Chesapeake Flotillas

Presents

A Late Spring Ramble

A circumnavigation of Kent Island
featuring a visit to Oxford, MD
June 6 - 9, 2008

Welcome to Chesapeake Flotillas 2008 Season…or if you are a returning client, welcome back! And thank you for returning!

This season starts off with a 4-day ramble starting from one our favorite departure points…Rock Hall, Maryland. Once again we will be using boats from the exceptional fleet maintained by Haven Charters. Up to ten sailors will shove off with Dave and Rob.

From Rock Hall, we will glide southwest and then under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Our boats will sail past Whitehall Bay. Next we pass the mouth of the Severn River. We should be able to see the domes of the Maryland State capitol and the Naval Academy Chapel. The last remaining radio towers on Greenbury Point stand as historic navigational references for the Bay sailor. Continuing on south, we can pass to the east or to the west of Thomas Point lighthouse, the most famous lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay. Shortly after that, we will take a right turn into South River.

Our destination is Harness Creek in along the north shore of the river. This first night we will anchor out, tucked into one of the arms of Harness Creek. Harness Creek is the target of various oyster and water grass replenishment activities. It is also a beautiful anchorage with good protection from all but southerly weather. Our little fleet will raft up and dine aboard this evening…perhaps alfresco!

Saturday morning, we will shove off after a hearty breakfast to head south and east to the Choptank River. The Choptank is epicenter of James Michener’s novel Chesapeake. It is the longest river on the Eastern Shore, although for us it is only navigable up to the highway bridge at Cambridge. No matter as we are only going as far as Oxford on the Tred Avon River. Several stories try to explain the name of the Tred Avon. The most colorful of them say it is a corruption of the term “Thread Haven” as Oxford was once a significant producer of various hawsers, rope, and line. Mears Marina will be our port for the evening. Schooner’s Landing restaurant is a short walk from the marina. It will be nice to stretch our legs with a stroll along the river as the sun sets.

Sunday morning we will set off for our next anchorage. If the day seduces us with her melody sung by the wind, we might sail out around Black Walnut Point rather than take the shortcut through Knapps Narrows. Tilghman Creek is a small stream with a narrow entrance that requires a bit more than the usual care. However, it is a safe and attractive spot to spend the night. There is ample room for our little raft of boats to huddle close together for the night. On still nights, moonlight reflects in the water as if it were a mirror.

To return to Rock Hall, we will pass through Kent Narrows. The strong currents and inattentive fishermen require steady hands on the wheel and throttle. Pay attention or pay the price! Once we have exited the Narrows into the Chester River, it is nearly a straight course right back to Swan Creek and Haven Harbour Marina. By this route we will have effectively circumnavigated Kent Island. Hopefully it will have been four days of incomparable company and priceless memories.

Sailing Dates:  June 6-9, 2008 Pre-board on June 5

Price:  $450 per person double occupancy with a minimum of 5 paying clients per boat.  This includes your berth on one of our boats, and slip fees at the marina in Oxford,. Food, fuel, and pump-out are separate expenses to be shared by the entire crew.

Any questions? Send us an email or call us at 908.672.3609.

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