Into the Chesapeake: Triumph over the Atlantic

After leaving our lovely, quiet harbor at Atlantic Highlands, we braved the Atlantic Ocean to the first and only available safe harbor between Sandy Hook and Atlantic City: The Manasquan Inlet at Brielle. We had gotten what we thought to be sage advice about and anchorage, but as it turned out the Manasquan Inlet is beset by buzzing fishing boats which fly in and out at a great rate of speed with no regard for the sailboats. It is narrow and shallow and lined with marinas too shallow for us to enter and docks too busy to tie up to. We pulled up to one of the 2 gas docks that could accomodate us but they had no room for the night. Hot, tired, and discouraged, we were told we could anchor just out of the fray at "Green 2". Knowing nothing else to do, we anchored out at the confluence of 2 whizzing fishing boat channels and had to think...blow up the dinghy...send Wayne out to find a place for the night. Luckily the Brielle Boat Basin was willing to give us a slip. Now we had to deflate the dinghy, up anchor, and go through an incredibly narrow space created by a "bascule bridge" with swirling currents and stinging-insect like power boaters buzzing around our bow and stern. Just as we were about to make the attempt we heard a fog horn bellow and people started to get out of our way. Another sailboater was about to do the same from the other side, noticed our plight, and blew their horn for us. IF you EVER have the insane idea to attempt to navigate the Manasquan Inlet and draw more than 4 feet with more than 40 feet of mast: know this. #1 The ONLY place that can and will accomodate you is the Brielle Boat Basin, Call them, ask for Fred. That is a whole "nother" story but I have limited time today. #2 You must follow your charts carefully to get there, and it is just beyond the first bascule bridge. You MUST blow your horn when about to go through the bridge, otherwise it is perilous beyond belief. #3. If you can make the run to Atlantic City without going into the Manasquan inlet, do it. There is more which I will put in the next post, but to let all know that from there Atlantic City was overwhelming but a much easier harbor, Cape May delightful, and now we are at the top of the Delaware Bay in Delaware City and poised to sail down the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal tomorrow into the promised land - the Chesapeake Bay. I am reading Michner's "Chesapeake" right now and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the history of this area. More on that later... thanks again to those who leave comments, particularly congratulations to Lisa and her Corbeau! Please if you can, leave us your email address in the body of your comment and we will respond. Somehow unless you do this, we can't get in touch with you. Stay tuned however, for the Manasquan story has just started and the tale of Fred should not be missed...