Corson Inlet (near Strathmere, NJ)

FIG. 1 Ariel view of Corson Inlet and the nearby launches.

The purpose of the launch is to 1) provide easy ocean access for
 windsurfers and 2) to enable the windsurfer to catch the swells
in the inlet and jump therefrom.  It is also feasible for a beginner
to launch into Corson Inlet

The main Corson Inlet launch is shown in the center of FIG. 1 above. 
Other nearby launches directly into the ocean can be found in
 Strathmere to the south and Ocean City to the north.

Directions:  Take GSP to either exit 25 or exit 17.  If exit 25 is used,
travel east on Roosevelt Blvd which becomes 34th street in Ocean city,
 and then turn right to head south on Central Ave to 55th street, head
 west on 55th street to Bay Ave and follow over bridge towards
Strathmere.  The launch is on your left at mile post 16.  If exit 17 is
used, head east towards Sea Isle City on Sea Isle City Blvd, turn left
 and head North on Landis Ave.  Landis Ave becomes Commonwealth
Blvd and leads to Strathmere.  Travel north through Strathmere onto
Ocean Drive, and then go over the toll bridge towards Ocean city. 
The launch is on your right at mile post 16.

    In either case, on the road connecting Ocean City and Strathmere,
park along side the road just opposite from the southernmost tip of
land of Corson Inlet S.P..  This is where the channel is the deepest. 
 This is right next to mile post 16.  You will see a couple of wooden
staircases on the Inlet side of the road that climb over a seawall
and to the shoreline.

 
 
FIGS. 2A and 2B views of where you should park to access the
ocean via Corson Inlet -- if picture is expanded, a wooden
staircase on the left and a mile post 16 sign on the right can
be seen (to view a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use
"control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back
 out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo
and then select "View Image")

Best Wind Directions:  NE, ENE

Hazards:  Lots of current, it could drag you out to sea, also beware
of underwater hazards, especially during low tide--always wear booties

FEES:  None

Regulations:  None?

Amenities:  None

Strategize:  Why sail at Corson Inlet?  Because you can sail from Corson
Inlet when you can not launch elsewhere--for example, when other ocean
launches contain too much shore break or white water to get through, one
can instead access the ocean thru Corson Inlet without having to fight any
breaking shore waves.  Also, when the wind is too light to enable one to
get through the shoreline breaking waves of an ocean launch, one can
access the ocean by launching into Corson Inlet where there is no shore
break

Comments:  Corson Inlet provides the windsurfer with ocean access
without having to go through the break.  However, beginners also can
 enjoy Corson Inlet by sailing near the launch where the water is usually
flat.  If you get caught in a current and are being dragged out to sea,
one strategy is to try to swim perpendicular to the current.  This is
because, like rip currents, the current in the Corson Inlet channel is
narrow, the deep channel is also narrow, and you are never far from
shallow water.

FIG. 3 view of Corson Inlet from the launch area on a hot summer
afternoon -- note the southern tip of land mass that one must pass
on their port side to access the ocean -- a dredging ship is present
 in the distance at the time of this photo
(to view a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by
 hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is
Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo and then select "View Image")

FIG. 4 view of sandy launch area at Corson Inlet -- note that the
distance from shoreline to rocky sea wall varies along the shoreline,
but there is plenty of room to rig and launch (to view a photo:  
if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key
 while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox,
simply right click on the photo and then select "View Image")

FIG. 5 view of the village of Strathmere and of the toll bridge to
Strathmere from the launch (to view a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet
Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed. 
To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo
and then select "View Image")
 

FIG. 6 view of sandy launch area at Corson Inlet

Nearby Launches    Both North and South of Corson Inlet and
near Corson Inlet, there are launches directly into the Ocean.

FIG. 7 sandy path leading to the Ocean from Putnam Ave in Strathmere,
just south of Corson Inlet (to view a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE),
use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out,
use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo and then select "View Image")
 

FIG. 8 view of Putnam Ave launch in summer -- not life guards present
-- although launching from Putnam Ave is not prohibited during the
summer, the lifeguards prefer that you launch further south just
outside of the village to avoid bathers.

FIG. 9 view of 4WD entrance to Ocean launch at the southern end of
Ocean City on Central Ave just south of 59th street -- in the summer,
things can get crowded Ocean city is just North of Corson Inlet (to view
a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key
while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply
right click on the photo and then select "View Image")