Rounding Love Point on the Chesapeake Bay

[WeekendSailor]

Hello all,

I am hoping there are a few Chesapeake Bay Sailors who are familiar with navigating around Love Point reading Cruisers Forum this weekend. On the chart it looks so easy to leave the Chester River and tack for Baltimore Light, turn at the Flashing Marker but what I encountered was; a Range Marker, a Fish Haven, a pile of rocks and marker with a white triangle on top.

I sailed just south of the Fish Haven and north of the Range Marker but was a concerned about the 7 foot depth on the chart - but I made it.

Suggestions for passing through the next time with a 6 foot draft greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Weekend Sailor

[ranger58sb]

The chart says you can pass between the oc 51' and the fl 35' lights, in the NNW direction toward the fl 18' light.

We almost never do that, and we draw only 3½' compared to yours; we always round the fl 35' light first before heading westerly or southwesterly.

-Chris

[WeekendSailor]

Thank you Ranger 42.

Yesterday I must have been confused as I can clearly see the lights you are referring to on my MapTech Navigator Lite chart at home today.

The route you usually take is the way I went, it just seemed strange at the time The fish Haven was south of a marker which must have been the 18 foot light.

Best regards

WeekendSailor

[ranger58sb]

??

The fish haven I see charted is due NORTH of the Fl 18' light. It's due west of the R2, marking an entry into the Chester, ESE from a priv flashing yellow A marker, SE from a green 1UC light that marks the south end (west side) of a channel that runs in the general direction of Rock Hall (at that point), and sorta SSE from the R4 that marks the turning point of the Swan Point Channel.

Perhaps the range you were seeing is the "Swan Point South Range" which cuts across the SW corner of the fish haven and then runs further south to the Oc 51' light?

Anyway, like I said, we can go through the charted 7-9' depths between the 51' and the 35' lights... but we don't. Doesn't take us long to round the 35' light, with depths more like 29-30' east of the light and then down to 13-14' on the north side of the light...

-Chris

[WeekendSailor]

Chris,

In the future I will sure that I am rounding the 35' light.

Thanks,

Weekend Sailor