Bulletin Board

Rafting Up Done Right

Rafting up — tying two or more boats together at anchor — is a Chesapeake summer tradition. Done well, it's the best way to spend a Saturday on the water. Done poorly, it damages hulls, drags anchors, and turns friends into former friends. A few basics go a long way.

The Longest Day on the Bay

Today is the summer solstice — the longest day of the year on the Chesapeake, with roughly 14 hours and 55 minutes of daylight in the Annapolis area. It's an ideal day to squeeze in a long cruise, an extended sail, or an unhurried anchor-and-swim afternoon.

Sea Nettles Are Back

The Chesapeake's summer jellyfish are back. Sea nettles typically show up in the middle Bay by mid-June and stick around through September. Warmer, saltier water triggers the bloom, so the lower tributaries and open Bay usually see them first, with numbers climbing through the summer.

Spa Creek by Dinghy

One of the most rewarding short cruises from Liberty is the run up to Annapolis Harbor — about an hour from the South River for most boats. Anchor outside the mooring field or grab a transient mooring through the city, drop the dinghy, and you've got Eastport, downtown Annapolis, and Spa Creek's restaurants all within a short ride.