[Esprit De Mer]

Hello
I am planning a passage from Annapolis to East Hampton NY.
I plan on going through the C&D Canal then down the Delaware bay.
Has anyone had experience anchoring in the Cohansey River?
Cohansey River:
Location: Delaware Bay
Mile Marker: Mile 34
Lat / Lon: N 39° 21.200' / W 075° 21.600'
Depth: 15-25 Feet
Holding: Good, Mud
Protection: All Around
Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Ulladh]

If you time your passage with the ebb tidal current in the Delaware Bay, passage from Reedy Point to Cape May is possible depending in boat SOG without a need to stop at Cohansey.

However I always stop in the Cohansey (small slow boat). The entrance to the Cohansey was remodeled by Sandy but stay close to the Green entrance pylon and good mud bottom anchorage about 15ft at low tide just inside the entrance, on green port side, a bit exposed to winds from all directions across the low wetlands. Open water between the green pylon and land was land before sandy and is now a shallow bar.

Continue up the winding river to Hancock Harbor for fuel, $1/ft docks with electric and water and restaurant open summer weekends.

 

[Esprit De Mer]

Thanks Ulladh
I was going to try and make it to Cape May, but leaving from Annapolis, I don't think I can make it. Also, going up the Jersey coast to New York Harbor from Cape May looks pretty lengthy. So my thought was, go from Annapolis to Canhansey, then go from Cohansey to Atlantic City. From Atlantic City to NY Harbor should be doable.

 

[RichH]

I havent been into the Cohansey River in 2-3 years; but, at that time the entrance area had all changed and the 'usual' anchorage area in the cove just to the east of the entrance (to the east of the small island with flashing white 4 sec. light) was all changed/shoaled in; plus, the river entrance navigation marks at that time required passage to the west of 'all' marks, including the GREEN entrance mark. At that time I couldnt get into the Cohansey Cove (east of the River entrance) at low tide with a 6 ft. draft.
The Cohansey River itself is a quite swiftly flowing river at mid tide (~6ft. range).

Hopefully one or two of those 'local' to the Cohansey will report on the present 'outside' anchoring (Cohansey Cove) and entrance channel conditions to both the river and Cohansey Cove .... and the current conditions of emerging thick clouds of 'midges' during springtime, especially during a new moon.

 

[Ulladh]

The entrance to the Cohansey is thick with greenheads late May through late September unless there is a stiff breeze from the west. Further up the Cohansey at Hancock Harbor less greenheads and if the Martins are doing their job day less midges. The greenheads are denser close to the saltmarsh/fresh water margin.

At dusk swifts feed on the midges and greenheads, then after dark bats are at work.

If the plan is Cohansey to Atlantic City outside Cape May I would suggest a bail out option at Lewes Delaware.

 

[RichH]

If your timing is 'right' for the tides, consider to 'ride the crest of the tide' all the way to Cape May or Lewes. If the entrance to the Engineer's Cove at the Rt 213 bridge (Chesapeake City) on the C&D canal is clear (it shoals closed a lot, so contact by phone to the C&D 'control' for current condition of the entrance) anchor in the east portion of the basin in the Engineers Cover to stage there for a run down the Delaware Bay:

Going 'down' the Del Bay:
Be at the Rt. 213 Bridge over the C&D (Chesapeake City) 1-1/2 - 2 hours BEFORE the change of tide/current to the east ('crab' your way into and out of the Engineers Cove entrance when the current is 'running'). The Rt. 213 bridge is the geographical divide between the flows and tides in the C&D. Use Eldridge tide/current tables or other internet, etc. historical CURRENT (not tide) data sets to time your position AT the Rt 213 Bridge / Engineers Cove on the C&D. The C&D tide and current flow is a 'hydraulic current', and is dependent of the differing heights and their differing timing between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Do NOT use other tide/current data points (Reedy Point, etc.) to get your timing 'right' for the Chesapeake City / Rt. 213 bridge, the current flow in the C&D is not 'intuitive'.
If you leave Chesapeake City 1-1/2 - 2 hours before the turn of the current, most times, you will ride the crest of the tide all the way down the Delaware Bay to Cape May POINT (assuming you can keep up ~6 kts. SOG).
If youre 'too tall' to get under the Cape May Canal Bridge (55ft.???), and if conditions are 'benign', pass VERY close to Cape May POINT, using the "Epf Shoal Channel" to later enter the town of Cape May using the 'ocean side' inlet. The Epf Shoal Channel is narrow, unmarked, very close to the beach at the 'point' (you can probably throw a rock onto the beach there with a good strong arm); but, is well scoured. Use your depth sounder to follow the Epf Channel. Use Epf Shoal channel only during 'benign' conditions as its shallow (especially at dead low tide). This will save you several HOURS when rounding Cape May Point. ..... OR bail out at Lewes Delaware.

 

[RobGallagher]

Annapolis to Mystic, CT

Anchored there (the cove, not into the river) for a night. It's a nice enough spot in a pinch but the wind and bay's swell did not cooperate. Eventually decided we needed a stern anchor to get our bow into the swell so we could get some sleep.

Deep thick mud/clay, great holding. In fact we had a job getting the anchors out in the morning.

Here's something to consider; We left Annapolis and stopped in Bohemia Bay for a night, waiting for a noon fair current through the canal. If we had timed it better, we could have made Cape May without a stopover in the Bay.

Sorry to say, but the upper De Bay is not all that pretty, seemed to be more big ships than the Chessie, the chop was not comfortable... Doing it again, I would make the De Bay in one day if at all possible. Cape May was a great place, wish I could have spent more time there.

 

[Esprit De Mer]

Thanks for the information and advice!
My plan is to get to Atlantic City on the second day.
That way, I have a good chance at making New York Harbor by nightfall on day 3.
Boat is 50 ft so, I am planning on 7-9 knots SOG.
Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks Again!

 

[ottos]

With that kind of a schedule, you won't have time to be anchoring anywhere, so no worries!