After a long week at work, throw your sea bag in your car and head south down to Annapolis, Maryland. Annapolis is the home of US Naval Academy. It was once and briefly the capitol of the American Colonies. More recently it is known as the Sailing Capital of our country. And it is to create our own sailing adventure that we head there.
Report
to the boat and find your bunk. Load your gear and then go explore the
town. Walk up Compromise Street to the head of Annapolis Harbor and see
the (in)famous Ego Alley for yourself. Perhaps stop at Pusser’s for a
dinner on the harbor or just for a drink of the world famous Pusser's
Rum. Maybe you would prefer to take your meal in the historic Middleton
Tavern at the head of the harbor. It still carries an atmosphere that
calls to mind the 18th century.
In
the morning, the crew will muster for a hearty breakfast while the skipper goes
over important items like ship's systems, safety items and
procedures, and our float plan.
As we sail out of the Severn River, you will have an opportunity to practice some basic sailing and coastal navigation. Do you want to take a turn at the wheel? Feel your own rush as water rushes past the hull and the wind rushes over your sails. Do take time to look around and take in the splendor of the Chesapeake Bay.
What
would you enjoy most on this summer weekend to the Eastern Shore? One
destination could be Dividing Creek on the Wye River, in the middle
of the Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area. There is no
development on the banks of this creek. Our only neighbors would be the
indigenous wildlife and whatever other fellow sailors that may join us in this
pristine anchorage. Another
option is Tilghman Creek
just off the Eastern Bay. The entrance is challenging but what waits inside
is worth the effort. A third alternative would be Crab Alley on Kent Island.
Mind the channel and you will find a serene creek in which to anchor. Dinner aboard is always a good time of fellowship and
camaraderie. If the weather permits, we can eat in the cockpit al
fresco! We can either cook on the stove or on the propane grill off the
stern. However amazing the day has been for you, remember…it is ONLY the
first day. There is so much more to come.
From any
of the anchorages above, it is a short sail to
Herrington Harbor South. Saturday we will meet the
Universal Sailing Club and other members of Chesapeake Bay Boating Alliance as they hold a weekend gathering. Herrington Harbor South offers a lovely
beachfront and facilities for a great waterside party lasting into the night.
We will take slips for the night. You will be able to shower and then dine
in the restaurant, or barbecue on the beach. Spend the evening dancing under
the stars watching the buoys and lighthouses on the bay blink their steady rhythms.
The experience has been superlative but it is time to return to real world. With a good wind, we can cover the 17 or so nautical miles back to Annapolis in a little over 4 hours. We will point east out of Herrington Bay, north up the Chesapeake Bay, and then northwest into the Severn River and back to Annapolis. Before we can head home, we will need to refuel and pump the holding tanks. Will anyone want to try backing the boat into her slip?
If all goes well, we will leave with smiles and lasting memories of a new experience. Maybe next time you will be ready for a longer adventure. Or perhaps next time you will be ready to venture out on your own.
Sailing Dates : July 17-19, 2009. (Boarding the evening of July 16)
Price: $480 per person double occupancy with a minimum of 6 aboard plus the skipper.
Deposit: $150 will reserve your billet. Cancellations less than 40 days before departure incur a fee of $100. Cancellations less than 30 days before departure result in a loss of all monies paid unless the boat or berth can be filled. Final payment is due 30 days before departure.
Reservations: Please complete the form below and we will get in touch with you immediately. Alternatively you can call Rob Chichester at 908.672.3609.
Any questions? Send us an email or call us at 908.672.3609.
* Price includes charter fee, fuel, one pump-out, trip leader, slip fees and dockside electric service at the marina, and up to $250 ffor provisioning. At least one person on board each boat must be a qualified charter skipper in to order to take responsibility for the boat (i.e., sign the charter contract). If you will need to hire a captain, advise us when making your reservation. The trip price does NOT include the fee for a licensed captain (if one is needed), or other incidental running charges not specifically listed in the trip price. It is customary to offer a hired skipper a gratuity of 10 to 15% of his or her fee.
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