Annapolis Landing Marina, Annapolis, Maryland

Serafina
Rob & Sarah Bell
Fri 21 Sep 2012 02:05

38:58.01N 76:28.68W

 

 

Thursday 20th September

 

Bit of a slow start today as there was no rush to get into Annapolis where we had a marina berth booked. Before you all begin to think that we have gone soft, we are meeting up with Rob Pennington from North Sails who is going to measure up our existing spray dodger (the canopy above the fixed screen) and make us a new one before we fly home on 16th Oct. He is coming along on Friday morning and so we need to be in a proper berth for him to have full access, hence a marina berth.

 

Very impressed with the local fishermen/crabmen who were all very considerate to us and crept past us this morning as they crossed the bay on low throttle to avoid too much wake. At 1130 hours I again bent to the messy task of raising the anchor (the Chesapeake mud is very glutinous and smelly, but since it was so shallow here, at least I did not have to wash down too much of the chain) and in due course we set off under motor (again) on the 3 mile trip across the River Severn and up to Annapolis Landing Marina.

 

Here we were met by the very affable Dan who presented us with the rather posh fixed lines that clearly belong to the usual owner of this berth. Dan was very keen to point out in explanation that we were in the berth used by the owner of the entire marina complex, who was off cruising at the moment. Once we were all sorted out I went along to the office and Dan introduced me to the Dockmaster, Jim Stewart. They explained where everything was and all the arrangements and when I asked about getting to the nearest chandleries which it transpired were not very close, they told me I could just take the ‘van’ whenever I wanted.

 

Sarah was keen to get off into Annapolis Town and knew, from when we came here on ancient bicycles back in June, that the easiest way into town was by water taxi, so she headed off to hail one. Sadly they will not divert to this marina unless there are a minimum of three passengers wanting the ride, so Jim stepped in to save the day by telling Sarah that since the ‘van’ was being used, she could just take his girlfriend’s car instead! So Sarah fetched me and I drove her into the town in the Chevvy Tracker 4 x 4 before heading off to the chandleries, where amongst other things I was able to get Sarah’s Dubarry sailing boots exchanged for a slightly larger size (long, long story that might finally now be concluded after 3 months). We met up again as planned and returned the Chevvy unscathed to the parking lot.

 

But I now discovered that I had bought the wrong strength of potable anti-freeze for the water-maker and needed to exchange my purchases, so this time Jim and Dan threw me the keys to the ‘van’ which turned out to be a smart Dodge MPV with an interesting American column gear shift and foot hand brake…. Still all went well, although the directions I was given to an Autoparts store to get some other bits as well, turned out to be a good deal further than the chap giving directions had indicated – a common fault we have discovered here and I was away rather longer than planned!

 

Excellent showers and toilets here and overall we would recommend this marina if you have a need to use one in Annapolis – but like most things out here, it doesn’t come cheap.