Trip from Long Island to Baltimore

[qatharms]

I join in recommendations for a stop at Cape May to poise for a long day in the Delaware. Utch's is a fabulous marina, and the anchorage in Cape May is dandy.

The mouth of the Cohansey is a fine place to anchor, but be prepared for currents. We frequently found ourselves pointed backwards because of the current. Also, we draw 6.5 feet, and we were sitting on the bottom at low. Not a big problem, but something to be aware of.

In fact, the Delaware is famous for its currents. Don't even go on the Delaware in a NW wind. Traveling upstream at ebb, you might make 2 knots, maybe less.

After the C&D, the Sassafras River is gorgeous. If you run from Cape May, you can safely anchor in the Sassafras in the dark if need be and get well-deserved rest.

Katherine Harms
S/V No Boundaries

[David Sandowich]

We have used Barneget as a stop over between the Del Bay and LI sound. Unless the weather is really nasty it always has been a pretty cut and dry entrance. We draw 5 ft. To decent anchor spots plus fuel.
All other info is good and accurate advice.

[johnvsmithiv]

Thanks again for the comments. I have done the east river against the current in strong wind under....power of course....i would not do that again it was a very rough ride.....i draw 5.9, you were fine at 6.5 so that's sounds to be a good spot for me...i have heard there's alot of issues with shoals from Sandy in the Barneget, Iv been told alot to try and stay out with my draft??

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[Schrewsburyduo]

Re. East river. Make sure you stay in the west side of Roosevelt island. And check about UN meetings because they sometimes close traffic if there are activities.


I second sassafras. I anchored there several times. You can go just inside on the southern side. Very safe and good holding even though you'll be seeing tankers within 1 mile in the channel all night. It's much better than anchoring around cd canal or Bohemia river.

If you have a day to spare, visit havre de grace. A nice little town. Walking distance to everything. Great eating.




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[Schrewsburyduo]

Ps I forgot to say. Stay to the East of Pooles island in the Chesapeake. At all costs.


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[hellosailor]

John-
In good wx the trip is a piece of cake, but in adverse conditions the Jersey inlets can be killers, so please be paranoid about the wx. As there are large shallows well off the JN coast, the water closer in can be way rougher than you might expect, and in adverse conditions (wind vs current) even the USCG and NJSP marine patrols will not run those inlets. So you may need to stay well off and skip most of NJ, if the wx goes wrong. If any of your charts are pre-Sandy, assume whatever they show for the channels in the inlets will be wrong as well.
Otherwise? It can be a beautiful trip.

[tstano]

To help you with those tides that everyone has mentioned, get a copy of the Eldridge Tide and Pilot book.

[dfloeter]

For leaving Cape May and heading north Skipper Bob's book had the right program. He recommended leaving Cape May, I believe but double check this, an hour after low tide which would have a sailboat traveling north on the wave front. We listened to a local power boater and left an hour later than we should have and our 5.5 knots of boat speed dwindled to 3knot over ground by 2 or 3 PM. The next day friends came along who left at the right time and were in Chesapeake City by late afternoon and they had 8-9 knots over ground. We had only made the mouth of the canal by sunset. Have a good trip.

[johnvsmithiv]

The book was the first thing I bought this season as last year was my first big boat season and I learned alot of current and tides the hard way also my Garmin gives the same info also it gives real time data as well......As I stated above last year was my first big boat I g rew up around the Chesapeake and my mother lives in Havre Degrace. Ive had lots of boating experiances, power boats and small 20' (- ) sailing....i got the hang of my big boat relatively easy, kinda comes naturally to me but not over zealous to know I have much to learn.....i am quite nervous to make this trip but confidant enough to know I can. From the talks quite a few of you know these routes well for that I am grateful for all the replies.......anyone want to go along on the trip?

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[MIRELOS]

going on the outside of LI will add 90nm out to Montauk from City Island and the whole of LI Atlantic coast...not good
City Island is right by the entrance to the East River, best bet

[MIRELOS]

Sandy Hook is a good anchorage for the night, Atlantic City also, Cape May good stop.
In the Delaware you have two spots to anchor; Reed Island, tricky entrance but protected and also right by the entrance to the CD canal, the rest is easy (plenty of anchorages) depending on the weather.
Which Marina in Baltimore?, I'll be at The Anchorage, was there last summer and I really liked it.
Enjoy the sail

[Liunatic]

Johnsmithiv,
I pm'd you regarding "anybody want to come with"

[JerseyJoe]

Originally Posted by johnvsmithiv

Question how is the entrance to atlantic city I heard it's rough?

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AC is the easiest inlet between Manasquan and Cape May. The main thing is to not cut the northern corner of the entrance buoy between the northern shore and the buoy, that is where there is shoaling. If you have a flood tide you can just ride the swells in. If you are lucky the two resident dolphins will greet you at entrance buoys. You can anchor just outside the Coast Guard Station to port side of channel above the bridge if the easterly wind is not too strong. Otherwise I would take a transient slip at Gardiner's or Kammerman's (cheaper than Farley's) if you want a sound sleep.

I've done this trip numerous times. If you leave City Island 1 hr, 45 minutes before low/high tide at Battery Park you'll have no problem with Hell Gate. I overnight at Coast Guard Station on Sandy Hook. Have held well even in good blows. If you plan to make AC before dark you will need to leave before 4-5 if there is light or no wind. I've left as early as 1 a.m. and had to motor sail to make AC by 6 p.m. Giving time to negotiate inlet in light and set up anchor or settle into a slip. Of course I baby my 37 y/o engine though. You might not need to.

You really do not want to have to opt for Barnegat Light unless you have done it in best conditions a couple of times. Even the Coast Guard has problems from time to time with this inlet.

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by David Sandowich

We have used Barneget as a stop over between the Del Bay and LI sound. Unless the weather is really nasty it always has been a pretty cut and dry entrance. We draw 5 ft. To decent anchor spots plus fuel.

I'd second the recommendation of Barnegat, as well. Assuming the OP is making this trip down the coast in reasonably settled weather, with no significant swell running, of course. From Sandy Hook stopping in Barnegat breaks up the trip a bit more evenly, pushing on to AC can sometimes make for a long day, especially if the sea breeze comes up in the afternoon... Not to mention, if wanting to hit the casino in AC, the Farley State Marina has to rate as one of the biggest rip-offs anywhere on the East coast :-)

3 days from Sandy Hook to Baltimore might be a bit ambitious for someone making a trip of this length for the first time, and you'd need fortuitous timing with the tide in Delaware Bay to make it all go smoothly. I'd suggest figuring on an extra day, probably spending one at leisure in Cape May, which is a wonderful place to hang out, in any event... Treat yourself to a nice marina stay at Utsch's or South Jersey, and a great dinner at Lucky Bones...

There's no doubt dozens of iPhone apps that help plan your run up the Bay, but I've still never found anything easier to use or more reliable than this old current diagram that NOAA used to include in their tide books a couple of decades ago... Why they ever stopped printing it will always be a mystery to me...

Perhaps they assume no one knows what to do with a set of parallel rules any more?

:-)

[JerseyJoe]

Originally Posted by Windwalker44

The East River can be a great adventure or a nightmare and its all in the timing. You want to ride the current down the river while Hudson Bay is emptying. If its a weekday then its a heavily used commercial traffic way and at your size you won't have any time for sightseeing, its survival. Then I've gone through the city on a Sunday morning and been the only boat in sight. Depending on your mast height stay west of Roosevelt Island.
If you need to quit early on day 1 after you pass the battery there's an anchorage behind the Statue of Liberty.
Depending on your draft the anchorage at Rum Cove in Atlantic City is ideal. Right across from the Coast Guard Station, but the entrance is tight.
Stay next to the grass bank with your port side entering.

Agree. Sunday's are best day to avoid onslaught of commercial traffic and commuter ferries. If you plan to see Statue add a day and anchor in cove behind Statue near golf course.