[RichH]

Suggest that you wait at the Engineer''s Cove on the C&D for a favorable tide. Leave about 1-1/2 hour before tide change, and get flushed most of the way down the Del Bay. I usually plan for a tide that closely coincides with a 5 AM slack - to arrive at Cape May in the mid afternoon. Either download a tidal flow prediction program from the web that includes the C&D canal or get a copy of Eldridge Tide Tables; but, be aware that NW or SE winds will greatly affect Del. Bay tidal flow. Also, if there has been a lot of recent heavy rain on the Upper Delaware R. you will get quite a boost from the flow in the upper bay. If the winds are light from the SW and the weather is good and you are early, you can anchor on the bay near the western shore of the bay well below the nuclear power plant (but stay *well* out of the busy ship channel).

IMPORTANT - Avoid the Del. Bay if greater than moderate NW or SE winds are predicted !!!

The Delaware shore of the Del Bay is notorious for quickly generating HUGE thunderstorms (and not predicted nor broadcast by NOAA); if large convective clouds are generating, consider delaying. The Del. Bay is NO place to be when its a ''snotty cauldron''.

You can anchor inside Cape May (ocean inlet), just behind the Coast Guard station near the docks. Consider anchoring with two anchors (bahamian moor) as the tidal flow inside can be quite fast; if there is a wind up, you will undoubtedly ''sail'' all over a single anchor.