Delaware Bay

Patrick and I left Baltimore at 8:30 AM and headed for Chesapeake City which is located at the start of the C & D Canal. We made good time under sail and motor and arrived at the anchorage at about 6:00. We had prepared our supper (brats along with some scalloped potatoes) while underway so when we got settled in the anchorage we took the dinghy to shore and went for a walk.

The dinghy motor would not start so we rowed in. Chesapeake City is "party central" for the power boat types and their marina has no fuel or ships store, just a restaurant and booze. I guess it's all about knowing your customers although I would think they could make a fortune on gas sales. We didn't find anything that interested us so we went back to Summer Snow and read for a while.

We left Chesapeake City at 7 AM and headed for the next anchorage which was the Cohansey River which is about the half way point of Delaware Bay. There were many fishing boats like this one on the way. We got into the river at about 4:30 and proceeded up the river to Greenwich, New Jersey. We expected to see lots of fishing boats but were surprised to see many sailboats. There doesn't seem to be much great sailing on Delaware Bay so they must keep them there because it is relatively easy to get to Chesapeake Bay from there. At any rate we couldn't get the dinghy motor started (again!) so rowed to shore (big mistake). After a nice meal at the overpriced local restaurant we attempted rowing back to Summer Snow but the current in the river was so strong that we couldn't make it. Now please know that Patrick is a real strong oarsman but there was no way we could make headway against the current. What to do? What to do? Well after surveying the situation carefully we pulled the dinghy over the long river dock to some dead water between the land and the dock. Then rowed the length of the dock in the dead water to get upstream enough so we could row like mad while being carried down stream and catch Summer Snow as we went by. It worked and some very nice power boat people came out with their boat to make sure we made it. I must get the dinghy motor going if we are going to anchor out in rivers or inlets that are affected with the tide.

We pulled up our anchor at 7 AM and headed back down river to Delaware Bay. Once in the bay we rounded Ship John Shoal light (second picture) and then set a direct course to the Cape May canal which takes us to Cape May. By using the canal we save a few miles vs. going to the ocean inlet. The downside of the canal is the two fixed bridges that have a 55 ft clearance. We need at least 50 ft to make it and 55 looks really close when you go through! We went under them but the clearance looked very tight. Once in the harbor area we anchored near the Coast Guard Station so we could figure out our next move. The anchorage was mud and my new Delta anchor didn't hold so after screwing around we headed for the only marina and was deep enough for us to get in. I vowed to get the dinghy motor running before we leave!