Norfolk to East Hampton NY spring passage

[SV Norma Mae]

Good morning all,
I’m planning on taking my Caliber 40 from Lower Chesapeake Bay to Eastern Long Island . I’ve done the trip a few times in early June, and the weather windows were no problem. This year I need to make the trip 2nd week in May.

Just wondering if that is doable, weather wise.?
I’ve become a fair weather sailor, 3-4 ft seas is about all I want to encounter,,,

Thanks,

[SailingHarmonie]

You say you “need to make the trip the second week in May.”

That’s the kind of thing that get sailors in trouble, when they “need” to be somewhere at a specific time. Your question really is not about looking for a weather window, you want someone to tell you the weather will be good for an easy passage in a specific week a month away.

Can you get a good weather window for a 3 day northbound voyage in May? Yes, of course. Will you get one for the exact week you need to go? Nobody knows!

[SV Norma Mae]

Let me rephrase that,
I would like to, do the trip 1st/2nd week May.
Just looking for some input from those who have done that time of year.

Thanks

[SailFastTri]

As written above, nobody knows.
If you want play around with historical figures look at this https://www.wunderground.com/history...ST/date/2022-5

[bensolomon]

I sailed Rock Hall, md to New York harbor in May two years ago. As you would expect, it is doable. It was cold as could be at night, and I had double reefed during the night as the wind dictated. The seas matched, but it was never uncomfortable, until we went into Absecon (Atlantic city) for a quick stop. There was a standing wave there.

Are you going to go up the bay, or all outside? Is Shinnecock your destination?

[Scrimshaw4]

Weather windows and sea state will govern your time period just the way it does when planning any trip. Two sites that you might want to start using to see what the forecasts will be are Windy.com and Tides4Fishing.com. The key is departure flexibility on you behalf. If you're doing a mostly inside passage, Norfolk, C & D, Cape May, NYC, LI Sound to East Hampton you'd have plenty of opportunities to duck in if the forecasts don't measure up to reality. In this case past history is definitely NOT an indication of the future weather, particularly the way the weather has been in the mid-Atlantic so far this year. JMHO

[phorvati]

The fronts get weaker and weaker as summer arrives. I do simmilar trip offshore in the spring, typically first week in april. If you force it, you will get smacked. This is what I was caught in, about 75nm east of Delaware bay last year. 1st week in April. My armchair sailor friends had a good laugh as I limped into Cape May due to crew morale and misery level.
So keep it flexible. This year I was going to do that trip this weekend and wisely opted not to.

[Kd9truck]

I wil be crewing a wee bit more south in that same time frame.
Also I am making a trip from Hancock Harbor on the Delaware around cape May up thru the city and out to oyster bay, Long Island sound the first week in April. The only thing I will be sitting out is if the wind is blowing from the north. You could go up the Chesapeake down the Delaware and then take the Long Island sound to the forks. It will limit your sea state exposure to about 180 miles and if you stay near shore you will limit it even more.
The prevailing westerly’s can run between the 20-30 knot range off shore this time of year and my friends who power out to “the canyon” (200 nm miles off Long Island is very productive fishing grounds) they say the marine forecast is always at least 5 knots under actual conditions.
There is no shame in the reluctance of taking a vessel off shore especially if you or the vessel and all its systems are not boom proof. I love going through NYC it is impressive to me.
If you are going thru the city as a plan B try to hit the start of the incoming tide you can ride it thru to execution rocks (the start of the true sound) in under 2 hours.
Cheers

[thomm225]

Since you are from this area, you should know that Spring winds in early May can crank up really fast and really strong.

It's not at all like in mid June or so.

[boatpoker]

Lots of Canadians do it every year on their way back north. Dress warm and pay attention to the weather like any other time.
Keep an eye out for DIRT FREE we'll be doing it early/mid May just like the last 11 times

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Lots of Canadians do it every year on their way back north. Dress warm and pay attention to the weather like any other time.
Keep an eye out for DIRT FREE we'll be doing it early/mid May just like the last 11 times

Yeah but you can run away from weather as you are on a power boat.

Not to be compared with a sailboat with a tiny engine.

Totally different scenario......

Maybe you should try sailing up.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Yeah but you can run away from weather as you are on a power boat.

Not to be compared with a sailboat with a tiny engine.

Totally different scenario......

4 different boats. two of which were sailboats.
My current trawler has a 50hp engine, we travel at 7kts.
The vast majority of Canadian boats doing this are sailboats (about 10 to one)

How many times have you done this trip ?

[Scubaseas]

Really only one day (coming Cape May to NYC) that you might find it hard to duck and cover. Like post#5 said it can be cold at night. I've done it a couple of times but a while ago. Any of the Jersey inlets can be a bad choice. If you have 8 to 10 days window for weather you'll probably be fine. Cape May and behind Red Hook are good bail out points if you have to wait for a front to pass. Eldridge for tides will be essential for heading up the East River and for the Sound. If you can change your comfort to 4 to 6' seas will make an even better chance of having a decent weather window.