Reviews from Simon Rycroft (24)

Free Dock Review for High Street Landing

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 3

Not the prettiest area. Naval ships across the way are interesting. BEWARE high tide covers dock planking which is deadly slippery...I put on quite the spectacle falling down and then battling to stand back up due to how slick it is. Pay attention to fenders as there is quite a tidal variance and some wake activity in addition to that supplied by the ferry which also docks here. There was constant bad music being played over the weekend from across the dock. We were also lucky enough to have an evangelistic person with speaker and microphone in competition with it for a number of hours. Some good restaurants within walking distance. We went to Guads Mexican restaurant, which was excellent and authentic! We also visited the German Bier garden which was also not disappointing. We stayed four nights due to needing some engine work done, which worked out well for marine mechanic access. There are some interesting naval museums and sites scattered about close by along with coast guard offices.

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Anchorage Review for Deep Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 17, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Love this anchorage. Long narrow channel opens up into a spacious well protected area between 12 and 7 feet deep. There are three small privately owned marinas/yacht club and one public marina. Great holding. We only frequented Deep Creek Landing, which was clean with friendly service and reasonable diesel prices. They allowed us to day dock our tender for two days for $20....you may be able to use the public dock area for free, but frankly it looks sketchy. Every type of shopping and restaurant is available by bike or scooter within 4 miles including Costco and Walmart. We have electric scooters and everything was easily accessible. The creek is host to a fleet of oyster fishermen. All were courteous and no wake activity was noticed. Very nice little creek to spend some time in.

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Anchorage Review for Hampton River - North of Bridge

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Situated just after the bridge. As you come out from under the bridge there is a dinghy dock on your left with anchorage on right off center. Watch out for crab pots. Anchor holding is good and the anchorage is well protected from wind. Big ugly barge thing present when we were there giving the anchorage an industrial feeling, but the sides are lined by 60% townhouse buildings, with the balance made up of vegetation, bridge and commercial. Looks like some waterfront dining would be accessible from dinghy dock. Not sure of shopping as we did not. Couple of wave runners and small boats noticed. Not a bad place to spend a night.

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Marina Review for Riverwalk Landing Piers

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 5

Absolutely great! Ryan was awesome. Made sure we were settled in fine. River cruise was also in. Docks were clean and well cared for. We ate at the pub and river walk restaurant. Both were great. Sunday was farmers market and autumn festival with all things to buy including fresh seafood. Trolley takes you free of charge to museums and Yorktown battlefield. We love Yorktown!

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Anchorage Review for York River - Sarah Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Sarah Creek has to be one of my favorites. Very pretty combination of houses and vegetation with miles of little fingers to explore in the tender. Very well sheltered, good holding with enough room for a few boats. Marina is short tender ride to restaurant or fuel, water, etc. shopping is unrated we did not attempt any.

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Anchorage Review for Scotland

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 14, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

We moved here from Jamestown anchorage to escape 36knt SW winds. Tucked in on the downriver side from ferry dock. Two ferry boats run 24/7 with ferry Pocahontas putting out a massive wake. If you enjoy ocean swell, you will love this. Possible to beach tender ashore. There are a few houses. Holding was very good. That said, wind switched over night to NW which with a low outgoing tide made life uncomfortable with beam chop, so we moved to the only sheltered section we could find at the east end of the Jamestown island. Very good holding, calm, scenic and serene...just not a waterways anchorage, so can't leave a review. It would be a good one!

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Anchorage Review for Urbanna Harbor

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very nice little town anchorage. Friendly people, great little dinghy dock at the Urbanna town Marina. Reasonable diesel price. Good holding in a pretty and protected anchorage. Little boat traffic. Grocery store is a walk or scooter ride from dinghy dock. There are several restaurants (although not open on Monday, apparently) and historical buildings. Great little stop!

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Anchorage Review for Deltaville - Broad Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 9, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Protected calm anchorage. Good holding. Not much other than boat yards and a few houses to look at. Some respectful boat traffic. No restaurants or easy shore access. More of a working boat yard vibe. No bugs although we picked up a bunch of mosquitoes and others on the way down from St Mary's. The Chesapeake was mirror lake on the trip down.

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Anchorage Review for Little Choptank River - Hudson Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 2, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very scenic bay. We tucked up from wind in 8 feet of water about 3/4 of the way up between channel markers 2 and 3 under a spit of land. Land is low so wind is a factor, but honestly, it was not, even though gusting in excess of twenty. Caught a few small fish in keeping with most anchorages, but fun anyway. Only a few houses visible. We did get hit by a couple of wakes, but that is boat life.

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Anchorage Review for Oxford - Town Creek Channel

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Located directly off entrance channel. Great holding and wind protection. Although off main Chanel, no significant wake issues had. Fishermen leave around 5.00am, but very little wake noticed. Dinghy dock is a short ride and will land you near old town central. Watch out for green grunge deposits from the dock on the tender sides. Town is quaint and lovely. Do not leave without a tub of berry sorbet from the Scottish Highland Creamery. Their ice cream is awesome! The library had a book sale going on when we there which was nice to browse with a cup of coffee and their chocolate chip cookies!

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Anchorage Review for Choptank River - La Trappe Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very protected within horse shoe type bay. Sand spit protects from wakes. Great holding. One farm house, otherwise some fields and wooded vegetation. No other boats when we were there. Occasional small craft fishing vessels buzzing around, but no Wake activity noted. Lovely scenic spot with a resident bald eagle thrown in. If it isn't rated, there is none...we don't have a pet...

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Anchorage Review for Sawmill Cove- La Trappe Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Oct 1, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very protected. So much so we moved to La Trappe creek locate at the mouth of the creek for more breeze. Wake is not rated as the anchorage is exposed to boat traffic, but there was very little with only and occasional small craft. Mostly trees and vegetation surrounding with a couple of houses. Some fly activity, but not too bad. Certainly a very scenic and quiet spot.

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Anchorage Review for Canton

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Good holding, but be prepared for filthy black mud anchor on retrieval topped with plastic bags of all nature. Great location for short tender ride to public dinghy dock. Dock is in rough shape tender fenders or chaps recommended. Had a nice school of rockfish come through here and caught and returned numerous. Only one size one landed. Safeway is across street from public dock so easy shopping!

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Anchorage Review for Fells Point Waterfront Promenade

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very protected. Black mud with LOTS of plastic. We also pulled up a tree with our anchor. Anchorage is a marina entry way, so boats expected. Tender ride to restaurant and long tender ride to public dinghy dock. Safeway is close to public dinghy dock. Other anchorage is much closer and preferred for shore access and shopping.

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Anchorage Review for Severn River - Weems Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very pretty creek. Some bug activity, but nothing bad. Scenic trees with a sprinkling of houses embedded in them. No public shore access noticed.

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Anchorage Review for Miles River - St. Michaels

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Not as protected as the inner harbor. Boat wakes are expected. Longer tender ride dinghy dock access to restaurants, shopping and maritime museum, but all totally doable.

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Anchorage Review for St. Michaels Harbor - Parrott Point

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Small anchorage good for a few boats. Well protected except from northerly winds. Situated Off main channel so some wake activity received. Short tender ride to restaurants, shopping and maritime museum. Recommend Lemon Chello restaurant for dinner if you are tired of the crab...

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Anchorage Review for Swan Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Nice spot. Few boats. Well protected. Did not attempt to go to shore. Looked like there was access a shortish tender ride away.

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Anchorage Review for Mill Creek 2 - Solomons

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Nice place to stop. Easy tender ride to restaurants. Anchorage is off main channel thoroughfare so wakes are received with few boaters being "that person". Serious shopping would require a car ride.

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Marina Review for Washington Channel Moorings

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Rating: 4

Great access to restaurants and fish market. Also great access for walking around the park by the Jefferson memorial. Boat traffic a plenty with almost as many helicopters flying directly over moorings.

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Anchorage Review for Aquia Creek - Watsons Point

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Dog leg entry to anchorage with lots of crab pots. Caught some nice size catfish on left overs...sparsely populated with a few houses and lots of greenery makes a pretty spot. No shore access or shopping. There is a small boat marina further up, but to shallow for us...fishermen in small craft to whizz by make some wake activity.

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Anchorage Review for Popes Creek

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Pretty unprotected with lots of crab pots. There is a restaurant on the shore, but nothing else. We stopped here one night in transit. It served its purpose, but certainly not a destination anchorage.

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Anchorage Review for Horseshoe Bend - St. Marys River

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Very scenic spot...did not see shops or look for them...little activity. That said college was not in session! The Maryland Dove (replica 1633 sailing vessel) makes a lovely addition to the skyline.

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Anchorage Review for Stony Creek - Back Cove

Reviewed by: Simon Rycroft on Sep 8, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.7'

Anchorage served well to pick up wife from the Broken Oar restaurant at Nabbs Marina when she flew into BWI. 15-20 minute Uber ride. Holding not really tested as little wind. Did take two drops to get the anchor set. Very pretty area of mixed houses and trees. No public dinghy dock. Less than a nautical mile to Nabbs Marina with Broken Oar restaurant. Did not eat at restaurant, but it looked jovial with live music.

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