LONG CRUISES -
The 2019 Midwestern Shore River Cruise Itinerary has arrived!
The files below cover:
1. CCBA Long Cruises from 2005 to 2018
- If you have looked at the 2005-2011 document before, it now includes 2013 & 2014 & 2015.
Please excuse the size - it is over 13 Megs!
2. Several prior cruises include the around Delmarva.
1. CCBA Long Cruises from 2005 to 2018
- If you have looked at the 2005-2011 document before, it now includes 2013 & 2014 & 2015.
Please excuse the size - it is over 13 Megs!
2. Several prior cruises include the around Delmarva.
MIDWESTERN SHORE RIVER CRUISE - 2019
Introduction
After last year’s successful all Chester River Cruise, we will give our Eastern Shore cruisers a chance to experience some of the popular rivers of the mid-western shore. This will be a low impact tour with overnight stops on the Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode, and West Rivers, but not in that order. We will also stray south to Herring Bay for a stop on Rockhold Creek. We last did a version of this as a “cruise lite” in 2010, but this time with all new anchorages, while retaining the transient slip stop at Rockhold Creek. This is intentionally not a tourist itinerary, but those so inclined are on their own to use their Severn River stop to find a slip and see Annapolis if they choose. Here’s the plan…
Sunday 9/15: Destination – Rhode River near Big Island (38-53 N; 76-32.25 W)
Plan: Initial rendezvous site. Enter the Rhode River at the flashing Red #2 daymark and continue almost due north following the marked channel. At the flashing #7 daymark, turn to port. You will be looking at Big Island, however, High Island, which may still be on some charts has been taken out by storms, so is now a shoal directly in your path. Look for saplings or pvc markers. Better yet, come off your heading and aim for either end of Big Island and you’ll miss the shallow soft bottom obstruction. If you don’t see catboat masts by now, go around the right side of Big Island and look behind it. There is still 5-6 ft of water against a wooded back drop of land that belongs to the Smithsonian Institute.
Note: No facilities, so come prepared.
Monday, 9/16: Destination – Broad Creek – Magothy River; 22 mi (39-4.6 N; 76 – 28.75 W)
Plan: Proceed northeasterly once out of the Rhode River and past the South River, with an opportunity to pass close aboard Thomas Point Lighthouse (the oldest screwpile lighthouse on the bay) to starboard. Continue across the mouth of the Severn River, past the submarine towers on Greenbury Point and Whitehall Bay before transiting under the Bay Bridge. From there, use Sandy Point Lighthouse as you turn to port shaping up for the narrow entrance to the Magothy River. Leaving the flashing green #3 off Persimmon Point to port and opposite the tip of Gibson Island to starboard, proceed on a course of about 310 degrees magnetic another 2.5 miles to pick up the entrance buoys to Broad Creek. Favor the right side of the channel to avoid shoals to port.
Note: Nearest facilities are in Deep Creek, the first creek to port and home to Fair Winds marina as well as Deep Creek Marina & Restaurant.
Tuesday 9/17: Destination – Church Creek – South River; 22 mi (38-57.0; 76-32.25W)
Plan: With reasonable mileage planned, laying in or exploring deeper into the Magothy is an option before heading out. Retracing our steps out of the Magothy, head south past Annapolis and around Thomas Point into the South River. Proceed up the river about 4 miles finding the #12 red daymark off Melvin Point to starboard, then past Ferry Point, as you shape up for the entrance to Crab Creek. Just before you enter Crab Creek, swing to port into Church Creek. Cruising Guides say the best anchorage is in the north fork of the little cove to port.
Note: Liberty Marina at the Route 2 bridge for fuel and ice. Mike’s Crab house is a mile up the river to port. In addition to eats, they advertise a country store. We could easily taxi up there in one or two boats for crabs dockside
Historical Note: For the “Patriots” in the group (pun intended), right across from Church and Crab Creeks is the reconstructed colonial village of London Town. Now billed as a “lost colonial town and garden sanctuary,” it was legislated into existence in 1683 and was a port of export for Maryland tobacco. There is a dock with 5 ft water depth making it accessible by water. Once ashore, there are signs to a visitor’s center where you can check in. Might be worth a visit. See www.historiclondontown.org for more information.
Wednesday 9/18: Plum/Valentine Creek – Severn River; 17 mi (39-03.8 N; 76-34.3W)
Plan: With our destination just back around to the Severn River, there is plenty of time to explore creeks on the South River, or visit London Town. Upon exiting the South River, turn north up the bay, around Tolly Point and into the Severn River. Transit up under both bridges another 5 miles and past Round Bay until you see the flashing red #12 to starboard off Cedar Point. The entrance to Plum and Valentine Creeks is just beyond the daymark to port. We will look to anchor in Plum Creek to starboard.
Note: Anything you need is in Annapolis. Annapolis City Marina on Spa Creek, just behind the Naval Academy has fuel/groceries/ice/beer. They also have transient slips accessing the “Maritime Republic of Eastport” and that are walking distance to downtown historic Annapolis.
Thursday 9/19: Destination – Rockhold Creek – Herring Bay 25 mi (38-46N; 76-33.2W)
Plan: With some ground to cover, an early start would be best. Exit down the Severn and head south on the bay continuing past the South as well as the Rhode/West Rivers. Although it shouldn’t bother catboats, be mindful of the shoaling noted on the chart starting off Curtis and Horsehoe Points as you head south. If navigating close to shore, take your chances cutting across Long Bar Shoal to pick up the entrance buoys to Rockhold Creek. If you find yourself out in deeper water, there is a line of green buoys from Thomas Point Lighthouse until you reach the flashing red #2 day mark off Herring Bay. Once you pick up the channel, look for Paradise Cove to starboard.
Note: Plans are to take a slip at Paradise Cove, so we can take advantage of showers and facilities ashore. The restaurant at Skipper’s Cove is walking distance down the street. I’ll need a head count for this. This is the best alternative as there is no room to anchor out on this creek.
Friday, 9/20: Destination – South Creek – West River 13 mi (38-50.2N; 76-32W)
Plan: With a low mileage day ahead, departure can be leisurely. Coming out of Rockhold Creek, cut across Long Bar shoal again and head north up to horseshoe Point, then around Curtis, Mckinley and Cedar Points to shape up southeasterly for the West River. If you need a side trip, you can scoot into the buoyed channel to port just after Curtis Point into Shady Side. As you enter the West River, Galesville is to starboard with all manner of marinas and restaurants. At Chalk Point, come to port into South Creek.
Note: Facilities/Services readily available in Galesville including a gas dock and a public wharf between Pirate’s Cove and Thursday’s.
Saturday 9/21: Destination –Homeward Bound
Plan: All on their own to head home as individual voyage plans dictate
General Cruise Notes:
Marc Cruder
After last year’s successful all Chester River Cruise, we will give our Eastern Shore cruisers a chance to experience some of the popular rivers of the mid-western shore. This will be a low impact tour with overnight stops on the Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode, and West Rivers, but not in that order. We will also stray south to Herring Bay for a stop on Rockhold Creek. We last did a version of this as a “cruise lite” in 2010, but this time with all new anchorages, while retaining the transient slip stop at Rockhold Creek. This is intentionally not a tourist itinerary, but those so inclined are on their own to use their Severn River stop to find a slip and see Annapolis if they choose. Here’s the plan…
Sunday 9/15: Destination – Rhode River near Big Island (38-53 N; 76-32.25 W)
Plan: Initial rendezvous site. Enter the Rhode River at the flashing Red #2 daymark and continue almost due north following the marked channel. At the flashing #7 daymark, turn to port. You will be looking at Big Island, however, High Island, which may still be on some charts has been taken out by storms, so is now a shoal directly in your path. Look for saplings or pvc markers. Better yet, come off your heading and aim for either end of Big Island and you’ll miss the shallow soft bottom obstruction. If you don’t see catboat masts by now, go around the right side of Big Island and look behind it. There is still 5-6 ft of water against a wooded back drop of land that belongs to the Smithsonian Institute.
Note: No facilities, so come prepared.
Monday, 9/16: Destination – Broad Creek – Magothy River; 22 mi (39-4.6 N; 76 – 28.75 W)
Plan: Proceed northeasterly once out of the Rhode River and past the South River, with an opportunity to pass close aboard Thomas Point Lighthouse (the oldest screwpile lighthouse on the bay) to starboard. Continue across the mouth of the Severn River, past the submarine towers on Greenbury Point and Whitehall Bay before transiting under the Bay Bridge. From there, use Sandy Point Lighthouse as you turn to port shaping up for the narrow entrance to the Magothy River. Leaving the flashing green #3 off Persimmon Point to port and opposite the tip of Gibson Island to starboard, proceed on a course of about 310 degrees magnetic another 2.5 miles to pick up the entrance buoys to Broad Creek. Favor the right side of the channel to avoid shoals to port.
Note: Nearest facilities are in Deep Creek, the first creek to port and home to Fair Winds marina as well as Deep Creek Marina & Restaurant.
Tuesday 9/17: Destination – Church Creek – South River; 22 mi (38-57.0; 76-32.25W)
Plan: With reasonable mileage planned, laying in or exploring deeper into the Magothy is an option before heading out. Retracing our steps out of the Magothy, head south past Annapolis and around Thomas Point into the South River. Proceed up the river about 4 miles finding the #12 red daymark off Melvin Point to starboard, then past Ferry Point, as you shape up for the entrance to Crab Creek. Just before you enter Crab Creek, swing to port into Church Creek. Cruising Guides say the best anchorage is in the north fork of the little cove to port.
Note: Liberty Marina at the Route 2 bridge for fuel and ice. Mike’s Crab house is a mile up the river to port. In addition to eats, they advertise a country store. We could easily taxi up there in one or two boats for crabs dockside
Historical Note: For the “Patriots” in the group (pun intended), right across from Church and Crab Creeks is the reconstructed colonial village of London Town. Now billed as a “lost colonial town and garden sanctuary,” it was legislated into existence in 1683 and was a port of export for Maryland tobacco. There is a dock with 5 ft water depth making it accessible by water. Once ashore, there are signs to a visitor’s center where you can check in. Might be worth a visit. See www.historiclondontown.org for more information.
Wednesday 9/18: Plum/Valentine Creek – Severn River; 17 mi (39-03.8 N; 76-34.3W)
Plan: With our destination just back around to the Severn River, there is plenty of time to explore creeks on the South River, or visit London Town. Upon exiting the South River, turn north up the bay, around Tolly Point and into the Severn River. Transit up under both bridges another 5 miles and past Round Bay until you see the flashing red #12 to starboard off Cedar Point. The entrance to Plum and Valentine Creeks is just beyond the daymark to port. We will look to anchor in Plum Creek to starboard.
Note: Anything you need is in Annapolis. Annapolis City Marina on Spa Creek, just behind the Naval Academy has fuel/groceries/ice/beer. They also have transient slips accessing the “Maritime Republic of Eastport” and that are walking distance to downtown historic Annapolis.
Thursday 9/19: Destination – Rockhold Creek – Herring Bay 25 mi (38-46N; 76-33.2W)
Plan: With some ground to cover, an early start would be best. Exit down the Severn and head south on the bay continuing past the South as well as the Rhode/West Rivers. Although it shouldn’t bother catboats, be mindful of the shoaling noted on the chart starting off Curtis and Horsehoe Points as you head south. If navigating close to shore, take your chances cutting across Long Bar Shoal to pick up the entrance buoys to Rockhold Creek. If you find yourself out in deeper water, there is a line of green buoys from Thomas Point Lighthouse until you reach the flashing red #2 day mark off Herring Bay. Once you pick up the channel, look for Paradise Cove to starboard.
Note: Plans are to take a slip at Paradise Cove, so we can take advantage of showers and facilities ashore. The restaurant at Skipper’s Cove is walking distance down the street. I’ll need a head count for this. This is the best alternative as there is no room to anchor out on this creek.
Friday, 9/20: Destination – South Creek – West River 13 mi (38-50.2N; 76-32W)
Plan: With a low mileage day ahead, departure can be leisurely. Coming out of Rockhold Creek, cut across Long Bar shoal again and head north up to horseshoe Point, then around Curtis, Mckinley and Cedar Points to shape up southeasterly for the West River. If you need a side trip, you can scoot into the buoyed channel to port just after Curtis Point into Shady Side. As you enter the West River, Galesville is to starboard with all manner of marinas and restaurants. At Chalk Point, come to port into South Creek.
Note: Facilities/Services readily available in Galesville including a gas dock and a public wharf between Pirate’s Cove and Thursday’s.
Saturday 9/21: Destination –Homeward Bound
Plan: All on their own to head home as individual voyage plans dictate
General Cruise Notes:
- Sunday to Saturday agenda to accommodate those still working.
- Dinghies not essential to this itinerary, but handy at anchorages for exploring and transit to raft-ups.
- Trailer sailors, for access locations in Anne Arundel County, see: http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/Pages/water-access/aa.aspx
- Anchorage locations are the key to finding the group. Channel 72 will be monitored. Alternate is my cell at 202-680-3803.
Marc Cruder
Long Cruises 2016 - 2018
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Long Cruises 2004-2015
| ccba_longcruises2004-2015.docx |
Delmarva Circumnavigation 2000
Download the 4 Articles below.
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Little Choptank 1997 Cruise
Download the 1 Article below.
| little_choptank_1997.pdf |