Steven Shelikoff wrote:
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 11:55:44 -0500, Jeff Morris
wrote:
New Jersey is the biggest problem - My advice, since you have the speed,
if you have a good window do in in one day. We made the mistake once
heading south of stopping in Atlantic Highlands to site-see for a day,
and ended up stranded for a week.
I'm just curious why, on a trip like that where there are lots of
canals, locks, etc. that can cause all sorts of delays and problems, you
would say New Jersey is the biggest problem. I guess I'm defensive as
the Jersey coast is my home stomping ground. Is it because you have to
do it offshore? Why were you stranded for a week? Weather? It's
*very* rare to have a week of un-navigable weather. A day or two maybe,
3 tops. But not a week.
We were stuck in Atlantic Highland with a "Heavy Surf" advisory for 5
nights, or 4 nights longer than we really wanted. We could have left on
the first day, but with the surf we decided to wait, but it just got
worse. Much of the time we had a 25 to 30 knot east wind, giving us a
bouncy ride even behind the breakwater.
The surf was up in Manasquan but after a day we go bored and made it to
Atlantic City. The East wind really cranked up there - about 35 knots
which pinned us in for 3 more days.
For a local, these might not be nasty conditions (actually there were a
series of strong storms offshore, so even the locals were staying put)
but in New England we don't have to cope much with inlets so I wasn't
eager to try my luck.
My experience in canals, locks, and the ICW has been completely
different. I don't recall any delays of more than an hour for bridges
or locks. Although we should remind the original poster that the Erie
Canal system can be shut down for too much or too little water.
I'd have to say that I've "Done New Jersey" other time with perfect
whether - our return trip a few years ago was a glorious sail, but that
one trip south was perhaps the least memorable cruising experience I've had.
Then again, I've sailed down the coast and then entered Cape May inlet
under some pretty hairy conditions. But Cape May is a beautiful inlet,
well protected with very large jetties and possible to get in to even in
bad conditions. Atlantic City is that way as well.
Yup. There were both easier than I anticipated, but I'm not sure I
would have wanted to try them in 35 knots.
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