I've recently purchased a 1987 H40 Legend in the Penobscot Bay area and am planning to sail it south to the Chesapeake in early October. Most of my sailing experience in the Annapolis area with a few days in more open water.
I was looking for any advice on transiting the Gulf of Maine, Cape Cod Canal, and the open leg south of Naragansett Bay to Cape May. Any advise on what to look out for in terms of weather patterns, tides, good heavy weather anchorages if needed, and handling of the H40 are welcome.
Cheers
Hi RJM:
I will try to add to advice given above. Personally, I have made the direct sail round trip from Pt Judith RI to Camden and return 3 times. I have also made the same trip harbor hopping another 6 times. I also lived Down East for six years so I have logged a fair amount of miles under the keel in the waters between RI and Cutler over the years. With that background I would offer the following:
1. As pointed out by another above, I do not underestimate the challenge presented by lobster trap buoys, especially between Penobscot Bay and the NH/ME border, but also further south. In some areas they are a nuisance and require watching but in other areas they are a serious hazard to navigation, especially to sailboats like yours and mine. You may be transiting one of the worst I have seen in the southwest region of Penobscot Bay off Tenants Harbor and south. There was a thread I started 3-4 years ago to which many other guys posted describing the lobster buoy threat and how to think about them. Search for it and read it. It may be helpful. Also I personally would not transit this area or any other areas off the Maine Coast after dark when the floats are not easily seen. I am prepared with wet suit/mask/etc and sharp knives. I have a device installed on my shaft for cutting the lines. Since your new boat is a Maine boat, it may already have such installed.
2. For the same reason and others, I avoid any landfalls in Maine after dark. On the trips I have made we always times the passage to arrive after sunrise.
3. The eastern entrance of the Cape Cod Canal is about 150 nm from Camden. What we have done in the past, and what I would do today if making that passage, is first of all have good crew and depart Camden at first light hoping to have a favorable current down Penobscot Bay and lay out a track for the canal, avoiding such obstacles as Isle of Shoals and Boon Island, and keeping well off Cape Ann because of current and of course, lobster traps. And of course I would want a weather window with nothing out of the East or anything big south for 2-3 days. The Gulf of Maine can work up pretty well in a big SW or especially in a big E or NE breeze. As this is a delivery and not a cruise, I would plan to power most if not all of the trip as the prevailing winds north of Gloucester are generally light, dropping to nothing at nightfall. With your boat you should be able to make 6 knots over the bottom for landfall at the canal the following morning. This is what I would do and doesn't mean that it would work for you with your equipment and experience. Also I would not make his trip without radar as there is shipping and fishing boats along the entire route, and plenty of fog.
4. You MUST transit the CCC with favorable current. It runs as much as 6 knots in the canal and you have never seen a more miserable sight than a medium size sailboat laboring against the current. Ugh! The canal is controlled and they monitor CH 13, although yachts under 65 ft don't need to check in. I always hail Canal Control before entering just to ask what is coming the other way and whether the railroad bridge is to be lowered anytime soon. Sometimes they answer, and sometimes they don't. There is a nice harbor right at the East end of the canal called the Sandwich Marina if you need to wait for a favorable tide. Groceries and good restaurants walking distance. Call for a reservation. I have also anchored to the west of the entrance to wait. One last tidbit on the canal is that if there s a big southerly blowing in Buzzards Bay, as there often is, the west end of the canal is a maelstrom of strong current opposing a stiff breeze. Very rough and ugly.
Many good harbors in Buzzards Bay are available after transiting the canal.
That's all for now. Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me with questions via email.
Rick
