Chesapeake Appreciation Days

Chesapeake Appreciation Days, formerly held at the end of October, was a special event for the Alberg 30s who were involved from the very beginning. At that time, they represented the modern racing sailboat in contrast to the skipjacks, who were still a fleet of actively working oyster dredgers.

Things change. Chesapeake Appreciation Days is no more. The Alberg 30s are considered "classic" boats. And the skipjack fleet has fallen on hard times. With the dwindling supply of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, few could afford to maintain the boats, much less earn a living. Today, there are only a handful that dredge oysters under sail.

This was an event that brought everyone out for a race. It was exciting to sail amongst the skipjacks.

Cruising the Chesapeake: A Gunkholer's Guide 4th Edition My favorite Chesapeake Bay guidebook. While it mentions marinas, it concentrates on anchorages—the kind of places I prefer to spend my time. And in addition to listing shore facilities, it rates each location for Beauty/Interest and Protection. This is the guide you need to really cruise the Chesapeake Bay—a smorgasbord of small creeks and coves. (Note: commissions earned from this link help defray the costs of this website)

• Video (on YouTube)
• Annual Dinner 2003, 2010
• February Seminars
• Spring Rendezvous
• Whitbread 98
• Black Tie Party
• Commodore's Champagne party
• Orioles Cruise 2002
• Queenstown race
• Canadian-American Team Races 1993-1998, 2002, 2004, 2015 2022
• Wild Goose Chase 1994-1997, 2001, 2002
• CA Days
• Oystering under sail
• Hurricane Isabel
• contributed photos