So I'm planning to sail to Annapolis...

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Piotr

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Dec 6, 2010
848
MacGregor 25 Rock Hall, MD
So I'm planning to sail to Annapolis -UPDATE

... on Sunday of the Labor Day weekend, stay on the mooring, take water taxi into the harbor, hang out with the family about town (have lunch and such), then return to the boat and sail back the same day (we sail out of Rock Hall). I figured about 3 hours both ways, which would leave me about 3 hours to walk around the City.
My question for people who moored in the Annapolis harbor - what are my chances of getting a mooring spot around noon on Sunday of the Labor Day weekend?

The Admiral has declared alternative plan for the Labor Day, so now I'm considering trying to chance it for the slip on Saturday after Labor Day. What would be the best chance to get it? If any chance at all?
 
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Paul Mermelstein

Paul Mermelstein

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Oct 3, 2008
325
Beneteau 393 Chesapeake Bay
Piotr;1143487 My question for people who moored in the Annapolis harbor - what are my chances of getting a mooring spot around noon on Sunday of the Labor Day weekend?[/quote said:
Absolute zero.
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Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
You might fare better if you go above the Spa Creek Bridge where the cheaper (by 5 bucks)moorings are. The mooring ball, you have to pay the overnbight fee, even if you stay just a few hours. If you go into the Ego Alley, to the dock where Fawctts used to be, I believe this year they still have by the hour rates,,, i guess the harbormast runs those on a first come, first served basis. You could always anchor out.
 
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Piotr

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Dec 6, 2010
848
MacGregor 25 Rock Hall, MD
Ron20324 said:
You might fare better if you go above the Spa Creek Bridge where the cheaper (by 5 bucks)moorings are. The mooring ball, you have to pay the overnbight fee, even if you stay just a few hours. If you go into the Ego Alley, to the dock where Fawctts used to be, I believe this year they still have by the hour rates,,, i guess the harbormast runs those on a first come, first served basis. You could always anchor out.
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Ok, is there an anchorage, and is it served by the water taxi?
 
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gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
A few tight spots to anchor. The mooring field just inside the bridge is for smaller boats. If you fit there, it is often open and is a great spot.
Water taxi will go to any boat in Spa creek or Back creek.
 
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Piotr

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Dec 6, 2010
848
MacGregor 25 Rock Hall, MD
gettinthere said:
A few tight spots to anchor. The mooring field just inside the bridge is for smaller boats. If you fit there, it is often open and is a great spot.
Water taxi will go to any boat in Spa creek or Back creek.
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Oh, no problem. I have a 25-footer, so any mooring will be OK. So you think St Mary's mooring will be available?
 
Lee Hadjiosif

Lee Hadjiosif

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Apr 14, 2010
195
Jeanneau 42DS Larnaca Marina
If you are not staying overnight your best bet is to anchor by the Navy Yard wall and it's free. It gets rough at night but it won't matter for you. Water taxi will pick you up.
Lee
 
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Piotr

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Dec 6, 2010
848
MacGregor 25 Rock Hall, MD
Lee Hadjiosif said:
If you are not staying overnight your best bet is to anchor by the Navy Yard wall and it's free. It gets rough at night but it won't matter for you. Water taxi will pick you up.
Lee
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Dunno - in 60 feet of water?
 
njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
A lot depends on the weekend weather. We had the choice of several mooring balls two weekends ago on a Saturday, $30. Got there after 2. Hopefully on Labor Day Sunday moms will be herding the kids back home early for school so you may be ok. There is no reservations for the moorings but I am told the harbor master now takes resourvations for dockage on Ego ally.
Back on spa creek things are a little calmer and calm anchorage but the bridge only opens every half hour.
If you have time, a tour of the Navy Academy is worthwhile.
 
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Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Yeah, there are slips in Ego Alley, though not much open on a weekend, but maybe you can call ahead ch 17 for availability? Circle the mooring field and you may get lucky and find someone about to leave? I don't know your draft, but you ought to be able to get close to the Eastport peninsula, my favorite place to anchor. From the bay, go into the harbor and keep the white/green HP marker on your left. After that, on your left, you should be able to drop hook in 10 or so feet.
 
THECUSCUS

THECUSCUS

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Sep 25, 2008
961
Macgregor & Island Packet VENTURE 25 & IP-38 NORTH EAST, MD
Piotr, I would try for one of the mooring balls in Spa Creek, on the other side of the drawbridge ( the ones near St Mary's). They are for 35' and smaller boats so you stand a better chance. Also if one stayed the night,you need to be off by noon, so the best time to stag one would be 10-12. The bridge opens on the hour and the half hour, if there is a sailboat waiting to go under. We were just there this sat and sun nights. We got there at 6pm on sat and there were 6 open balls (there are 20 total). Sunday night there was only us and 2 others there. There are plenty of water taxis, but I like bringing my rowing dinghy and rowing up ego alley :)
With all that said, I would stay away from any popular spot on a holiday weekend. I look for nice quiet anchorages or work on my boat in the slip. There are far too many powerboats out on holiday weekends.


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Canvasback

Canvasback

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Aug 4, 2006
47
Catalina 309 Cutter Marina, Chesapeake Bay
You might try to secure a slip at Eastport. We've has some success there on busy weekends. The marina is not that far away from Ego Alley, and you can opt to either hoof it over there or take a water taxi from the Charthouse Restaurant, which, by the way, has really good grub! :)
 
scott754

scott754

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Jun 25, 2012
19
catalina 350mk11 Rock Hall MD
Depending on winds and tide you are looking at 3 1/2 hrs or more. We always moor at St. Marys. Its quiet even with heavy air. But please stay over night. There's plenty to see any do. Try Galloway Bay Restaurant near the State House. Food and prices are good. Tip: If there is no mooring ball at St Marys you can anchor a little further up Spa Creek.
 
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Piotr

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Dec 6, 2010
848
MacGregor 25 Rock Hall, MD
Canvasback said:
You might try to secure a slip at Eastport. We've has some success there on busy weekends. The marina is not that far away from Ego Alley, and you can opt to either hoof it over there or take a water taxi from the Charthouse Restaurant, which, by the way, has really good grub! :)
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Thanks, but the game has changed (i.e. the Admiral has declared) - we are NOT sailing this weekend, but we may venture the following weekend. Maybe even stay the night. So the question now becomes - what are the chances for a slip in Ego alley on Saturday after Labor Day? :D
 
scott754

scott754

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Jun 25, 2012
19
catalina 350mk11 Rock Hall MD
Slip on the alley on Sat. iffy. Best chance is to be there at 11:00 am.
 
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Piotr

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Dec 6, 2010
848
MacGregor 25 Rock Hall, MD
scott754 said:
Slip on the alley on Sat. iffy. Best chance is to be there at 11:00 am.
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LOL - I passed your boat going in and out of Spring Cove! I think it was right about Gratitude. I remember the name. I'm the only Mac 25 in the area.
 
NotCook

NotCook

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Dec 29, 2008
806
Treworgy 65' LOA Custom Steel Pilothouse Staysail Ketch St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Are there mooring balls in the vicinity of Spa Creek for 50' boats?
 
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Bpatnut

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Feb 26, 2008
1
Grampian 26 -
Re: So I'm planning to sail to Annapolis -UPDATE

Piotr,
As was mentioned earlier, weather depending, anchor in the designated anchorage, shown on the chart off the Naval Academy Seawall. Raise the water taxis on Ch. 68, and they'll take you down town or over to Eastport. I agree with the other posters, go to Saint Mary's Cove, the other side of the Spa Creek Bridge (CH. 13) opens every 1/2 hr., for an overnight mooring. By ALL MEANS take your boat down Ego Alley, look smart and keep a lookout! Enjoy the trip.
 
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