Cape Charles, Va

[joethecobbler]

Thanks for the anchoring info in cape Charles as well as kings creek, I only draw 3-4 gepending on loading.
I was refering to the wreck or the small manhaden ship just of the beach on the SE side of Tangier. I think you were refering to the large one to the west of the Island. cause if they were strafing the one I anchored neer I suspect the folks on tangier would be a bit nervous! as it's about 3/4 mile from the church !

[travlineasy]

The bunker boat is a relatively new wreck, one that I didn't know existed until I talked with one of the local Crisfield charter captains a couple months ago. The Tangier Wreck is on the west side about 1.5 miles from the beach. You really can't see the wreck--just some of the ship's I-beam ribs protruding just a few inches above the surface. The only target ship that is still above the water is the American Mariner, which is about 6-miles northwest of Smith Island. The only navigation hazard there is the remnants of the Old Hannibal, which is completely submerged. The Hannibal's boilers are about 50 feet west of the American Mariner. If you have some diving gear onboard, the water is just 18 feet deep and you can find lots of high-quality anchors attached to the boilers and surrounding debris. The anchors are lost every season by unwary anglers that try to anchor close to the ship to catch tautog. Once an anchor is wedged in the midst of several tons of steel the only way to retrieve it is with diving gear.

Good Luck,

Gary

[pdqaltair]

"There is public access to the bulkheads and slips at
the eastern end of the harbor. Anchoring is forbidden in
any part of the harbor or the basins. A “no-wake” speed
limit is enforced. A harbormaster enforces harbor regulations,
and a dockmaster supervises docking at the
municipal facilities. Gasoline, diesel fuel, and water are
available. Some marine supplies may be obtained in
town."

It is a customs port of entry, the Coast Guard has active operations, and barges come and go. Thus, no anchoring.

Often, when asking the Coast Guard for information about a specific harbor or passage, they will reffer the recreational sailor to the NOAA Coast Pilot as the primary information source.

[T37Chef]

We opted to stay at Bay Creek Marina last year on our Southern bay cruise instead of Cape Charles, for several reasons...one being it was hot as hell and the kids wanted to go swimming...docking between two work boats wasn't what the admiral desired either . I have heard they were planning to fix up the public docks though?

BCM is very nice, reminds me of what homes in Bermuda would look like. The cleanest and swankiest bathrooms I've ever seen in a marina. The pool was silly small compared to the resort. The restaurant was okay, but consider I can be tough customer to please. The marina has floating dock and is looks new, and its big (a bike would have been nice...maybe a golf cart LOL). Oh...and that channel up into the creek and marina...a good 30 +/- minutes or more, and not one I would want to do in any kind of rough weather...and we only draw 4'!!!

I wouldn't go back to BCM, next time we're south we will stay in Cape Charles for sure...I was bummed we never got into the town...oh well, next time

A few pics of the marina:

[travlineasy]

Shawn,

You could have walked to town from there--it's only about a half-mile or so. A big thumbs up for the photos. I may still have some from the 1970s when I first went to Kings Creek Marina. You have to make sure you walked on the portion of the dock ONLY where the support trusses provided sufficient strength to hold the weight of a person. Back then, most of the dock boards were rotted and a couple commercial captains pushing wheelbarrows of crabs broke through. Some of the locals got together and pitched in enough money to buy some rough-cut oak planks from the local saw mill and provide much needed repairs. Trouble with those 2-inch-thick, red-oak boards was they were too tough to drive a nail through. Each board had to be drilled so it could be nailed in place. It took nearly six months to complete the repairs.

Thanks again for the info,

Gary

[T37Chef]

Gary,

We would have gone into town...got distracted by the pool and the community at BCM On that same trip we passed by Ononcock (sp?) too...good reasons to make the trek back South someday

BTW, does anyone know of links to all the various wrecks around the bay ( the more notorious ones of course). Sounds interesting, I would like to learn more.

[Cruiser2B]

thanks for the help! inputs have been helpful

[travlineasy]

I just gave the best book on the wrecks to Cris & Cate a couple weeks ago. It's called Shipwrecks On The Chesapeake by Donald Schomette. You can find it at Amazon.com: Shipwrecks on the Chesapeake: Maritime Disasters on Chesapeake Bay and Its Tributaries, 1608-1978 (9780870332838): Donald G. Shomette: Books

You'll also find this interesting as well. National Geographic Maps | Shipwrecks of Delmarva

Cheers,

Gary

[JonEisberg]

Originally Posted by T37Chef

We would have gone into town...got distracted by the pool and the community at BCM On that same trip we passed by Ononcock (sp?) too...good reasons to make the trek back South someday

Next time you're down that way, make the trip up the creek to Onancock...

Haven't been in there lately, but I doubt too much has changed... Beautiful community, and very friendly...

[T37Chef]

Thanks Gary!!!

Will do Jon