Back in the day, I was advised that if I left City Island, NY, at the right time, tidewise, I coul dcarry the flood to Hell Gate, the ebb all the way to Cape May, the flood up Delaware Bay, and the ebb down Chesapeake Bay after exiting the C&D Canal. Average speed would be about 6 knots. Too fast and you jump the tide, too slow and you fight it. One time, it was working very well for me until I ran out of fuel in Chesapeake Bay . . .