Navigating Jackson Creek

To get to and from the sailing area at the mouth of the Piankatank River at the Chesapeake Bay, Optimists and power boats will need to navigate the Jackson Creek channel. This unique channel is navigated daily by boats ranging from 10-75+ feet with drafts up to 9 feet. This includes single-screw commercial fishing boats who need to maintain forward movement (especially in a cross wind) and cannot be expected to maneuver effectively around tacking or towed Optimists in the channel.

Due to the narrowness of the channel is recommended that all Optimists will be towed out of the channel. Those choosing to sail out would be advised to raise their blades and wade across the sandbar at the mouth of the creek rather than go out of their way to use the channel.

Coming from the bay, the dog leg channel is well off the center line of the creek, catching many unsuspecting boaters by surprise. At low tide one can walk 80% of the way across the mouth of the creek and in fact on sunny days this is a popular anchoring and swimming spot with ankle-deep water at low tide.

Take a look at the diagrams included in this article and pay particular attention to the location of the deep water channel. Stay within the markers and don’t hug the green markers with a deeper draft boat. The bottom is entirely sand so if you do find the bottom, it’s unlikely you’ll bruise anything more than an ego. And don’t be discouraged, our sailors who have been navigating that channel for decades still manage to bump bottom every once in a while.

Click here for a nautical chart of the launch and sailing areas.