) to the east end of Long Island! You will cross over the edge of the Continental Shelf as the current curve east. In this area is what is known as the "North Wall Event" - that is an area of sea where the northbound currents impact the wall of the Continental Shelf and a huge upwelling of water climbs the wall to the surface. Standing 14+ seas and confused directions make for a ride like in a giant washing machine on heavy duty cycle.
- - Instead follow the New Jersey coastline north and then either east along the south shore on Long Island or up the East River to Long Island Sound then east. When you get past Port Jefferson be careful there are shoals all the way from Long Island to Connecticut that can be nasty.