New York Harbor to the ICW

[Jeffrey Wolfe]

I live in NJ and have sailed south on the ICW. I would suggest leap frogging it: Sandy Hook (Highlands) to the Manasquan Inlet. Then I might suggest going on the inside down via the canal (not on a weekend) and to Toms River (where I have kept my boat for the past seven years) to the Barnegat Inlet where you could anchor out or stay at the Captain's Inn or at Southwinds Marina. Negotiating the Barnegat Inlet can be tricky but if you follow the markers carefully you'll have plenary of water. From there you would go to Atlantic City and either anchor or get a slip. Then you would go to Cape May.

[donradcliffe]

Our standard itinerary is to anchor behind the breakwater at Atlantic Highlands, get an early start and jump to Atlantic City where we anchor in front of the bridge, then a short hop to Cape May where we either anchor or keep going up the Delaware Bay, depending on the forecast. Having gone into Atlantic City about 10 times, we will arrive after dark, but for my first time I'd leave at 0400 to make sure I arrived in daylight. Sandy Hook is shifting around a bit, so stay in the marked channel--I've seen boats end up on the beach there.

You can make it all the way up the Delaware Bay on the flood if you leave at the beginning, but stay in Cape May until the NW winds die down. You can cut the corner at Cape May right in by the lighthouse if the weather is decent. Chesapeake City is a nice stop which is well lit and easy to get into (hug the east side of the entrance and mind the current), or you can continue on to the Sassafras River, where it is easy to anchor in the dark.

BTW, all this assumes you have a chart plotter--I wouldn't try it with just paper charts and a GPS, especially at night. Of course you can download OpenCPN and the Noaa charts for free, then hook your GPS to your laptop.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Our standard itinerary is to anchor behind the breakwater at Atlantic Highlands, get an early start and jump to Atlantic City where we anchor in front of the bridge............

Many,like myself, choose to anchor just inside Rum Point on the north side of the inlet across from the Atlanic City marinas. After the small opening between the marsh and the beach sand spit it opens up into a basin where there's room for about ten boats to anchor.

[jmackay]

Having done this trip many times, I have a few opinions. I usually do Sandy Hook to Cape May in one overnight. Don't attempt any inlet at night and the only ones I would use as safety valves would be Manasquan, Barnegate, and Atlantic City. Going south you can pick up a counter current if you stay tight to shore, sea buoy to sea buoy or tighter. Active Captain is a great asset that is useful clear down to the Bahamas. Another thing to consider is AIS, now that I have one I wouldn't give it up. Great for crossing Deleware Bay and all major entrances on the trip south.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey Wolfe

I live in NJ and have sailed south on the ICW. I would suggest leap frogging it: Sandy Hook (Highlands) to the Manasquan Inlet. Then I might suggest going on the inside down via the canal (not on a weekend) and to Toms River (where I have kept my boat for the past seven years) to the Barnegat Inlet where you could anchor out or stay at the Captain's Inn or at Southwinds Marina. Negotiating the Barnegat Inlet can be tricky but if you follow the markers carefully you'll have plenary of water. From there you would go to Atlantic City and either anchor or get a slip. Then you would go to Cape May.

Looking at the charts I think on this route you will have to pass the Route 37 bridges. It looks like the westbound is fixed with a 60' clearance. Since the OP's boat has a 60' mast so, unless there is an update on the bridge clearance not reflected on the charts, this route is not an option.

[chuckr]

we have done it a couple of times and agree with jmackay - we leave ny harbor for an overnite to cape may and run in the counter current - like him we run ais unit that both sends and receives - we anchor at the cg station and wait for a wx window up delware bay - we are 56' high so must go around bottom of cape may - we leave cape may about 7/12 into outbound tide on the delware so by the time we get to the delware it is still a slight run outbound but soon to change to inbound and we ride the tide north to reedy isl for an overnight and to time the c&d canal tide for a nice quick run down to sassfras river for an overnite then on down -
OF COURSE - we watch the wx like a hawk - we use chris parker along with 2 or 3 other sources -
so given the above - you can run to cape may and enjoy a cute little town - then get the next wx window up the bay -

just our thoughts and opinion
chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season

[Courageous]

Thanks again to all who provided input. To bring you up to speed we left NY Harbor mid day on the 21st and motor sailed to Sandy Hook Bay, Atlantic Highland Yacht Club. A very nice place and we were treated very well. We enjoyed spending time in the morning exploring town and provisioning. We left around 2pm on the 22nd and sailed all night to Cape May. The first 3 hours in the ocean was grand, reefed head sail and 7knts then the wind turned to s/w so we took in the head sail and started the motor and stay that way until Cap May running 6 knts in 1-3 foots seas with a nice moon showing off the water until Atlantic City. We reached the cape around 10 to catch the incoming tide and kept going up the Delaware. We decided to turn into Cohansey River to Hancock Harbor Marina and docked by 4pm, 26 hours on the water was enough for all on board. The only crazy times were getting through the mouth or the river and dealing with the incoming current. Time for a beer or two to celebrate… Next step is to get through the C&D and down somewhere in the Chesapeake before the weekend bad weather hits. Cheers Wayne

[chef2sail]

CaptForce-

The little anchorage across from Clam Creek ( Absecon Inlet- Atlantic City) was bloacked all summer by a dredge. Only anchorage available was off the sea wall of the casinos.


Great to here you ventured into the Cohannessey. Suggest you try and get down to the Sassafrass at least tomroow and then find a hurricane hole to hide in for a few days in the Middle Bay on Saturday as the consitions will deteriorate on Sunday through Tuesday..

Rock Creek, Patapsco River where I am is one
Broad Creek Magothy River
Servern River Creeks
South River Creeks
Wye River creeks

There are others. You will want to get out of the East and Nnorth east winds. If the storm holds its course there will be a very large surge accomplannied by high astronomical tides of the full mooon.

Feel free to PM me for my phone number

If you wind up at Rock Creek look me up at the Maryland Yacht Club.
Haleakula Slip D-20

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by chef2sail

CaptForce-

The little anchorage across from Clam Creek ( Absecon Inlet- Atlantic City) was bloacked all summer by a dredge. Only anchorage available was off the sea wall of the casinos.


Great to here you ventured into the Cohannessey. Suggest you try and get down to the Sassafrass at least tomroow and then find a hurricane hole to hide in for a few days in the Middle Bay on Saturday as the consitions will deteriorate on Sunday through Tuesday..

Rock Creek, Patapsco River where I am is one
Broad Creek Magothy River
Servern River Creeks
South River Creeks
Wye River creeks

There are others. You will want to get out of the East and Nnorth east winds. If the storm holds its course there will be a very large surge accomplannied by high astronomical tides of the full mooon.

Feel free to PM me for my phone number

If you wind up at Rock Creek look me up at the Maryland Yacht Club.
Haleakula Slip D-20

Chef2sail, We had no trouble getting past the dredge & barge into Rum Creek twice this summer. The dredge operation was far closer to the bridge than the creek entrance during my visits. We have also enjoyed anchoring in Rock Creek behind that point of the MYC. We are now down on the St. Johns River south of Jacksonville, Florida, but I appreciate you suggestions,- Thanks much!

[Courageous]

We are on a ball in Annapols at the moment and are working out our next steps. any advice is most arrpreciated.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Courageous

We are on a ball in Annapols at the moment and are working out our next steps. any advice is most arrpreciated.

First thing, watch the weather and get ready for Sandy. I would very carefully inspect the lines on the ball and if any doubts at all move. If the ball and mooring are secure at the very least double up all lines and rig chaffing gear.

[Kettlewell]

I wouldn't hang on a mooring in the outer harbor at Annapolis during Sandy, but if you have one up Spa Creek you are in a good spot. The outer harbor can be nasty in a summer thundersquall--not the place to be in a tropical storm.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Courageous

We are on a ball in Annapols at the moment and are working out our next steps. any advice is most arrpreciated.

You would likely be well protected if that ball is up Spa Creek, but I wouldn't stay out in the main mooring field with Sandy's approach. If you're moving right along south there's great protection at Elizabeth's dock just inside Deep Creek Lock and on into the Dismal Swamp. If you're making less progress south, then either up the creeks on the NE of Solomons or just into the Potomac and up to the protected cove at St. Marys College. If you stay near Annapolis and your draft allows (5' or less) you can take the north fork at the head of the Severn for a good protected spot.

[Courageous]

Hi again, to bring you up to speed we ended up going up the Severn River to Forked Creek and stayed at Absolute Marine Services. They treated us fantastic! The boat weathered well while we stayed in a hotel on Annapolis. We got underway this morning and motor sailed to Solomons Island where we are catching up on emails etc while on the hook. thanks again for everyones input.

[Kettlewell]

Sounds like you planned and executed well. From Solomons down the bay you have a lot of alternatives and plenty of places to duck in if the weather turns bad. Luckily, after a storm like Sandy comes through it seems to clear out the really bad weather for some time. Should be some stiff NW breezes for a few days, which makes for nice sailing down the bay.