Tangier Is. Chesepeake Bay Advice

[rgranger]

Hey All

Any trailer sailors out there make the trip to Tangier Island and if so, can you recommend a marina to launch from? I have contacted a few people I have found on the web and they all seem nice enough and willing to let me park my trailer for a few days but... first hand recommendations are always best. So I'm looking for a low-key marina that will let me launch my boat, park my boat and trailer for a few days and let me rent a transient slip for the night on each end of the trip. I'd like to launch from the Rappahannock or Potomac area. Anyone here familiar with that area?


Also, once at Tangier.... any recommendations for anchorages and/or transient friendly marinas, favorite restaurants, got-to-see attractions?

I'm shooting for mid-June.

r

 

[lbertran]

Point Lookout State Park

Check out the state park. They're located on the Maryland side at the point where the river meets the Bay. They have great launch ramps and a small marina for use by campers. If you get a campsite, you can park your car and boat trailer at the site and have use of a marina slip. Depth in the channel out from the launch ramps can be an issue so you should call the Park and get the current details.

 

[KD3PC]

plenty of marinas off the potomac...kinsale, coan river, Lewisetta and several off the Yeocomico. Smith Pt marina would be good and bit shorter sail/motor.

Not many options on the island, Parks is the place...call for a reservation. Food is limited and no alcohol. No attractions other than the island. Golf carts and bicycles are available for rent. Bring bug spray or netting.

Please be aware the Bay can be a bit rough to and from for your venture 22...

 

[rgranger]

Thanks guys

I'll scout these places out. I'd still like to give Tangier a try on my way to Kiptopeake.

My little boat has done some rough sailing in the Albemarle and I have 35 years of sailing experience so if I get caught out I should be okay... but I plan on watching the weather carefully. My mac has a heavy air main with two reefs and I have a storm jib.... and I'm of the "reef early or hove to" school of thought. But I appreciate the advice none the less.


Actually my avitar is a shot I took of my son when the two of us were running from a T-storm in the Albemarle sound. We were under storm jib only.

r

 

[Benny17441]

Mr. Parks marina is the only show in town. It is reasonably priced, well located and Mr. Parks will make you feel at home. There is no alcohol sold on the Island but you can take a bottle of wine into a restaurant and they will provide the wine glasses. If you want to explore the Island rent a Golf Kart. Get your ice at the ice plant before the fishermen come back in the afternoon or there will be none left. Go to the breakfast family buffet at the INN it is worth it. Check your weather as we got to the Island under small craft warning and were pinned there for three days. The Island is geared to 11:00 AM to 3:00PM or to coincide with the Ferry arrivals and departures. In the mornings you will see people going about town in their pajamas. The people are friendly and we found out that by the third day they start treating you like a local. We came down the Potomac River on a 1985 Windstar 223 and sailed To Tangier I. directly from Kinsale. Great destination, have fun.

 

[rgranger]

Thanks Benny

I made notes in my log regarding breakfast and the ice advice sounds key as I only have an ice chest on board.

C-ya on the water,

r

 

[Bad Obsession]

There are a lot of descent marinas that you can launch from from the MD or VA side.

Tangier is a great trip. I plan on going back soon. Watch your weather window because it is big water that you are crossing. That being said I did this trip in my Hunter 22 once. It did fine. The best bet for this trip is to leave early and arrive early afternoon so you miss thunderstorms (the typical summer pattern is thunder storms in the evening around 5 or 6). I usually try to hit port around 3 so I can enjoy the area and beat the storms.

Enjoy the sail...it is a great one!

 

[rgranger]

There are a lot of descent marinas that you can launch from from the MD or VA side.

Thanks Bad

Can you recommend a VA launch site? I'm still scouting that part of the trip.


Rob

 

[thinwater]

I know you've read my posts on this before, but for the benefit of others, I will repeat.

• Can't help on launch sites.
• Docking between the piers at parks can be a pickle when the tide is running. As an alternative, the bulkhead beside the bathhouse is out of the current (leave the end dock for big boats).
• The beach on Tom's Hook is one of the BEST on the Bay, and I've been to many of them.
• Great place to rent a bike and cruise around (there is a place ~ 1/4 mile from the dock).

My blog, below, has some useful trip reports.

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/09/trip-report-2010-delmarva.html

 

[Bad Obsession]

Avoid the Little Wicomico River unless you have a shallow draft. It can also be treacherous to enter or leave in heavier weather. I used to work on a Charter Fishing Boat that docked there.

There is a state park in the area that has access to the Big Wicomico River. That would be suitable.

If you want to come out of the Potomac (it is slightly farther but safer) you can go out of the Port Kinsale Marina. That is a nice area and their ramp is pretty steep from what I remember. You may want to contact the marina in that case.

http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/Angler_Guide/angler_web_ramps.pdf

 

[rgranger]

Thanks Guys...

I'm keeping a log of all of these suggestions. I'll scout them out.

Best,

Rob