2012Races

INTRO: After an adventurous trip south to the relatively untouched by the modern world surrounds of Smith Island, we will venture to the upper Eastern Shore. Specifically we will spend substantial time on the Sassafras River, where there is both deep water and gunkholes. As our group has increasingly come to include a few special friends who started with catboats but have moved on, we are hoping to plan this trip around them; specifically Kerry and Kristine O’Malley’s bugeye yacht CHESAPEAKE and new to the fold this year, John Brown’s TRAVELER, a 1949 Atkins ketch. Both draw a little more water than catboats but provide their owner’s with internal volume that never makes you worry about hitting your head. Since I have been planning cruises, we have only been on the Sassafras once in 1996 and only as far as Georgetown. The intent is to get to the river and stay long enough to engage our ex-catboaters in raft-up while at the same time get up through the drawbridge and explore the upper Sassafras. Here’s the plan….

SUNDAY 6/10: Anchorage: SWAN CREEK – Upper Eastern Shore

Plan: Initial rendezvous site. We were last in this creek 10 years ago to start our Chester River Cruise. Just north of Rock Hall, this requires navigating toward Love Point at the north end of Kent Island and then shaping up on a course to Rock Hall. Swan Point Bar is obvious on the chart but carries 4 ft so not an issue for catboats. Pass the #5 can, then the #6 nun that mark the mouth of Swan Creek. From there, stay in the middle of the creek and head due north. The creek carries 5 ft for a mile past the last buoy. Look for catboat masts to locate the anchorage spot. In 2002, I described Swan Creek as a keeper with facilities at one end; peace and quiet at the other. We’ll see.

MONDAY 6/11: Anchorage: SASSAFRAS below Route 213 – Raft-up (25mi)

Plan: Retrace your steps south sufficiently to cross the Swan Point Bar somewhere south of Little Neck Island proceeding west until you clear Swan Point to turn north. Continue just off the upper Eastern Shore, passing the entrances to Tolchester Beach @ 5mi; Fairlee Creek @ 10mi and Still Pond @ 15mi before rounding Howell Point @ 18mi into the Sassafras River. The entrance is wide with high cliffs and substantially different than the marshes of the lower Eastern Shore. Continue east and just follow the river which is well marked with navigational aids. At red nun #6, maintain a course of about 080 degrees per magnetic compass and shape up for the northern tip of Knight Island and the entrance to Back Creek. Once in Back Creek, we will find the bugeye yacht and a salty old ketch. Hail the Captains and raft up. There are 5 marinas at the Georgetown Basin for the purposes of supplies, ice, fuel, etc.

TUESDAY 6/12: Morning Sail aboard the bugeye yacht CHESAPEAKE, then to anchor on the SASSAFRAS above Route 213 @ Swantown Creek

Plan: With no mileage to speak of, the catboat fleet will be pressed into service as crew aboard the bugeye yacht CHESAPEAKE under the direction of Captain Kerry O’Malley. The good Captain has invited us onboard to prove that he does in fact sail this vessel and to take advantage of additional crew to try out some of his extra sail inventory. Departure details will be finalized the night before. I trust we will be awakened by the O’Malley bugle call. Wind and weather will dictate, but plan to depart and return to Back Creek aboard CHESAPEAKE with time to regroup and get ourselves up under the drawbridge. The creek carries 9 feet almost 2 miles from the bridge. Catboats will be spending the night above the bridge, so once through, explore the creeks including Hen Island near the head of navigation and look for a raft up in the vicinity of Swantown Creek. There are some facilities just before the creek at Greg Neck Boatyard, including slips.

WEDNESDAY - 6/13: SASSAFRAS below Route 213 – Slips at the Granary Marina and Restaurant with dinner ashore

Plan: Again, with no mileage to cover, there is no rush to get out of the upper Sassafras, so explore what you missed and we will likely coordinate the bridge opening heading out and west. Once out, we will get ourselves set up at the Granary which is both a marina and restaurant complex on the north side of the river. Evening plans will be dinner ashore at the Granary Restaurant; a favorite I’m told of the CCBA in the early days of the club when most of the members boated from this river. Perhaps our Executive Treasurer and Newsletter Editor can regale us with local catboat tales of the past.

THURSDAY 6/14: Anchorage: FAIRLEE CREEK – Upper Eastern Shore (20mi)

Plan: Back to voyage planning, but not a hard day by any means. First take care of any supplies you need including fuel before departure while we are surrounded by facilities. Work west back out of the Sassafras, round Howell Point and head south along the Eastern Shore for about 10 miles to the Red #2 that marks the entrance to Fairlee Creek. The creek carries 5 feet for most of its two mile length. Look for catboat masts and or a suitable anchorage. I have no record of ever being in this creek, described by cruising guides as a good intermediate stopover for gunkholers…that would be us. Although the cruising guides are sparse on information, Captain O’Malley advises that the north side of the entrance has a Tiki Bar called “Jellyfish Joel’s” and just through the entrance to port is the Great Oak Landing Marina where ice is available as well as a restaurant with a bar. Everyone on their own.

FRIDAY 6/15 Anchorage: LAKE OGLETON – South side of Severn River (20 mi)

Plan: Some with longer treks south may not consider this next stop. Alternately those who have cruised sufficiently and would rather not trek south just to come north again may modify their plans. For those continuing with the cruise itinerary, we will head for another local and often overlooked unique spot that records tell me we have never been in. Lake Ogleton is about a mile in from Tolly Point on the south side of the Severn River. Look for the green #1 that marks the beginning of the channel in. This is a fully protected anchorage near Annapolis without being in Annapolis. It is split in two halves with all the surrounding land privately owned. Facilities, stores, ice and fuel are all available in Annapolis. Back Creek is the nearest next stop up the river.

SATURDAY 6/16 HOMEWARD BOUND

Plan: Everyone on their own from here to make plans for home. WANDERER will be proceeding casually to the Rhode River.

GENERAL CRUISE NOTES:

1. Sunday to Saturday to accommodate those with normal working schedules.

2. All legs are reasonable, so expect to sail almost everywhere.

3. A dinghy is not necessary, but may come in handy. There are always one or two along, so getting ashore or around can be coordinated.

4. There are facilities and supplies most places except Fairlee Creek and Lake Ogleton near the end of the trip, so no hardships here, but plan accordingly.

5. I will make arrangements at the Granary for slips and dinner once we have a head count.

6. Trailer Sailors – since we are staying on the river for several days, consider joining us. There is a public ramp next to the Granary complex in Sassafras on the north side of the river. While the ramp is new, the parking is sparse. Suggest you make arrangements in advance with the Granary (since we plan to be there one night): http://www.gybinc.com/pages/granary.htm or with Sassafras Harbor Marina: http://www.sassafrasharbormarina.com. For those wanting to meet us aboard CHESAPEAKE in Back Creek, there is a State Park on the south side of the Sassafras at Turner Creek: http://www.baygateways.net/general.cfm?id=146.

7. Shore Support – Come by land for dinner ashore at the Granary in Georgetown.

8. As always, anchorage locations are the key to finding the group. VHF channel 72 will be monitored by Wanderer with radio checks at 1200 and 1700 daily. I can also be reached on my cell phone at 202-680-3803. For more info or questions, contact me at home: 410-987-9616.

See you on the water!

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