Annapolis to Cape May

I had some trepidation about making this leg of the trip. It's composed of two large bodies of water, the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, with a skinny canal connecting them. Currents are fast and conditions can be treacherous, especially on the wide open Delaware.

Prior to leaving, I researched the trip online. Some of the information was confusing, so I thought I'd give our trip experience on a small slow boat.

The best piece of advice I can give is to hit the east end of the C&D canal at high tide. This will put you in position to ride the ebbing tide down the Delaware Bay. I'm also pretty sure that this is the right time and place to ride the ebbing tide through the canal and down the Chesapeake (although I haven't done that yet, so I can't say for sure).

Also on tides. The tide tables are tide PREDICTIONS! I consulted two tide tables which differed on predictions by as much as two hours. Use the tide tables as guides, but also observe the tides yourself and make your own predictions.

Most info I found suggested that the Delaware Bay does not have anchorages and that the trip down the bay needs to be made in a single leg. This is not true. There is an anchorage at Reedy Island, just south of the canal. We anchored in Cohansey River. It's wide and deep, with a fast current. It's surrounded by marshland. Not an ideal anchorage, but it will get you out of the Bay. Also, Back Creek is suggested by guidebooks as an anchorage. Both are half way down the bay.

Catch the tide in the morning if possible. If there are head winds, they will be lightest in the AM. Over the course of the day, the winds generally build and a head wind against the tide will create short steep waves making for a lumpy, uncomfortable ride. You'll also avoid any summertime thunderstorms.

Watch out for shipping traffic, crab pots and black flies (bring plenty of insect repellent).

Chesapeake City in the C&D Canal is a nice stop. There's a small public dock you can tie up to. There's only room for about three boats, but you can raft up, despite what the old bat on the "Ice Cream Boat" tied up to the dock says. The dockmaster told us we were fine rafted up to another boat. Docking is free. Electricity is $10. If there's no space at the dock, anchor in the basin and use the free dingy dock.

The ice cream at the small stand by the dock is good and cheap. Amy recommends the birthday cake flavor. There's nightly live music at the marina/restaurant. Thursday night they have a $5 special on frozen drinks. I'd avoid Chesapeake City on summer weekends, unless you are looking for a party and don't mind a crowded anchorage.

This guy's advice about transiting the Delaware Bay is good too. Pic is the Ferry docked in the Cape May Canal.