Anyone have any experience sailing from south shore, Weymouth, to newport, RI. We are thinking of making the trip in our Hunter 26, Any ideas? Thanks, mw
boston to newport, ri
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Cape Cod Canal
From what I've read in a boat your size you will be using the Cape Cod Canal. Others will hopefully chime in with all the details, but as I understand it using the canal has a lot of rules and difficulties that have been written about in various sources (Anthony Bailey's 1999 "Coast of Summer" is an excellent read about this and the rest of the trip you're anticipating).
From what I've read in a boat your size you will be using the Cape Cod Canal. Others will hopefully chime in with all the details, but as I understand it using the canal has a lot of rules and difficulties that have been written about in various sources (Anthony Bailey's 1999 "Coast of Summer" is an excellent read about this and the rest of the trip you're anticipating).
Go With the Flow!
Be sure to ride the tide thru the canal. An East-to-West tide is the EBB tide. A West-to-EAst tide is the FLOOD tide. Judge your arrival to East-to-West ride the ebb tide. Judge your arrival to West-to-East ride the FLOOD tide. It should take you about an hour and a half in the canal. DO NOT try to buck the tide. A sailboat will NEVER make it. We're talking 4-6 knots of current. Plan to motor thru. Also watch the wind at the West end of the canal. If it is blowing (usually in the afternoon), the seas can be rough since the current is opposing the tide. Sailing thru the canal is prohibited. As an alternative to the rough water, you can always duck into Onset on the right just before the end (heading West). It's a nice place to visit. And there are many moorings to rent at the Independence Yacht Club (about a 1/2 mile from the canal). Check the Eldridge (yellow book) for canal tide charts and tide flows for Buzzard's Bay. Heading East there should be no opposing wind. If you are tired then make reservations to stay at the Sandwich Marina on the East end of the canal. There are a couple of good, walkable restaurants there. Have fun!!
Be sure to ride the tide thru the canal. An East-to-West tide is the EBB tide. A West-to-EAst tide is the FLOOD tide. Judge your arrival to East-to-West ride the ebb tide. Judge your arrival to West-to-East ride the FLOOD tide. It should take you about an hour and a half in the canal. DO NOT try to buck the tide. A sailboat will NEVER make it. We're talking 4-6 knots of current. Plan to motor thru. Also watch the wind at the West end of the canal. If it is blowing (usually in the afternoon), the seas can be rough since the current is opposing the tide. Sailing thru the canal is prohibited. As an alternative to the rough water, you can always duck into Onset on the right just before the end (heading West). It's a nice place to visit. And there are many moorings to rent at the Independence Yacht Club (about a 1/2 mile from the canal). Check the Eldridge (yellow book) for canal tide charts and tide flows for Buzzard's Bay. Heading East there should be no opposing wind. If you are tired then make reservations to stay at the Sandwich Marina on the East end of the canal. There are a couple of good, walkable restaurants there. Have fun!!
Buzzard'sBay
You will have a great trip. The Cape Cod Canal is not that tough, but it is best to go thru early in the following tide and it is often somewhat turbulent. Most sailboats go thru with mainsails up under power. Beware of big wakes from inconsiderate stinkpotters. Buzzard's Bay can be pretty rough with a strong SW wind as there is a long fetch, especially against the outgoing tide which makes the chop steeper. As to a place to stopover I highly recommend Quisset, on the Cape side, just short of Wood's Hole. Protected, beautiful,and you just goin,pick up a mooring and the guy comes an collects the very reasonable fee. If you get there before dark you will find a mooring. Lots of sailboats, including a resident flet of H 12.5's! But no place to get off, or services. If you want serices on your stop, the Sandwich Marina at the Cape Cod Bay end of the Canal has transient slips (call ahead), showers, and two restaurants in easy walking distance. Or if money is no object, Kingman's. HAve a nice trip and safe passage! Roger Dennis, MA
You will have a great trip. The Cape Cod Canal is not that tough, but it is best to go thru early in the following tide and it is often somewhat turbulent. Most sailboats go thru with mainsails up under power. Beware of big wakes from inconsiderate stinkpotters. Buzzard's Bay can be pretty rough with a strong SW wind as there is a long fetch, especially against the outgoing tide which makes the chop steeper. As to a place to stopover I highly recommend Quisset, on the Cape side, just short of Wood's Hole. Protected, beautiful,and you just goin,pick up a mooring and the guy comes an collects the very reasonable fee. If you get there before dark you will find a mooring. Lots of sailboats, including a resident flet of H 12.5's! But no place to get off, or services. If you want serices on your stop, the Sandwich Marina at the Cape Cod Bay end of the Canal has transient slips (call ahead), showers, and two restaurants in easy walking distance. Or if money is no object, Kingman's. HAve a nice trip and safe passage! Roger Dennis, MA
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