I'm sailing a 35.5 Hunter from Deltaville, VA to Kent narrows making an overnight stay in Solomons Island (June 22-23, 2002). Does anyone have any tips, warnings or sugestions for that trip. Thanks in advance Ozana
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Doug T.
One word:
Crab pots. Oh, I guess that's two words, but you get the idea... Winds are supposed to be out of the WSW on Sat & Sun so you should have a great sail up the Bay!
Crab pots. Oh, I guess that's two words, but you get the idea... Winds are supposed to be out of the WSW on Sat & Sun so you should have a great sail up the Bay!
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Brooke Willson
that's a long trip
Deltaville to Solomons is a long day. Doable, but long. In case you get tired, Lookout Point Marina is only a few miles up the Potomac on the Maryland side, and has a great restaurant called Spinnakers. Watch the wave action at the mouth of the Potomac. It can get rough with certain winds and tides. Solomons to Kent Narrows is another long day, depending on the winds. If you're approaching the Narrows from the south, watch the charts carefully. It's not deep water through there. Have a great weekend!
Deltaville to Solomons is a long day. Doable, but long. In case you get tired, Lookout Point Marina is only a few miles up the Potomac on the Maryland side, and has a great restaurant called Spinnakers. Watch the wave action at the mouth of the Potomac. It can get rough with certain winds and tides. Solomons to Kent Narrows is another long day, depending on the winds. If you're approaching the Narrows from the south, watch the charts carefully. It's not deep water through there. Have a great weekend!
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Rob
Must agree
with Brooke.... those are two looonnnggg legs. Im sailing down to Point Lookout Marina TONIGHT! (My first night sail) and will definatly be on the look out for the crab pots. It should take me about 8 hours. As for tips.... pay attention to the "flats" as you enter Solomons from the river. Is is well marked so just obey the markers. You can go to either side of it as you enter the Pax river, but the starboard route is a narrow channel. If you decide to bypass Point lookout and make the long trek, carry the Potomac River wide so as you do not get wrapped up in the currents. If you stay well outside of Smith Point Light you should be fine.
with Brooke.... those are two looonnnggg legs. Im sailing down to Point Lookout Marina TONIGHT! (My first night sail) and will definatly be on the look out for the crab pots. It should take me about 8 hours. As for tips.... pay attention to the "flats" as you enter Solomons from the river. Is is well marked so just obey the markers. You can go to either side of it as you enter the Pax river, but the starboard route is a narrow channel. If you decide to bypass Point lookout and make the long trek, carry the Potomac River wide so as you do not get wrapped up in the currents. If you stay well outside of Smith Point Light you should be fine.
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Buck Harrison
Ozana,
Its a pretty straight forward cruise.... Route plan the trip w/ your charts and GPS before leaving so that you know headings and distances between waypoints. Watch out for fish traps, crabpots, and (Navy) restricted area in the Bay off Pax. River. Be ready w/ a plan if you're hit by late afternoon thunderstorms. Have a drink at the Tiki Bar in Solomons. Enjoy playing dodge-boat in the Northern Bay on Sun. Check on current in Kent Narrows And hope for SW winds.............. good luck !
Its a pretty straight forward cruise.... Route plan the trip w/ your charts and GPS before leaving so that you know headings and distances between waypoints. Watch out for fish traps, crabpots, and (Navy) restricted area in the Bay off Pax. River. Be ready w/ a plan if you're hit by late afternoon thunderstorms. Have a drink at the Tiki Bar in Solomons. Enjoy playing dodge-boat in the Northern Bay on Sun. Check on current in Kent Narrows And hope for SW winds.............. good luck !
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Joe Mullee
Make Sure The Iron Genny Is Working
I made the trip last year. Had great winds but couldn't get it done it two FULL days. If my memory is correct it's about a 120-130 mile trip. Throw in a few tacks and jibes and you're adding lots of miles. Both days I turned on the engine to make my destination. I also wouldn't attempt going thru the Narrows at night after a long day on the water unless you're very familiar with the area. It's definetly tight and plenty of boats go aground there. Better to add an extra day if you can.
I made the trip last year. Had great winds but couldn't get it done it two FULL days. If my memory is correct it's about a 120-130 mile trip. Throw in a few tacks and jibes and you're adding lots of miles. Both days I turned on the engine to make my destination. I also wouldn't attempt going thru the Narrows at night after a long day on the water unless you're very familiar with the area. It's definetly tight and plenty of boats go aground there. Better to add an extra day if you can.
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Don
Another stop off
Would be just inside either the Choptank or Little Choptank Rivers. As everyone says, that going to be 2 long days, and sailing them is gonna be a hard call with typical summer winds on the bay. Be prepared to motor. There are great anchorages along the east side of the bay, not so far off the main trek. I have broken the days up by anchoring there when doing similar trips.
Would be just inside either the Choptank or Little Choptank Rivers. As everyone says, that going to be 2 long days, and sailing them is gonna be a hard call with typical summer winds on the bay. Be prepared to motor. There are great anchorages along the east side of the bay, not so far off the main trek. I have broken the days up by anchoring there when doing similar trips.
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Buck Harrison
5 kt Rule
The total distance is about 90 miles... If you average at least 5 kts (motorsailing when necessary) .. its two, 9 hr days
The total distance is about 90 miles... If you average at least 5 kts (motorsailing when necessary) .. its two, 9 hr days
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Doug T.
Forecast
I'm leaving at noon today to spend the weekend on the Bay (it's the Summer Sailstice, right?) Wind forecast for Sat doesn't look very wonderful for a trip up from the south: SE at 5mph. Coming up the bay on a dead run with light winds... You'll have to motor. :-(
I'm leaving at noon today to spend the weekend on the Bay (it's the Summer Sailstice, right?) Wind forecast for Sat doesn't look very wonderful for a trip up from the south: SE at 5mph. Coming up the bay on a dead run with light winds... You'll have to motor. :-(
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Jay Eaton
Night Sail
Consider a night sail. We sailed from Have de Grace to Middle River last evening. What a night and what a ride! We had 12K ESE and a near full moon. We actually raced a tugboat down the bay - we had a favorable current also. Anyway, cloud build up during the day vanished to produce a clear cool night. If you have never sailed at night, it can be a treat. But you must concentrate on your visual navigation skills. The GPS is good but it doesn't show the other vessels, particularly the large vessels.
Consider a night sail. We sailed from Have de Grace to Middle River last evening. What a night and what a ride! We had 12K ESE and a near full moon. We actually raced a tugboat down the bay - we had a favorable current also. Anyway, cloud build up during the day vanished to produce a clear cool night. If you have never sailed at night, it can be a treat. But you must concentrate on your visual navigation skills. The GPS is good but it doesn't show the other vessels, particularly the large vessels.
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John Cole
Night Sail - Yes!
I absolutly agree with Jay. I have done a LOT of night sailing on the bay, because I find it a much more fun experience. Here's why: Winds, at this time of year are often far stronger at night than during the day. All the power boaters have gone home, so you can enjoy a wake free sail. Your senses are heightened at night, and the feels and sounds of the boat are much clearer. Navigation is far easier, all you need to concentrate on are lighted (and avoid) unlighted buoys.
I absolutly agree with Jay. I have done a LOT of night sailing on the bay, because I find it a much more fun experience. Here's why: Winds, at this time of year are often far stronger at night than during the day. All the power boaters have gone home, so you can enjoy a wake free sail. Your senses are heightened at night, and the feels and sounds of the boat are much clearer. Navigation is far easier, all you need to concentrate on are lighted (and avoid) unlighted buoys.
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