Trip Data: Sandy Hook, NJ to Cape May, NJ
Travel Time: 20 hours (1:07 pm 9/23 - 9:15 am 9/24)
Distance Traveled: 126 nm
Conditions: Seas 3-6 feet, wind S/SE 5-17 kits, fog after 11:00 pm
Current Location: Utsch's Marina, Cape May Harbor, Slip 13
Lat/Lon: 38 57.005'N:74 54.321'W

Our overnight run Thursday to Cape May was a bit challenging as we encountered fog, some very heavy and some light, from about 11pm to just after dawn. At times fog was so heavy we could not see the lights on our bow, a mere 45' away. There was also a fair amount of vessel traffic. Most vessels were power or sailboats heading south (aka the fall migration) but as we approached Cape May the large commercial fishing fleet was obvious. We relied heavily on our Raymarine radar to guide us through the night and we found our selves just 4 nm east of the inlet to Cape May harbor as the fog burned off and the tide began to slack. Entrance was easy even if there though there was significant traffic. Inside this harbor you really need to pay attention to the marks or you'll run aground.

We snaked our way through the marks to find the unmarked channel that allowed us to enter Utsch's marina. It is a good thing we navigated this course close to high tide. Later in the day I sounded our depth dockside with a weight and line right around at low tide and found that Far Niente was either sitting on the soft bottom or hovering a few inches above it. This changes our departure time and plans. More on that later.

The marina is in a good location even if it is 1.5 miles into downtown and maybe 2 miles to the beach. Just 100 yards south of us is one of Cape May's landmark dining establishments, "The Lobster House". It is a large complex with indoor and outdoor bars and dining, a walkup raw bar, and a floating bar on an old schooner. All of this immediately adjacent ot where many commercial fishing vessels are docked and across the river from recreational marinas and riverside/harborside condos. They also have a fresh fish market with a plethora of species and items from the sea. Prices are fabulous which I would assume be due to the fact that the local catch does not need to travel by 747 to some midwestern city like St. Louis. We'll dine exclusively on seafood while we are here. It is just too good.

Cape May is a great place to visit. If you have not ever had the chance, this is a classic beach/resort town. The beaches are excellent and on these September days the water is over 72 degrees. Some nice surf too swim and enjoy as well. Cape is also home to hundreds of Victorian style homes, B&B's, Inns, hotels, etc. Some are original (mid-1800's) others are newly built but kept the Victorian style. Many are just colorfully painted with great porches. The downtown area is vibrant and there is something for everyone. There are of course the obligatory saltwater taffy, fudge & nut shops, and t-shirt/sweat shirt stores. One shirt we spied boasted "CAPE MAY: A drinking town with a Victorian Problem".

We rode all around on rented bikes Saturday which was a great way to see many of the beautiful Victorian homes. As we entered the area known as West Cape May we spotted a banner promoting the October "Lima Bean Festival". I never knew..... Now as a matter of fact I love lima beans (yes I know) but we are not sticking around here long enough to go to the festival. Perhaps I'll add attendance to the West Cape May Lima Bean Festival to my "bucket list"?

We made it all the way to the southern most tip of NJ, which is technically West Cape May, to see the old light house and to check on the concrete ship wreck just off the beach.
My family used to visit Cape May for a week or two most summers in the 60's and I have vivid memories of this ship wreck. As I recall the story there was a time in the late 30's or early 40's when some advocated building military and commercial ships of 'ferro-cement'. This ship was of those materials and wrecked of the souther most tip of NJ . Not sure it was the construction material that failed, but that there was a navigational error that sent this ship to its fate in the shallow waters. There is a picture of the wreck in the gallery and today it looks like nothing but a mass of steel and cement. Some 40+ years ago though the bridge and bow were both clearly discernible. Obviously time has taken its toll on this wreck but it is still an attraction for Cape May vacationers.

We now plan to leave Cape May early Wednesday morning so that we can catch the flood (rising tide) into the Delaware River. Of course that means we are leaving at low tide which will be a problem for exiting the marina and the unmarked channel to the marked channel. So we will leave our slip just after noon on Tuesday (at high tide) and make our way over to an anchorage in the bay where will spend the night and be in deep enough water to maneuver at low tide Wednesday morning. Hopefully there will be room as others are congregating there to take advantage of the flood, day light and reasonable weather forecast. We have to exit the Cape May harbor inlet and make our way SW to skirt around some shoals that are offshore before turning north and heading for the entrance to the D&C (Delaware & Chesapeake) canal that will take us to the north end of Chesapeake Bay.