DESCRIPTIONS AND SAILING DIRECTIONS

DIRECTIONS, NEW YORK TO CHESAPEAKE BAY ENTRANCE

(Charts 1215 to 1222, 1108, and 1109)

A description of the coast and outlying shoals from Sandy Hook to Cape May is given on page 35, and from Cape Henlopen to Cape Charles on page 83.

General remarks. From Sandy Hook southward to Brigantine Shoal, a distance of about 70 miles, the coast is comparatively free from off-lying shoals, but southward of this point the coast is fringed with extensive areas of broken ground, depths of 10 fathoms (18.3 m.) and less being found at distances of nearly 20 miles offshore in places.

Owing to the numerous outlying shoals this coast is a dangerous one for deep-draft vessels, and unless sure of the vessel's position soundings should be taken to give warning of too close an approach from seaward. The 15-fathom (27.4 m.) curve extends from 15 to 20 miles offshore northward of Winter Quarter Shoal lightship and 20 to 25 miles offshore southward, and in thick weather vessels should keep outside this depth. The water shoals quite regularly from 30 fathoms to 15 fathoms (55 to 27.4 m.), but inshore of the latter depth the soundings are irregular, and shoals rise abruptly în many cases from about 10 fathoms (18.3 m.) of water. In case one of the lights or lightships are not made when in a depth of 15 fathoms (27.4 m.) it is advisable to stand alongshore until one of them is sighted.

Standing along the coast, vessels of the deepest draft usually pass outside of the lightships and out of sight of land, except between Northeast End lightship and New York. At night, if on this track, some of the lighthouses and the lightships will be sighted, so that the vessel's position can be readily determined. The large number of sailing vessels, steamers, and tows passing up and down this coast make it necessary to keep a sharp lookout to prevent collisions.

The routes followed by vessels along this part of the coast vary greatly, according to their draft and the condition of wind and weather. Complete directions to meet all conditions can not be given, but the following suggestions may be of some assistance to strangers.

Vessels of the deepest draft should in all cases keep outside of the lightships and should, wherever possible, avoid crossing areas of a less charted depth than about 9 fathoms (16.5 m.). The following courses lead in a least depth of about 9 fathoms (16.5 m.) except in approaching the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, where they lead across a least depth of 7 fathoms (12.8 m.) but close to 6-fathom (11 m.) spots.

From Ambrose Channel lightship steer 187° true (S. by W. 5% W. mag.) for 42 miles to Barnegat lightship. Then steer 203° true (SSW. % W. mag.) for 120 miles to a position 1/2 mile eastward of Winter Quarter Shoal lightship, passing 5 miles outside Brigantine Shoal gas and whistling buoy, 512 miles outside Northeast End lightship, 5 miles outside Five-Fathom Bank lightship,

and 5 miles outside Fenwick Island Shoal lightship. From here a 213° true (SW. 2 S. mag.) course for 77 miles will lead close eastward of Chesapeake lightship, and to a position 3 miles eastward of Chesapeake Bay entrance gas, whistling, and submarine bell buoy. The last course, if followed closely, leads over a least found depth of 42 feet (12.8 m.) but leads 2 miles southeastward of 36-foot (11 m.) depths about 101⁄2 miles eastward of Ship Shoal Inlet.

The last 5 miles of the course leads between shoals of 33 to 36 feet (10 to 11 m.) depth; care should be taken not to make the entrance buoy anywhere on the port bow on this course, and not to make it more than 32 miles to the eastward unless passing well outside.

Many large vessels entering Chesapeake Bay from the northward run from Winter Quarter Shoal Lightship on course 216° true (SW. % S. mag.), to the gas and whistling buoy 5 miles westward of Chesapeake lightship, passing 21⁄2 miles off Smiths Island Shoal gas and whistling buoy, thence to Cape Henry gas and whistling buoy on course 250° true (WSW. 7 W. mag.). The least found depth crossed on these courses is 37 feet (11.3 m.).

Coasting vessels of 17 to 24 feet (5.1 to 7.2 m.) draft and the largest tows, except those trading between Delaware Bay and points northward, usually keep outside the lightships.

The following courses represent approximately the mean of the courses followed by vessels of this class. They are varied but little on account of weather conditions except northward of Five Fathom Bank, where courses leading farther offshore are sometimes followed during easterly weather and closer inshore during westerly weather. These courses depend entirely on making the aids, and soundings are of little value to insure safety; in thick weather it is safer to keep farther offshore between Five Fathom Bank and Sandy Hook and exercise care to keep outside of Barnegat lightship.

Directions, New York (Sandy Hook) to Chesapeake Bay entrance

Directions, New York (Sandy Hook) to Chesapeake Bay entrance-Contd.

3. To 1⁄2 mile eastward of Fenwick Island Shoal lightship.

For vessels bound to or from Delaware Bay a 272° true (W. % N. mag.) course from Five Fathom Bank lightship will lead to Overfalls Lightship, or a 152° true (S. by E. 4 E. mag.) course from Overfalls Lightship will lead to Fenwick Island Shoal lightship.

4. To 1⁄2 mile westward of Winter Quarter Shoal lightship.

5. To the gas and whistling buoy 5 miles west of Chesapeake lightship, passing 2 miles off Smith Island Shoal gas and whistling buoy.

6. To Cape Henry gas and whistling buoy--

250

WSW. % W...

52

Tows and other local vessels of less than 17 feet (5.2 m.) draft usually pass inside of Five Fathom Bank and Fenwick Island Shoal at all times, and inside of McCrie Shoal and Winter Quarter Shoal, except in easterly weather. The route most often followed both northward and southward in good weather by vessels with local knowledge is as follows: From the outer end of Ambrose Channel or from Scotland lightship to 1/2 mile westward of Shrewsbury Rocks gas and bell buoy; thence to 4 miles westward of Barnegat lightship; thence to Brigantine Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to 1 mile northwestward of McCrie Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to Overfalls lightship; thence to 1 mile westward of Fenwick Island Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to 1/2 mile westward of Little Gull Bank gas and whistling buoy; thence to 1 mile eastward of Black Fish Bank gas and whistling buoy; thence to close eastward of Parramore Banks gas and whistling buoy; thence to eastward of Smith Island Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to gas and bell buoy No. 4 in the entrance to Chesapeake Bay; thence to Tail of the Horseshoe gas and whistling buoy.

In westerly or northwesterly weather vessels of this class bound northward run closer inshore in places. The generally used route for vessels with local knowledge is as follows: From Smith Island Shoal gas and whistling buoy to Great Machipongo Inlet bell buoy; thence along shore at a distance of about 3 miles to Turners Lump gas and bell buoy; thence between Chincoteague Shoals and Black Fish Bank gas and whistling buoy; thence to a gas buoy 6 miles northwest of Winter Quarter Shoals gas and whistling buoy; thence to 1⁄2 mile westward of Little Gull Bank gas and whistling buoy; thence to the eastward of the 10-foot (3 m.) spot east of Isle

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The

of Wight Bay; thence along shore to Overfalls lightship. courses from here to Barnegat Inlet are not much varied in any weather, but from Barnegat Inlet to Shrewsbury Rocks vessels follow close inshore, not more than 1 mile off, but always pass outside of Shrewsbury Rocks can buoy.

In easterly weather the route often used by vessels of this class is from Chesapeake lightship to Winter Quarter Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to 1 mile westward of Fenwick Island Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to 1 mile eastward of McCrie Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to Brigantine Shoal gas and whistling buoy; thence to 4 miles westward of Barnegat lightship; and thence to Scotland lightship. This route is also sometimes used by vessels bound southward in heavy easterly weather. The least found depth crossed is about 27 feet (8.2 m.).

The following courses are suggested for strangers of 15 feet (4.5 m.) or less draft in good weather. In bad weather or with a deeper draft, follow the directions for vessels of 17 to 24 feet (5.2 to 7.3 m.) draft, preceding.

The coast of New Jersey has a general south-southwesterly trend for 43 miles from Sandy Hook to Barnegat Inlet, and then a southwesterly trend for 67 miles to Cape May Point. The coast from Sandy Hook southward to Corson Inlet is free from dangers if it be given a berth of 5 miles or more. From Corson Inlet southwestward to Cape May there are shoals with a least depth of 15 feet (4.5 m.) extending about 14 miles offshore, but with channels inside of them.

Shoals extend for a considerable distance off many of the inlets; all of the inlets are obstructed by shifting bars and require local knowledge to carry the best water. The principal ones, with their approximate depths, are: Barnegat Inlet, depth 6 feet (1.8 m.) in a narrow crooked channel; Little Egg Inlet, depth 10 feet (3 m.); Absecon Inlet, depth 9 feet (2.7 m.); Great Egg Inlet, depth 5 feet (1.5 m.); and Cape May Harbor, depth 17 feet (5.2 m.). The most favorable time for entering the inlets is on a flood tide with a smooth sea; in easterly gales or in a heavy sea they can not be entered in safety.

New York Bay, including Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers, is described in Coast Pilot, Section B, Cape Cod to Sandy Hook.

Sandy Hook, the northern point of the New Jersey coast, is a low sand spit. North Hook beacon is located on the north end. Near this beacon are a Coast Guard station, a storm warning display station, and two tall observation towers from which vessels are reported to the Maritime Exchange in New York City. These observation towers and a large black tank to the southeast are the most prominent objects on the northern end of the hook. Southward from these are some houses, Sandy Hook beacon and Sandy Hook Lighthouse.

Sandy Hook Lighthouse is a white stone tower. The light is fixed white, 88 feet (26.8 m.) above the water, and visible 15 miles. Sandy Hook Point light is on the northwest end of the point. The light is fixed white with a vertical beam, and a horizontal beam visible 11 miles. A fog bell sounds 1 stroke every 10 seconds.

Navesink Highlands is a prominent high wooded ridge 5 miles southward of the north end of Sandy Hook, on the side of which, in a cleared space, is Navesink Lighthouse. The latter consists of two brownstone towers connected by a dwelling. The light, shown from