Matapeake*

     
FIG. 1A view of sandy launch area at Matapeake                   FIG. 1B view of bay bridge from launch area

Matapeake is located on Kent Island and the launch faces west across the Chesapeake

Directions:  From Baltimore or Washington DC, cross bay bridge on U.S. Rt 50,
 and get off the first exit, exit 37 MD Rt 8.  At the end of the exit ramp,
turn right and head south on MD Rt 8 towards Romancoke.  Travel 2.4 miles
and turn right onto Marine Academy Drive at signs for "Matapeake Beach",
"Matapeake Fishing Pier and "Natural Resources Police".  Travel a few hundred
feet and turn right at sign for "Beech" and "Club House".  Travel another few
hundred feet, and turn left onto Club House Dr.  Drop off gear near
club house and then park outside fence near the antenna tower. 

There is a several hundred feet gear tote down a grassy hill to the sandy beach. 
Upon reaching the beach, to your left is a pier and to the right is the dog beach. 
When bathers are present during the summer, you must launch from the grassy dog beach.

Launch faces WNW across Chesapeake.

Best Wind Directions:  S, SW, W, however NW and N may also work too

FIG. 2 Aerial view of the Matapeake launch area -- pink arrows show driving directions, green arrows show launch

FIG. 3 view of club house for where you drop off your gear

*Starting sometime in 2010, windsurfers may be required to sign an agreement before they
 can use the launch.  The agreement will have a list of rules one must agree to, and if you
are caught violating them, you could be banned.  Currently, as of late 2009,
there is an agreement in effect for kiters, and can be viewed by clicking here. 
It is not clear at this point how the agreement for windsurfers will differ from that of kiters.