Dock of the Bay closing

We just received word that owner Larry Thaner has decided to close his popular dock bar and restaurant, Dock of the Bay on Millers Island, Md. He announced yesterday that he was putting the business up for sale. —jas

What Happens to the Cruise Guide in the Deep Dark Dregs of Winter?

 

From the Cruise Guide Editor:

Skipper the Ship's Dog and I may be burrowed deep into the duvet in the forward berth, waiting for spring and a season of brave new adventures on the Bay, but I and all the other CBM Guide Gremlins are already hard at work on the 2014 edition of the Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay.

So this would be the perfect time for you too to come out of hibernation just long enough to send us any updates you know about to the 2013 Cruise Guide. These would be any openings and closings around your neck of the Bay—restaurants, marinas, parks, boat ramps, and so forth—as well as any changes in navigation or (shudder) mistakes that we've made. Has your local Back Creek silted over into the channel or has it been dredged recently? Found a new anchorage you'd like to share? Or found an old favorite not so good any more? Let us know. Photos are more than welcome too.

We're planning a number of big changes to this edition that we're pretty excited about, including new clean and beautiful charts. Easier to find marina listings. New cruises. And our usual hundreds and hundreds of updates. But don't worry, the Guide to Cruising Chesapeake Bay will still be what it always has been: the most complete, accurate and practical-yet-lyrical guide to all of the Bay, from Port Deposit on the Susquehanna to Rudee Inlet on the Atlantic.

So here's your invitation to make a contribution. Send me an email at jody@ChesapeakeBoating.net or hit the Reply button below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask those too.

Meanwhile, keep warm and dream of spring.

Jody Argo Schroath

Temporary closures in December

Still planning a trip south? Both the Norfolk Southern Railway bridge over the Elizabeth River's East Branch and the Dismal Swamp Canal Bridge in South Mills, N.C., will be closed entirely for several days in December. For the schedule of both closings and the other Notices to Chesapeake Mariners, go to the Chesapeake Bay Magazine's Notices to Chesapeake Mariners webpage here.

Notice to Mariner Updates

MD Chesapeake Bay

Radar Sensing Operations near Solomons

Mariners are advised that a series of on-water radar sensing operations are scheduled to occur in the Chesapeake Bay on September 19-21 and September 26-28. The dynamic tests will occur in an area south of Solomons, MD and will involve using surface vessels (a moving platform and moving targets) to test an automated detection and reaction system. The target vessels used in the test may be small, low-profile watercraft. Operations will be based out of Solomons. Interested mariners can hail on scene vessels on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16. Questions or concerns may be directed to WatchStander, LLC at telephone (703) 742-0310, or U. S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore at (410) 576-2693.

VA Elizabeth River, Southern Branch

Closure of Gilmerton Bridge Postponed

The early September closure of the Gilmerton Bridge on the Elizabeth River has been postponed until further notice, according to the Captain of Port Hampton Roads. The closure, which had already been postponed once, was to place the lift span on the new bridge. If you are planning a trip south, check with www.gilmertonbridge.org for the latest news. It is quite likely that the closure will indeed take place later this month.

Gilmerton Bridge Closure

VA – ELIZABETH RIVER – SOUTHERN BRANCH – GILMERTON BRIDGE - SAFETY ZONE

The Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads is establishing a Safety Zone while the new center span for the Gilmerton Bascule Bridge are being transported and put into place. The announced dates for this transit are now from September 5 at 6 a.m. until September 9. The alternate weather dates are September 10-14. The Safety Zone will encompass the transportation of the bridge’s new center span from the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River at the Campostella Bridge to the Gilmerton Bridge site on the Southern Branch. The Safety Zone is all waters within 200 feet either side of the Gilmerton Bridge. Concerned traffic are requested to avoid the transiting area and may contact the bridge on VHF-FM channel 13. Chart: 12253.

 Ed’s note: This closing date was originally set for August, but was changed because of construction delays. So these dates may well change again. We’ll let you know as soon as we know.

Low (48-feet) Fixed Bridge Proposed to replace Dover Swing Bridge

The Maryland State Highway Administration is proposing to build a new fixed bridge on MD 331 to replace the historic Dover Swing Bridge. The swing bridge will remain in place in the open position, at least until the state has decided its fate under the historic structures act.

The problem as I see is that the proposed replacement bridge will have a vertical clearance of only 48 feet MHW. This will make it two feet lower than the fixed 50-foot bridge across the Choptank River at Cambridge. This bridge already excludes a great many sailboats, whose rigs exceed 50 feet. The 48-feet clearance of the new Dover bridge will then exclude many that can just clear 50 feet.

 The proposal is open to comment until September 20. I plan to write asking that the bridge have at least a 50-foot clearance instead. It would seem to make sense and would keep the beautiful upper Choptank open to at least to the same sailboats that can clear the first bridge.

If you'd like to comment on the proposal too, the address is: Commander (dpw), Fifth Coast Guard District, 439 Crawford Street, Room 100, Portsmouth VA 23704-5004. Attn: CWO Mike Davis

Please feel free to comment here as well.

For the complete text of the Coast Guard notice, see the CBM Notices to Chesapeake Mariners page here.

—Jody Argo Schroath, Cruise Guide Editor

 

Sarles Boatyard in Annapolis changes hands

Look for changes soon to the century-old Sarles Boatyard on Spa Creek in the Annapolis. Just what those changes will be, however, is merely a matter of conjecture at this point. According to an August 11 story in the Capital newspaper, the venerable Eastport marina recently was purchased by Bret Anderson, president of Pyramid Builders. According to the Capital, Anderson is also in negotiation to purchase Petrini Shipyard, next door to Sarles. Read the full Capital story here.