Tall ships entering the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay had a choice of several channels to follow:  one to the west, and another proceeding northward on up the Bay known as the Chesapeake Channel which becomes the York Spit Channel just off the Eastern Shore.  The skipper sailing the northward channel would find the first harbor to the east of their position as that of Cape Charles.  One can only imagine what the Old Plantation Flats and Cherrystone Channels must have looked like with these majestic tall ships swinging to their anchor.

Appledore V: appearing in Cape Charles June 8-12

Today, Cape Charles is a destination not only of choice but also convenience for sailors and ships of all descriptions.  Our deep water harbor is a mid-Atlantic haven at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.  Whether headed north up the Chespeake, or south into the Atlantic or  the intra-coastal waterway, mariners appreciate the opportunity to tie up and rest and  reprovision at Cape Charles, the  Harbor to Hospitality for Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

As an official affiliate port for Opsail 2012 Virginia™, Cape Charles joins in a regional celebration June 8-12 commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.   This historic event is managed and organized under the auspices of Eastern Shore Virginia Festivals (ESVAF, Inc.), a non profit organization promoting the Eastern Shore as a destination for visitors.

Modern US Navy Patrol Craft

This colorful pageant will feature the tall ships Sultana, Lynx and Appledore V, complete with crews of costumed re-enactors,  offering day sails and free deck tours to visitors or all ages.  In addition, the USS Zephyr (PC-8) will be on display, honoring the role of the Navy from the War of 1812 to modern day.