[chef2sail]

Denise,

Sabreman has lots of good information. We never stay anywhere near the shipping channel on the Delaware except at "Cross Ledge" where it is fairly shallow and choppy. We usually motor-main sail our way down and look to try and "play the tides" the best we can. I usually start down the River after anchoring over night behind Reedy Island which is right across from the Nuclear plant at Salem and about 5 miles south of the C&D Canal on the Delaware side. There is a small channel through the rock jetty and behind the Reedy Island you are protected from the tanker wash as well as waves and some wind. In the summer you can get a breeze there also. Most first timers get unnerved by the current which takes precedent over the wind and can have you "anchored" with your stern into the wind. It is no more dangerous or unusual than where you moor your boat I am sure, or the anchorages on the Long Island Sound.

As far as the inlets on the Jersey Shore. Cape May is great. Wide, protected except when you come in in the afternoon you feel you are on the Freeway as the ocean head boats will speed past you digging huge holes in the water rocking you to and fro. No dangers though. You cab anchor off the Coast Guard station, but as I previously posted Utsches is a great choice and very inexpensive.

Next inlet is Herferd (Wildwood/ Stone Harbor) and is unnavigable

Next is Townsend's Inlet- (Avalon/ Sea Isle City movable markers...very dangerous on opposing wind and tides..no pl;ace to anchor once you are in behind the island

Next is Corsons inlet (Sea Isle (Strathmore)/ Ocean city- in unnavigable

Next is Great Egg Harbor (Ocean City (where I lived for 18 years) and Absecon island(Longport)
This inlet is not for novices or non locals. Better than Townsend's but has moving shoals and buoys and has grounded quite a few boats. Wide open with about a 1 mile entrance can get very dicey with opposing wind and tide. I have done this inlet hundreds of times. Places to anchor behind Ocean City.

I would avoid all inlets except Cape may to this point.

Next is Absecon (Atlantic City / Brigantine)- Easy, wide like Cape May, protected. Once in thee inlet to the south is a basin )Clam Creek) which has Farley State Marina (Trump Marina)- 4 bucks a foot, or a little known secret Kammermans across the basin at 2.50 a foot. The best anchorage is an easy one also. Instead of heading into the basin go north across the inlet into a protected cover which has an unmarked channel to a great anchorage.

Next is Little Egg Harbor - treacherous but doable like Great Egg harbor, but I would stay away.

Next is Barnegat- we do this all the time except in very rough weather, where we are not out anyway. Inlet is well marked with a shoal in the middle of it. Strong current and you stay close to the jetty on the north side.

All of the Jersey Inlets are tough with opposing wind and tide as there is usually a good current due to narrow opening from behind the islands bays to the ocean.. Going in an inlet is something. you do with care and speed. We always leave our main up in case the engine should hiccup. Inlets are not to be afraid of, just respected. You gain confidence as you do them, but never let your guard down. They are the next step for someone who wishes to try coastal sailing and has mastered handling their boat. Thats why this guy who has no charts and has a new old untested boat is suicidal.

Denise, I am sure you are ready for this as you have cruised the Chesapeake and done the upper Delaware already. When I taught my wife to sail I introduced the coastal sailing in increments each year. First trip to Cape may and Atlantic Cit ( 27 miles and 6 hours along the coast in the ocean with 2 easy great inlets). Then we added mileage and inlets up the coast. You boat is big enough and sturdy enough to do this and it opens up a whole new world not to mention we leave the Chesapeake for three weeks in July because it is so much cooler on the Jersey Shore and in New England. Sometimes it means we motor sail if we have a destination or have certain miles to make, but we always get some great sail in with the dolphins..**:**)

If you want some help feel free to ask,

Dave