Hampton, VA information

[Bad Obsession]

I am thinking about sailing south next summer and going to Hampton. There I will pick up my wife from my Uncle's house and go to some places in the area. Does anyone have any suggestions on places to go? I like to ancor out and I have a dingy to get in. I know that Waterside might be neat.I would love to be able to sail somewhere in the ocean but I know that Rudy Inlet is not a good place to go with a sailboat (there isn't any access to land, that is close, and I can't get my Catalina 30's mast under the bridge). Does anyone know of some areas that would be a daysail from Hampton and it would let me sail into the ocean from the Chesapeake?One last thing....Does anyone know of a place, close by to water in that area, that offers horseback riding? My wife loves to ride horses and I think that she would love the trip if I could find a place (either on the Eastern Shore or the other areas) that she could go for a ride?

 

[camaraderie]

The easiest

way to he ocean is to head out past the hampton route 64 tunnel...take a right and go through the bay bridge and out into the Atlantic. Nothing there but dolphins and tankers and Navy ships but you will be in the Ocean. A day sail implies not overnight and there is really not much else you can do in one day other than sail around a bit and make a stop at Norfolk Waterside and/or take the ferry over to the Portsmouth side. You do have Nauticus at waterside too.

 

[Buck2796]

Hi Bad

1 You can anchor out up in Hampton Creek in front of the Hampton City Docks... There's space for about 6-7 boats and you shouldn't have any problem.If you are picking up your wife there you can put your boat in a slip, no charge, for up to about 1/2 day if you eat at one of the nearby restraunts.2 Large anchorage in Norfolk off Waterside called "Hospital Point anchorage". Good holding; good place to go; large marina right there if you need fuel, or anything else (Tidewater Yacht Agency). Lots to see and do at Waterside and Nauticus3 From your anchorage in Hampton you can sail out thru the Ches. Bay Bridge Tunnel... past Cape Henry (usually dolphin around) ... and 14 miles out to the Chesapeake Light tower. Then back in... Throw a line out and troll for dinner. About a 60 mile round trip. You actually could go into Rudee if you want and anchor in Lake Wesley.4 There are horse stables in Va Beach and Chesapeake that you could go horseback riding; but you'll need a car to get to them... Enterprise Rent-A-Car would be a possibliity while in Norfolk. Google horseback riding in Va. Beach and/or Chesapeake.Anything else

 

[Ross]

Buck, I encountered this local naming about three

years ago. On the charts, what is locally called Hampton Creek , is the Hampton River. Hampton Creek(on the charts)is a shallow back water up near New Point Comfort. I had friends tell me that they were wintering in Hampton Creek and working for Blue Water Yachts. I couldn't make sense of that so we went back and forth a few times and got it straight.

 

[Keith Jones]

check out the historic triangle

I grew up in Newport News and had relatives in Hampton. All of the sailing I did was on the James River. However, you can sail to Yorktown (up the York River) and check out the battlefields (Revolutionary War & Civil War), or you could sail up the James River to Jamestown. It's the 400th anniversary year, so there's a lot going on there. Williamsburg is a short drive form Jamestown. If you have wheels you should check out the Mariners Museum in Newport News.

 

[Buck2796]

You're Right, Ross,

everyone around here calls the Hampton River, Hampton Creek... Keith is also correct. Lots of places to sail to in and around Hampton Roads, including going over to Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore. Very nice new marina there... one of the nicest on the East Coast... Bay Creek Marina.

 

[BOB]

Cape Charles

Old town Cape Charles is a must see. There are lots of place to anchor. A word of warning....getting into the Bay Creek marina is a little tricky. We tried to get in there last year a ran aground and had to be pulled off, so we went back to the boat docks behind the Coast Guard station in Cape Charles. We plan to go back, but not to Bay Creek marina unless we follow somebody.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Lake Wesley

Where is Lake Wesley in Rudy Inlet? Is it the area before the bridge near Croatan? How is the holding there and is there anywhere to get to shore?

 

[Peter]

Rudee Inlet and southern bay

If you really want close access to the ocean, don't count out Rudee Inlet. Before you pass under the bridge, Lake Wesley bears off to the south. There are some VERY LARGE motoryachts moored at some of the houses surrounding, and I've seen a few sailing yachts winter at anchor there too. I don't know their drafts, compared to your 5' or so, though. However, I think it's more likely you'll get trapped inside when they get behind on dredging the bar. With your dink, its only a short row or motor to the docks inside the bridge. If you chose Little Creek, it's not quite 5 miles to clear first island of the CBBT. Another 5 miles east and you'll find yourself on the COLREGS line. This area off Cape Henry feels like inshore ocean because it is. Besides the Hospital Point anchorage, I like Waterside Marina, and I didn't think it was priced outrageously. Hampton Creek is a real gem, as it seems you already know. So for my money the two long-term choices are Little Creek (quicker access to open water but also requires slip) or Hampton Creek (nice, long-term anchorage, but just a little further to open Bay waters). Plenty of weekend/overnight spots within a reasonable distance from both.

 

[ITMaster]

That pic was taken

within several miles of the concrete ships I was talking about. The other side of the bridge is the ocean. This is a lot closer than Hampton, at least 3 hours from Hampton if not more.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Has anyone ancored in Rudy Inlet

Has anyone ancored in Rudy Inlet? In Lake Wesley, how is the holding and I have heard that it is really deep? Where can you legally access shore?

 

[Buck2796]

Bad,

Yes; I have, and you can anchor in Lake Wesley. Yes, as the chart shows, it is deep; but well protected and, as I remember, holding is good.You can dingy around under the bridge to the "Virginia Beach Fishing Center" charter boat docks for shore access.IT, that's Bay Creek Marina at Cape Charles. Bay Point is in Little Creek.And, come on; it's not THAT difficult to get into Bay Creek; I've been in and out many times on my 420 and not run aground. We have a great race from Little Creek to Bay Creek every August. About 50+ boats participate and everyone gets in and out w/o problems. It IS one of the nicest marinas in the mid Atlantic... worth the effort to get into if you've never been their. To me it's only downside is that it's pricey.If you would like to know the real story of the "Concrete Ships";  google .. "concrete ships at Kiptopeke". As you say, it is a nice anchorage; but can get quite choppy and rolly w/ North or South winds as they oppose the rather significent current that runs thru there.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Rudey

As you can tell, I am really interested in going into Rudey Inlet. I would love to be able to dingy to shore and use my folding bikes to go down to the boardwalk etc. At the Virginia Beach Fishing Center is there a dingy dock? Are these city maintained docks or is it private? Is there a charge to put the dingy there for a while and if so what is it? How is the current that goes in and out of Rudey Inlet? Do you have to wait for a high tide to go into the harbour? What is the shallowest depth that I will find to ancor in (I don't know if I have enough ancor rode)?

 

[Buck2796]

Bad,

Google "Virginia Beach Fishing Center"... Their web site can answer some of your questions and then call them to find out everthing else you want to know...

 

[Bob]

Interested

I'm also interested in Rudy Inlet. Is the inlet deep enough for 5ft 3" draft to safely get in and out? Is it necessary to wait for high tide? Love all this new information!!ThanksBob

 

[Peter]

rudee inlet depth

The authorized depth for the channel through the inlet is 8ft at mllw. The only chart I have found with data for Lake Wesley and the inlet are 12205 (portfolio small craft chart which incidentally covers the coastal waters from Cape Henry to Oregon Inlet) and the Chesapeake Bay Chartbook published by ADC, I think. After storms, particularly prolonged nor'easters, the channel can shoal severely. The dredge is always on-site, and it's just a matter of looking at the Notice to Mariners, or asking the Fishing Center, to see if that is a problem.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Wouldn't it be cool if....

A marina in the Lake Wesley area opened up that could dock a few sailboats. Virginia Beach would be an awesome place to visit and dock the boat for a few days. You would be able to ride bikes to the boardwalk and go to the beach! Especially since there is direct access to the ocean!