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Delmarva 2009

29K views 222 replies 41 participants last post by  badsanta 
#1 ·
Just as the title says. I wanted to gauge interest in doing a circumnavigation trip around the delmarva peninsula. I'd prefer to do it in my own boat and wanted to look for crew crazy enough to do it with me, or crew for a larger boat. Worst case would be for me to get a fleet of boats together for the trip which would greatly increase the safety factor. It takes about a week, allow 2 weeks for weather, rest, and a chance to visit areas along the bay. I've never done an offshore trip before. That seems to have me thinking twice about it, but I don't believe that its an unreachable goal. Most people I've talked to say that a spartan 25' boat has no business cruising the coast. If I'm crazy, please feel free to let me know, as I appreciate all advice and opinions. Merits have done trips to HI from CA and sailed back (single handed mind you) without incident.

If looking to crew for me, I'd be more than happy to explain the provisions (or lack there of) of the boat and my experience. Seems that the most difficult part of the trip would be from ocean city to the mouth of the bay. Its about 140 miles of coastal cruising and around 440 miles total.

Thanks for reading.
 
#3 ·
I have been thinking the same. I have a friend in the next berth that is also going and we were planing to follow each other. maybe this will lead to a flotilla of sorts. Maybe at the start or end of next years raft up. keep it going!!
 
#4 · (Edited)
zz:

Is this your boat? SPARTAN 25 (BUCHANAN)

My home port is at Indian River, DE and have also contemplated the circumnavigation in my Helms 25. From what I've read, you can go through the bays and channels inside to Cape Charles. You would have to research using local knowledge for water depth and some bridge heights. If you Google "Delmarva Circumnavigation" you can see some good reading. Here is an example http://cblights.com/cruising/DelmarvaCircumnavigation.pdf
I have done the circumnavigation of Rehoboth Bay, Lewes/Rehoboth Bay Canal, Delaware Bay, Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Inlet, Indian River Bay loop. Its a full dawn to dusk trip in the spring for the longest daylight.
Feel free to PM me after you read some of the articles and books on the Delmarva Circumnavigation. I have a swing keel and would be very interested in taking the Chincoteague Bay route from Ocean City to Cape Charles.
 
#5 ·
You are not 'crazy' although many will tell you that you are. People have done this in smaller boats. You are crazy if you stick to dates and timetables instead of waiting for whether windows though.
There is a really funny book about a guy, his boy and a cat sailing down the east coast in a boat smaller then yours in the early 1900's. Amazon.com: The Boy, Me, and the Cat: Henry Plummer: Books
He sailed from MA to FL and back without losing his son, just the cat.
It is funny from the historical perspective. You might enjoy it as I did.
Good luck on you circumnavigation plans in '09.
 
#6 ·
I hear it's all near impossible to get a sail boat into ocean city with the current and power boats. The people I have talked to that have done this make a straight run from cape May to Norfolk 30-40 hours, But i am still looking forward to it.
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
ZZ4gta,

I have wanted to make this trip for many years. I tried many times before I sold my boat to get crew with no luck. It seemed no one could take the time off.

With that said If you need crew or any of the others that make the trip do, let me know. I generally take June and July off and would be available in that time frame. I live and have sailed the Chesapeake for years. but never made that trip. There is also a route plan in Shellenburgers, "Cruising The Chesapeake, a gunkholers guide.
 
#9 ·
Well I'm glad I'm not going to be committed to an asylum. Wayne25, I just finished reading that PDF, great info and detailed write up. The link you show isn't my boat, I have a Merit 25, more racer than cruiser.

Everyone, looks like we need to start posting up probably dates to take off, b/c my job (I'm sure is like yours) doesn't like losing an employee for 2 weeks w/o notice. Any suggestions on favorable weather?

Badsanta: A suggestion, if you and your friend want to start it off, I'll meet you in the potomac and start heading north.

Chuck: we can meet up with you as you proposed.

PS - I'm meeting potentially 2 others who are interested to talk about details, and timelines, but have a feeling they'll be looking for rides, and not supplying a boat.

Sailking1 - if you're not annoying, I'd be happy to pick you up coming in from the Atlantic. Or if you don't mind a drive, I sail out of the potomac about 6 miles from the bay. MD side.
 
#10 ·
I've toyed with the idea of trying this trip next year, though I may have to do it more as either multi part trip, or a death march, cause I'm not getting 2 weeks off.

I was actually thinking of doing it as a single trip in 10 days or less, or moving the boat up north, close to the canal over a long weekend, then taking the 10 days to go from Chesapeake City down the Delaware, the Atlantic leg and back around to Deltaville with plenty of time to explore the lower bay on the way back up.
 
#11 ·
zz4gta,
Interesting thought! I've been thinking about a Delmarva circumnavigation for several years. Where would you be starting from? I have a 36 foot Pearson in Rock Hall. My wife wouldn't be interested in coming and I'd be looking for crew if I were to join the flotilla. I could take a week off to do this so I'd want to be back in 9 days. This sounds like a great idea.
 
#13 · (Edited)
The 2 guys I'm meeting tonight are looking for a boat, I will definitely let you know. Both of them have boats, but neither is comfortable taking them offshore. Both I believe are near the South river / Rhode river.

Edit: how about I answer all your questions! lol anyway, I'll be starting from mid-bay out of the Potomac, badsanta is also in that area. I plan to do a clockwise trip, weather and wind cooperating.
 
#12 ·
I'm telling my work I need 2 weeks off, but honestly don't expect (or hope) for it to take nearly that long. I figured if I allowed 2 weeks, 10 working days, then I would lessen the urgency of trying to get it done in short order. I'm meeting a few of the 'boys' tonight for drinks to discus dates. I'm thinking late May or June. Weather shouldn't be too bad.
 
#14 ·
A few years back (late '90s, maybe), a retired CG Captain did this trip in his Bayfield 25, solo. He recounted the trip, in serial format, in Messing About in Boats. It was a good read.

He was able to transit several of the many small inlets along the Atlantic coast of Delmarva, south of Ocean City. He emphasized that charts were unreliable in this area due to constantly shifting shoals. He made a point of contacting the local Coast Guard stations to get the very latest local knowledge before entering an inlet. In some cases, they came out and showed him the way in (possibly because of his CG connections).

One of the things that sticks in my memory from that account was the trouble he had with bugs/flies/mosquitoes. I think he set-off in mid-May to try to avoid the worst of them, but they were still pretty bad.

With adequate prep and precautions, I would think the improved sailing ability of your Merit would be an advantage, if not quite as comfortable as the Bayfield 25.
 
#16 ·
ZZ

I've made this a goal for myself for next year as well... We may just get a bunch of us...!

I'm planning on taking a month or so off this summer too... Late May - June is so far kinda open for my schedule...

I think Cruising World (I KNOW you don't have a subscription to that non racing rag) had an article last year in a Delmarva C-Nav.

Craig
 
#17 ·
I would be very interested in making this trip in my boat. Please keep me in mind for starting dates and a meeting or jump off place.

Thanks
 
#22 ·
Chincotegue is note a good place for putting in. Heavy watermen traffic, shallow depth and changing channel with bad shoaling. Also no marinas to speak of. Its pretty much a run all the way outside unless you have less than 3 ft draft.
 
#19 ·
ZZ, I thought you were at Dahlgren, if so you are above me in colonial beach and I am 40 miles to the Chesapeake. Cobb island is across the river from me. Keep me posted.
 
#21 · (Edited)
Santa, I just did a trip from Cobb (Pirate's Den Marina) to St. George is. I thought it was only ~26 miles to the bay?

C2, as you saw, chuck is down for a partial trip. I'd be more than happy to pick up a crew member on my boat, but its a stripped racer. Nothing but essentials down below (sails, sh!tter, and safety gear). If you want to do it in your own boat, get with Chuck and meet us up near the Del canal. Or somewhere else. I'm open to suggestions. I'm looking to make some pretty good time on this trip considering most can only take off a week at a time. 6 days seems to be the norm with decent weather. BTW I actually have a subscription to Ches. bay boater, so I'm not ALL racer. :p However, if you'd like to make a friendly wager to which would include a drink or two, I'd be down to see who crosses the tunnel first! hahaha

Xort, I was under the impression that after OC there were places south of that but all had shoals that moved without warning.

Freesail, keep this page on your favorites, b/c the guys I talked to tonight are all about making the trip. If you could find a decent spot to meet you, I'm sure we could time it right to swing by.

For anyone else who is thinking of meeting up, don't be afraid to say so, I'm getting PMs about people wanting to do the trip and either provide a boat or crew for someone else. Should be a blast and the longest part of the trip seems to be the offshore section between OC and the mouth of the bay. If your on the way, please suggest local places that are sailboat friendly so we can pin down some good spots and start planning specific days. Late may/ early June is looking pretty good right now. If we can plan it over labor day weekend, then that would give us an extra day to sail w/o having to use vacation time.

For anyone who wants a great ride, I plan to take a full set of sails to include 2 mains, 2 jibs, one genoa, and 2 chutes. Just in case we get a little over confident blow out a couple. :D

I'll keep ya posted.
 
#23 ·
Cool! Your idea of "pretty good time".. as compared to others may be different! hehhehe.... (I think we have the same idea of what that means though..)

Thinkin' of takin' my boat and convincing my Dad to join on his too!

Safety in numbers!

Totally interested!
 
#25 ·
HAHah!

No worries on the BFS! (although I don't hate that thread....)

This could turn out to be a great cruise...!! Perhaps a "splash" of competition thrown in for good measure provided it doesn't detract from the fun of the whole thing... Primary objective should be in my opinion "great experience and camaraderie."

[start condescending voice] I think it's cute how you think you can sail faster than me. Cute. Really. Cute.... [pats you on top of the head]

ANYWAY.... :D :D :D :p

Totally a great idea.. maybe we could come up with a rough plan of stops along the way. Then, everyday [or every other day or on select legs] could be a race between you and I (and any others) to the next rendezvous point. Winner get's a free beer or three that evening... :) :D :D :D

That would maintain the primary objective (my opinion) of a great cruise and camaraderie while adding a few legs of competitive fun along the way for those that are interested! Just a suggestion...

Fun Discussion!
 
#28 ·
We attempted a circumnavigation last summer from Galesville south to go out to the canyons and fish under sail 30 miles out of the entrance taking a round route to Cape May. Great start buy we ran into rough weather in the middle of the night at the mouth, lost the engine, and decided to sail back to the mouth of the Rappahanock and recover. Sailed back home. Now everything is fixed and may try it again next summer, but I allocated only six days for the whole thing. (We sailed in shifts). Here's a couple pics and clips of the trip.
Picasa Web Albums - Moe - JuneSailFishi...

Moe
 
#29 ·
Moe, we'd be delighted to have you join us for the trip.

We can work some PHRFing into this in a very subtle sort of way. You can get up at 6 and start and I'll roll out of the bunk at 730 or so....!
40 knots on the stern indeed... (note to self need to get the chute)
Tell you what. If you get tired, we can always pull your boat along as a dinghy behind mine
I have a friend with a chute from a flying scott you could cut your teeth on. Don't want to "over power" your cruiser. :p
And I saw those "trophies" you posted in another thread. I've set off mortars on the 4th of July that were double the size of those paper weights.

Disclaimer: I used to drag race/ street race for the better part of a decade, so trash talking is as important as the actual race. ;)

Back on topic. We need to look at tides, prevailing winds, ports of interest, and try to get a head count of who's a definite. I'll come up with a list tomorrow when I should be working.
 
#31 ·
Oh btw, have you mentioned the obscenity you call a traveler to your yacht club? I believe if your traveler exceeds your beam, you must take a 10 sec/mile hit in your rating. Flying buttresses require less exterior support than that monstrosity.

<--- checking the chesbay rule book.....:laugher

I'm out, my beers are dry, the rum is gone, and I'm out of smokes...
 
#32 ·
Oh btw, have you mentioned the obscenity you call a traveler to your yacht club? I believe if your traveler exceeds your beam, you must take a 10 sec/mile hit in your rating. Flying buttresses require less exterior support than that monstrosity.

<--- checking the chesbay rule book.....:laugher

I'm out, my beers are dry, the rum is gone, and I'm out of smokes...
BAhahhahahaha!
Point ZZ!

I may have extended my traveler for other 'compensation' reasons!

heh :D :D
 

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#33 ·
This is a trip I've been wanting to do as well. I'll have to see if the timing works.

Quickly looking at the chart, it's a 360nm journey, with 150nm of it offshore, that's a 24+/- hour trip up the coast with no great options to duck in, but in a pinch there are a few. Questions are go up or down the coast & layovers.

It could be (read either clockwise or counter) Annapolis to Solomons to Irvington or Mobjack Bay to Cape Charles or Hampton/Norfolk then offshore to Cape May then Chesapeake City and back to Annapolis. It would be a workable schedule,not too rushed, about a week or so depending on weather. Anyone could hook up with the fleet any any location as it passes.

Then again, only if I can work it into my schedule, and if so I may be looking for an extra hand or two.
 
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