Janes Island Flottila

Janes' marsh canal.

The afternoon light on the Bay late Fall can be spectacular. Those foggy mornings can be serene.

marina's misty morning.

My youngest boy and I got the opportunity earlier this week to day sail with some new friends and their boats at Janes Island State Park. A nice campground with hundreds of sites had maybe 5 visitors. We pitched tents on the edge of the canal and kept the boats in the small marina where slips were $3 a night per boat. What a deal! Both mornings began early with the half dozen or so watermen rumbling by in their deadrise skiffs before a rooster could crow.

Here are our cohorts:

Peter's "Nip".

"Nip" is an Oughtred Caledonia Yawl, "Una's" grandaddy.

Mike's "Jack-a-Roo"

"Jack" is a Joel White Haven 12 1/2.

Kevin's "Little T".

Kevin built his Marsh Cat. Very nice.

Winds were generally light and variable the first day and part of the second, but steady winds came through the afternoon of the second. We had a good reach across the town of Crisfield, MD and beat up the harbor entry to sail in the largely deserted basin. Like many Eastern Shore towns this one has seen better times. Hopefully they will return. Monstrous condos at the entrance doesn't improve the charm of the town at all. Sadly, it is hard to keep such attraction secret. One has to question how well these outsiders are received and vice versa. It certainly is a clash of cultures. However, there is still much to recommend the "Crab Capital of the World" and that is mostly its location. Hard to beat.

Architecture. 

A beautiful workboat.

A valiant fight against eroding tides.