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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

696.0. "Chesapeake Bay" by GRANMA::HAJOHNSON () Mon Nov 16 1987 08:27

    There does not seem to be very much in this note file on the Queen
    of Bays, the Chesapeake, so I thought I would start a section for
    this outstanding cruising area.  As one of the world's largest
    estuarys, it is over 200 miles long and provides thousands of miles
    of shoreline with rivers and creeks calling to a passing sailor.
    
    I hope some of our subscribers in our Washington office can provide
    some details of the upper portion of The Bay, e.g. Annopolis, St.
    Michaels, Oxford, etc.  I am in the Norfolk office and sail primarily
    the middle bay out of the Piankatank River.
    
    On of the first things you will note is the indian names in the
    area like Rappahannock, Wicomico and Onancock.  Part of the fun
    of cruising this area is going ashore and looking for indian artifacts.
    
    You will find sailors onThe Bay almost year round, but April to
    September is the prime time.  The stinging nettles (jelyfish) come
    in almost every year when the water warms, However, I have seen
    summers when they never showed up.   The weather is another thing
    to watch; it seems to vary every ten or twenty miles.  The narrowing
    of The Bay can also produce interesting wind effects.  For example
    just north of Solomons, Md at Calvert cliffs two years ago I
    experienced thirty knots winds while other areas were reporting
    10-15.  And due to the depth, the waves tend to be "square" and
    close together so when it it gets snoty, it gets rather bumpy too.
    
    The Cruising Guide To The Chesapeake put out by Chesapeake Bay Magizine
    is a good way to learn more of the treasures of The Bay.  However
    it is not alwasy up to date and misses some of the local places.
     For Example, Healy Creek off of the Piankatank carries 8 feet of
    water for almost a mile up the creek.  At anchor in here I have
    never had another boat and the local waterman are apt to come over
    to say hello and may even offer some crabs.  Another popular spot
    in mid-Bay is Tangier Island. The people still speak with a bit
    of old English.  This quaint island is slowly being eroded threatening
    this way of life and the waterman who live there.  The western channel
    has shoaled to less than four feet and there is a power line that
    blocks the eastern channel if your mast is over 45 feet.  They have
    talked of dredging so this may be mute.  One of the very nice things
    in thisd part of The Bay is the fee to tie up for the night.  At
    Tangier it is $8.00.
    
    For the more domesticated, go up the Rappahannock to Carters Creek
    and stay at the Tides Inn in Irvington.  The charge here is .75 per
    foot and includes use of two pools.  They offer full service, bath
    house, restraunt, golf, tennis and bikes.  The Sunday brunch is
    outrageous - no menu, just ask for it and you will get it.
    
    This was just a bit to see if we can get some dialog going on this
    cruisers paradise.
    
    Hank Johnson

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
696.1	No Place Like It!!	CTOAVX::WOCHE		`Tue Nov 24 1987 11:36`	14
	You've made me home sick! I grew up on the Bay and sailed with my father on a Tayana 37 and several other boats. We lived on the water from April to Oct/nov and loved it. I'm now in CT and have a little 22' that gets me out there but somehow it isn't like 'the Bay'. One favorite place of mine (as long as it wasn't Labor Day) was St. Micheal's and the Crab Claw (?) restaurant. We also spent time in Fairlee creek often and loved it. Look forward to more about the Bay! Kristen
696.2	The Bay	MAMTS5::HAJOHNSON		`Thu Dec 03 1987 21:20`	8
	You bet. I spent two and half day there in June. I only planned to stay a day, but they really make the boaters feel welcome. How many places have a "dingy dock" just for boaters? As for the Crab Claw... a bit too commercial for me. I found all the crabs I wanted using the Z-boat around the harbor then steamed them on "Second Wind".
696.3	Land that time forgot?	LDYBUG::FACHON		`Thu Aug 11 1988 13:55`	6
	Does anyone still read this note? Seemed like a good topic, but like the bay, it has apparently gone unnoticed. Think I'll head south next time I go for a cruise! ;)
696.4	Home sweet Home	ISTG::HEARNS	Fletcher Hearns - SAI*Ling is my life. DTN 291-8423	`Mon Aug 15 1988 12:19`	14
	I have sailed the bay for over 15 years, and I love it. I now live in RI, and can sail on the ocean but nothing (ABSOLUTELY NOTHING) beats the bay and Maryland blues (crabs that is). If anyone need information on the Bay I will be glad to lend a hand. My family and I sail mostly in the norther part of the bay but know about most part. Help save the Bay.... fletcher
696.5	The Bay	VBV01::HJOHNSON		`Fri Aug 19 1988 12:52`	17
	This time of year it may be better to forget The Bay. It is hot, little wind until late PM, stinging nettles abound, and the afternoon thunderstroms certainly can build character. However, that is only one month of the 8-9 month season on The Bay. I am at the lower portion and usually sail through the end of November. See the lastest issue of Cruising World for a nice blurb on The Bay. Events: Crab Derby in Cristfield MD, Labor day weekend Oyster Festival in Urbanna, VA (Rappahonnock River), November 4-5 Welcome to the Bay
696.6	Blue Angels	VBV01::HJOHNSON	Hank Johnson DTN 373-5443	`Wed Apr 11 1990 08:46`	3
	Anyone interested in a Digital raft at Annapolis to watch the Blue Angels during the Naval Academy graduation?
696.7	Chesapeake Bay sailing at Thanksgiving?	RECYCL::MCBRIDE		`Mon Oct 28 1991 16:41`	11
	I have a chance this Thanksgiving to join my brother in law for a race over Thanksgiving weekend. It is the first annual wooden boat somethingorother regatta. The plans are to sail from Yankee Pt. to Urbanna via some sort of route as of yet unknown. Can someone in here give me an idea how far this may be in a straight line or via the shortest route? I am also interested in what the bay is like at this time of year. Just cool, cold or real cold. The boat we will be on is an ex Ted Hood owned Little Harbor 40 (Eleanor?) in very good condition. Any chance another Sailing Notes participant may be in the same race? Anyone in the greater Chesapeake Bay area interested in possibly crewing?
696.8	Unpredictable	GRANMA::HAJOHNSON		`Fri Nov 01 1991 16:35`	15
	The trip is maybe 10 NM max. Urbanna is on the Rappahannock River and Yankee Pt. is on the Corrotoman River maybe 2-3 NM upriver from the Rappahannock. The weather is unpredictable. However, since you will be about 12 NM upriver from the Chesapeake itself, it is fairly well protected so the temperature will be the main variable. One thing about this area...if you don't like the weather, wait an hour. So far this fall has been mild and the sailing pretty good. Last weekend was an exception. We had fog both days which is rare on The Bay.
696.9	OK on the Raftup	GUCCI::RPARSHLEY		`Mon Nov 04 1991 08:16`	2
	Count me in on the planning. I live up the Severn just past the draw bridge.
696.10	Brunch Anyone?	GRANMA::HAJOHNSON		`Thu Jan 02 1992 10:27`	14
	Annapolis/Washington area event The Hunter Sailing Association reduces the off season withdrawal syndrom by holding brunches. The first of the season is being held at Busch's resturant on route 50 with the speakers being a couple that spent a year in the Carribean. January 12th at 11:00. You need not be a Hunter owner to attend (I have a Caliber). The cost is 12.95 per person. Call me at DTN 427-5067 if interested. Hank Johnson
696.11	Feedback	GRANMA::HAJOHNSON		`Fri Jan 03 1992 18:25`	4
	RE #7 Did McBride get to the Bay and how was the trip?
696.12	Been there, done that, want to go again	EMDS::MCBRIDE		`Mon Jan 06 1992 09:12`	7
	I did and it was great! There is a report entered in the "Local Racing" note (845.xxx?). We will probably go back down for the Urbanna Oyster Festival and possibly try to con my bro-in-law out of the boat for a week or so over the summer. The Chesapeake seems like a wonderful place to explore. Brian