Jersey Coast, Need crew?

[wwilson]

I've been interested in this thread for some additional insight on the NJ shore. I've been cruising from Atlantic City (Absecon Inlet) to Sandy Hook in one long slog.

Also,

I am surprised that Delaware City Marina has not popped up in anyone's comments so far. We have abandoned homely old Reedy Island anchorage in favor of DE City Marina. It is located just a mile and a half north of the C&D canal DE side. It requires some tide for us to get our 6+' draft across, but works very nicely for a comfortable night, a couple pretty good restaurants in town and a full service marina. I will add that we too, much prefer anchoring (in general) but this marina offers a good set-up point for the DE Bay run and a better place to hang when the Wx turns uncooperative.

Wayne

[deniseO30]

Originally Posted by wwilson

I've been interested in this thread for some additional insight on the NJ shore. I've been cruising from Atlantic City (Absecon Inlet) to Sandy Hook in one long slog.

Also,

I am surprised that Delaware City Marina has not popped up in anyone's comments so far. We have abandoned homely old Reedy Island anchorage in favor of DE City Marina

Wayne

WW some of the people from my YC stop there and love it yet complain it's expensve too. I'm not big on spending much to stay at marina's unless i need fuel and water etc. on the boat means i'm on the boat! Utch's in Cape May looks like it may be the exception though at $2 a ft. How long does the "slog" take from AC?

[Melrna]

Denise. Let me know when you go. I will help you with the trip.
Melissa

[wwilson]

Originally Posted by deniseO30

WW some of the people from my YC stop there and love it yet complain it's expensve too. I'm not big on spending much to stay at marina's unless i need fuel and water etc. on the boat means i'm on the boat! Utch's in Cape May looks like it may be the exception though at $2 a ft. How long does the "slog" take from AC?

Yup - I hear ya! DE City Marina is $2.00/Ft + $8 (!) for 30A electricity. That electricity charge that all marinas have "discovered" takes "whatever the market will bear" to the hilt. My monthly charge at my home marina is <$3.00. That said, the DE Bay merits a "treat".

12.5 hours from anchor up at Absecon Inlet to anchor down at Horseshoe Cove anchorage in Sandy Hook on a 40-ft boat - moving along smartly.

btw if you are still feeling frugal when you get to Cape May, anchor by the USCG station to port on entrance from the sea. Holding is good in sand with room for a dozen boats if reasonable scope is in effect.

Wayne

[gershel]

Just a side note on Utschs in Cape May. I believe they charge a nominal fee to anchored boats to use their facilities. Showers, dinghy dock, etc. Many marinas offer the same thing. Sometimes a long hot shower, after a couple of trying days is worth, is worth it.
Marc

[chef2sail]

Wow Wilson,.

12.5 hours is an optimal time. You a pushing it and also thats if you are not fighting the tide coming out NY Bay which can slow you down to 4kog speed. Atlantic City is a milk run from Cape May at 30 miles. The the trip up to Sandy Hook becomes 74 or so.

We usually break the trip up the coast with a run from Cape May to Barnegat which is about 62 miles and then from Barnegat to either Sandy Hook (42 miles) or to Liberty Marina (52 miles) (if the tide is ingoing in NY Bay). Liberty marina is right next to the Statue and across from Manhattan.

Denise, your idea of doing Cape May staying a few days, Going up to Atlantic City (30 miles and maybe staying 2 nights then returning to Cape May to get some experience sailing in the ocean is a good idea of building up to a trip along the coast. You will be navigating 2 of the best inlets in New jersey and get the feel of ocean sailing, which is a whole lot easier than being on the river or on the Chesapeake. My wife actually now prefers it. No crabpots, no powerboats except the inlets, steady wind, dolphins, cool breezes, and no shoals once you are out a few miles.

Dave

[deniseO30]

But 12 - 13 hrs up the coast to sandy hook doesn't sound all that intimidating, especially when daylight is longer in the summer. It takes that long from Bristol pa to the C&D going with current and motor. Where's the anchorage in sandy hook? thanks guys I'm really enjoying this.

[chef2sail]

Its doable, but I prefer to make my two trips up the coast closer to equal and sail them. As well as have a place to "bail out to". Ive never been able to get done that distance in 12 or 13 hours. Thats all I am saying. To do it you will not sail at all unless you can keep a steady 5.75 knots up. You are forced to make the distance, and usually you can only do that by motoring. The problem with that scenario is that after Barnegat you only have one place to duck into (Inlet) and thats Manesquan. Manesquan we have done a few times. The inlet ranks third on ease of entry, but there is no place to anchor, a current which rivals the New England Race and you have to go up past two bridges which must open to stay in an expensive marina. We have avoided this by doing Barnegat and then the trip to Sandy Hoook is a shorter one. Horseshoe Cove is right behind the hook. One you clear Manesquan you have to commit to the 28 miles to Horeshoe Cove. Also when you come back south down the coast you will most likely have the wind on the nose or some part of it as afternoon brezzes at the Jersey Shore are usually SE or S. That makes the distance not possible during daylight.

Usually Lower New York Bay can be quite rough in the late afternoon as the wind has built up, especially with an outgoing tide and the on shore breeze in the summer. The ocean can have 4 foot swells and 15 knots and the bay is like a huge choppy dishwasher with large swells in many different directions, especially on the South Bound trip as in the summer the winds are predominatelty from the S or SE Also you have the big ships which take the Sandy Hook Channel to the Kill van Cul. Most ships go this direction vs the NYC one as the major docks are on the Jersey side.

I am not saying you cannot do it this way, but you will pushed for time and a very long day, not necessarily and enjoyable one. Thats why we break it up differently. Sonmetimes we have even done Barnegat to Atlantic City to Cape May on our trips back south due to heading into the wind.

Dave

[wwilson]

Originally Posted by chef2sail

...I am not saying you cannot do it this way, but you will pushed for time and a very long day, not necessarily and enjoyable one. Thats why we break it up differently. Sonmetimes we have even done Barnegat to Atlantic City to Cape May on our trips back south due to heading into the wind.

Dave

Just to be clear - I too agree with Dave's route to NY. The only reason I make the "slog" from Absecon direct to Sandy Hook is that I've never had the nerve to try Barnegat. I have read with interest Dave's accounts of Barnegat (and have a private message or two from his last summer's LI trip) I will try it next season on my way north - probably July.

Denise, here is a chart showing Horseshoe Cove anchorage located at approx. 40˚26.5'N x 70˚00'W

http://www.c-h-a-r-t-s.noaa.gov/OnLi...er/12324.shtml (take the dashes out of the word charts then paste it in your browser address bar for an interactive view. Sailnet clobbers the URL by making a sales link out of the word)

Also, Dave have you tried Newport Yacht Harbor just a bit further up the Hudson from Liberty Landing? Less expensive than Liberty - knockout view of Manhattan and a very safe pleasant walk to the PATH & Manhattan. Also nearly everything for provisioning the boat. It was $2.25/ft last year (a steal in NY Harbor.)

Wayne

[NautiG]

Wayne,

Barnegat isn't bad at all. It was being dredged the last time I was there. It is just a little confusing. You follow the markers in, and then make a hard left towards the lighthouse and hug the shore. The channel makes a horseshoe inside.

Maybe they've dredged the channel straight in since I've been there. It was a couple summers ago and power boaters were calling left and right for sea tow. I don't think they could figure out the channel.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision