Stay or Go?

[PalmettoSailor]

I'm going through my annual should I stay or should I go debate and thought I'd throw it out for discussion.

Stay: Deltaville (4 hour drive to our boat) Slip <$2500 Adjacent to the pool, short walk to bathhouse or parking. Many, Many nice anchorages within a hour or two, plus many nice longer trips are available. Downside? Besides the drive, the crowd there is a bit older than we are, though we're not exactly spring chickens.

Go:

Spring Cove Marina at Solomons. 2-2.5 hours drive? (We looked at them all and this is the one we'd want to be at if at Solomons.) Cost ?? maybe double our current cost? Its a very nice marina and the crowd seemed a bit younger. However, looking at a Google Map it seems nearby anchorages are pretty limited, so probably more daysailing when long trips weren't feasable. If so that would be a downside since we really like anchoring out.

Herrington Harbor Less than 2 hours drive and way less if I left straight from work. Cost maybe 2.5 times current? Another very nice marina but I have less of a feel for the crowd there and it really looks to be devoid of nearby anchorages so its likely either a day sail or a pretty lengthy trip to someplace to anchor.

West River? Spoke with some folks from a Yacht Club on West River last year and they seemed like a pretty good crowd. I think the cost would be around $5K all in, which includes some costs not factored in the other places (minimum tab at the club restaraunt/bar) Don't think the marinas on West have pools which probably makes them non starters for the wife.

South River?

Annapolis - Lets face it -- I'd love to keep my boat there, but can't afford it.

Magothy?

Patapsco? Probably around Rock Creek but defintely not in an urban setting and probably only if closer in cost to our current location.

I always start thinking about moving the boat during the long drive, but when I look at the other options, factoring in cost, decreased drive time and quality of the sailing area and I'm hard pressed to make the decsion to move.

Any advice or words of wisdom?

[zz4gta]

I vote for solomon's. Not too far away, and cheaper than HH or Annap. HH is nice, and HHN is working marina (cheaper than HHS) they have a good racing program and an active cruising community/club.

Solomon's, good racing program, plenty of bars, couple big regattas during the season, they also are in a "mid-bay" location for longer cruises.

I'm on the potomac. Places around here are cheap, great close anchorages, but not a lot going on as far as racing and established clubs.

Deltaville is a drive and a half, I live in leesburg VA and have raced out of there a few times. Good club Fishing bay YC. Laid back, great racing, they host some events, and plenty of open water. Not sure about the cruising aspect.

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by zz4gta

snip, I live in leesburg VA ...

Ditto. We should get together for a beer sometime.

[velero]

I just send you a PM. Check your Inbox.

[zz4gta]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

Ditto. We should get together for a beer sometime.

Sounds like a plan. I usually meet up with a couple sailors from ashburn and leesburg. They have catalina 25's and a Hunter 30.

[nuffoftexas]

I have to disagree with your assessment of Herrington Harbor. I stayed many years at north and south. Anchorages galore just across the bay. Gunkholers heaven. Choptank River, Eastern Bay. Straight across to Poplar Island was a favorite day trip for us. Just watch out for the ticks when on shore. A quick swim usually takes care of them. Just through the narrows and hang a left to Duns Cove. That one alone is enough to get me back there... but, moving to Richmond soon so I'll be in Deltaville too. If I were in NoVa again it would be, without question, Herrington Harbor.

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by nuffoftexas

I have to disagree with your assessment of Herrington Harbor. I stayed many years at north and south. Anchorages galore just across the bay. Gunkholers heaven. Choptank River, Eastern Bay. Straight across to Poplar Island was a favorite day trip for us. Just watch out for the ticks when on shore. A quick swim usually takes care of them. Just through the narrows and hang a left to Duns Cove. That one alone is enough to get me back there... but, moving to Richmond soon so I'll be in Deltaville too. If I were in NoVa again it would be, without question, Herrington Harbor.

How far is it across the bay at HH? My judgement may be biased by being at a pretty wide spot on the bay. I was mainly refering to the lack of nearby anchorages on the western shore in that area.

Thanks for taking time to give feedback and I do think you'll like Deltaville, though it is, shall we say, "Down Home" compared to HH. Still there are some good places to eat and a lot of good folks and a plethora of secluded anchorages within a few hours sail. Be sure to Check out Stingray Point when you're shopping marinas. As I indicated we are finding it hard to contemplate leaving, even though we'd like to be closer to our boat.

[nuffoftexas]

Originally Posted by midlifesailor

How far is it across the bay at HH?

Oh?, it's only 10 miles across there. A very nice daysail with a stop behind Poplar or Coaches for lunch. Watch the current on the backside. Or tie up for a while at Knapps Narrows. Watch the current there too. Or just one more hour to almost anywhere on the inside and take your pick of the endless number of coves to drop the hook for the night. I can't recommend Gailesville, West River, South River, didn't like any of them. Naptown is too crowded. Lived there too. Hangin too long at the HHNorth dock? Just run down to HHSouth for a beer or lunch/dinner. On those days I would even drop the hook for a while up against the cliffs in Herring Bay. You are correct that the west side has limited protection and privacy, however it's not that far to the east side for some of the most spectacular cruising there is. My best memories in all of life where right back there in the Choptank and Eastern Bay.

Gotya on the Deltaville home-boy thing. I can deal with that. Regarding the high fees up north vs. drive-time - you DO take the toll road every day don't you? Solomons won't save you much. Sail there instead. (full day) I highly recommend trying HHNorth for a year. Cruise the east-side and don't be afraid to go up that creek. Stay in the middle and don't cut corners. You will never regret it. AND, you can always go back to Deltaville.

[chef2sail]

We are on Rock Creek in a quiet setting where you can see across to the Eastern Shore while sipping at Mai Tai at the pool or a good glass of Pinot after diner.

Many options all of this within a day therefore a weekend sail of us

North; Sassafras, Still Pond, Wharton, Middle River .

East you have Rock Hall, Swan Creek, Chester River with Corsica, Grey's Ferry Inn, and Langford Creeks,

East and south through Kent narrow is St Michaels

South- Bodkin, Magothy (Many anchorages) Whitehall (3 creeks), Annapolis and Servern (many creeks), South River (many creeks and pb),West River and Rhode River.

When its blowing to hard on the bay just stay in the Patapsco and you wont get as much wave action.

If you want to check it out up here I would meet you and show you around.If not here I have stayed at Spring Cove a class operation. A lot of us from sailnet here on Rock Creek as well a close to the area in the Northern Chesapeake.

Dave

[T37SOLARE]

I think you've over estimated the cost at Herrington Harbour. I'm at HH South, and am paying $5600 for a 38' slip, so yours should be quite a bit less.

Being in HHS gives you the advantage of being a 50-60 minute drive from Tysons, and even better it's just 5-10 minutes from the slip to being out of the channel and on the Bay. You're 10 miles from Knapps Narrows for lunch, and less than 25 miles to St Michale's, Oxford, Galesville & Annapolis. Add an another 5-10 and you're at Solomons, Cambridge, Magothy and many more...

To top it off, HHS is a great destination in itself, so when the weather sucks it's still worth going to the boat