Lower Chesapeake in April, May?
-
Bobglas
- First Officer
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 1:00 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Jefferson, NY
Lower Chesapeake in April, May?
Looking to do a week's sail . Not sure of weather conditions in April and May. Would like to avoid crowds but looking forward to open marinas. Its a long drive from upstate NY! Any advice?
Re: Lower Chesapeake in April, May?
I live here and keep my boat in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. There are no crowds then, only snowbirds heading north. The weather is very unpredictable over those 8 weeks until a few days out. We get a lot of rain late April & early May, but mixed with beautiful days too. The prevailing wind is switching from the winter North to summer South. South winds are good, North is bad since it comes down the the bay.
The last 8 Easters I have spent a week sailing from the Chesapeake Bay to do what is called the "Abermarle Loop" It is mostly ICW so protected even when the weather is nasty. There are about a dozen free marinas to stop at & boost tourism. If you start in Norfolk/Hampton you can head North into the Bay if the weather is good, or south into the ICW if the forecast isn't great.
https://albemarleloop.com/index.html
Take a look at this sailor's blog, he sails a potter 19 and has covered most of the lower bay with good pictures and reports.
http://jscheetz.com/Sailing/Sailing.Log/index.html
The last 8 Easters I have spent a week sailing from the Chesapeake Bay to do what is called the "Abermarle Loop" It is mostly ICW so protected even when the weather is nasty. There are about a dozen free marinas to stop at & boost tourism. If you start in Norfolk/Hampton you can head North into the Bay if the weather is good, or south into the ICW if the forecast isn't great.
https://albemarleloop.com/index.html
Take a look at this sailor's blog, he sails a potter 19 and has covered most of the lower bay with good pictures and reports.
http://jscheetz.com/Sailing/Sailing.Log/index.html
-
Bobglas
- First Officer
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 1:00 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Jefferson, NY
Re: Lower Chesapeake in April, May?
Thanks Seapup. Looking at Point Lookout park for launching. Seems to be in a good spot w/ adequate parking. Plenty of places to hide if needed. Also close enough to visit Tangier Island and eat oysters or crab. Temperatures?
Re: Lower Chesapeake in April, May?
Cool. I would think late may would be the ideal time for that area. June starts to get really hot. I would be a bit concerned about northeasters in April, the bay is large there.
We sailed up there there and spent 2 weeks late june/early July last year. Nice trip, too hot though. I don't think many sailboats go into Point Lookout, (was about 3' coming in) but its no issue for a mac. We spent the night anchored right off the ramps and used them to dinghy into. Found out its considered to be one of the most haunted places in the US due to its history. There in not much close by as far as towns/marinas, that area is fairly rural.
We came over from Tangier, definitely worth doing once. We anchored at the spit at the south end of the island which was beautiful but rolly, and also spent a night at Parks marina. On the Eastern shore about 15 miles away is Onancock. It was one of the highlights of our trip. Nice little town with municipal marina & convenient anchorage. We have sailed there a few times.
If you stay on the western shore deltavile is a nice stop, especially for a mac if you like quiet anchorages. All of the normal boats have to stay out in the open but macs can sneak in the small creek right behind the maritime museum which has nice park and dinghy dock.
We sailed up there there and spent 2 weeks late june/early July last year. Nice trip, too hot though. I don't think many sailboats go into Point Lookout, (was about 3' coming in) but its no issue for a mac. We spent the night anchored right off the ramps and used them to dinghy into. Found out its considered to be one of the most haunted places in the US due to its history. There in not much close by as far as towns/marinas, that area is fairly rural.
We came over from Tangier, definitely worth doing once. We anchored at the spit at the south end of the island which was beautiful but rolly, and also spent a night at Parks marina. On the Eastern shore about 15 miles away is Onancock. It was one of the highlights of our trip. Nice little town with municipal marina & convenient anchorage. We have sailed there a few times.
If you stay on the western shore deltavile is a nice stop, especially for a mac if you like quiet anchorages. All of the normal boats have to stay out in the open but macs can sneak in the small creek right behind the maritime museum which has nice park and dinghy dock.