Our Home Base...

Annapolis is at the center of Chesapeake Bay sailing and cruising activities. This is our home base. You can see more boats in a day here than anywhere else in the Country. Find out where to stay, what to do, and where we are on this page. We're right on the harbor, in Annapolis with a fleet of 5 star boats for sale and charter. Check us out here.

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INDEX: (Click map for driving info.)

To print directions for driving here, click here.

1. Annapolis & Links
2. The Chesapeake Bay
3. Weather

Link to BayDreaming-CLICK HERE--links to many destinations on the bay. Very complete, highly recommended.

Annap.Hbr--right in front of our office

Naval Academy Camera
City Dock Camera

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The Chesapeake Bay...
Over 5,000 miles of navigable shore line. Home to the Nations last commercial sailing fleet. Famous for it's seafood and soft-shell crabs.

Visit historic cities, Inns and B&B's. The cruis'n is easy with our soft bottom and semi-protected shore line.

Annapolis harborWhere ever you choose to cruise on the Chesapeake, Annapolis is at it's center! From here you can walk or take a water taxi ride to town. Walk to cozy pubs and restaurants, but don't be fooled. Annapolis is known as "America's cruising capital". We have sail and power boats--but also 2 major colleges and we're the State's capital as well. The Hotels and Inns are busy year round.

Please use this page and it's links to learn more. Get to our charter page or home page from the menu at the top. Use our boats to go cruising, or as B&B's. Learn to cruise on one of our cruising courses (Sail and power).

If you do come to buy a boat, visit us and allow enough time to stay and absorb the ambience! In a recent poll, 4 Restaurants within short walking distance from our office were voted:

  • Best waterfront bar--The Charthouse (Adjacent to our office and docks--sometimes referred to as "our other office"--below, left)chhouse2.jpg (9382 bytes)
  • Best Steak--Ruth Chris Steak House (Others would argue Lewnes)
  • Best Seafood--O'learys
  • Best Pub (crabcakes, quick lunch, social hour)-Davis Pub
  • Most romantic restaurant and bar (on the water)-Caroll's Creek Restaurant
  • Best Sailors Pub--Boat Yard Bar & Grill

All of the above, located on map below, with links--or just ask when you get here. We provide the maps.

Best guide to Restaurants in Annapolis, click here.

Eric Smith,  President

Guide to Annapolis

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Best guide to Restaurants in
Annapolis (and MD) , click here

  • Where to stay? Right in one of our rental floating cottages! Call LGC 410-263-1818
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B&B's Schedule--See the actual B&B schedule for all area B&B's. Closest, and really nice, a couple blocks from our office. Ask for Rick or Jeanne: Inn at Spa Creek In Historic District, Gatehouse Inn (Tell Nick or Cheryl--Bay Yacht-Eric or Douglass sent you!)

http://www.vrbo.com/

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VRBO--Vacation rental units by Owner (Includes our Floating home units-#177946

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Hometown Annapolis--Evening Capital newspaper--news & links for Annapolis & MD Good list of B&B's--Eastport House, closest to our office

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Annapolis Chamber .

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Bay Dreaming Complete information for major cruising areas around the Chesapeake, including Annapolis.

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Bay Guide--especially good links to marinas

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To check out, and understand the Chesapeake Bay--you may want to visit this link.  Or come back to it. There's a good explanation of the Bay, a photo gallery, great links and more.

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Whats Up Magazine   Includes links to hotels and real estate, etc.

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Inside Annapolis, Magazine

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Chesapeake life magazine--lifestyles, articles

Marinas everywhere-best aerial view!

Rainy day? Try a pub crawl--use map and guide to right: Use the water taxi to get to Annapolis. (Start about 3 or 4PM)

  1. Start at McGarveys in town. Try the raw bar.
  2. Middletons, have an Oyster shooter.
  3. Pussers--Have a Pain Killer--a (4) if you dare.
  4. Back on Water taxi. over to the Chart House (after 5:00PM, unless a Sunday). Great views. Great place to wait for reservation...
  5. Now you can walk to:
  6. FINE DINING: Lewnes, Ruth Chris (Steaks), O'learys (Seafood), or...
  7. Carolls Creek--most anything and all good. Watch the sunset or Wed. nite races from the deck.
  8. PUBS: Boat Yard, or Davis's.

Rainy morning?

  1. Boat Yard-breakfast
  2. Chick and Ruths. Must visit. Watertaxi to Annapolis. Be prepared for pledge of Allegiance during breakfast!
  3. The Harbor Deli--right next to our office.
  4. Cafe Guru--definitely local. A couple blocks up second street. Dogs welcome.
  5. Eastport plaza 1/2 mile.

Rainy day--close by cruising...

  1. Cruise up the Severn River-anchor off Round Bay in a beautiful creek for a barbecue on board. (An hour or so)
  2. Cruise around the corner to Whitehall Bay, for a quiet anchorage. Or, go up Mill Creek for crabs at the famous Cantler's restaurant. (Less than an hour)
  3. Motor around the corner to Chesapeake Harbor for a fine restaurant experience at Sams waterfront restaurant (Less than 1/2 hour)
  4. Kentmorr Marina w/Great seafood restaurant. bay-about an hour or a little less. Directly across the Entrance recently dredged and now comfortable for sailboats up to about 6' draft at normal low water. Great sunsets from Restaurant or Tiki Bar. Beach volleyball. Great mariners bar! Fishing charters available-some of the best boats on the Bay.
  5. Cruise over to Galesville to enjoy Pirates Cove, Topside Inn, or Wagners Steamboat Landing. (2 hours)

Ask us for more details...

 

 

1. Annapolis, our home port--Favorite places...

 

Quick look at all restaurants with hours contact info. and more Click here. Click on links below for hours, reservations and more.

  • A. BEST BAR/LOUNGE.
    Chart House Restaurant (A). (adjacent to our office)
  • Best place to stay? One of our floating cottages, or 30 new and like new boats! Right in our Marina, contact Lets Go Cruising  (A): 410-263-1818
  • L. BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT. O'Leary's Click here
  • Kids? What to do? Pirate adventure--you gotta check out this link. Click here.
  • C. BEST STEAK HOUSE, NICEST RESTAURANT.
    (L) Ruth Chris Steak House (two blocks from our office). (C) Lewnes steak house "The one restaurant to visit before you die!" (3 blocks from our office.) Across from (C) Carolls Creek Restaurant. Best waterfront dining, just great. Click here
  • Davis pub--for crab cakes! end of 4th st. bottom of screen not marked--it's our secret place!
  • Near but not in Annapolis. Charming, romantic (Be sure to try an  after dinner port!--stay late, very late (Kent Manor Inn on Kent Island): KMI Home Page
  • B. HARBOR MOORINGS. Try to pick one in the middle of the group away from the channels.
  • E. BEST ANCHORAGE. N.E. of this point. (Sarles Marina). Better holding and protection--quieter. The water taxi will still come and pick you up.
  • D. BEST YACHT CLUB. Annapolis Yacht Club. Worth a visit if you're a member of another club. Great food. Beautiful facilities. One of the oldest in the Country. However the famous Eastport Yacht Club, across from our office on First St. could be the best informal, active club, and then there's the famous, Severn Sailing Association next to that, and...
  • F. Fawcett's. BEST MARINE CHANDLERY. Loaded with gear, and knowledgeable staff. (There is also a West Marine about 2 mi. drive West on Chesapeake Ave. (At Bay Ridge/Forest---Chesapeake changes name to Bay Ridge.)
  • F. Pussers landing restaurant. Sailors pub. Sailors fare. On the harbor--actually, "Ego Alley" Watch the parade of boats showing off.
  • FOOD AND LIQUOR FOR PROVISIONING-Eastport Plaza Liquor. Just off the map, West on Chesapeake Ave. at a small shopping center. Or, Bar Ridge Liquors 1.5 miles up Bay Ridge Ave at BlockBuster shopping center (Also home of West Marine)
  • MAJOR GROCERY: At Bay Ridge Plaza about 2 miles-"Giant". Up Chesapeake to Bay Ridge, left on Forest (Changes name to Bay Ridge) to first traffic light, left into Forest Plaza--Large Giant Food store.
  • F. BEST WINE/LIQUOR STORE. Mills. Just up from Fawcetts on the small main street circle near the city dock. (Also, Eastport Liquors, Bay Ridge and now, Boatyard bar and Grill--ask us for directions. All near by.)
  • H. NICE, HISTORIC RESTAURANT. Middletons on the Harbor square. Evening folk music most nights, the center of a large group of bars. Marias-Italian, next to McGarveys--both have valet parking..
  • I. BEST, E. COAST SAILORS PUB. McGarveys. A real pub with great pub food. You'll see the likes of Walter Cronkite, Gary Jobson or any other sailing celebrity in town here. The place to be seen and to meet
  • I. Best Italian (Sicilian)--Marias! Meet Maria, ask for Bob..
  • K. MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT. King of France Tavern--Maryland Inn. A historic rendezvous with all the right ingredients including live Jazz for a romantic evening. Also, out of the way, and by boat if you know the way--Sams--see the guide.
  • J. ANTIQUE SHOPPING AND STROLLING . Maryland Ave. Lots of shops. Don't forget this lovely section of Annapolis if you're strolling around.
  • MOST INTERESTING (Popular--over 1M visitors/year!) TOUR. The Naval Academy. Go in the gate off Randall Street (Near {I}) . Very interesting and they offer a great guided tour. Click here for great information.
  • Most unusual tour--try a Segway. Click here.
  • Kayak rental in Annapolis--in the middle of our marina. Click here.
  • Undiscovered restaurant? Wild Orchid. You can walk a little further. Click here.

So see boats available for charter, and Chesapeake Cruise itineraries,  Let's Go Cruising Site-Chesapeake.

P.S. 2 Great things about Annapolis in addition to everything else...
1. We're the State Capital. This brings in lots of interesting people for a small (40,000 population) town.
2. We have two of the most interesting college campuses in the country. St. Johns. Very classic. The Naval Academy. Very...Exceptional. When these kids are around, everyone feels very welcome and safe!

We are located on the Harbor, in Annapolis, America's Sailing Capital.  Airport locator, left. 3 major and 2 private area airports all within less than an hour drive. (Easton Airport is about 75 minutes away for larger, twin engine or jet private planes. (BWI is closest in with great connections for commercial flights.)

To print directions for driving here, click here.

World Weather

 

 

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 Testimonials

The Chesapeake Bay

Click on this thumbnail image to retrieve a full size chart of the bay. Below, is a detailed area chart of the Northern Bay where most sailing vacations take place.

So see boats available for charter, and Chesapeake Cruise itineraries,  Let's Go Cruising Site-Chesapeake.

 


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2. The Chesapeake Bay-for cruising

Why cruise the Chesapeake?

The Chesapeake is one of the largest estuaries in the world. Chesapeake means  drowned river and was formed by the glaciers carving out spaces which the Susquehanna river then filled. Indians were the first residents and Michner's book Chesapeake makes interesting reading as you're cruising. Our waters are brackish varying from very salty near the mouth of the Bay to almost fresh at the northern end. (Best swimming is North of the Bay Bridge because sea nettles (Use meat tenderizer if you get stung) take up residence in the summer in the lower bay.
The sail'n is easy. The bottom is soft and forgiving. There is virtually no fog and navigation is line of sight. The tide range is only about 1.5 ft. and the maximum tidal current in the middle of the bay averages less than 1/2 knot.
Along with this, the sailing is delightful. There are over 5,000 miles of navigatible shoreline! (It's been said that a person 20 years old could cruise and anchor in a different place each night for the rest of his life!) Summer winds are somewhat light averaging about 8-12 knots. Spring and Fall sailing are a little brisker and with the warm water of fall the temperatures are very comfortable making this one of the favorite times for cruising by local sailors.  While Annapolis is bustling and you'll seldom find a weekend where there aren't billowy, colorful spinnakers painted against the sky on a summer weekend, within 40 minutes you can be sailing all alone. You can plan your itinerary to eat at fancy, or local seafood restaurants every night, or do as I do and barbecue aboard in a secluded cove every other night or so.
Typical sailing distances average about 3-4 hours giving you lots of time to relax and enjoy.
Pollution, mostly from Farm fertilizer run off, has been a problem but major efforts are being made to solve this problem. Do your part by using your holding tank, and storing your trash until you get to a shore side facility.
Of course, the famous Chesapeake Blue Crab and Chincoteague oysters (in R months) are world famous seafood treats and you'll probably get a chance to see our waterman out on the bay (watch out for those pesky crab traps--but don't disturb them!). The Chesapeake also boasts the last of the genuine, exclusively sail, working fleets. The Skipjacks sail mostly in the Fall, but you can see them up close at the St. Michaels, or Solomon's maritime museums.
The Chesapeake is a gentle, body of water surrounded by lovely creeks and coves populated by friendly, water oriented residents. We welcome you to our world.

So see boats available for charter, and Chesapeake Cruise itineraries,  Let's Go Cruising Site-Chesapeake.

Link to BayDreaming-CLICK HERE--links to many destinations on the bay. Very complete, highly recommended.

Link to Marinas everywhere--excellent overviews and aerial shots. CLICK HERE.

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Weather Links

 

General weather to the right...

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3. Weather

World Weather (Sailiing weather, left)

 

 

Find the Weather for any City, State or ZIP Code, or Country (Annap 21403) Weather Underground.

 
 

 

Chesapeake Bay, inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, c.200 mi (320 km) long, from 3 to 30 mi (4.8–48 km) wide, and 3,237 sq mi (8,384 sq km), separating the Delmarva Peninsula from mainland Maryland. and Virginia. The drowned estuary of the Susquehanna River, formed in an ancient meteorite impact zone, the bay is fed by rivers including the Potomac, Rappahannock, Pocomoke, and James. It is entered from the Atlantic Ocean through a 12-mi-wide (19-km) gap between Capes Henry and Charles, Va.; the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel crosses its mouth, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge crosses the upper bay. Part of the Intracoastal Waterway, the bay is linked with the Delaware River and Bay by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Baltimore, Md., is the largest city and main port on the bay; the Norfolk–Hampton Roads region of Virginia is a key naval complex. The bay's famous fisheries (oysters, crabs, etc.) have declined as residential and commercial development around it have increased; various projects and interstate agreements seek to reverse this trend. The English colonist John Smith explored and charted Chesapeake Bay in 1608.

 

Web Cameras...

  1. Web Camera--Severn from Naval Academy.

  2. City Dock, Annapolis

  3. Md. Traffic Cams.

 

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