Upper Chesepeake Bay Cruising Advice

RichH · Jun 2, 2011

Many options (mostly on the 'eastern shore' of MD):
But the must-sees high on the list would be: St. Michaels - Wye River area (spend a WHOLE day in St. Mikes but anchoring 'outside'). Most of the Wye River is a 'nature reserve' area - Dividing Creek, etc.

For super quiet: Chester River (Queenstown, Reed Cr., Corsica River/Emory Creek, Cackaway Is.)

Choptank River: Dun Cove, LaTrappe Cr., Oxford, Cambridge and the many creeks on the N. Shore of the Choptank

Crimson Tide · Jun 2, 2011

I second the suggestion about St. Michaels. It’s a good 5 hours from Annapolis depending on the wind. While you are sailing south from Annapolis towards St. Michaels, if you hang to the western shore, you can sail right by Tomas Point Light House. It’s a neat spider like structure and makes a great photo opp. If you venture in the South River, a real nice gunkhole is Harness Creek. Over on the Eastern Shore, sailing from St. Michaels to Oxford is a great trip. Going through Tillman Island is fun and it’s a great place to stop for lunch as you make your way over to Oxford. That will easily wipe out three days. Enjoy

Ross · Jun 2, 2011

Pay very close attention to the water depths in all of the areas mentioned. They can shoal very abruptly.

Bad Obsession · Jun 2, 2011

Another vote for St. Michaels. There are a lot of good places out there to visit. Take your camera and have it ready.

CalebD · Jun 2, 2011

2nd Harness Creek but it can fill up on weekends and is pretty close to your charterer. The gunk hole is off to the right after about 400 yards in, and yes, it gets shallow. Anywhere in Harness Creek might be a good spot to anchor for a lunch before setting out or upon returning if you just wanted to kill another hour or two before returning the boat.
2nd La Trappe Creek off the Choptank. Very quiet and beautiful spot.
St. Michaels has already been seconded as the Wye River.

I'd offer that the Rhode River has some nice anchorages near Camp Letts.
Up in the Magothy there is a spot near the Magothy Narrows called Redhouse Cove that I hope to visit June 6th - 8th on a boat also based near Annapolis.

Ron20324 · Jun 2, 2011

My sailing club was going to raft 14 boats in Harness on Memorial Saturday, but the weekend crowd was too much. WE WENT TO THE NEXT CREEK, Aberdeen, and had a nice raftup there. On the Magothy, Broad Creek is good in a NW wind, though we were there Memorial Sunday with SW winds and no problem. Eagle Cove (a local name, not on charts) is the next cove west from Redhouse, still nice.

thinwater · Jun 3, 2011

rgranger said:
Hey All:

I just chartered a Ranger 29 out of Annapolis for a 3-day 2-night cruise June 9, 10 & 11. Any favorite gunkholes and/or must-stops? I've only sailed the lower bay before so I don't really have any destinations in mind. The marina said they would help me with a float plan but... I'd love to hear from you all who sail up that way regularly.

r

Others have mentioned the well beaten track; they are all good and they are all popular.

* Have more than one plan. If you want to enjoy the sailing, often the wind dictates what is plesant.
* Personally, I might stay one night in a popular area, and then the next night alone.
* Get a copy of the Chesapeake Guide, because plans always change.

Enjoy.

Bad Obsession · Jun 3, 2011

Enjoy your trip....Someday you should try to make it over to Tangier and Smith Island. They are true unique gems on the bay and they should be visited!

Alex Dare · Jun 3, 2011

If you end up doing St. Mikes, try and get a slip. Holding ground out in the harbor stinks. Oxford or Baltimore are also good options. The Wye is lovely.

Bad Obsession · Jun 4, 2011

At tangier you will have to take a slip in Parks Marina. He is very friendly and the prices for the docking are very reasonable. Be careful when going into the slips because the tides run really hard right outside of the slips.

Shooter II · Jun 4, 2011

cruisin' the upper chesapeake

The South River is generally thought of as a power boat river. But - Thomas Point Light is photogenic. From the South River, you can easily do the Bay Bridge. Also "Ego Alley" (city docks) in Annapolis. The West River leads to Galesville which has a couple good eateries. Back on the South, Mike's Crab House is great. The Rhode River has anchorages in the cove just south east of Camp Letts.
Poplar Island is a bird sanctuary on the opposite side of the bay.

These are the only things that can be done with a sailboat on the upper Chesapeake.

btw - deep water is the east of Thomas Point Light. Made the mistake of staying to west one time. The bottom there is hard. Ask me how I know.
Here's the light from the "wrong" side. Ouch!!

wgkenney · Jun 6, 2011

Those are all good destinations. You may, however, consider going north. When I chartered I use to like to anchor out each night on short trips. From you point of origin you can get up the the Magothy River. It is an easy sail and Dobbins Island is a good open anchorage. We like to go past there to broad creek (local crusiers call it the "Glass House" anchorage due to the large mostly glass house that looks over it).

Then just across the bay is Rock Hall. This is where we keep our boat (Haven Harbour). You can get a slip in many of the marinas there and there are good local resutrants.

Farther up is Worton Creek. You can anchor outside the creek in an open area that has good holding.

One of our favorites is a across from Worton Creek on other side of the bay. Frog Mortor creek. Air National Guard Reservist put on nice show each sunday morning as they practice landing in their A-10 warthogs. Some nice resturants in the area as well.

Cruising guide will lay all these spots out.

Fly_H23 · Jun 6, 2011

I grew up sailing/boating the Choptank with my Dad. La Trappe Creek was our favorite anchorage. It's great for kayaking or canoes with some shoreline to stretch your legs (not sure if it's public or private) but as a teenager it was a fun anchorage.

Guess I need to plan a Chesapeake Bay visit soon, I miss it.

Upper Chesepeake Bay Cruising Advice

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