Anyone sail the lower Potomac River

NOVA-Cat

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 21, 2008

Last visit: Jun 16, 2010

Posts: 6
Posted: Jun 03, 2008 - 01:06 AM

My wife and I are proud owners of a new (to us) Hobie 16. We are looking for good launch sites within 90 minutes of Woodbridge.

Thanks

edited by: NOVA-Cat, Jun 03, 2008 - 09:56 AM
MVD

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 20, 2008

Last visit: May 13, 2012

Posts: 11
Posted: Jun 03, 2008 - 11:37 AM

Nova, check out these two sites: www.potomacsouth.com. & www.campmd.com The first site will lead you to Dan Evans, a fishing guide from St George Island, MD, who sails a Hobie 20. His father owns a campground that the other address will open. The campground is on the beach and looks like a great place to sail. You'll see pictures of some of Evans' old cats there. Hope this helps.
pschaefer

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 10, 2005

Last visit: Dec 18, 2008

Posts: 6
Posted: Aug 11, 2008 - 04:41 PM

Just got back onto the Beachcats site (been a long a filled-with-other-things year) and I'd like to throw my recommendation in for Leesylvania State Park (maybe 15 minutes from your house?). I've sailed two of my three 'cats (H16 & H18) there for the past seven or eight years (mostly during the middle of the week when I can take a day)--cuts down on the powerboat congestion. Because the Occoquan and Potomac come together there, there is a large sailing area with great wind most of the time. The ramp on the left side is my personal favorite and it's not a big deal to get in and out of.

Parks Schaefer
NOVA-Cat

Rank: Lubber

Registered: May 21, 2008

Last visit: Jun 16, 2010

Posts: 6
Posted: Aug 12, 2008 - 02:54 AM

Thanks Parks. I saw it on satellite view I think I thought the marina was the launch site and would be challenging to get out of the mouth of the little bay there. On second glance that place looks really good. We launched from Pohick bay, it was a nice ramp/dock but the water was so dirty I didn't want to step in it.
pschaefer

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Aug 10, 2005

Last visit: Dec 18, 2008

Posts: 6
Posted: Aug 12, 2008 - 09:01 AM

NOVA,

I agree re Pohick Bay--been there, done that, have the T-shirt & won't go back. I've never had trouble getting out at Leesylvania (unless you count the time I forgot to install the hull plugs--we were decks awash by the time we passed the breakwater). Got back OK--was redfaced, but if you haven't done that yet, you probably will, it's not really that uncommon. The only thing that I've found to be careful of at LSP is ensuring that you turn North (up river). The current is sufficient that if the wind dies and you are downriver of the marina it could be a tough pull back.

parks