Holts Landing Launch  (Indian River bay, Delaware)
Used on an East wind and perhaps a NE wind when Dewey Beach is less than optimum

  
FIG. 1A Indian River Bay from the Holts Landing Launch, FIG. 1B Ariel view of Holts
Landing Launch area
(to view a land photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key
while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the
photo and then select "View Image")

Directions:  From Dewey Beach, take De Rt 1 South 10 miles and turn right onto DE Rt 26
West in Bethany Beach. From Ocean City, MD, take the Coastal Highway North into
Delaware (becomes Rt 1 North).  Make a left hand turn onto Rt 26 West in Bethany
 Beach.  Once on Rt 26 West, travel 4.8 miles and take a right hand turn onto Irons
Lane at the Hudson General Store.  Travel 1 mile north on Irons Lane to a stop sign
and turn right onto Holts Landing Road.  After 0.9 miles on Holts Landing road, make
a left hand turn to remain on Holts Landing Road. Travel 1.3 more miles on Holts
Landing Road to toll booth at the entrance of the park.  Pay the fee ($6 for non DE
residents, $3 for DE residents), and drive to a T intersection.  Make a right hand
turn at the T intersection and travel to end at parking lot and boat ramp.

Fees:  $6 for out of state residents, $3 for Delaware residents for a day.  Annual passes
 are available for everyone.  This launch is outside the Delaware Seashore State Park

Best Wind Directions:  Launch faces North.  So any wind direction absent a South in it
is best.  Since Dewey beach is near by, Holts landing is generally used when the wind
is out of the East or NE. 

In a Nutshell: Local advanced sailors like to sail at Lewes for NE winds and sometimes
on N and NW, go to Holts landing on E winds, go to Dewey Beach Oceanside for S and
SE winds, to Assateague oceanside for S and SW winds, and to Dewey beach bayside
 for all other wind directions.

Amenities:  Restrooms.

Comments:  You can rig on the pavement of the parking lot or on the grass near by. 
Beach is very cramped and tiny.  Except for the tiny beach launch, the entire shoreline
is lined with large rocks to prevent erosion.  Thus, the launch area is very limited. 

FIG. 2 View of the tiny windsurf launch from a floating dock
(to view a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key
while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click
 on the photo and then select "View Image")

Holts Landing has been a popular launch among windsurfers for years or even
decades.  Despite being tiny, it offers a wide expanse of water that works best on
East winds and well on NE winds when Dewey beach is not at its optimum.  However,
 due to its cramped launch and no area in the water to stand up in, the site is best
 for windsurfers who are proficient in water starting. 

Launch offers little privacy as cars and large SUV's are continually driving to the
 launch, taking a look, turning around and leaving, and thus you are continually
on display.  Also, the launch is next to a boat ramp as large pickup trucks are
constantly launching and retrieving their motor boats and jet skis.

FIG. 3 View of the Parking Lot @ the Holts Landing Launch

Just to the east of the launch is Tuckahoe Acres, a development with a beach
where it is possible to rest while standing up, but the land is private property.