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Ships Log November 3, 2005 Delaware Bay and the C&D Canal

Before dawn, we cast off and carefully worked our way out the narrow channel back into the Atlantic. We had to sail several miles down the coast to avoid the shoals at the entrance of Delaware Bay. The weather started calm, but a Small Craft Warning was forecast for mid morning. As we rounded the Cape and headed up into the Bay, the wind picked up and waves increased 2-4 feet.

The Cape May Ferry was set on a collision course with us and we took evasive maneuvers. Delaware Bay was gray and nondescript. We ran the central channel, dodging freighters and could not see details of Delaware or either coast. At the upper reaches of the Bay, in the afternoon, we passed a nuclear power plant. It was here that we first encountered Shearwater and Cal and David Johnson of Salem, Massachusetts as they sailed by us in their fast Moody 44. Shortly thereafter, we entered the C&D Canal at the top of the Bay.

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was started in 1804 and completed in 1829. Benjamin Franklin was an early proponent of the canal. We were racing against the failing light to complete a transit of the Canal and find an anchorage for the night.

We entered the little bay to anchor off Chesapeake City. The depth decreased alarmingly fast as we heard the calls from the nearby dock. It was Cal and David warning that the anchorage was too shallow and offering to move Shearwater and share the crowded free Public Dock. Nice folks!

Chesapeake City is a charming old village with quaint cottages dating from 1780’s. We dined on Maryland crab cakes at the Bayard House, the oldest house in town.