the 2012 Chesapeake Cruise
Choptank River area * May 27 - June 2
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Subject: 2012 Chesapeake Cruise decision made
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 3:34 PM
Subject: Chesapeake Cruise, Choptank R., May 27-June 2

Potential Cruise participants:
 
It has been decided that this year's cruise will depart from Oxford, on the Choptank River, and take in Tilghman Island, Little Choptank River and surrounding area.  Based upon initial responses there are five Wayfarers planning to participate.  As previously stated we will meet at Campbell's Town Creek marina in Oxford Sunday, May 27th.  The cruise will begin Monday and return Saturday, June 2nd.  Click here for an overview.

Campbells can accommodate us at their Town Creek location and say we can park cars & trailers in the storage lot at Jacks Point down the street.  The attached scan 0004 shows the location of Campbells and the town launch ramp on Town Creek.  Now that the venue is set, I will appreciate it if all those planning to attend please confirm same.
 
Tilghman Island.  Last year we stayed at Tilghman Island Marina on Knapp Narrows.  It is a smaller marina.  I selected them because most of the marinas on Tilghman Island seem to cater to bigger boats.  There is a really delightful restaurant just a few steps away, but the marina is small and cramped for space.  We may go back there, but first I want to do more research.  It would be nice to find a place more suited for dinghies.  At certain hours there is a good bit of tidal current running in Knapp Narrows.  Last year we really needed Jeff and Fran's outboard!
 
The plan would be on Tuesday to head south to Slaughter Creek Marina (also known as Taylor Is. Marina). on Slaughter Creek (Little Choptank R.).  Last year we were able to sail on the outside of Tilghman.  This is a fairly long passage.  We were lucky to get a nice north wind of 8 to 10 kts.  The distance to the mouth of Slaughter Creek is slightly less than 15 NM, plus there is another 1-1/2 NM from there to the marina.  It will be  good workout if we are beating against a southerly wind.
 
As mentioned earlier, this is a pleasant, quiet marina with lots of room and amenities, such as an excellent pool.  Slaughter Creek is surrounded by a vast expanse of wilderness - National Wildlife marsh lands.  We saw thousands of waterfowl and lots of bald eagles.  Half a mile down the country road is the Island Grill Restaurant.  If you are hankering for the some of best seafood on the Chesapeake, rivaling Tangier Island, save your appetite and money until you get to the Island Grill.  If the marina's beater auto is available they let us borrow it to drive to the restaurant.
 
Little Choptank R. and surrounding area.  Last year we planned to explore the upper reaches of the Little Choptank R. as well as Fishing Creek.  However, the weather didn't permit us.  We also had wanted to spend a night at Madison Bay Campground and Marina.  However, after having seen Madison Bay from the highway, I'm less enthusiastic about staying there.  But we could drop in for lunch or something.  Also, this year I really want to try sailing to James Island.  My gut feeling is it may be just as romantic a spot to explore as Watts Island has been on our Tangier Sound cruise.
 
With the above in mind, I'm suggesting that we make Slaughter Creek our base camp for a couple of days (Wednesday & Thursday), exploring points of interes tboth  to the east and the west as mentioned above.  This is a suggestion, we can discuss it further.
 
Friday/Saturday.  The ideal outcome would be to be blessed with a nice southerly breeze Saturday morning that would carry us all the way back to Oxford.  This is a long ways - slightly less than 18NM from the mouth of Slaughter Creek to Town Creek.  Conditions would have to be near ideal.  If the wind dies motors might need to be employed.  The alternative would be to go back to Tilghman Island on Friday (hopefull a different location) and then proceed on to Oxford Saturday morning.  Again, another reason I want to research Tilghman Island a little further.
 
Last year a strong northerly wind blocked us from getting back to Oxford for two days.  Thankfully, Slaughter Creek Marina let us use their beater to get to Oxford to retrieve our vehicles.
 
That's all for now.............DICK   
 
Subject: 2012 Chesapeake Cruise begins to take shape
From: Richard Harrington
To: Brandon McClintock W7221 ; Patsy Wallace Poulin ; Mary Abel ; Mike Anspach ; Alan Asselstine ; Marc Bennnett ; Mike & Darlene Codd ; David Cortes ; Dottydot39@aol.com ; Andy Douma ; Thomas Erickson ; Dennis Figley ; Jim Fletcher ; frchickn@bellsouth.net ; Bob Frick ; Andre Girard ; Tom Goldsmith ; Tom Graefe ; Andrew Haill ; William D. Harkins ; Jim Heffernan ; Gary Hirsch ; Richard Johnson ; Charles Jordan ; Jeff Kirk ; koontzfamily3@msn.com ; Margaret McKelvey ; Robin Moseley ; moseley@uswayfarer.org ; Robert Mosher ; Frank Pedersen ; Ivan & Suzanne Pedersen ; Jim Phillips ; Sean Ring ; Brian Ritchie ; Sue Pilling & Steph Romaniuk ; Al Schonborn ; Chuck Smith ; TonyKrauss@gmail.com ; Joe & Mary Trepal ; Kit Wallace W1037 ; Chip Cunningham W1321 ; Nick Seraphinoff W864 ; Hans Gottschling W938 ; Chris Walden ; Bill Wallace ; richard watterson ; Jason Whitlow
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 2:46 PM
Subject: Chesapeake Bay Cruise: May 27- June 2, 2012
Greetings, Wayfarer cruisers:
 
It is time for me to start getting plans formulated for this year's Chesapeake cruise.  The cruise is six days, arriving and gathering Sunday, May 27th and returning Saturday, June 2nd.  Departure will be first thing Monday morning, May 28th.  Berthing over night will be in marinas.  Sleeping aboard your Wayfarer is encouraged.  Meals are available at good restaurants within walking distances. 
 
I currently have two venues to put before you. 
I am looking to determine the number of interested participants and where the greatest interest lies.  Last year (2011) we ended up with a split group with both venues competing at the same time.  Only two Wayfarers (Jane and I, along with Jeff and Fran Kirk) participated in the Choptank River cruise.  This was a big disappointment to us and we wish to avoid a repeat.
 
As it is quieter and more picturesque than other areas and offers better protection, the Chesapeake's eastern shore is more suited to dinghy cruising. But both venues entail open water, sailing upon the open, larger waters of the Chesapeake.  Participants must have prior heavy weather sailing experience and their boats must be properly outfitted.  Sailing hazards can include cold fronts with strong northerly winds, sudden heavy thunderstorms, and tricky navigation within narrow twisting channels. 
 
Tangier Sound cruise.  This cruise has been going on for a number of years.  I think the first year that I organized it was 2006.  That would make last year's event the sixth in a row, increasing in numbers each year.  Of all the places on the Bay, Tangier Sound is the prettiest and most interesting.  Initially the cruise entailed visits to just Smith and Tangier islands, but was soon expanded to include a day trip to the wildlife sanctuary, Watts Island. In my mind the pristine, white sandy beach of Watts Island resembles that of an uninhabited south-sea-island paradise. 
 
Many of you on the distribution list have attended this cruise in the past and are well familiar with the details.  Recently we have attempted to expand this cruise to include a visit to Smith Point on the western side of the Bay, or make it down to the town Onancock (on the Onancock River), which is further south.  Though they remain on the list of possibilities, thus far these ambitions have been thwarted by unsuitable weather.  Regarding numbers, I feel a fleet of ten boats is a good size for this cruise while still maintaining good organization.  More than twelve starts to get unwieldy.
 
Choptank River cruise.  Prior to 2006 I cruised many parts of the eastern shore single-handed.  Starting out from Oxford, I explored the Choptank and Little Choptank rivers, with stops at Tilghman Island (Choptank) and Slaughter Creek (Little Choptank).  Whereas the Choptank River and Tilghman Island are a little more more active as yachting centers, once you arrive at the Little Choptank River, that is all left behind.  The marina on Slaughter Creek is very nice and comfortable, yet much under-used.  Last year we had the run of the place.  Besides Slaughter Creek, several other streams that offer interesting opportunities for exploring, run into the Little Choptank including Fishing Creek and Church Creek.  Besides that, the satellite photos show James Island, located in the mouth of the Little Choptank, to be intriguingly similar to Watts Island.  I would love to check this island out. 
 
Last year, I thought it would be a nice change to take a break from Tangier Sound by substituting the Choptank cruise.  Because of the split group I anticipated no more than six boats.  Marina space (as well as car and trailer parking) is limited in Oxford and Tilghman, but I was able to get reservations.  When it turned that we only had two boats, I caught a little flack.  So if we want to try doing this cruise again, I'll need to have firm numbers and enough time to make reservations, including parking.  I think a fleet of six to eight boats is workable (assuming I can get the marinas to believe me).  Trying to accommodate as many as ten or twelve boats might be difficult.
 
Things don't always go according to plan.  Unfortunately, last year we a spell of bad  weather.  After beginning the week with two extremely hot (close to 100°F) days that sapped our strength, we then encountered a couple of days of strong northerly winds. This combined to curtail our cruise plan considerably.  Global warming seems to be making the spring weather systems more erratic. 
 
Please let me know fairly soon if you are thinking of participating in this cruise and if you have a preference in venue.
 
Best wishes............DICK       
 

 Al's note: more detail on the Choptank Cruise is also available here in last year's notice of the cruise