Chesapeake Bay in July

[Exile]

Originally Posted by thomm225

That's because you were in Annapolis. The bay is very narrow up there.

You have to sail to the rural areas further south. Eastern Shore side is best for catching the SW breeze in the evening.

There aren't a lot of good anchorages but there are a few like Parker's Marsh that I mentioned. (Kiptopeke isn't bad if the wind stays SW and doesn't get above 10 knots or so)

Also, seems lots of folks have been using too much a/c. We didn't even have a/c until like the 1970's in most homes on the Eastern Shore but I cannot remember it being too hot unless I was on a tractor in the middle of a field cultivating.


https://www.google.com/search?q=cult...ating+soybeans+

I'm keeping my boat down in Norfolk these days, so it's nice to have all the local insight & knowledge, thomm. Thank you!

[Paul Annapolis]

The best advice is to try to be in a safe spot by 4 pm....just keep an eye out to the west and northwest...listen for crackling on the vhf...when it comes to t-storms, TRUST the weather reports but dont worry about the 24 or 36 or 72 hr forecast--the forecast is the same here from May through October--chance of T storms every afternoon.... If caught get a compass readin on a safe course and get sails down, follow theat safe course in fwd gear to keep nose in wind--and wait it out..they pass quickly....put on your ppfd, get sails down early and stowed....stay inside of all rigging and bimin frame etc and dont touch metal. unplug electronics if possible...of course if antenna or mast is hit vhf may get fried anyhow......beware of sudden drop in temp and maybe wind shift with storm.....99% of the time it is plain old scary...1 percent of the time it might be deadly if you're not prepared...so again be in a safe place by 4 pm and you are likely to be ok...

[W3GAC]

I'll add my 2 pence... yes it's hot in July/ August... yes, I do a lot of night sailing during those months. But it's not the heat alone so much as the combination of heat and humidity that makes it tough. So I tip is get up early. Like 6-6:30a, or even earlier and get underway. You may have to motor since it's usually very little wind that early in the Sumner. If you go North up the Bay from Deltaville, or do a zig-zag to destinations from day to day on opposite sides of the Bay, most destinations are only 3-4 hour sail/ motor and that will get you to port before the afternoon possible TSs. Since the Bay N of Deltaville narrows to 7-5 miles wide zipping back and forth is easy and if a TS starts to show it's head... you're never very far from one shore or the other. Most TSs travel from West to East. Back to the humidity... it greatly reduces the visibility to less than a mile or two during these months so don't try to rely on visual signs of approaching storms. Las other have said monitor marine wx channel frequently and phone radar wx apps (Weather Channel & MyRadar are both excellent). Chesapeake Bay has for the most part a very muddy bottom (no rocks, coral) and very shallow shorelines... so other than a very low possibility of dragging an anchor into shallow water during a TS squall reasonable alert seamanship should keep you informed well enough to have plenty of tine to either make your intended port or duck into a protected alternative for 30-60 minutes until it blows over. I always have a 'easy in/ out' 'duck in' spot in mind as I travel on the Bay during July-August. Gailsville, up the West River has a nice restaurant and you can anchor or dock. Almost directly across from the West and Rhode Rivers, over on the Eastern Shore of the Bay is St Michaels, a beautiful boating friendly town with plenty of anchoring or marina slip and restaurants, groceries, shopping, Chesapeake Bay Maritime, and so much more... all right in front of you as you come into the protected harbor. If you rather just have quiet anchoring out... the Wye River is on the way to St Micheals and is full of quiet/ private coves/ protected anchorages that you could spend a week just there. And of course Annapolis is a must! They have city moorings/ with a water taxi and plenty of marina docking. But as someone said, get a Chesapeake Bay Cruising Book and read up and pick your own spots. Have a great vacation.


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[David Sandowich]

All good advice based on years of experience. My advice based on my 30 + years on the bay would be be tucked in and on the hook or marina by 3 or 4 an you'll miss just about all the weather action out on the bay. Also yes the trends say hot ,humid and no wind but it's weather and I've had some awesome sailing on the Bay that time of year bot North and South. Enjoy your month and the people you'll meet and places you will see. I'd love have you stop by our place but I'll be sailing in Maine where it's cooler (-:

[Cottontop]

Originally Posted by Paul Annapolis

The best advice is to try to be in a safe spot by 4 pm....just keep an eye out to the west and northwest...listen for crackling on the vhf...when it comes to t-storms, TRUST the weather reports but dont worry about the 24 or 36 or 72 hr forecast--the forecast is the same here from May through October--chance of T storms every afternoon.... If caught get a compass readin on a safe course and get sails down, follow theat safe course in fwd gear to keep nose in wind--and wait it out..they pass quickly....put on your ppfd, get sails down early and stowed....stay inside of all rigging and bimin frame etc and dont touch metal. unplug electronics if possible...of course if antenna or mast is hit vhf may get fried anyhow......beware of sudden drop in temp and maybe wind shift with storm.....99% of the time it is plain old scary...1 percent of the time it might be deadly if you're not prepared...so again be in a safe place by 4 pm and you are likely to be ok...

You guys aren't on the Bay tourist board, are you.

1% of the time it might be deadly? Really? Sheesh.

[Tayana42]

Hey, if you want to sail where it is always 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind is always 15-18 out of the Northwest then leave the Chesapeake Bay and come sail in Southern California. And no thunderstorms.


S/V B'Shert

[DougAnnapolis]

All of these negative comments. The poor guy has booked his charter, so give him some help.
Yes July and August are hot, but that why it's called summer.
The forecasts typically say 30% chance of rain.. That's just I case it actually rains then the forecaster can say he was right. If thunderstorms are forecast as 50% or more, then you. Might get a passing storm , but usually brief and the back to sun.
Be sure your charter boat has a Bimini... You will want to get out of the sun.
Temps do cool down in the evening... A little.
We sail all summer long, anchor out a lot and visit marinas when near by.
We don't swim after July 1 due to jelly fish.
Drink lots of water and buy gallon jugs so you can pour it over your head.

[DMCantor]

Don't let all the negative posts get you down. We have spent several weeks on the Chesapeake in two separate summers, and we had a great time. For a charter from Deltaville, I would definitely make my way up to Solomons, and then to Annapolis. There are several great inlets to stay in along the way, peaceful and quiet.

We never had air conditioning, and never missed it. And never stayed in a marina.

You will certainly experience lightening, and it can be scary. But strikes are actually quite rare. You don't worry so much about the electronics when its a charter boat. The squalls definitely have higher winds, and the rains can be intense, but they are short-lived. We have one family memory where I made my wife try to pick up a mooring in a downpour, with 30 kt gusts. She still hasn't 100% forgiven me.

[MartinF]

A lot of useful info here to digest. Many thanks to you all for taking the time to help me.

[kerrydeare]

Originally Posted by dbeausoleil

Sail at night. Only madmen sail the Chesapeake in mid-summer ...

This is a fine idea if one is on passage, but in practical terms it may not be a suitable option for many. OTOH, getting going in the early AM and making the next destination in advance of the real summer heat works well. The reason is that "the next stop" on the Bay is usually not far and in addition there are so many possibilities that making a choice is often the hardest part of trip planning.

[colemj]

Well, we have been in the Chesapeake Bay for 2 weeks now and the weather the entire time we have been here has mostly been 80-85* with <50% humidity and a 10-14kt breeze. A couple of short late afternoon/night rain showers, but no bugs at all. We have been cold at night when the temps drop to the low 70's.

Either the people above don't know what hot, humid and buggy is (we have been in Central America for the past few years so maybe our yardstick is different), or this is record nice weather for July/August in the Chesapeake.

Either way, we'll take it.

Mark

[redsky49]

Originally Posted by colemj

Well, we have been in the Chesapeake Bay for 2 weeks now and the weather the entire time we have been here has mostly been 80-85* with <50% humidity and a 10-14kt breeze. A couple of short late afternoon/night rain showers, but no bugs at all. We have been cold at night when the temps drop to the low 70's.

Either the people above don't know what hot, humid and buggy is (we have been in Central America for the past few years so maybe our yardstick is different), or this is record nice weather for July/August in the Chesapeake.

Either way, we'll take it.

Mark

Glad to hear that. Some of the posts above sounded downright apocalyptic. In my Unofficial Poll, the Chesapeake is one of the ten best world cruising grounds. And that includes July and August!

Have fun and eat some blue crabs for me

[thomm225]

And here are the next 10 days:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/23455:4:US

Before you know it, it will be September and temps with in the very low 80's and highs 60's!

With mostly prevailing winds through October.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by thomm225

And here are the next 10 days:

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/23455:4:US

Before you know it, it will be September and temps with in the very low 80's and highs 60's!

With mostly prevailing winds through October.

Even a bit more moderate in the Northern half: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USMD0010:1:US

Mark

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by colemj

Even a bit more moderate in the Northern half: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USMD0010:1:US

Mark

Nice. Does this mean you are going back to work Mark?

We all know you need more mental stimulation than arguing with folks on CF?

There's chess.com but even that gets old.