Piankatank River - Day 2

Finding an anchorage south of Deltaville, Va.

An early departure from the Solomon's provided a pleasant morning on the Chesapeake heading into light southerly winds. Late morning found us still motoring at 8.4 knots with favorable tide across the mouth of the Potomac River. We made the lighthouse at Smith Point in good time and the tidal flow at the south end of the River intersection at the lighthouse is always a bit stronger helping us even more.

We passed Windmill Point on the northern bank of the Rappahannock with freshening winds out of the SE. We skirted Stingray Point where John Smith was stung exactly 400 years ago. We did not see the historical marker.

The Piankatank River forms the southern edge of the middle Virginia neck where Deltaville, a popular stopover, lies. After reading the guidebook, Milford Haven, inside Gwynn Island on the south side of the Piankatank sounded like a well protected area to anchor. We entered through the swing bridge into a very rustic creek with worn down wharfs and crab processing houses. After entering a side creek recommended as a good anchorage, we spun Julep around and just avoided the shallows. After one more potential anchorage also proved uninviting, we called the bridge tender who promptly opened the swing bridge to expel the invaders.

A nice anchorage, Godfrey Bay, further up the River provided good protection from the southern breezes and grand view of the half moon and its accompanying stars.

Data: 7:30 - 16:30. 907 engine hours. 58 km.