Through the C&D canal to await the Deleware Bay transit

We filled with diesel and water in Havre de Grace, and sailed (motored) back out into the Chesapeake, heading for the C&D canal. More usual bay traffic en route - a tug pushing a heavily laden barge. BTW, barges are just containers - they need a tug to push (usual in restricted waters) or tow them (usual in open ocean waters).

The C&D is the canal that connects the northern end of the Chesapeake with the northern end of the Delaware Bay. Because it is a canal, it is narrow and the waters going back and forth between the two bays are swift, the maximum current at least 2 knots.  That isn't fun to sail against, so boaters (except ones with huge engines that cause huge wakes that rock our boat...) chose to transit the canal WITH the current instead of against.  Luke timed it perfectly, and Latitudes and Best of Times scooted down the canal, occasionally hitting 9 knots.

Through the canal and to our favorite anchorage in the area, behind Reedy Island.  The current in HERE is no slouch - it runs more than 2 knots. In fact, at anchor we were doing almost 1 knot just sitting in the water.  We will have a great push tomorrow morning when we leave for Cape May, NJ. 

The anchorage is just across the bay from the nuclear plant.  Always impressive. 

Reedy island itself (see above rocks and grasses) isn't that high, but it does provide some protection from the wakes and current.  Here is another picture of the island and the muddy brown water.

That sun didn't last much longer.  The skies clouded over, rain poured, and it did rain most of the night.  We awoke this morning to calm seas (up here...) and milky sun.  The remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie are pounding the lower half of the Delaware Bay and the coast.  We are safe and happy here.  Tomorrow - if the weather doesn't change - we will travel with  Best of Times to Cape May. We expect to sit there for a few days waiting out north easterly winds.