Introduction

[Tom]

I've posted several times on this web site and learned so much from so many, but I've never formally introduced myself.  My name is Tom,  I recently retired from the Postal Service and I live in Reedville, VA.
I own several sailboats but two years ago I purchased a wrecked '87 Com-Pac 23 from a local boatyard and began working on her. After the major repairs were completed (hull-deck joint problem and bottom blisters) I had several enjoyable sails on her last season, but over last winter I rewired the boat, installed LED lights, moved the battery to starboard-mid ship to reduce weight in the stern, rigged a loose footed main (guess where I got that idea), topping lift, boom vang, built a new rudder and replaced the bent old bobstay with a sexy piece of 1/4' SS chain. I was really looking forward to this season,  however,  the declining health of a loved one kept me homebound till now.
I sail out of the Great Wicomico River. My family owns a small waterfront campground just a short way up river from the famous Horn Harbor hurricane hole that is mentioned in all the guide books. We are not your average campground, more like a small fishing community.  Our sites and dock slips are rented on a seasonal bases and most trailers haven't moved in years.  One Captain gets too old to go fishing, he sells his camper, storage shed, golf cart and the screen room he's built to his friend or the friend of his neighbor. Keeps us busy -thank goodness!  But I can always find a spot for a sailor to pitch a tent, or if you sleep on your boat, I can offer clean restrooms and hot showers. Contact me if you will be in the area and I can show you my boat and you can check the place out.
Talking about checking places out;  anyone been to the Maryland State Park on Janes Island,  just a stones throw from Chrisfield MD. Also, any suggestions on marinas in Norfolk, near the big Navy ships? (I promised the grand kids)

[BruceW]

Hi, Tom,

wow, you have a new boat now! Great to have you on the site and participating. Your sailing area sounds pretty cool too.  Maybe some day I can get that far with my 23. I live in Raleigh, NC, and keep my boat in a sailing club marina in New Bern, NC. I've just had the boat a bit less than a year, and sailed in the Neuse River mostly daysails, with a couple overnighters. Looking forward to some more cruising this fall.

Bruce

[peterg]

Hi Tom,
   We have our 23 over in Horn Harbor Marina around the corner from you.  Let's try to get together for a sail sometime, your boat or ours. Shoot me an email- pscorion@aol.com- and we'll try to set something up!
PeterG
Beagle3

[HeaveToo]

Hrm.....I may be somewhere in your neck of the woods next week.

I am in a 1989 Compac 23 and I am out of Colonial Beach, VA.  It is on the Potomac about 30 miles from Point Lookout/Smith Point area.

I am pretty experienced in cruising around the Chesapeake Bay as I have sailed it since I was very young. 

The area you described is a nice one, off of the Great Wicomico River.  You are close to Indian Creek and a nice sail to Deltaville.  Tangier Island is to the East and Smith Island to the North East.

If you are heading for Norfolk and you are looking for an anchorage near the navy ships you can go into Willoughby Bay.  You are just around the corner from the ships and you can see them from that location.  From all reports that I have heard it is okay holding in there and a good depth (Look it up on Active Captain).

Please take your family to Tangier Island.  It is a very unique place and that way of life won't be here forever.  It is worth a visit but plan on staying at Parks Marina (about 30 dollars a night with power).  The island shuts down after 4 so plan on cooking your dinner on the boat.  Smith Island is similar and also worth a visit.  The crab cakes in the restaurants at these places are amazing (super fresh). 

Another notable visit is Onancock.  It is very beautiful.  I do find it more pleasure to sail across the bay as the winds are usually out of the north or the south.  For some reason it always blows from the north when I go towards Solomons out of the river or when I return to the Potomac.  If I decide to go south, you bet, it is out of the south.  It is just that way.

Either which way, I plan to be out for around 10 days, give or take, starting on Tuesday.  I am not sure if I am going North a ways or I will go South out of the Potomac.  I would like to hit Solomons (favorite place on the bay).  After that I am looking at either heading towards Smith or Tangier or going north to the Choptank and playing around there.  Wind and weather will dictate.

It would be fun to catch up with a few other Chesapeake Bay Compac 23 owners.  We may have to try to arrange a meetup somewhere in the middle!

[HeaveToo]

https://activecaptain.com/index.php

This is an awesome thing to view to get information for trips.  There is a mobile app for your phone to for iPhone and Droid.  It is FREE!!!!

The information is good.  Check it out.

btw....if you check the nauticle charts around Jane's Island, it is hard to see a good anchorage and no previous marks for an anchorage.  You may have to visit from Chrisfield.

I have been to Chrisfield a few years ago (got stuck there for 3 days due to weather).  It was part of a round trip where I went out of the Potomac and I went to Tangier Island, I then went to Chrisfield.  From Chrisfield I went to Smith Island.  From Smith Island I went to Solomons Island.  From there I went back into the Potomac River and pulled out at Kinsale (bad weather crossing Point Lookout and a little inexperience in the old boat, a Hunter 22 and I hit 15-20 out of the North).  Point Lookout and Smith are big water and it can be flat out nasty there (took a full gale in my Catalina 30 there and got the crap beat out of me for 5 hours before sneaking into the Coan River for shelter). 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.  I am learning my Compac 23 (just bought her this year).  My previous boats are a Hunter 22 and then a Catalina 30.  I grew up racing in the Potomac River from Washington DC down and I did a few bay races too.  I also have an Uncle with over 30 years of Cruising the Chesapeake Bay for really extended amounts of time (kind of how I got into cruising). 

[Tom]

Heave Too

If you are going to be in the area, email me. I can give you better directions on where to anchor and take a shower.  If you sail elsewhere, drive down to the campground sometime and look around.  Your only about an hour away by car.   I know the charts look shallow for Janes Island, but the MD. state park web site says they have DOCK SLIPS, so how shallow can it be?  Anyway, Thanks for the Active Capt. link, I'll get into it soon.

[HeaveToo]

Thanks for the invite.

I actually live in Northern Virginia.  The boat is kept in Colonial Beach (about 1.5 hours away).  Still, it would be a nice drive sometime.

I need to look up that State Park.  It does sound interesting.  I am also still new to having such a skinny draft (I am still use to looking at charts and thinking 4 feet,  Catalina 30).