Tangier Island

[gstraub]

Anyone been to Tangier Island recently? I'd be interested in hearing what kind of depths you encountered on the approach channel (eastern or western). Is Parks Marina before the power lines when approaching from the west?

Gerhard

[midlifesailor]

Originally Posted by gstraub

Anyone been to Tangier Island recently? I'd be interested in hearing what kind of depths you encountered on the approach channel (eastern or western). Is Parks Marina before the power lines when approaching from the west?

Gerhard

I'm afraid my response won't be a lot of help but it looks like it may be the only answer you get.

First, I've never taken my boat to Tangier, but I am a pilot and we usually visit Tangier a few times during the spring-summer-early fall. After I got into boating, the idea of visiting Tangier by boat was a natural thought, so I looked around on my fly-in visits, to see how I might approach in a sailboat.

As it happened, I was at the docks when a fleet from a yacht club arrived and docked. They came in from the west and seeing that convinced me, if I ever went, I'd come in from that side. I can't tell you what the depths were but seeing 5 or 6 typical Chesapeake sized sailboats (>30') arrive with zero drama, convinced me that way would be easier than trying to snake your way in from the east.

If you make a visit soon, let us know how it goes. We'll be taking vacation the week of July 4th to get to know our new boat and Tangier might be a port of call.

Tangier is a unique experience and well worth the visit. It is the closest thing to visiting a foreign country without leaving the Chesapeake. The island residents have been there since before the Revolution and their language is still tinged with a slight accent. Some homes front yards serve as the family burial plot and there might be 6 generations between the street and the front door. Few areas you'll visit have a stronger sense of place.

With the difficulty of earning a living on the water, and rising costs we all face, these folks can also use every tourist dollar they can get as the only ways to get there are by ferry, private boat or private aircraft. The local pilots groups are helping advertise Tangier and are rasing money to help the island recondition their Airport, so that they don't loose that link to the rest of the world.

Good Luck on your trip.

[SailKing1]

Although I have not sailed there, I have a friend who has family there and am told you should have no problem.
The information I have suggest that you approach from the south side on a heading of 240 to 300 degrees to avoid shoals. Look for the gree "1" marker. at the beginning of the east enterance to the channel. This is from the Gunkholers guide to the chesapeake andtends to be fairly accurate.
The main channel is should be well marked and do to dredging is suppose to be navigable completely through the island.

[hobohut]

I was there in April this last year. I came in on the east side of the island during low tide. My boat draws three feet and I was reading depths between 3 and 4 feet. At points I could feel my keel just brushing the bottom. The west side was plenty deep therefore I don't really recall my readings.

The place really is as foreign as it gets for the bay. I highly recommend going there. And Park of Park's marina is a real character.

[Bene505]

This thread is a year and a half old. (But the posters are all still around.)

That said, I flew there a few times during my flying days. Great place to visit.

[hobohut]

My bad...I forgot to look at the last post date.....Sorry

[eryka]

Originally Posted by Bene505

This thread is a year and a half old.

Huh? It's just from last sailing season. Given the descriptions of this "timeless" island, I guess your confusion is understandable

[brokesailor]

I was there Summer of 2008. I draw 5 feet. We came in from the west. Did not have any problems getting in. The biggest issue you'll have if you do not arrive at slack tide is the current running in the middle of the channel. Parks is a very colorful character and he will scooter over to your assigned slip and direct you in. We left the next day out towards the east. Again no issues. I can't remember having any problem with overhead power lines.

[Keyplace]

What does it cost to dock there overnight?

[CaptainForce]

We were in from the west side last september. I don't recall the cost, but it must have been no surprise (low or high) for me not to have noticed. 'love the island. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew