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Chesapeake Sailing Ideas

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JeanAndre
Navigator

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USA
224 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/17/2012 : 11:33:29

Hello all,

I am planning a getaway to the Chesapeake bay, out of Annapolis.

Does anybody know of good places to go? Safe overnight anchorages? Good restaurants and coves? HIstorical sites we can get to by boat?

I never been there and I am originally from Brazil so I have no Idea on where to go?

Any help?

Cheers

Jean

I am Captain ! !
Yelled I to my wife and daughter...

Jean André - St. Louis - MO
1981 C25 SR/SK - OH LALA #2591
1977 C25 TR/FK - CLARICE M. #0042
2011 9.8 Nissan XL shaft
USCG Master, sail and tow endorsements
ASA instructor
Aspiring boat designer (Westlawn)

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2012 : 12:44:39

There are 2 classic cruising guides, both of which are excellent. I prefer the first one for up-to-date shore-side info and the second one for excellent navigation tips and suggested itineraries:

[url="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1884726178/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0918752221&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DT2ESTX44KDX8S936QK"]Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay 2012 Edition[/url]

[url="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071363718/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0918752221&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DT2ESTX44KDX8S936QK"]Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide[/url]

It's a big bay, about 160 miles long, and there's too much to describe in a few words.

Edited by - on

JeanAndre
Navigator

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USA
224 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2012 : 07:01:11

Just added them to my amazon cart... Thank you very much!

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Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2012 : 08:31:13

We chartered a boat out of Annapolis and had a great time, We sailed to a resturant, named Cantlers and tied up there for the night Free with their permission and than went south ending up at Herrington Harbor before going back. Lots of Coves to sail and anchor out! Have Fun!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2012 : 09:52:21

I could recommend a trip to the pretty town of Oxford on the Tred Avon River off of the Choptank River, and also a separate trip to St. Michaels on the Miles River off of the Eastern Bay.

Both destinations involve good sailing from Annapolis, or from each other, to get there, and both have interesting sights, great restaurants, and excellent marinas or nearby anchorages. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is in St. Michaels.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2012 : 22:12:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 We chartered a boat out of Annapolis and had a great time, We sailed to a resturant, named Cantlers and tied up there for the night Free with their permission and than went south ending up at Herrington Harbor before going back. Lots of Coves to sail and anchor out! Have Fun!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Do you know who you talked to that allowed you to tie up for free? Also, what time of year was it? I'll be chartering the last week of June, and would love to have a place near Annapolis that I could tie up for free. Obviously, we would have dinner there (close to closing, so we're not blocking new customers that evening), and it would be a weeknight, since I'm sure they would have limited dock space on a weekend.

Edited by - TakeFive on 05/19/2012 14:12:14

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2012 : 15:19:20

Oxford is indeed a charmer out of the 19th Century, although there's not much to do or see there. We looked hard at living there a while back... The Robert Morris Inn there used to serve the best crabcakes I've ever had, although I think the restaurant is under new management--can't say how they are now. St. Michaels is a lot more interesting (and touristy).

I have the "Gunkholer's Guide..."--it seems like a good complement to most other Chesapeake cruising guides.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2012 : 17:10:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by RhythmDoctor
Do you know who you talked to that allowed you to tie up for free? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Rick, there are quite a few restaurants all around the Bay with docks that allow them to be used for free, on a first-come-first-served basis, while dining in their restaurant, and, some allow you to stay the night, after their business hours. But, they usually won't reserve free docks for individuals, because their first concern is that they be available during business hours to serve as many customers as possible.

There are a number of good places in Annapolis Harbor where transient boats can stay. The City rents out many mooring balls that are a hundred yards or less from the central business district. I believe they charged $25. per night when I rented them last year. They have restrooms and showers on shore, and water taxis are on call and inexpensive.

The City also rents docks in Ego Alley, and I believe I paid $75.00 per night a few years ago. Ego Alley is like a drive-in restaurant of the 1960's era. A constant stream of boaters passes through to see and be seen, and all the dock walkers pass by your boat in it's slip. You are in the heart of all the harbor action in Annapolis. Dock space is limited, so come early to get one. I stayed there when my sister and her hubby visited me. It was not only fun and convenient, but the weather was hot and muggy, and I could plug in my shore power and use my AC. For many reasons, it was worth every penny!

Also, many boats anchor for free along the Naval Academy sea wall. Water taxis are also available there, and for about a dollar, you can buy passes to use the municipal showers onshore.

Finally, if all the moorings and docks are taken, and the anchorage spaces along the seawall are occupied, you can anchor anywhere in the harbor where you are out of the way of traffic and not a hazard. Just look around the harbor and drop your hook near where another boat has already anchored. Water taxis will pick you up there, too.

Edited by - on

Alan Clark
Captain

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406 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2012 : 13:03:29

I agree with others sugggestions, St Michaels, Oxford Etc.
When we sailed to Cantlers we spoke with the manager at the resturant..No Problem the dock is out the back door.. You need to be careful on getting there and all through the Chesapeak as it is shoal..but its mud! and Watch the crab pots..we were there in September... Summer is REALLY HOT!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2012 : 19:49:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 ...Summer is REALLY HOT!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...with a lot of dead air, man-eating black flies, and too many jellyfish to go swimming (below about the Annapolis bridge). Other than that, I love the place!

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/21/2012 19:50:06

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2012 : 20:31:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Alan Clark
 ...Summer is REALLY HOT!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...with a lot of dead air, man-eating black flies, and too many jellyfish to go swimming (below about the Annapolis bridge). Other than that, I love the place!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
It's interesting that I hear so much about dead air on the Bay during the summer. For all its faults, the Delaware River does seem to get a nice steady evening breeze all summer long - at least that's been my experience the past two seasons. I think it has something to do with the thermal gradients between the water and land (which is always nearby due to the narrowness of the river).

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 05/21/2012 : 21:12:44

The lower Delaware R. should get ocean breezes from Delaware Bay and the Atlantic, created by heat over the land masses. The Chesapeake suffers from the same problem as western Long Island Sound, where Long Island's and CT's convective effects offset each other in the sound, creating doldrums in the summer. Weather systems in spring and fall make great sailing on LIS... In mid-summer, go east (to my territory) for really great sailing. On the Chesapeake, break out the drifter and the bimini.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2012 : 11:37:57

It turned out that last July-August and the year before were both quite breezy most of the days.

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