The Chester River
08 October 2007 | Chesterton, Md.
Jim Lea
Yesterday (Sunday) we left Annapolis about 10:00 am with about 30 others heading out, and met an equal number coming in to take our place. But what was most interesting were the fleets of one design heading out for racing. We saw fleets both new and old, and it was fascinating to watch. We saw lots of Lasers, LaserII's, 420's, Thistles, Flying Scotts and even a fleet of Snipes, the boat I learned to sail on. There was a large fleet of Etchell's, but they were not racing, and all ashore. In all I would estimate that there were over 100 small boats racing, while another 30-50 larger boats in the handicap fleet were on another course. But we sailed to the north-west away from them and up the Chester River. We had planned only to sail as far as the town of Queenston, but reading the cruising guides, we read that the tide, which was coming in as we headed up, could run up to 5 knots at peak, so we decided to take advantage of it and run all the way up to Chesterton. The tide surprised us, as my calculation was for only 1/2 knot, but up we went. Turns out my calculation was right for must of the river, so we didn't get the great big boost we expected, and it consequently took us much longer to get here than we thought (with the strong current). The only place the current seems to be much above 1/2 knot is right at the town where a bridge narrows the river, much like the bridge in Charlottetown across the Hillsborough River creates a strong current for a short distance above and below it. So we anchored about a mile below the town and dinghied in for a short walk. It is a beautiful old town, a large version of Victoria PEI, with the main street lined with heritage buildings dating back to its glory days (some time a couple of hundred years ago). It was important enough to attract the British' attention and they sailed up the river to burn it, but were driven off, so it survived. But that seems to have been about the end of its shining moment, and it slid into genteel decay after until its recent restoration. So today we'll go back ashore to visit again, and hopefully find a laundromat (greatly needed) and a grocery store (even more greatly needed). Then we will work our way back down the river to Queenston tomorrow. The weather continues to be amazing with yesterday sunny and in the 80's and forecast to continue into the week.