There is an interesting stop on the "NJ" side of the Bay about 3/4's of the way up from Cape May: The Cohancy River. You wind-up through a very deep river (with a pretty good tidal flow) to a rather bucholic town with some marinas. About five years ago it was friendly and interesting.

As for timing, this is the current Delaware Bay forecast:

Today...SW winds around 10 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft. A slight chance of showers late. Vsby 1 to 3 nm late.

Tonight...NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft. A chance of showers. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.

Sat...W winds 5 to 10 kt...increasing to 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 ft. A chance of showers. Vsby 1 to 3 nm in the morning.

Sat Night...W winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Sun...NW winds around 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.

Sun Night...W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft.

Mon...NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 1 to 2 ft in the morning...then 1 foot or less.

Tue...W winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 1 foot or less.

Generally I view Delaware Bay as something to be endured and get passed-behind as quickly as possible. While it WILL BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE if you have 15-25 knot gusts, you really probably want the tide with you. (That makes it more uncomfortable.)

TOMMORROW MORNING, the tide will start running up the Bay from the mouth after about 7:00 AM. IF the forecast is correct, I'd get myself up and ride it up the Bay then. At a normal 7 knots accross the water, with the tide and a 5-10 knot headwind to get through the most open sections of the BAY.

Otherwise, if the wind really is 15 knots (with gusts to 25) in you face, you might get some books and sit it out for a couple of days unless you like pounding into shoulder high short waves breaking over your bow.

With the Tide, you can expect an average "push" of over a knot or more -- the distance to the Canal is in the 50 nautical mile range -- maybe 6 hours or so.

Beyand the C&D Canal, your anchorages can be "tuck-in's" below the Canal at the mouths of rivers; or you can go down the Sassafras River. There you can go up the river a bit and find some more interesting scenary and protected places.

Worton Creek, might be a good place to tuck in a bit further south. If you elect to go all the way to Annapolis, the tide isn't much of an issue after you get below the Sassafras (probably less than 3/4's of a knot.) With a NW wind and your boat's love of reaches....