[C320-list] Of possible interest to Chesapeake sailors: LaTrappe and Knapps Narrows

[Bev Wright]

Hi Scott,

We did get to LaTrappe but we went around Black Walnut Point (BWP) even
though we were not sailing and could have gone through Knapps for a shorter
trip.  However, I ran aground in the Knapps Channel last year (W to E) going
to Knapps Marina right about where you ran aground and was not looking
forward to trying again for that reason and because the current in the
channel is very strong if you have to circle and wait for the bridge.  It
was very odd that I ran aground because the channel has been dredged and
deeper keel boats had not had a problem. I chalked it up to my poor
navigation and figured that I must have drifted out of the channel but now I
wonder - maybe I didn't!  

Coming from Herring Bay this weekend to LaTrappe, the north wind would have
been excellent sailing but winds and waves were too choppy for my
inexperienced crew so think about sailing, so we motored.  As expected, lots
of power boats and our 9 other sailboats from Herrington Harbour Sailing
Association (HHSA) were already anchored by the time we arrived there at 4
pm on Saturday.  Although there was plenty of room, we anchored fairly close
to two other of our boats rafted up and did not drag, so holding was
excellent.  We had a quiet and beautiful evening and through the night and
were able to go to the beach both Sat and Sun although it was much windier
on Sun and the water was higher. Surprisingly, after we departed on Sunday,
the wind disappeared once we got into the Choptank and all the way around
BWP again until we cleared Tilghman Island when the wind was from the NE,
again great wind and direction for sailing but we had JUST dropped the main
when the wind picked up, so we motored across the channel. 

The HHSA has been cataloging pet-friendly anchorages on our cruising forum,
some of which came from the Chesapeake Bay Sabre Association.
Unfortunately, both the CB Sabre and HHSA forums where that info exists are
now restricted to members. Both forums used to be open to anyone.  So yes,
someone should write something public because an internet search did not
disclose the lists I found before or HHSA's.  Here are those from the CB
Association but LaTrappe is not listed - one of the best!  

Choptank River-San Domingo Creek-Public dock which is the "back door" to St.
Michaels; Corrotoman River-Eastern Branch opposite Bell's Creek, Long, clear
sandy beach. No houses; Corsica River (Chester River)-Town Point; Little
Choptank River-Hudson Creek, sandy beach very scenic and quiet; Magothy
River-Broad Creek, small island just off the marina with a sandy beach;
Magothy River Behind Gibson Island-another nice sandy beach with no houses
nearby; Miles River-Tilghman Creek-Public dock at end of creek; Rhode
River-Flat Island, good beach, plenty of room to walk; Severn
River-Saltworks Creek, community dock at the end; Severn River-Hopkins
Creek, sandy spit near the mouth of the Creek; South River-Harness Creek,
use the Quiet River Park dock; Swan Creek-community dock or Osprey Point
Marina, area around the dock is being developed but the marina's floating
docks make it easy to get in and out of the dinghy; Tred Avon-The Strand,
Oxford, nice beach and nice walking around Oxford; Wye River-Shaw Bay, sandy
beach; Wye River-Granary Creek      , public park at the end, good area to
walk as well.

In two weeks I will be going to Shipping Creek in Eastern Bay with another
sailing group and found a public boat launch at the end of Shipping Creek
which will be perfect to take the dog ashore.  I went there by car to check
it out. It's not too far from the anticipated anchorage but farther than the
beach at LaTrappe.

Will keep you posted!

Bev Wright

1993 C-320 "Whoosh" #15

Deale, MD (Chesapeake Bay, HHN) 

 

Message: 1

Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2020 13:59:35 -0400

From: Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com
<mailto:surprise at thompson87.com> >

To: C320-List at Catalina320.com <mailto:C320-List at Catalina320.com> ,
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com <mailto:c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> 

Subject: [C320-list] Of possible interest to Chesapeake sailors:

     LaTrappe and Knapps Narrows

Message-ID: <247f6182-36b7-faa1-0665-2354bfd16015 at thompson87.com
<mailto:247f6182-36b7-faa1-0665-2354bfd16015 at thompson87.com> >

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

 

Continuing what was the Facebook thread...

 

Bev, I'm wondering if you went to LaTrappe and if so whether you went
through Knapps Narrows. We arrived there Tuesday night after a boisterous
sail into a strong southerly, and were there Wed and Thursday riding out the
very strong winds and enjoying the scenery. We had the place pretty much to
ourselves.

 

Yes we have a dog! (Someone should write a book about good places to sail
with dogs. Between shoreside development and rising sea level it's harder to
find a good beach to take our Labrador ashore than it was 30 years ago.)
Very high tides due to the strong southerly were putting the spit close to
entirely underwater at high tide, which seems to be an increasingly common
phenomena over the years.

 

On the return we tried going through Knapps Narrows E to W at low tide. We
had no problem in the east channel but ran aground right next to red 4
marker on the way out the west side. My Navionics sonar chart indicated that
deeper water was to the right (i.e. North) towards the old channel marker,
so we tried going in that direction only to run aground again. Fortunately I
was able to back off in each case. We watched two other boats come through
the other direction more or less where we were trying but I think they drew
less. The Northerly Friday morning probably did not help. In the end we
turned around, went back through the bridge and circumnavigated Tilghman
Island to get back out into the Bay.

 

Hope you were more successful if you tried that route.

 

Scott Thompson

Surprise, #653