Single-handed Ocean/DelMarva Circumnavigation

12/15/2015

I bashed southbound sailing into 20+ knots of wind and white caps toward the Atlantic Ocean for 3 consecutive 12+ hour days in the Chesapeake Bay. I then turned north wallowing in 5’ following seas for 30 non-stop hours in the Atlantic from the mouth of the bay to Cape May, NJ. I was on a challenging adventure tackling the DelMarVa loop single-handed in my 27’ Pearson sailboat named Base Camp.

The DelMarVa loop is a 450+ mile circumnavigation of the Eastern Shores of MD/VA. It includes a non-stop 130 mile Atlantic Ocean passage from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to the Delaware Bay. I choose a counterclockwise route to optimize the prevailing southerly winds while navigating the Ocean segment.

This adventure is completed by many Chesapeake Bay sailors looking to expand their horizons. There is always stress and anxiety surrounding the Atlantic segment. Its 30-36 hours of non-stop open ocean sailing 5+ miles off the coast, with little option for shelter, 4-6’ swells on a good day and of course sailing through the night and in the vicinity of shipping lanes. Much focus and planning is around that section, but the trip should really only be considered a success after the Atlantic AND Delaware Bay are complete. The Delaware Bay is notorious for tough and unpredictable conditions, square waves, lots of shipping traffic and currents. Transiting the Delaware bay is the goal and not sailing. Timing for favorable current is also key.

From the small cockpit, I had all control lines and electronics at my fingertips for navigation and driving of the boat.

Heading up the Delaware Bay, I ran straight into a nasty squall. It was the textbook anvil cloud with thunder, lightning and a brief downpour of rain.

My trusty autopilot drove the boat as I coward in the companion way under cover of the dodger with rain pelleted down.

*** SOLD*** Update - Base Camp is now For Sale. If you are looking for a great condition and seaworthy Pearson 27 sale boat, Take a look at this great boat being sold by Grab Bag Sailboats.

2 Comments

Charles E Pleisse

5/20/2016 05:57:41 pm

Curious about a few items. How long did it take? Where did you stop? How did you manage sleep on Ocean and DE Bay passage segments?I'm planning to do the same trip myself but w/ only 2 stops. Probably DE bay/river near canal and just inside the bay on the south end. Any feedback/advice yuo can provide would be useful.

Jordan Snyder

5/20/2016 08:03:34 pm

Hey Charles,

Thanks for the note. It was a grueling eight days. Starting near Annapolis I bashed into the wind for 3 days South just to get out to the Atlantic. That was the most demanding sections of the entire trip. I did about 50 miles each day stopping in Solomons (marina), Wicomico river (anchor), and St Charles (marina).

Then I did a hundred thirty miles straight from St. Charles to Cape May. It was 30 hours of non-stop sailing and the weather was perfect with following winds and seas. Auto Pilot broke just as the sun was setting halfway through the ocean Passage.

After an overnight in a marina in Cape May, I caught the current up the Delaware Bay to Delaware City Marina. From there it was two nights and three days of sailing back to my marina. Hope that helps. happy to provide any additional details.

Single-handed Ocean/DelMarva Circumnavigation

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