Boats anchored at Cape May get serenaded by the chants of new Coasties marching on the parade grounds of the CG base and by recorded bugle calls. It’s not unpleasant and they pipe down at night.
From Cape May we always head up Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal. The Delaware holds no interest for me and runs in the wrong direction. It might make sense to skip it and continue offshore to Norfolk but the we’d miss the Chesapeake, my former sailing grounds. I’ve never been tempted to bypass its many charms and have always suffered the Delaware. We lucked out this trip riding a flood current all the way up the bay.
Just before the canal is a good anchorage inside the Reedy Island dike. The entrance is a narrow gap in the dike where there is usually a strong cross current. It’s a good test of helmsmanship.
The following day we paid for our good currents luck by having to fight them nearly all day in the canal and Chesapeake. A 15-20 knot NW wind overcame the Chesapeake currents and we made it to Hawk Cove on the western shore while the VHF weather radio was warning us to take our potted plants indoors.
The wind swung to the south overnight so we headed across to the eastern shore and up the Chester River. The Chester is one of the many magnificent and sailor friendly rivers running into the Chesapeake. The things I love most about the Chesapeake are not in the main part that bears the name but off to the side, both sides. While sailing up the Chester we passed some favorite anchorages in small creeks along Grays Inn Creek and Langford Creek. We passed familiar names that were once point-to-point racing destinations, in a former life, at Queenstown and the Corsica River.
The end of the line was Chestertown which I had never before gotten to but am glad we finally did. The docks are full of interesting boats. There’s an excellent natural foods market a few blocks from the free dinghy dock. The library is a good one, as you’d expect in a college town. There are plenty of restaurants that look like they’d be worth visiting. The shady brick sidewalks were full of folks strolling about town.
With wind against current in the Chestertown anchorage we moved two miles down river to spend the night. Along the way we passed a flotilla of tall ships heading up river to Chestertown. Below is a photo for Tom. I’d include photos of Chestertown as well but haven’t learned how to embed photos like Tom does.
We’re now in Annapolis anchored in Ridout (aptly pronounced Ride Out) Creek which would be a fine hurricane hole for three or four boats. I used to keep my boat about a mile from here at Whitehall Yacht Yard. It’s raining steadily with distant thunderstorms. The weather radio was talking about gale force winds. It’s so protected here we have no idea what it’s like outside. We’re staying put anyway.
From Cape May we always head up Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal. The Delaware holds no interest for me and runs in the wrong direction. It might make sense to skip it and continue offshore to Norfolk but the we’d miss the Chesapeake, my former sailing grounds. I’ve never been tempted to bypass its many charms and have always suffered the Delaware. We lucked out this trip riding a flood current all the way up the bay.
Just before the canal is a good anchorage inside the Reedy Island dike. The entrance is a narrow gap in the dike where there is usually a strong cross current. It’s a good test of helmsmanship.
The following day we paid for our good currents luck by having to fight them nearly all day in the canal and Chesapeake. A 15-20 knot NW wind overcame the Chesapeake currents and we made it to Hawk Cove on the western shore while the VHF weather radio was warning us to take our potted plants indoors.
The wind swung to the south overnight so we headed across to the eastern shore and up the Chester River. The Chester is one of the many magnificent and sailor friendly rivers running into the Chesapeake. The things I love most about the Chesapeake are not in the main part that bears the name but off to the side, both sides. While sailing up the Chester we passed some favorite anchorages in small creeks along Grays Inn Creek and Langford Creek. We passed familiar names that were once point-to-point racing destinations, in a former life, at Queenstown and the Corsica River.
The end of the line was Chestertown which I had never before gotten to but am glad we finally did. The docks are full of interesting boats. There’s an excellent natural foods market a few blocks from the free dinghy dock. The library is a good one, as you’d expect in a college town. There are plenty of restaurants that look like they’d be worth visiting. The shady brick sidewalks were full of folks strolling about town.
With wind against current in the Chestertown anchorage we moved two miles down river to spend the night. Along the way we passed a flotilla of tall ships heading up river to Chestertown. Below is a photo for Tom. I’d include photos of Chestertown as well but haven’t learned how to embed photos like Tom does.
We’re now in Annapolis anchored in Ridout (aptly pronounced Ride Out) Creek which would be a fine hurricane hole for three or four boats. I used to keep my boat about a mile from here at Whitehall Yacht Yard. It’s raining steadily with distant thunderstorms. The weather radio was talking about gale force winds. It’s so protected here we have no idea what it’s like outside. We’re staying put anyway.
