Daughter has just moved to College Park Md. and on a recent visit there saw a lot of sailing activity south of the Woodrow Wilson bridge. Thinking of taking the boat up there (35.5 Hunter) for a month or so probably next spring to visit and do some sailing. Any advice on marinas (preferably as close to College Park as possible) where I could dock for a month or so would be appreciated. Also tips on sailing in and around the area. Looks like Alexandria is about as far upriver as you can go on my size boat.
DC, Northern Va., Maryland question
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I have heard that the National Harbor is nice up there....but I am sure that it isn't cheap.
http://www.nationalharbor.com/consumer/marina.htm
http://www.nationalharbor.com/consumer/marina.htm
National Harbor, Washington Sailing Marina, Gangplank, and James Creek are your choices if you want to be close to DC.
A friend of mine kept (and sailed) his 42' Catalina at Gangplank for over a year. Gangplank is the farthest North of the sailing marinas and the closest to a Metro station (L'Enfant Plaza). It is also pretty expensive.
James Creek is next to National Defense University and the USCG HQ building, is pretty cheap, but isn't much to look at.
Both James Creek and Gangplank are not in the best neighborhood (Southern DC is pretty blah, neighborhood-wise) but are plenty safe in the immediate vicinity of the marinas themselves.
National Harbor is beautiful, clean, new, and expensive, not close to any metro stations, though.
Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria is nice, has a good restaurant and is (long) walkable to other dining options, but is still over a mile to a metro station.
I kept my boat at James Creek for over a year and was pleased enough. There's not much community there, and there are more stinkpots than sailboats, but I got what I needed for cheap. It is possible to walk to a metro station from James Creek, but I can't say I'd recommend it, as you end up walking through an industrial area close to the stadium and some questionably safe neighborhoods.
Hope this helps.
A friend of mine kept (and sailed) his 42' Catalina at Gangplank for over a year. Gangplank is the farthest North of the sailing marinas and the closest to a Metro station (L'Enfant Plaza). It is also pretty expensive.
James Creek is next to National Defense University and the USCG HQ building, is pretty cheap, but isn't much to look at.
Both James Creek and Gangplank are not in the best neighborhood (Southern DC is pretty blah, neighborhood-wise) but are plenty safe in the immediate vicinity of the marinas themselves.
National Harbor is beautiful, clean, new, and expensive, not close to any metro stations, though.
Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria is nice, has a good restaurant and is (long) walkable to other dining options, but is still over a mile to a metro station.
I kept my boat at James Creek for over a year and was pleased enough. There's not much community there, and there are more stinkpots than sailboats, but I got what I needed for cheap. It is possible to walk to a metro station from James Creek, but I can't say I'd recommend it, as you end up walking through an industrial area close to the stadium and some questionably safe neighborhoods.
Hope this helps.
Also, though it is possible to sail and maneuver a 30' or larger vessel on the Upper Potomac, the relative narrowness of the river means a fair amount of tacking unless the wind is cooperating, which is not all that often.
Usually you will need to get South of Ft. Washington/Mount Vernon or to Occoquan Bay before you have lots of elbow room in a >30' vessel.
Usually you will need to get South of Ft. Washington/Mount Vernon or to Occoquan Bay before you have lots of elbow room in a >30' vessel.
I think you'd be better off staying on the western shore of the Chesapeake somewhere between Herrington Harbor and Annapolis. The area is within 30 miles of College Park and it's fairly typical to find DC area residents sailing there rather than on the Potomac. The advantage is that you'd have easy access to the entire central Chesapeake for cruising. A lot of great spots on both the eastern and western shore would be within a day's sail or less. In the Potomac you'd be pretty limited being so far upriver to as far as you felt comfortable backtracking south downriver. I don't mean to denigrate the Potomac as a cruising destination, it's just that you'll run out of options faster. Of course, if you're only staying a month that might not matter.
On a visit to the area we spent a week at the Alexandria City Marina. It is in the heart of Old Town with plenty of restaurants an shops and convenient transportation to Washington, DC As I recall the slip fees were quite reasonable as it is a municipal marina. It is not very large but I'm sure some of the slips may accomodate your boat. If you sail in the Palmlico Sound your draft should not be a problem.
Quantico
Quantico is a bit further out, but the train station is a 5 minute walk away. They may let you stay as a transient for a month, lot better chance if you are active or retired military. Train goes right into Union Station where you could catch the metro to College Park.
Washington Sailing Marina with a couple of bikes to get to the Metro station at National Airport would be my next choice. After 11pm the planes stop flying until 6am.
Quantico is a bit further out, but the train station is a 5 minute walk away. They may let you stay as a transient for a month, lot better chance if you are active or retired military. Train goes right into Union Station where you could catch the metro to College Park.
Washington Sailing Marina with a couple of bikes to get to the Metro station at National Airport would be my next choice. After 11pm the planes stop flying until 6am.
I, too, would opt for a marina (there are hundreds) in the the 20 mile band above and below Annapolis. You would access to both College Park and the Chesapeake Bay. Sailing on the upper Potomac is pretty restrictive unless you primary want a platform to sleep on and visiting DC is a primary function you seek.
No question in my mind, knowing all the areas mentioned, I would dock at a marina between Herrington Harbour and north of Annapolis, e.g. in the West River, South River, etc. It's a twenty-five or so minute drive to College Park on Route 50 from the Bay. Much better and more interesting sailing than on the Potomac. It is also a safer location than the areas in D.C.
Allan
Allan
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