Dan and Martha Bliss, Brunelle
July 15, 2010
Martha and I have decided we are not going through with the plans for our trip north. It is not just because of my fear of the Delaware Bay; our schedule just got too complicated. I don't believe that anyone was planning to go along so I don't expect that this will disrupt anyone else's plans (I sure hope not!).
We have signed up for the Catalina Rendezvous and we hope to see some of you there. We will miss Baltimore because we have to be in NH for a wedding that weekend.
Dan
July 6, 2010
Brunelle is still planning to do this trip. We have had some of you indicate interest but don't think anyone committed. Please let us know if you are planning to tag along as soon as possible so we can work together on the departure date (planned for July 24th or a couple of days earlier if it works).
April 14, 2010
My last installment covered a lot of the hard work that we will have to get "north". I have been studying the Waterway Guide and have created a list of places Martha and I would like to get to. I list them in no particular order except that I would generally prefer to go to our furthest point and then work our way back.
If weather allows us to go from Atlantic City to Block Island we would plan to anchor in Great Salt Pond* (* means we have been there) for a couple of days (moorings and slips are also generally available). From there we might try to go on to Cuttyhunk*, Vinyard Haven*, and Nantucket* (neat if we can do it). Heading back we would try for Newport* and Bristol*, RI. Then go on to Stonington* and Mystic*, CT. I'd like to check out Niantic, CT and then go on to Oyster Bay* and Manhasset Bay* on the Long Island side of the Sound.
Get a Waterway Guide Northern and read up on some of these stops. We probably can't do them all but we'll consider them. Ideally it would be 5 days to get up there, two weeks exploring, and 5 days to get back.
Hope you are thinking about it.
Dan
Hi, All!
I received a fair amount of feedback on my request for input on anchoring on the Delaware Bay/River (see Comments below).
Much of the feedback was "let me know what you learn"! A few stressed the same that Martha and I have usually done…plan to go the whole way. Some offered ideas but others contradicted them. I spent some time on Active Captain and got no additional great ideas. The Waterway Guide suggests stopping behind Reedy Island Dike leaving the river at green can "3R" and heading west for green daybeacon"1" and quick flashing red light "2". These two markers lead through the dike to a patch of deep water behind the island and dike that is used as an anchorage by local fishermen. May be worth a try if necessary.
We will plan to go the the whole way. We plan to go a week later than we originally posted. The plan will be to head off on the 24th of July. If those that choose to go along have flexibility we may leave a day or two early, all DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.
It is 39 nm from the Bay Bridge to Veasey Cove on the Bohemia River (if anyone catches a mistake on any of my distances, please let me know ASAP). From there it is 19 nm to the Delaware River (with the current running with us through the C ∠ D most of the way per Eldridge) or 4 hours. The run down the river/bay is 50 nm (56 if you are like most of us that have to go around because of the 55' bridge if you enter the Cape May Canal from the west). The current will be with us much of the way, especially in the narrow part. That should be 10 hours (11 for those going around). Sunrise is 6:00 AM and sunset is 8:00 PM. We will leave before the crack of dawn and get in at dusk. The South Jersey Tuna Tournament is the week before, so things should not be too crazy in Cape May.
That's the plan. A SE wind makes it all tougher and...etc.
It is 80 nm (16 hours) on to Atlantic City (another LONG day). It is 75 nm (15 hours) to Atlantic Highlands or 170 nm to Block Island (34 hours, day-night-day trip).
For your info, I use www.saltwatertides.com when I am looking for tides that aren't in Eldridge. I found current charts for Delaware Bay that I printed out from Reed's Nautical Almanac.
The schedule will show us leaving on the 24th of July. Let me know if you want to join us. We can do further planning together.
Dan (Brunelle)
March 2, 2010
Hi all.
We are trying to get some help with the plans for sailing North in July. We plan to leave July 17 and so we would probably be sailing down the Delaware on the 18th or 19th or 20th (as usual, depending on a whole bunch of things not the least of which is weather).
I have an attitude problem with the Delaware. I find it a long run and usually uncomfortable. When we run it we try to schedule it with the current…the current is wrong these 3 days (running north most of the day). We have always had trouble picking a spot to anchor for the night. We anchored once behind the Hope Creek Jetty (Jon Van Tassel's suggestion - and it was OK) and once behind the "artificial island" at the mouth of Alloway Creek (my idea - and it wasn't very good).
Has anyone had any luck finding a good spot to anchor bay?
Your input would be appreciated.
Dan Bliss (Brunelle)
March 2
Unfortunately, I don't have a real good answer for you.
BUT…if you start your run of the Delaware from the anchorage just south of Reedy Island, about 2 miles SO. of C&DO, you may be able to adjust your departure time to avoid the strongest opposing current in the bay.
When I researched your question with the Waterway Guide, charts, etc for our trip to Maine in 2007, the best I could come up with is the Cohansey River…close to the 1/2 way point. So, we over-nighted at a marina on the Cohansey. NEVER AGAIN!! (Green flies, no-see-ums, not a great marina).
PLEASE let me know if you find a suitable overnight location along the run from C&DO canal to Cape May.
Dave Gierisch (Claddagh)
March 2
The two times I did it we just timed it for best favorable Ches DE canal current/ Delaware River current is – really do not want to buck the current as you get close to artificial Island or of course in the canal – it can make for a VERY long day. It really is better to plan on a run for best current for direction that you are headed regardless of time of day. Leave Bohemia river at slack for C/D canal and run as long as you can down Delaware to Cape May. I would accept a current against me in the lower DE River to get push at Artificial Island and definitely canal. I have never heard of an acceptable anchorage – WIDE open… Also a total surprise to me was the total pitch black of Cape May canal – thank God for radar. ALSO there is a swing bridge MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE OPEN SIDE!
Pete Bruzik (Pekabu)
March 2
We have done the Delaware bay 3 times but always straight through and we are also interested in where to anchor as out mast is too high to use the Cape May Canal. The Northern Waterway guide offers a few suggestions and I spoke to one of my neighbors who anchored behind Reedy Island/dike. I have ordered a new Waterway guide as the one I have is old and hope they have more ideas. We have anchored in Cape May harbor, Manasquan River, and Sandy Hook Bay but these are on the other side. If you get any other Ideas we would appreciate the as we are planning to go North in June.
Dave Zonderman (Walkabout)
March 2
At the mouth of the bay, on the Delaware side right near the ferry, there is free dockage for a night at Lewes, and the boats might be able to raft up. It is on a first come, first serve basis with electricity, too.
Mike deBettencourt (Two Drifters)
March 3
I have also anchored just this side of the canal and then made a long day motor/power sailing. I have also anchored in Cape May along with 200 other snow birds fleeing the winter. Crowded and not fun.
Jon Van Tassell (Escapade)
March 3
You can try the West side of Pea Patch Island and further down the Maurice River. You need to go about 2 or 3 miles up the river to find a good spot. But the current always runs strong.
Don McBride (Coelumar)
March 3
I can't really help since we never anchored in Delaware Bay. I have made the trip down or up or both ways in the Delaware Bay several times. In our powerboat it wasn't an issue since we were doing 25 knots. In sailboats (C30 and C&C38) we anchored at Chesapeake City and then just toughed it out to Cape May. We always had very calm seas, but I know it can get pretty ugly with with short steep waves. Also, we entered the ocean at the mouth of the bay heading south one night and there were fishing boats trailing big nets everywhere. It was confusing and frightening.
There is plenty of daylight in July so you could always just make a long day of it and fight the current for six hours.
Gerry Helldorfer (Ragtime)
March 3
I have voyaged to New England the last three summers, and each time, I would use the ebb tide to motor down the Delaware River. The trip takes about 8-9 hours from the C&D canal to Cape May and has been fairly easy with the tide in my favor. I would think twice about motoring down with an opposing current-particularly with the possibility of wind from the East.
Travel time to the C&D Canal is about a full day of motor sailing and the C&D Canal, or vicinity offers a safe place for anchoring for the night.
I bet you already know the obvious, so good luck in your plans.
Rich Murphy, (Semper Fi)