Need navigation tips from Wildwood, NJ to Corolla, NC (Outer Banks)

[madspeed]

Have a 34' Morgan. Wanted to sail down to Outer Banks (OBX) from Wildwood, NJ. Anyone done this before and what are your recommendations? Need to know length of time for you to sail down, places to dock, etc, etc.

Much appreciated.

Q-man & Captain Jack

"Gilligan's Island, here we come!"

[btrayfors]

Q-Man and Captain Jack,

I assume you're not joking, but just have not looked at any charts.

Corolla, NC on the Outer Banks is located about 34 miles south of Norfolk, VA along a nearly unbroken Atlantic Coast, with no usable inlets nearby. Furthermore, on the inland side is Currituck Sound which is very shallow. You couldn't get a Morgan 34 anywhere close to Corolla.

Nearest deepwater port is Coinjack, NC which is on the Intracoastal Waterway about 5 miles west of Corolla across Currituck Sound.

So, to answer your question, a good route from NJ might be to sail down the coast to Atlantic City, up Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal, down the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk, enter the ICW at Norfolk and head south through Currituck Sound to near Coinjack. There ain't much there, though, and you can't drive from there to Corolla.

All-in-all, I think I'd choose another destination.

Bill

[madspeed]

Thanks for your input. Yes, we've looked at the charts and saw that Currituck Sound was very shallow. Just wanted to see if it was feasible.

Considering the "unpredictable" weather this time of year and conditions around Corolla, you're probably right in choosing another destination. No sense in putting the boat in danger while on vacation - no fun in that!

Cheers,

Q

[btrayfors]

Right!

May I suggest that the Chesapeake Bay offers some of the finest cruising grounds to be found in the U.S., and we're just now coming into the best cruising season (fall).

There are some 5,000 miles of shoreline, lots of wonderful places to explore, good restaurants, etc., etc. One could spend a whole lifetime sailing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

If your vacation is to be a fairly short one, you could concentrate on the Upper Bay (Annapolis and north) where there's a lot to see and do. If the vacation is a long one, you could explore the Middle and Lower Bay, with dozens of attractive and fun places to visit.

Just a thought...

Bill

[Pblais]

I think the group has identified the clear path. Hole up in Portsmouth / Norfolk for an evening of fun then down the ditch to Corolla. Then stay at Sanderling Resort and avoid the trash of Nags Head.