New England – Points of Interest

[Alex F]

I’m planning to visit New England waters (Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Elizabeth Islands, etc.). I’m gathering good info from cruising guides and few websites, but it would be great if I can get some tips from local guys, I know we have several from that neck of the woods.

I’ll be approaching the Vineyard Sound from the Rhode Island Sound with intention to go to MV, followed by Nantucket and then, Elizabeth Islands and Cuttyhunk on return back southbound. Is there anything wrong with such order of ports (navigation wise)? Do you guys suggest do Nantucket->MV-> Elizabeth Islands and Cuttyhunk instead?

We’re big fans of mooring balls and planning to use them in most of the destinations. Should I be concern with mooring at any of the destinations? Any reason I should be booking marina’s instead?

As always your suggestions are appreciated.

 

[wetpaint]

how many days

 

[Ididntdoit]

Newport is great - plenty of moorings and dinghy docks. If the winds are out of the west/south west (prevailing) try for one in brettons cove - out of the north the main mooring field is better. Mystic is nice too try to arrange a mooring north of mystic river marina though (not a ton available - i belive masons island marina has quite a few or try mystic shipyard. You will be closer to town via dinghy and it is far calmer. Edgartown has a great harbormaster and several moorings, there is a website to make reservations as well. Dont sweat what MV port you choose as the busses run everywhere at all times on set routes and the pass is dirt cheap. Cuttyhunk has moorings too, but i think their first come, first served like block. Hadleigh harbor is super nice pick up one of the moorings way in, in front of the red shack. How far north are you planning to go? Once your through the canal, there is a whole other world to talk about.

 

[Alex F]

how many days

I'm planning for 10.

 

[Alex F]

Newport is great - plenty of moorings and dinghy docks. If the winds are out of the west/south west (prevailing) try for one in brettons cove - out of the north the main mooring field is better. Mystic is nice too try to arrange a mooring north of mystic river marina though (not a ton available - i belive masons island marina has quite a few or try mystic shipyard. ....

I'm planning to do Newport and Mystic on a different trip.

.....Edgartown has a great harbormaster and several moorings, there is a website to make reservations as well. Dont sweat what MV port you choose as the busses run everywhere at all times on set routes and the pass is dirt cheap. .....

I guess I'll just have to pick one MV port where most activities are and then take the buss from there to all others? I was thinking Oak Bluffs. Do they have good mooring operation?

....How far north are you planning to go? Once your through the canal, there is a whole other world to talk about.

Please give me a hint. I know that Cape Cod area is very nice, but other than that I don't know much what's out there. However, I think this time around MV will be my furthest northbound port.

 

[cod]

Alex,
I would avoid oak bluffs and go to either Vinyard Haven or Edgertown. For moorings, Edgartown is great. Oak bluffs is like Coney Island. Edgartown is a quaint New England town. We really enjoy Vinyard Haven Marina. Small marina with a long pier. Great staff, walking distance to town, nice island feel.....

 

[wetpaint]

Day 1: Menemsha (pull mooring outside of harbor) (Take bus to Gay Head) (Order lobsters/steamers at Larsons (7:00 pm pick up) for sunset on beach)
Day 2: Vineyard Haven (pull mooring inside breakwater) (fuel up here) (take tender in pond)
Day 3/4: Edgartown (mooring field is beautiful) (take tender to Katama) (take buss to Oak Bluffs) * I dont like Oak Bluffs for moorings. 3 boats to moorings
Day 5/6/7: Nantucket (moorings or boat basin) (take 1 1/2 hour island tour)
Day 7: Lake Tashmoo (mooring)
Day 8: Cuttyhunk
Day 9: Weather
Day 10: Home

 

[Alex F]

Alex,
I would avoid oak bluffs and go to either Vinyard Haven or Edgertown. For moorings, Edgartown is great. Oak bluffs is like Coney Island. Edgartown is a quaint New England town. We really enjoy Vinyard Haven Marina. Small marina with a long pier. Great staff, walking distance to town, nice island feel.....

Got you, Steve. Scratching off OB. Looks like Edgertown is the place to go.

Day 1: Menemsha (pull mooring outside of harbor) (Take bus to Gay Head) (Order lobsters/steamers at Larsons (7:00 pm pick up) for sunset on beach)
Day 2: Vineyard Haven (pull mooring inside breakwater) (fuel up here) (take tender in pond)
Day 3/4: Edgartown (mooring field is beautiful) (take tender to Katama) (take buss to Oak Bluffs) * I dont like Oak Bluffs for moorings. 3 boats to moorings
Day 5/6/7: Nantucket (moorings or boat basin) (take 1 1/2 hour island tour)
Day 7: Lake Tashmoo (mooring)
Day 8: Cuttyhunk
Day 9: Weather
Day 10: Home

Greate itinerary suggestions, John. I will defenately look in to doing most of it.

 

[Ididntdoit]

Please give me a hint. I know that Cape Cod area is very nice, but other than that I don't know much what's out there. However, I think this time around MV will be my furthest northbound port.[/QUOTE]

Plymouth is very nice for the kids, nice harbor with moorings available - the boston harbor islands are fun to explore with plenty of moorings too (go to constitution marinas website) also Boston itself is extremely accessable and boater friendly - I believe there are some moorings but a slip at the aforementioned constitution marina is preferred - this puts you right in the famous north end on the freedom trail. North from there are rockport and glouster these are working harbors and (in the case of rockport) quite compact but the harbormasters are friendly and will find you a spot. Sicuate and Marblehead (south of rockport/glouster) are very nice places to relax but not as much to "do" and VERY sail oriented (not a bad thing IMHO) From there - Maine, I have never been on my own boat but plan to get as far as the Bay of Fundy once I'm done playing in the Bahamas.

 

[HUMPH]

Therre is also a stadium up there and I hear rumors that there may be an important football game today?

 

[Alex F]

Plymouth is very nice for the kids, nice harbor with moorings available - the boston harbor islands are fun to explore with plenty of moorings too (go to constitution marinas website) also Boston itself is extremely accessable and boater friendly - I believe there are some moorings but a slip at the aforementioned constitution marina is preferred - this puts you right in the famous north end on the freedom trail. North from there are rockport and glouster these are working harbors and (in the case of rockport) quite compact but the harbormasters are friendly and will find you a spot. Sicuate and Marblehead (south of rockport/glouster) are very nice places to relax but not as much to "do" and VERY sail oriented (not a bad thing IMHO) From there - Maine, I have never been on my own boat but plan to get as far as the Bay of Fundy once I'm done playing in the Bahamas.

Thanks for great tips, Mike. I guess, I'll have to go back North for the next few years to visit all the ports.

 

[Alex F]

Day 1: Menemsha (pull mooring outside of harbor) (Take bus to Gay Head) (Order lobsters/steamers at Larsons (7:00 pm pick up) for sunset on beach)....

John,

Are you suggesting not to enter the Menemsha harbor and stay on the mooring just outside? I guess the skinny water is an issue. Cruising guide suggests not to enter the channel to the Menemsha Pond due to shoaling.

Is this the place? It looks like the spot is exposed to NE and SE winds.

 

[Four Suns]

Make sure you go through Wood's Hole at max ebb or flow on the tide... your shorts will be bunched up your crack when you get through.

It's sorta like white water rafting with a big boat.

 

[HUMPH]

Make sure you go through Wood's Hole at max ebb or flow on the tide... your shorts will be bunched up your crack when you get through.

It's sorta like white water rafting with a big boat.

Take video, please?

 

[Alex F]

Make sure you go through Wood's Hole at max ebb or flow on the tide... your shorts will be bunched up your crack when you get through.

It's sorta like white water rafting with a big boat.

Oh yeah, that sounds like fun. :smt038 ....You spent close to a month there, do you have any other tips?

 

[wetpaint]

Alex.....Do Not go into the pond...You can however go into menemsha itself where there is dock space.....Dock space is a ***** to get and you need to call the morning of...You might be put against bulkhead which can suck or you might be rafted up....Also the smell of fish deep inside gets old...It is a fishing port, but just a great spot..........I like to take a mooring just north of the intrance off the beach. The sunset will be one of the best you have seen.......

 

[wetpaint]

Here ar ethe moorings right outside harbor

 

[wetpaint]

Alex...here is a post on menemsha and gay head

http://cruisingwetpaint.blogspot.com/2011/08/marthas-vineyard-friday.html

 

[Alex F]

Thanks John. Your last picture confirms that I understood your direction correctly. The mooring field looks nice and calm, I hope it's like that most of the time.

 

[Alex F]

Alex...here is a post on menemsha and gay head

http://cruisingwetpaint.blogspot.com/2011/08/marthas-vineyard-friday.html

Awesome pictures, John. :thumbsup: