2013 Chesapeake Bay Gathering?

Peter S said:
I notice that you've included information for Mears. Are you thinking of staying there or anchoring out nearby?
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Hi Peter. The event is at Mears Kent Narrows. Maybe a impromptu raft up somewhere on the way out Sunday afternoon for those who want to stick around after check out time.
 
Sorry to say that that date is taken for us as well. Hope to make the next one. We probably would not have gone to Mears at Kent Narrows for two very good reasons. They are not very flexible and have the attitude that they have it and you want it. They also have that little problem of one narrow way in with no margin of error and a passageway full of DUI boaters anytime after noon. Have sat there many a day and watched bow rails and fiberglass get crunched. There are so many Marinas that want your business and treat you like gold. Mears is not one of those. Spring Cove at S.I. is one of those and would have been a much better choice to attract lower bay boaters. Just my two cents.
 
I'm not a big fan of Mears, either. I'd like to meet up with everyone though. If anyone would like to spend some time on the hook I'll be glad to join them. Perhaps Swan Creek at Rock Hall or one of many spots up the Magothy.
 
JimFromMD said:
Bill. Hopefully you by boat as captain, as crew, or by land!
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I prefer to go as captain of my boat. I am considering the following itinerary:

Thursday - cruise to lower Potomac for the night, maybe Kinsale
Friday - cruise to St. Michaels and stay there all day and night
Saturday - attend the gathering
Sunday - cruise back to the lower Potomac
Monday - cruise to my home port

I have never been this route before so I am not sure if this is a good plan or not. I have only had this boat for one season and haven't been south of Fairview Beach. I would like to stir up some interest in others from the Potomac caravaning (what's the boat equivalent term for that?) along as a group.
 
I'd like to trailer my boat out there for the event. It's still a ways off so I have to see how things develop. As the event draws near I'll have a better idea of my schedule.
 
ZZ13 said:
I prefer to go as captain of my boat. I am considering the following itinerary:

Thursday - cruise to lower Potomac for the night, maybe Kinsale
Friday - cruise to St. Michaels and stay there all day and night
Saturday - attend the gathering
Sunday - cruise back to the lower Potomac
Monday - cruise to my home port

I have never been this route before so I am not sure if this is a good plan or not. I have only had this boat for one season and haven't been south of Fairview Beach. I would like to stir up some interest in others from the Potomac caravaning (what's the boat equivalent term for that?) along as a group.
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I prefer Annapolis over St. Michaels, a lot more going on. Recommend reserving the wall on Ego Alley.
 
Bodkin Creek George said:
Sorry to say that that date is taken for us as well. Hope to make the next one. We probably would not have gone to Mears at Kent Narrows for two very good reasons. They are not very flexible and have the attitude that they have it and you want it. They also have that little problem of one narrow way in with no margin of error and a passageway full of DUI boaters anytime after noon. Have sat there many a day and watched bow rails and fiberglass get crunched. There are so many Marinas that want your business and treat you like gold. Mears is not one of those. Spring Cove at S.I. is one of those and would have been a much better choice to attract lower bay boaters. Just my two cents.
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This news is a surprise to me. Of the 5 or 6 times I've been to Mears Kent Narrows, both with one other boat and also a group gathering of about 10 boats, they have never been anything but helpful to us. Someone stayed an hour late to help folks get into slips, also allowed folks to stay past check out time to enjoy a bit more time at the pool on three occasions. I admit that navigating the current in the Kent Narrows itself can be challenging and anxiety filled at times, but for me even as a moderately experienced helmsmen it's been doable.

The other options mentioned (St. Michaels and Herrington Harbor South) have not been as flexible, and are often booked up. Our group has had some success at Herrington South with them dedicating the pier along the entry channel for us, but otherwise have been scattered about the marina. We also had people get cut short on brunch at Mango's restaurant because the marina staff were pushing for people to leave. I really enjoy Herrington, and will definitely go back, but just felt like having never organized something like this before, Mears may be more easy to work with.

If anyone has other ideas we can still kick them around here.
 
CAMELLA said:
I prefer Annapolis over St. Michaels, a lot more going on. Recommend reserving the wall on Ego Alley.
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It's funny, as someone who goes to Annapolis all the time, I find St. Michaels a more unique experience. Also, being over-protective of my boat, I've always been afraid to stay alongside the seawall in ego alley. So many people sitting there eating ice cream, smoking, flicking ashes etc. The slips at the entry-end of ego alley can be nice, as long as you plan to sleep with the hatches closed. Pussers Bar on the opposite side of the alley goes till 1-2AM.

I understand that the marina on the St. Michaels town side has adopted an even more elaborate tiered slip fee structure this season. Someone mentioned at our club's captain meeting this past Sunday that "premium" rates can be almost $4.50 a foot. Haven't checked into it, but I assume that's for bulkheads, t-ends, and alongside the piers.
 
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ZZ13 said:
I prefer to go as captain of my boat. I am considering the following itinerary:

Thursday - cruise to lower Potomac for the night, maybe Kinsale
Friday - cruise to St. Michaels and stay there all day and night
Saturday - attend the gathering
Sunday - cruise back to the lower Potomac
Monday - cruise to my home port

I have never been this route before so I am not sure if this is a good plan or not. I have only had this boat for one season and haven't been south of Fairview Beach. I would like to stir up some interest in others from the Potomac caravaning (what's the boat equivalent term for that?) along as a group.
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Bill,
Sounds like a nice trip. One of my friends helped a buddy bring his 280 from Georgetown to Solomons and then up to Annapolis. As I recall they said it was about 3-4 hours each leg depending on the weather. I would say for the portions of your trip on the bay, depending on the forecasted weather, the best plan is to get on the water early before the winds pick up in the afternoon. In my limited experience the further south you go in the bay where it is wider, the more the waves/seas can be a factor. Your run from Solomons until you reach the bottom of Tilghman Island is likely where you will find the bigger seas. As you go north past there, the bay narrows and it gets more predictable. You can also "hug" the east or west shore for smaller seas and fetch, staying closer to the side from which the wind is coming. Others here can give you more input too. I've not made it to Solomons yet myself (by sea anyway).

The run from St. Michaels up Eastern Bay to Kent Narrows will go pretty quickly, so you'll be able to maximize your time there while still getting to Kent Narrows almost at check-in time.
 
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Jim, I haven't chimed in on Mears yet. I didn't want to commit yet , due to a possible graduation conflict. In the past , has the group been offered/assigned a particular pier? There are options for my boat,though some are not as desirable,regarding safety for the boat and/or away from Red Eye ie; H dock.
 
CRUZ'N said:
Jim, I haven't chimed in on Mears yet. I didn't want to commit yet , due to a possible graduation conflict. In the past , has the group been offered/assigned a particular pier? There are options for my boat,though some are not as desirable,regarding safety for the boat and/or away from Red Eye ie; H dock.
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Cruz'n... Not sure I understand your question. This is my first time organizing an event for CSR, so "in the past" may not apply :). That said, the Mears office folks said they would do their best to keep us located as close together as possible, but did not alocate anything specifically for us at this point. My plan was to try to nail things down as we get closer to the event and have a better idea of how many boats were coming and their various sizes. They also did say that if folks had special needs/requests, they would try to accomodate.

When I went to Mears with another club, we were mostly along the wall of F dock (like slips 132-145), with some bigger boats on H & I including a 580 sedan bridge. Another smaller gathering we had 4 boats on N dock all together. No one I know, and none of the groups I've visted Mears with have ever been put on any of the piers that are exposed to the Narrows/fuel dock area outside "the inlet" (piers A-D, part of E). We've always been well back and deep inside the marina away from narrows traffic, current, restaurants, and exposure. Does that help?

I do recommend taking a copy of the marina map (link below) with you because the marina is quite large and you can travel a ways finding your slip once on the inside.
http://mearspoint.com/wp-content/themes/mears/images/mears-point-marina-diagram.pdf
 
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Cruz's,
Hi, we have slipped at Mears for a year now and have had nothing less than great experience there. We are on E dock looking straight at the entrance of the marina and have not had any disturbing issues. As far as Red Eyes it mostly noise from the bands. Every marina has their share of idiots, for a marina as large as Mears, it is a very small minority. We have only been boating on our own for 2 years, have been on the bay with friends for at least 15 years and has been nothing but pleasant. Never been to a CSR event and we are looking forward to this event wherever it happens.

Tony & Deb
Crazy Lady
 
Thnx for both responses, I've not been up the fairway in question, I've just heard third hand of occasional issues. That being said , you can have " things" happen anywhere. From the marina map, it doesn't look like " F " is to far away from " H " so I'll put my name in the hat as circumstances permit. Regards,Tim
 
CRUZ'N said:
Thnx for both responses, I've not been up the fairway in question, I've just heard third hand of occasional issues. That being said , you can have " things" happen anywhere. From the marina map, it doesn't look like " F " is to far away from " H " so I'll put my name in the hat as circumstances permit. Regards,Tim
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CRUZ'N, I hope you can make it, it would be great to get a tour of your 60DA.
 
CRUZ'N said:
Thnx for both responses, I've not been up the fairway in question, I've just heard third hand of occasional issues. That being said , you can have " things" happen anywhere. From the marina map, it doesn't look like " F " is to far away from " H " so I'll put my name in the hat as circumstances permit. Regards,Tim
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Ahh.. so you prefer H dock then? I misunderstood. In my head I couldn't remember anything in that area that would be of concern unless it was that your bow may be sticking out or something. H dock was sort of on a rounded-corner, but I don't remember the bow of the 580 sticking out in traffic.
 
Jim, I'm flexible on docks, perhaps " G " would put me closer to the group action at "F" if it was available when I make my last minute decision. My Bow sticking out is something I always pay attention to in close quarters. I'm close enough where I can drive over and take a look. It also looks like 18' is the bridge clearance.So, when the time comes, I'll watch the tide,current and bridge opening schedule.
If you can get past all "the junk in the trunk" we'll see if there's room for extra DA's back there :)
There plenty of Dewars and brewskis for as many tours as we need.....!
 
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