Deep water anchorages?

[sullan]

My wife and I will be cruising the Chesapeake for three weeks beginning May 1rst. We have a Ted Hood Expedition 55 that draws 7.5 feet. My plan is to head south from Annapolis, and then either round Cape Charles and head back up or turn around earlier and go through the C&D. I have all of the charts, the Waterway cruising guide and a book listing the marinas on the Bay. However it would sure be nice to have a list of good anchorages based on local knowledge. If any of you would be kind enough to send your suggestions I would very much appreciate it.

[jaschrumpf]

I don't have much knowledge of local marinas personally, but I've found The ActiveCaptain site to have lots of input from local sailors. Maybe you can find some useful info there.

Good luck and fair winds!

[marianclaire]

I also plan to be banging around the Chesapeake during May. In planning I have been using active captain as mentioned above and would also recommend Skipper Bob for anchorage info. Dan S/V Marian Claire

[walterzoy]

6 draft feet seems to be the average controlling depth on the Chesapeake when you need to go up a creek or river.

Sure the main body of the Bay is fine for your 7.5' draft - the problem is when you want to go up that pretty little creek or river. I had a 6'2" draft on my last boat and needed a Bay Pilot or dredge for me to join in on the fun with the other boats, I always had to anchor way -way -way out from the other sailboats.

With my new shoal draft sailboat, a whole other world of adventure and exploration is now open for me on the Chesapeake.

The good thing is that running aground on the Chesapeake is expected, is an official state sport, and the soft muddy bottom never damages the bottom. You are going to be limited to the major harbors. Remember that the Bay's largest Skipjack or Buyboat only draw 4 feet or less - the natives have a reason for this!

Good luck, stay in the middle and hope to see you out on the Bay this season.

Walter "Parrot Bay" Catalina 30 Shoal draft

[SVAuspicious]

You'll be fine in Weem's Creek or Back Creek in and around Annapolis. Both are within reasonable if slightly long walks of markets.

Aberdeen Creek off the South River is very pretty and quite deep.

There are some pretty creeks at Wye Island including Dividing Creek but check the charts for humps at the entrance - I don't recall off hand.

St Michaels anchorage is fine. In fact, the North side of the channel just outside R2, while disparaged by most of the cruising guides for poor holding, has served me very well to get away from the summer weekend crowds since "everyone knows the holding is poor." *grin*

La Trappe Creek near Cambridge on the Choptank is very pretty and plenty deep enough.

Back Creek in Solomons as far up as the Calvert Maritime Museum is quite deep and there is a wide spot near the Museum I have anchored happily in. July 18-20 is the Screwpile race so that weekend is either a sightseeing bonanza or an irritation of being packed in with racers from all around the Bay, depending on your perspective.

I wouldn't attempt Rock Hall or its surroundings without someone having local knowledge on the boat.

William Shellenberger's book, "A Gunkholer's Guide to the Chesapeake" is without question the best anchoring and cruising guide to the Bay. I keep a copy on the boat, one in the office, and a loaner copy to share.

[wwilson]

Originally Posted by sullan

...it would sure be nice to have a list of good anchorages based on local knowledge. If any of you would be kind enough to send your suggestions I would very much appreciate it.

I certainly second all that Dave just offered and as a (former) South Bay sailor will add a few in that area as well. Stream of thought, not in geographic order:

Urbanna, VA (up the Rappahannock R anchor in the town pond or get a slip. A very pretty historic little town that has every necessity for the boater.
Cape Charles, VA, The town docks will carry the depth you need not King's Ck. on the back side. No anchorage, but a pretty and rustic little town worth a visit. Whoops! Sorry about this one 7.5 ft draft does not fit. wlw 4/12/10
Kiptopeake, VA, an anchorage south of Cape Charles 20-ft depth, quirky - but unique as well
Solomons, MD good anchorage in Back Ck. and 3-4 great marinas with the depth you need.
Saint Leonards Ck, MD up the Patuxent R is a beautiful creek with great protection and good holding in depths in the teens. This one is ~10 nm up the Pax from Solomons.
Mill Ck. on the south side of the Patuxent, just up from Solomons is a great little pond - not very frequently used by the locals (too close) that has 10-12 foot depths and good sticky mud holding.
Little Ck, just inside the Bay Bridge/Tunnel a US Naval amphibious base shares (owns?) the harbor so the channel gets dredged frequently, no anchorage - but 2 good marinas with the depth and a good place to start an offshore cruise from the Virginia Capes
East River in Mobjack Bay, good depths and good holding in pretty surroundings
Onancock, VA is drop dead georgeous and a good little anchorage just off the wharf - you will need to watch the depth going up Onancock Ck. but it will carry the depth you need (controlling depth is 8-ft)
Mill Ck, VA, just off the Great Wicomico Light, beautiful surroundings with 9-10 depth going in. The channel is narrow, but deep enough for you
Crisfield, MD (aka Sommers Cove) on the Eastern Shore is a harbor with a nice little anchorage for 6-8 boats unless you encounter the "I need 200-ft radius" skipper. There is 8-10'ft in the anchorage, there are spots on entrance that show 8-ft - most deeper.
Fishing Bay on the Piankatank R. VA is a beautiful, big bay with good protection and close to Deltaville. Set the hook well here though. It is a hard mud bottom that will hold if well set.
Riverwalk Landing on The York River has a great floating dock in 20-ft depth on the south bank, just before the bridge. No anchorage, but great access to all the historical sites and free ground transportation as well. Save the anchor an take a tie. Easy access and entrance for a 55-ft'r
Saint Mary's R., MD off the Potomac. Plenty of depth (teens) in St. Inigoes Ck. or Horseshoe Bend all the way up - both very pretty anchorages, don't try Carthagena Ck. on the port side - I think you will plant at least a half a foot of lead at the entrance.

[mccary]

There are plenty pf places you can go, but you will miss much of the quiet creeks. Of course Baltimore Inner Harbor and Annapolis are high on your list. Also, Galesville has a nice anchorage with deep water as does St Michales, Oxford and Cambridge. Solomons is another that for sure will accomodate your depth.

For anchorages you can anchor in many parts of the Wye River and that might just be the nicest place in the Northern End of the Chesapeake. The chart shows you can get into Harness Creek (North Side of the South River, it has a nice hurricane hole. And you should be able to squeeze into Whitehall Creek Western side of the Chesapeake just South of the Bay Bridge. The is very little accomondations south of West River (Herring Bay is too exposed and the controling depth into Rockhold Creek is too shallow) until you reach Solomons. On the back side of Tilghman Island you should be able to squeeze into Dunn Cove, one of the nicest anchorages. Further South on the Eastern side you can find some nice anchorages on the Little Choptank (most of the creeks are too shallow but you can find some with good depth).

[SVAuspicious]

Wayne's additions are good. I don't have as much local knowledge of the Southern Bay. However I too use Little Creek as my launch point to go offshore (fuel and water) and in fact for coming home (customs and immigration are actually happy to get out of the airport and come process you in).

Originally Posted by mccary

The chart shows you can get into Harness Creek (North Side of the South River, it has a nice hurricane hole. And you should be able to squeeze into Whitehall Creek Western side of the Chesapeake just South of the Bay Bridge. The is very little accomondations south of West River (Herring Bay is too exposed and the controling depth into Rockhold Creek is too shallow) until you reach Solomons.

I disagree. I really like Harness Creek, but the point around which the creek kinks to the left on the way in has shoaled out into the channel. You can feel your way in if you are a dedicated gunkholer. Aberdeen Creek is easier to get in and out of. The hurricane hole in Harness Creek isn't accessible with a draft of 7', ignoring the windless, sticky air up in there.

Herring Bay is actually a pretty nice anchorage on the way South. I often anchor just southwest of the charted platform (I think it is an old duck blind). The shoal keeps things pretty decent even in a (rare) East wind.

Whitehall Bay is a fine anchorage - no reason to work your way up into any of the three creeks unless a storm is coming, in which case you are better off in Weems or Back Creeks on the Annapolis side.

[wwilson]

Originally Posted by mccary

...The is very little accomondations south of West River...

Huh?

Originally Posted by sullan

... or turn around earlier and go through the C&D.

If you make it as far south as the Rappohannock R. then it is shortest to head back up the coast leaving the Bay from the mouth of the Chesapeake. It is about 175-nm either way from Windmill Point at the mouth of the Rapp. to Cape May, NJ.

[scarton]

Also, the Rhode River, accessed from the north side of the West River (and south of the South river - kind of a local joke) has enough water and some of the nicest anchorage areas in the upper bay.