Late Fall Trip From New England to Chesapeake

[JD5652]

Miss Maggie will be going to Atlantic Yacht Basin in Chesapeake for stabilizer install and other refit type work. I'll be leaving from Mystic CT and plan to go west through LI Sound... through NYC... outside to Delaware Ricer... through C&D canal and down ICW to Chesapeake.

Looking to leave last week of October. Thinking it will likely take 10-14 days with the shorter days. Don't need to be concerned with getting fuel and can likely ration my 650 gallons of onboard water for the entire trip if absolutely necessary.

Looking for some input and lessons learned from the group on those that have done this trip that time of year.

My cruise speed is 8-9 knots.

Plan is to stay at marinas each night.

Thanks in advance!

[boatwright]

time your trip up Delaware bay to work with the tide flow. it is quit strong and will impact time/fuel

[Red Hatt]

Bend over if your going to get work done at AYB. Not the boat yard it use to be.

[zigzag930]

Better time your passage thru hells gate in nyc. Very swift current.

I leave from NY for St Martin every year around Oct 31st. Had some extremely cold passages for the first few days. Bring lots of warm clothes.

[Chasing28]

We did the Great Lakes to Solomons a couple years back via the Hudson.

Marina in Statin Island worked well for an early departure around Sandy Hook in the morning and recovered that night in Atlantic City (Golden Nugget) for a fun night. There to Cape May (Utsch Marina), then picked the wether and tide for the run up Deleware bay that will get you to Chesepeake City quite easily. Annopolis is always a good run from there and this time of the year Ego Alley might be quite open for easy access to town.

Enjoy the run!

J

[Cricket]

10 to 14 days seems like a long time for your trip, even at hull speed.
Think South Jersey Marina in cape May is a better stop than Utches.

[Hatteras58]

We made the Mystic to Little Creek, VA trip several years ago (same route you propose). It was 500 miles total. We left the Mystic Seaport museum at daylight (late April) and spent 1st night at a marina near the west end of Long Island. Passed through NYC early next morning. Trip went to Hell at that point! After 2 days of hanging out in Sandy Hook due to very rough seas, we ran nonstop to Little Creek (36 hours). Can’t tell you much about marinas between NJ and VA because we didn’t stop. I agree that ten days seems way too long.

[jim rosenthal]

Stop in in Annapolis and I'll buy y'all dinner.

AYB was a great yard, but expensive. I think they are still very good, but like everything else, you get what you pay for. They have a lot of experience.

[motoryacht lover]

I am used to expensive yard bills and I got a shocker at AYB and the work was average. I wouldn’t go back unless I had to.

[JD5652]

Here's how we ended up on the trip.

Day 1 - Mystic to Huntington, LI - 10/15/21 - 68 NM - 8 Hours ~ 8 knots Avg
Flat Calm seas and sunny day
Stayed at Huntington Yacht Club... very nice marina and staff. Dinner at Prime Restaurant.... VERY GOOD.... pricey but worth it

Day 2 - Huntington LI to Atlantic Highlands NJ - 10/16/21 - ~60NM - 7 hours 8.6 knots avg
Winds about 15-20 knots with 1-2 foot chop in LI Sound. Hit the tide right through NYC and saw 15.2 knots on the GPS through Hells Gate

Stayed at Atlantic Highlands Municipal. Very nice marina and staff. Town very close by with lots of restaurant choices. We ate at Kunya Siam Thai restaurant... happened to be a BYOB restaurant... did not know that going in...but there were a couple package stores close by.

Day 3 - Atlantic Highlands to Atlantic City - 10/17/21 - ~90 NM - 10 Hours - 9 Knot AVG
Forecast was not favorable with predicted winds to be 18-25 knots WSW and seas 3 ft @ 3 sec. Day started out snotty but we hugged the beach and the seas were less than predicted. Dinner at the Chart House in AC. Very good! Won a few dollars at the casino to boot.

Day 4 - Atlantic City to Cape May/C&D Canal 10/18/21 ~120 NM 13.5 hours

This was suppose to be a short 40 mike run from AC to Cape May to set up a 75 mile run up the Delaware to Schaffers on the C&D Canal the following day. Well.... it turned out to be one of THOSE days.

I forgot to check the approach depth at the Canyon Club before departing Atlantic City. When I did check it we were only about an hour out of Cape May. Approach depth is 4.5 ft... my draft is 6 feet. Figures our arrival time would be right at low tide.... plus it was a full moon tide and the wind was blowing 30 out the NW which pushed water out of the harbor. Tried to dock at South Jersey marina but the current and wind was not favorable and after two aborted attempts at docking, that wasn't going to work. Decided to go down the Cape May canal to the Delaware. Was greeted with tight 4-6 foot seas and 30 knot NW winds... a few 8's were thrown in for good measure. The Hatteras LRC met the challenge and after slogging through the crap the seas finally laid down to 2-4 after about 3 hours. Arrived Schaffers around 9:30 PM. Not bad navigating the canal at night... full moon helped.


Day 5 - Chesapeake City to Annapolis 10/19/21 ~ 51NM - 5.5 hours 9.2 knts AVG

Easy run from Schaffers to Annapolis through the upper Chesapeake. Stayed at the Annapolis Yacht Basin. VERY NICE accomodations with very easy in/out docking. Dinner at Carroll Creek Cafe right across the harbor from Yacht Basin.

Now one day ahead of schedule.

Day 6 - Annapolis to Solomons - 10/20/21 - 45NM 4.5 hours 10 knot AVG

Smooth ride from Annapolis to Solomons. Stayed at Zahnizers Marina. Very nice amenities and staff. Several face docks and T-heads for easy in/out. Had dinner at the Pier... was just OK.

Day 7 - Solomons to Deltaville - 10/21/21 - 63 NM 7 Hours 9 knot AVG

Relatively easy run with 1-2 foot chop and 15-20 knot winds. Went up the Rappannock River to the Tides Inn for the night. It's 11 miles from the mouth of the river but worth the trip. Tides Inn had easy docking and LOTS of amenities... pool, beach, bikes, two restaurants, etc. This would be a place to spend a few days if time allowed. Rode bikes into town which is less than a mile long. Had some apps and wine at restaurant in town called The Office... again VERY NICE! Dinner was at the main restaurant a the Inn... absolutely great food and service!

Day 8 - Deltaville to Chesapeake VA (AYB) 10/22/21 73 NM 8.5 hours

Day started out with easy seas and winds then kicked up to 3 feet at 4-5 seconds on the starboard beam.... was a little rolly polly for about 3 hours. Passed a nuclear sub on it's way out of the channel in Norfolk... VERY Cool! Did get delayed at the NS RR Bridge #7 for about an hour. After that an easy ride through the locks and Great Bridge. Dinner at Vinos Italian restaurant on arrival day.

Could have maybe shaved another day or so off the schedule if we really pushed it, but was trying to not be too aggressive on the schedule or crew.