According to a map, the Chesapeake Bay looks like a huge ocean inlet.  At over 200 miles long and 30 miles across at its widest point, it’s easy to assume that the water in the Chesapeake would behave a lot like it does in the ocean – uniformly salty water and depths that rise and fall primarily due to the daily fluctuations of the tide.

After we arrived and dropped anchor we launched the dinghy and took our handheld depth sounder to check the depths all around Madrone just to be sure we would have enough water under the keel to stay afloat

In reality, and despite the name, the Chesapeake acts more like a giant estuary than an open bay.  Fed by over 150 rivers and creeks, the water is brackish; it’s saltier in the middle of the bay and fresher towards the edges where the creeks empty in.  And the bay is shallow – the average depth is only 21′ (~6m) and nearly a quarter of the area of the bay is less than 6′ (~2m) deep, which happens to be Madrone’s maximum draft.

6.6 feet at low tide- that should be enough…

After dropping our crew at a marina on the Bohemia River at the north edge of the bay, we checked the weather forecast.  With a strong north wind scheduled to blow for the next several days, we decided to sail south with the first of the wind, and then find a good anchorage to hole up in when the wind built above 30 knots.

The most convenient and best protected anchorage was Worton Creek, a small tributary on Maryland’s eastern shore.  Although a bit shallow, we still had more than a foot (0.3m) of depth under the keel at low tide.  “No problem!” thought the west coast sailors.

Once we were aground and realized we wouldn’t be able to leave until the wind stopped and the water filled back in we decided to do some dinghy exploration

The north wind built overnight, just as forecast, and we quickly learned that the water level in the bay is driven much more strongly by the wind than by the tide.  With a strong blow from the south, the wind blows the surface water into the bay and the water depth can increase by several feet.  And when the wind blows strongly from the north, the surface water is blown out the entrance of the bay.

With not a lot of depth to spare in the first place, Madrone nestled her keel gently into the mud. 

Heading into one of the back creeks of our anchorage

And there we sat.  Without enough water depth to float the boat, we weren’t going anywhere until the wind stopped and the water flowed back into the bay.

But no problem – the anchorage is a beautiful and peaceful spot, Madrone is full of food and drink, and we’re not in a hurry.  So we sat and waited, watching as the depthsounder readings increased inch by inch.

Stretching our legs on shore

Our quick overnight stop in Worton Creek turned into 36 hours, and now we know a lot more about the hydrology of the Chesapeake!