Chesapeake Bay - Norfolk to Annapolis

Hi everyone,

We spent the last week making our way north from Norfolk to Annapolis.  Logged about 150nm.  We stopped at Mathews, Jackson Creek, Reedville and Solomon Island.  At Mathews and Reedville we stayed with OCC Port Officers.  Great hosts.

One Great Sail - Reedville to Solomon Island

The week saw a succession of weak cold fronts coming off the coast giving either wind & rain or dry and no wind.  We had one day with a lovely S wind.   The combined tracks are shown below.  You can see the sailing day from our gybing downwind to and fro across the bay...

Departing Norfolk was fun.  Shame we did so just after dawn and so had poor light to see the US Navy.  Up river appears to be the refit yards and downriver the general docks.  We passed five aircraft carriers and 20+ smaller warships.

We motored 38nm from Norfolk to Mathews.  No wind.  OCC POs Chris and Bill's dock was just deep enough for Zen Again.  We spent two nights with them, chatting about our travels and theirs to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

On departing Mathews we found ourselves confronted with a headwind and choppy sea.  We diverted to Jackson Creek where we anchored overnight.  Nice well-protected anchorage.  The following day we mostly motored the 23nm to Reedville.  We had an hour sailing before the wind died.  We anchored near OCC POs Mary and Walt's dock.  Insufficient water for us to come alongside.  Another very hospitable couple.

Jackson Creek sunset

Reedsville fishing boats

Anchored in Cockrell Creek, Reedville

OCC PO's dock

We stayed in Reedville for a single night since the weather looked good for the following day.  We had a glorious sail from there to Solomons Island.  We logged 58nm gybing up the Bay to complete a 42nm route, dodging traffic along the way.

Chesapeake Bay cloudscape

Dodging traffic

Solomons Island is a top spot.  The anchorage there is small but we were there with only one other boat.  There are other anchroages up the creeks.  We went ashore to explore.  It's a tidy holiday town with a large Chesapeake Bay biological research campus.  We stayed for two nights while a front went through.

Anchored off Solomons Island

Solomons Church

Solomons is warming - aren't we all!

Solomons Tiki Bar - great beers!

Solomons is just across the Patuxent River from a US Navy air base.  Apparently they train their test pilots there so have a wide variety of aircraft.  We saw training jets, F-18s, an A-10 Thunderbolt, Ospreys and various helos.  All making lovely noises.  On our way to Solomons we passed a bombing range where an F-18 was doing passes, including several directly over us at under 500'.  That was quite loud.

The last leg was from Solomons to Annapolis yesterday.  This was a motor-sail with the wind too far forward to lay the route and we'd not have made it in daylight if we'd tacked.

Reaching out of Solomons

Arriving in Annapolis

Sail training is everywhere in Annapolis

Through the Spa Creek Bridge

Annapolis Spa Creek Bridge

It was great to arrive in Annapolis.  Nicki and I have visited several times over the last 30 years.  Back in 1987 I worked nearby for several months. Back then the idea of taking my own boat through the Spa Creek Bridge was literally fantastic.

Sailing on on Chesapeake Bay, August 1987

Since arriving in the US 16 days ago we've averaged about 25nm per day.  We'll be here in Annapolis for several days.  It'll be a nice break!

Trust all's well where you are!