[SVAuspicious]

This is a family trip right? We think your kids are great but we haven't sailed with them. Passages, even short ones, are an issue if kids need maintenance.

If you time the currents right, Annapolis to Cape Henlopen is 24 hours. Take a break behind the inner breakwater and it's 1-1/2 days to Point Judith. A lot depends on how your girls will do going straight through.

In my opinion Atlantic City and Manasquan are straightforward inlets. If you head from the Delaware to RI on a good weather forecast your bailout is your destination.

Eldridge is fine but the NOAA current tables ( 2014 Tidal Current Predictions - NOAA Tides & Currents ) are your best data source.

If it where me, I'd depart on the favorable current and go straight through to MV. That may not work for you. I'd do LIS in a straight shot to City Island and stage for the East River current - the East River is an experience. Stage again at Sandy Hook for Atlantic City and then Cape Henlopen (I don't fit through Cape May) for the currents up the Delaware Bay. What works for me may not work for you. If the girls can look after themselves and your wife can stand a watch on her own you'll be set. Otherwise you need to hop your way along.

 

[SVAuspicious]

Thanks Dave...If time permits Saturday, I wouldn't mind going over a few things with you one on one.

Sure.

I'd leave the jerry cans behind, if I were you...

Although I agree with Jon in principle I have also carried jerry cans. A benefit of center cockpits is the ability to secure jugs across the pushpit.

 

[SVAuspicious]

Just my opinion, as always, and one obviously not shared by the majority of East coast snowbirds. I simply prefer to keep decks as clear as possible, and free from the potential of having them turned into a skating rink...

I strongly agree with your philosophy about clear decks, and fuel spills on deck are clearly bad.

That said, on my own boat I carried five diesel jugs across the Atlantic (120 gallons in tanks). One of the advantages of a center cockpit boat is storing things like jugs across the aft deck. When we cruise long distances I still carry four or five jugs - one or two diesel, one gasoline, two water. As dedicated gunkholers the jugs are aboard more because we find ourselves in places where we can't get into a fuel dock so we need the jugs to get diesel and water out to the boat.

 

[SVAuspicious]

Yeah, I'm hoping to make it to some spots this summer where I'll likely have to jug fuel to the boat, and I'm still debating whether to bring 1 or 2 6-gallon jugs along...

You're on your own getting fuel and water to your dinghy. I can share my technique to avoid back pain from there. I carry a spare water pump for my pressure water system. With long leads I can pump water from jugs in the dinghy into tanks. I also use my X-Changr oil change pump as a fuel transfer pump from jugs in the dinghy to tanks. A few electrons is a good balance to back pain for me. *grin*

 

[SVAuspicious]

On your way out LI Sound, if you are along the New York side, around 40.89 N 73.65 W you'll pass what looks like an estate but is Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. Please wave at my alma mater. Don't stop - you'll be sucked in and stuck there for four years.

 

[SVAuspicious]

Ah a Webbie! I was on the faculty at Kings Point for 28 years and taught Marine Engineering as an adjunct at Webb in the 80s. I live in Glen Cove about a mile from the Webb campus.

Cool! After my time. You must have been after Prof's Holm and Rowen.

I sailed to Homecoming a few years ago and anchored off the beach.

 

[SVAuspicious]

Entering Sinai at night with a strong current and gust to 30 for the first time can make for a surprisingly entertaining time. ;-) All was fine but those are some impressive sand bars in there!

Sporty!

 

[SVAuspicious]

your girls are adorable! Lucky you that they sail with you, enjoy it while you can.

I've met those kids. Some of the nicest, best behaved children I have ever known.