Fort Delaware, Delaware Bay 9-25

We woke to 52 degrees, but being at a marina we had our small heater going and were nice and toasty. We decided to stay after Tim the dock master told us about a tour going to Fort Delaware. Pat from Nautical Dreamer joined us and off we went. I brought my camera and my phone which was a good thing- no SD card in the camera. Below and on the next blog are pictures from our trip. 

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ort Delaware is a harbor defense facility, designed by Chief Engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten, and located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.^[3] During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and privateer officers. A three-gun concrete battery, later named Battery Torbert, was built inside the fort in the 1890s and designed by Maj. Charles W. Raymond. By 1900, the fort was part of the three point concept, working closely with Fort Mott in Pennsville, N.J. and Fort DuPontin Delaware City, Del. The fort and the island currently belong to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control(DNREC) and encompasses a living history museum, located in Fort Delaware State Park.

Second part of our Trip up the Delaware Bay

Here are the pictures for the second half of the bay.

The waves stopped beating us up and we were making
progress towards our final destination. The sun was
setting and we needed to get to Delaware City Marina
before it was totally dark.
Nautical Dreamer with Patrica, Dale and Oliver were
directly behind us. It was nice to spend a quiet night 

Cross Ledge Lighthouse Delaware Bay, NJ  Located off of Fortescue, NJ, Cross Ledge was completed  and lit for the first time in 1875.  The 1901 "Light List" described Cross Ledge as a two story white wood-framed dwelling with green shutters, grey trim and a black lantern, situated on top of an octagonal granite base.  Due to the erection of the new Elbow of Cross Ledge Light nearby, the old Ledge Light was discontinued around 1907.  During WWII, military planes used it for target practice by dropping flour sack markers onto it!  Much controversy surrounds the last stages and final demise of the badly deteriorated Cross Ledge Lighthouse.  Finally, in 1962, the US Coast Guard burned it down to the granite base - which is all that remains today - a sad ending for a once beautiful lighthouse!

Cross Ledge Lighthouse

Delaware Bay, NJ

 Located off of Fortescue, NJ, Cross Ledge was completed  and lit for the first time in 1875.  The 1901 "Light List" described Cross Ledge as a two story white wood-framed dwelling with green shutters, grey trim and a black lantern, situated on top of an octagonal granite base.  Due to the erection of the new Elbow of Cross Ledge Light nearby, the old Ledge Light was discontinued around 1907.  During WWII, military planes used it for target practice by dropping flour sack markers onto it!  Much controversy surrounds the last stages and final demise of the badly deteriorated Cross Ledge Lighthouse.  Finally, in 1962, the US Coast Guard burned it down to the granite base - which is all that remains today - a sad ending for a once beautiful lighthouse!

Miah Maull Shoal Lighthouse derived its strange name from the fact that a man named Nehemiah Maull drowned near the present site in a late 18th century shipwreck.  In 1909, a temporary light shone from the cast iron foundation shell which later that year was partially filled with concrete.  At last, in 1913, the permanent light was exhibited for the first time from its 4th order lens which was visible for 15 miles.  Originally painted brown, Miah Maull (by 1941) was "listed" as having a red tower and watch-room, a black lantern room and sitting on a gray base.  During renovation in the early 80's, the metal canopy covering the walkway was removed by the US Coast Guard sadly altering its appearance. By 1973, Miah Maull was fully automated and is still an active aid to navigation and a favorite fishing spot to many!

leaving Cape May to Entrance of Delaware Bay

Weather seemed to favor us leaving so lines released we motored out and into the channel to leave Cape May. Tom was at the helm so I took Photos of what I saw going in. We encountered the tide going out and waves more than three feet hitting right on the nose. For a while we were only going 1kt and taking a lot of water on deck. We finally had the tide turn and passed the Brandywine shoal light and scooted down the bay at 6kts plus. We decided to stop at Delaware City Marina for the night and with the help of their dock master were safely tide to the dock and had a wonderful dinner at Crabby Dick's 

Thee Sons our 120' neighbor

The Lobster House

Fishing Fleet for Lobster House

marsh land birds

Nautical Dreamer

Coast Guard Boat

The present Cape May Lighthouse, located at Cape May Point, NJ, is the third beacon to aid navigation where the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay meet.  The first structure, built in 1823, was destroyed by erosion.  The site now lies approximately 100 yards off shore southwest of the present tower.  Due to poor maintenance and construction, the second beacon, built in 1847, had to be demolished in 1862.  The base was retained and used for storage.  The third and present tower was built in 1859 and is constructed of double brick masonry walls. The tower stands 157 feet and six inches tall - with a cast iron spiral staircase of 199 steps leading up to the lantern room.  Originally maintained by Keepers employed by the US Lighthouse Service (USLHS), the beacon is now administered by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) which was overseen the complete restoration since 1986.

there are shoals  Delaware Bay: New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

Area: 16,631 Acres     

Habitat: Shallow open waters and associated shoals at the mouth of the Delaware Bay

Site Description: This site includes the shallow waters at the mouth of the Delaware Bay located between the southwestern tip of Cape May Point, NJ and Delaware. The IBA encompasses Prissywick Shoal, Eph Shoal, Middle Shoal, Overfalls Shoal, Somers Shoal and the unnamed rips closer to Cape May Point. These waters and shoals provide extremely valuable foraging and staging habitat for water birds year-round.

Waves build in what looks like open ocean

Tug and tow

Tom before we entered the bay and rough ride

Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse is located in the lower part of the Delaware Bay on the western side of the shipping channel.  The "Victorian" structure, originally brown in color, was the first US Lighthouse to be built on a submarine foundation with the caisson sunk by a pneumatic process -- 20 feet down into the shoal.  Its 4th order Fresnel lens was first lit on December 1, 1886, which allowed the Fourteen Foot Bank Lightship to be taken off station.  Somtime during the 1930's, the entire cast-iron structure, including the "hip roof" privy located at the railing on the northwest side, was repainted white with black trim and remains the same today.  Although automated and without keepers since 1972, its beacon still provides safe passage to all ships traveling the Delaware Bay.

Brandywine Shoal Lighthouse is located at the southernmost part of the Delaware Bay, northwest of Cape May Point.  It was the first screwpile lighthouse  ever built in the United States.  Its 3rd order Fresnel lens shone for the first time on October 28, 1850.  After serving well for over 60 years, a new conical structure, requiring less maintenance, was built on a  caisson of reinforced concrete and was lit on October 20, 1914.  This Light Station is still an important aid to navigation and was the last Lighthouse in the Delaware Bay to have a keeper on board!  Automation took place about 1974...the end of a once proud era!