2025 SCOO Chesapeake Bay Cruise
Join fellow SCOO members for an adventure cruising the vast and diverse Chesapeake Bay. We depart Monday, May 12, weather permitting. We will take five days to reach Hampton, VA, via the Virginia Cut of the ICW, with stops at Dowry Creek Marina, Southern Alligator River (anchorage), Coinjock Marina, and Atlantic Yacht Basin, arriving at Hampton on Friday, May 16. A survey about your marina preferences will be sent to registered boats so we can give the marinas advance notice. Reservations will be the responsibility of each boat.
After arriving at Hampton, boats are welcome to set their own courses for exploring the Bay. Some may wish to buddy up with other boats or set out on their own. We will organize a welcoming social in Hampton to discuss options. There are unlimited harbors and anchorages to explore up and down the Bay. The cruise is described as ending on June 6, but each boat will determine its own itinerary. There will be no organized return.
Guidance and information about the Chesapeake Bay were provided at a meeting on March 22. If you were unable to attend, contact Carl Crothers, carlcrothers52@gmail.com for a copy of the presentation. Carl is also available to answer questions, 336-408-4993.
Get your boats ready and join other SCOO members making their way south over several days on the ICW to Southport, NC. The cruise co-captains for this trip are Rick and Sue Fears and Tom and Carole Brown.
For those that sign up for this southern cruise, we reserved town hall for a pre-cruise meeting to discuss marina reservations and more detailed cruise plans on:
Monday, June 2, 2025
10 AM - Noon
This area of the ICW hugs the coast, so there are strong currents and sand shoaling, but also beautiful water and scenery. Come prepared for beautiful scenery, wildlife, history, shopping, dining, and happy hours!
We plan to leave Oriental on Wednesday, June 11, and cruise down Adams Creek and stay at a marina in Beaufort. In Beaufort we can explore the shops and many fine restaurants available for dinner. From Beaufort, we will cruise the ICW through Bogue Sound to a marina or anchorage in Swansboro. Swansboro is a very walkable town with more shops and restaurants to explore. Following Swansboro, the flotilla will continue south past Camp LeJeune to an anchorage near Topsail Beach or Wrightsville Beach. From the anchorage, the flotilla will continue south passing Carolina Beach, through Snows Cut, and into the Cape Fear River leading us to one of the marinas in the Southport area. We will plan to stay at the marinas in Southport area for three nights. The Southport area is walkable and bikeable with 2 ferry trip options, depending on places you would like to explore. Below are some links you can check out information and excursion options in the Southport area:
For the return trip, we head to an anchorage the Wrightsville Beach area and explore the beach and restaurants by dinghy. From Wrightsville Beach we will continue north to Mile Hammock Bay, a quiet anchorage (until a bunch of SCOO boats arrive) that is adjacent to USMC Camp Lejeune. We ’ll anchor and raft up for a potluck group dinner. In Mile Hammock Bay, ICW cruisers have observed various Marine water training occurring in this bay. From Mile Hammock Bay the adventure will take us north back to a marina in Swansboro for the evening. As we continue north, we will plan to stay a night in either Moorehead City or Beaufort. Our final day of the journey will head back through the Adams Creek to the Neuse River and to our home ports.
We anticipate about 11 days, plus or minus a few days, depending on weather and destinations. Plan on bringing your bikes with you if you have one. More details to come as we plan for each stop. We hope you can join us!
Best Regards,
Rick & Sue Fears “S/V Miss Adventure” Tom & Carole Brown “M/V Key 2 Cay” Southport Cruise Co-Captains
SCOO 2025 OCRACOKE CRUISE
Monday/June 23 to Thursday/June 26
Come sail with us to the quaint village of Ocracoke... where peace and quiet, beach walks, and folk music reigns.
Planned activities:
Mon 6/23 Arrive at Ocracoke. Meet and greet/happy hour will be at the National Park Service (NPS) picnic area; bring an appetizer, plates, utensils, and chairs (if you don’t want to sit on the picnic benches). Note: alcohol is not permitted in the picnic area, please be discreet.
Tu 6/24 9:00-10:00am BYO coffee/tea and come over to Sea Scamper for Bagels+ by Rock and Diane. Sea Scamper (30 ft Mainship w/green bimini) will be at Anchorage Marina.
1:00pm leave the NPS dingy dock and dinghy out past Springers Point for a clam dig, weather permitting. Low tide will be at 1:53pm. That
evening we will have a potluck at the NPS picnic area and steam our clams! Bring a dish to share and beverage.
Wed 6/25 We have several options this day. One option is a bike ride around town, or a longer ride on Hwy. 12 to see the Ocracoke Banker ponies; we will discuss options Tuesday evening. Another option is to walk, ride a golf cart, or catch the shuttle to Howard’s Pub and walk 0.5 mi to the excellent beach at the airport. Both groups will get together at 1718 Brewing (next to Howard’s Pub) for lunch afterwards.
That evening we will have a group dinner at Dajio’s and those who are interested can walk to the Deepwater Theater for a performance
of the Okrafolk Opry at 8pm. Please make your own Opry reservations at https://www.ocracokealive.org/deepwater-theater.html
Th. 6/26 Depart for home
Dockage Options
• Anchorage Inn & Marina is the only private marina in Ocracoke; they have water, electric, showers, and a swimming pool. They also have a hotel for those interested in staying ashore. Slips are $3.50/ft per night. At this time, they have only two side tie-ups available. If you want to use this option, please call the marina at (252)928-6661 ASAP to reserve a spot.
• The National Park Service docks (first come/first served) with water, electric, and restrooms (but no showers). There are about eight spots available with working electric. Fees are approximately $1.50/ft per night and are paid via the recreation.gov app; ask Brad May (408)761-3892 for more info.
• Ocracoke Foundation has docks behind the Community Square with electric and restrooms but no showers. Some of these may be available. I think the slips are $1.50/ft per night. Let me know if you are interested in this option and I will forward a boat count to the foundation.
• Anchoring in Silver Lake Harbor is another option but requires dinghying to and from shore. There are dinghy docks at the National Park and the Community Square.
Co-captains Brad, Ronnie, Rock, and Diane are staying at Anchorage Marina. We cannot use the gazebo at the end of the dock this year, so all our activities will be at the NPS picnic area.
There is a free shuttle tram that runs every 20 minutes, 10:30am to 8pm. The loop has 10 stops and takes 30 minutes. Howard’s Pub (Wednesday beach trip) is Stop 6. It also stops at the Park Service, Community Square, the lighthouse, and other stops if you want to go shopping.
Bicycles are available for rent at Anchorage Inn Marina. $5/hour, $20/24 hours.
4- and 6-person golf carts are available to rent. Four person carts are $80/day ($65 each additional day). If you want a cart, I’d advise calling (252)928-0090 8am-7pm before you go to reserve a cart. More details to follow.
Cruise Captains: Brad May (408)761-3892 and Ronnie McKay (828)400-1170
Co-Captains: Rock Rockwell (802)318-7493 & Diane Lemieux (802)318-7493
Copyright 2020 - Sailing Club of Oriental, P.O. Box 525, Oriental, NC 28571
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