[Public-list] mooring recommendations

[Rob Alley]

There are issues to be considered.

1.  Traffic.  As you know by now, a fact of life in the 
Baltimore-Washington corridor.  There is no such thing, anymore, as a 
quick exit on Friday PM and a quick return on Sunday PM.  It is no 
longer out of the realm of possibility that the amount of time you spend 
getting to/from a short sail equals the length of the short sail.  

      If time is money for you, consider going south to the creeks along 
the upper Potomac.  It's a long way from the Bay, but the Potomac Ocean 
is big enough to spend some time getting to know it well.  If you are 
connected with the Armed Forces,  you may have more options, as some 
bases have marinas--Belvoir, Quantico, perhaps others.  In any case, 
there are lots of marinas along the upper Potomac.  You will probably 
use the boat more if it is closer to where you live. 

2.  How you sail.  

    a. If you like to sail in a group of (other Alberg?) people, you 
definitely want to be on or near the Bay, as near Annapolis as you can 
manage.  You will pay for this convenience in higher slip rents and a 
high traffic commute, and it will be worth it--you will never lack for 
boat related activities at any time of the year, if that is what you 
want.  You will always have help a short distance away.
 
    b.  Between Harrington Harbor (Herring Bay) near Deale and Solomons 
Island on the Western shore there is only one suitable marina, called 
Flag Harbor.  If you become interested in this area, call me.
    
     c.  If you still want access to the Bay, but not necessarily the 
high traffic volume commute to the Annapolis area, or the water 
traffic,  consider Southern Maryland.  The area which is the Bay's 
confluence with the Potomac and the Patuxent is, with reasonable 
traffic, about 2 hours from Northern Virginia, perhaps less when the 
Wilson Bridge (eventually) gets finished.  Solomons Island is a major 
sailing center, and always busy.  The area at the mouth of the Potomac 
and its adjacent rivers (St Mary's, Coan, Yeocomico, etc) is still 
relatively quiet--often you can sail all day and see only one or two 
other boats.  There will be  fewer marinas and no social activities 
unless you join one of the local yacht clubs.  Slip rents will be 
relatively lower, with fewer amenities outside of Solomons.  Some yards 
will allow you to do your own work, which is becoming rarer further 
north.  Outside of Solomons, plan to be a self-sufficient sailor in all 
weathers, as help is limited.

     d.  There is the Northern Neck of Virginia--but this is getting too 
long.

Remember, wherever you end up, to check the controlling water depth for 
your marina.  Its a real pain to spend hours getting to your boat, only 
to find you can't go anywhere until the wind changes and the tide comes 
in--not always unusual in the Chesapeake.  Hope this helps a little.

Rob Alley
Just Past Commodore.....
Dan Landrigan wrote:

>Hi everybody,
>Just wanted to introduce myself as a new member of the
>association and ask for any advice on mooring
>locations on the Chesapeake.
>
>My wife Leslie and I moved to the area from Nahant,
>Massachusetts two years ago and purchased our Alberg
>30 in 2005 and are now looking for a good home for it
>for the summer.
>
>We're basically weekend sailors and what little
>sailing we've done on the Chesapeake has been out of
>Annapolis.
>
>Because of trafic concerns (we live in Arlington, VA)
>we're thinking we'd like to stay on the western shore,
>though really I'd love to hear the arguments from
>anyone who knows a great spot to put the boat.
>
>Thanks for any help you can give,
>Dan
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