This summer I am planning a one week trip with my girlfriend from Chatham to Nantucket then to Martha’s Vinyard and finally back to the cape in my O’Day 22. Since my boat is horrible at going into the wind, the order of islands isn’t that important but I was just wondering if some people have done similar trips and if so do they have any recommendations. Is it still OK to anchor in the outer harbor in Nantucket? I have never been to the vinyard by boat but was wondering what harbors are the best to drop the hook. Any great secluded spots or other spots that are good for some night life. I really don’t want to pay the hefty fees for a mooring rental and from what I can remember from taking my motorboat to Nantucket, I was always able to just drop the hook in the outer harbor with no problem. Have things changed? Any advise would be appreciated. Has anyone ever stopped at muskeget? Thanks, Steve
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Brave Man
I can't get my wife past Block Island in our 33-footer. I'd say in a small boat, picking a good weather window before crossing Nantucket Sound would be a good thing. Paul Escape Artist h336
I can't get my wife past Block Island in our 33-footer. I'd say in a small boat, picking a good weather window before crossing Nantucket Sound would be a good thing. Paul Escape Artist h336
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Gregg
W
william
edgartown
Edgartown has boats anchoring outside the harbor, they even run launch service on the hour at $2 a person. Nightlife is great there, you can rent bicycles and pedal to south beach, eat great homemade ice cream at mad martha's, nice retail shops but pricey, plenty of stuff to keep the bird happy.
Edgartown has boats anchoring outside the harbor, they even run launch service on the hour at $2 a person. Nightlife is great there, you can rent bicycles and pedal to south beach, eat great homemade ice cream at mad martha's, nice retail shops but pricey, plenty of stuff to keep the bird happy.
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Allen
Nantucket
Steve, Nantucket is my favorite place in all of New England and yes, you can definitely anchor for free in the harbor. The only downside is that the winds on the island tend to be pretty steady, even in the harbor. Try to pick a spot that's as close to the marinas as possible. That dinghy ride to/from the boat can be very wet in an inflatable. If you're heading there in the high season it might be worthwhile for you to schedule an arrival mid-week when there are fewer boats in the area. As I remember, moorings were about $85 a day and a slip for my Catalina 30 was about $230 a day. Heck, for $230 someone better be making my bed, cleaning my room & leaving chocolates on my pillow if you know what I mean. As for The Vinyard, I grabbed a mooring at Vinyard Haven. They have town moorings that are pretty reasonable, and it's better protected than Nantucket. I don't think there's room to anchor, at least not within the breakwater. The town there is pretty nice, and you can either rent bikes or take a taxi to any point on the island. I'm not sure if this is the best anchorage on the island, as it's pretty small and you'll feel the wake of the ferry everytime one comes in. However, it's the easiest to get to from Nantucket & might save you some time. You mentioned "nightlife"...most of Martha's Vinyard is dry...no bars, no booze in restaurants, no liquor stores. I'm not sure but I *think* that Vinyard Haven allows liquor, but you might want to check it out for yourself if that's important to you. I made the trip from Boston in a 10 day cruise about 3 years ago & it was outstanding. Lots of great memories. I'm sure you'll have a blast. Good Luck!!! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
Steve, Nantucket is my favorite place in all of New England and yes, you can definitely anchor for free in the harbor. The only downside is that the winds on the island tend to be pretty steady, even in the harbor. Try to pick a spot that's as close to the marinas as possible. That dinghy ride to/from the boat can be very wet in an inflatable. If you're heading there in the high season it might be worthwhile for you to schedule an arrival mid-week when there are fewer boats in the area. As I remember, moorings were about $85 a day and a slip for my Catalina 30 was about $230 a day. Heck, for $230 someone better be making my bed, cleaning my room & leaving chocolates on my pillow if you know what I mean. As for The Vinyard, I grabbed a mooring at Vinyard Haven. They have town moorings that are pretty reasonable, and it's better protected than Nantucket. I don't think there's room to anchor, at least not within the breakwater. The town there is pretty nice, and you can either rent bikes or take a taxi to any point on the island. I'm not sure if this is the best anchorage on the island, as it's pretty small and you'll feel the wake of the ferry everytime one comes in. However, it's the easiest to get to from Nantucket & might save you some time. You mentioned "nightlife"...most of Martha's Vinyard is dry...no bars, no booze in restaurants, no liquor stores. I'm not sure but I *think* that Vinyard Haven allows liquor, but you might want to check it out for yourself if that's important to you. I made the trip from Boston in a 10 day cruise about 3 years ago & it was outstanding. Lots of great memories. I'm sure you'll have a blast. Good Luck!!! Allen Schweitzer s/v Falstaff C-30 Hull# 632
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Rob
Good For You!
Steve, Sounds like an awesome trip! I did just that from Long Island but ran out of time to make Nantucket. We stayed at Vineyard Haven which offers the choice of a mooring ($35 per night) or a free anchorage outside the breakwater - could get bouncy out there if you get a Northeasterly wind/chop. There is also an anchorage just East of the ferry path alongside Lagoon Pond entrance (next to Beach Road)- check your local charts. Vineyard Haven is a dry town so if your looking for night life your closest option in Oak Bluff. Eagerton is an awesome harbor too but I did not take our boat there - only rode our bikes and cabbed it over so I can't comment on anchorage. I must say - if your looking for night-life- Oak Bluffs has a small but happening harbor that I am certainly going to do next time we make it back! Moorings are $35 per night and they will double & triple you up per hook - fun harbor (if that's what your looking for - non-secluded). Personally, I like to security of a mooring whenever sailing to a new Island - especially if the harbor is not 100% protected. Martha's Vineyard has a good public bus system so getting around is easy. If you ride your bike along along the Eastern coast of MV (along Beach Rd) heading to Edgartown - it may look familiar - that's where they filmed the beach scenes in the movie "Jaws"! As far as sailing - make sure you plan according with the tide. Currents through Nantucket and Buzzards bays can be very powerful and if you plan them to run in your favor you could really shorten your trip-time. Conversely, they could add hours to an normally short passage! The following is an excellent book available at Amazon I would recommend keeping onboard: A Cruising Guide to Narragansett Bay and the South Coast of Massachusetts: Including Buzzard's Bay, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island Do me a favor-- I am trying to collect sailing recommendation from sailors like us here. I started up a website that comprises just that http://cruisingguide.blogspot.com/ - experiences and recommendations from sailors - please post or email me your own experiences for me to post and view/use the ones I have posted already. Thanks and good-luck! Rob
Steve, Sounds like an awesome trip! I did just that from Long Island but ran out of time to make Nantucket. We stayed at Vineyard Haven which offers the choice of a mooring ($35 per night) or a free anchorage outside the breakwater - could get bouncy out there if you get a Northeasterly wind/chop. There is also an anchorage just East of the ferry path alongside Lagoon Pond entrance (next to Beach Road)- check your local charts. Vineyard Haven is a dry town so if your looking for night life your closest option in Oak Bluff. Eagerton is an awesome harbor too but I did not take our boat there - only rode our bikes and cabbed it over so I can't comment on anchorage. I must say - if your looking for night-life- Oak Bluffs has a small but happening harbor that I am certainly going to do next time we make it back! Moorings are $35 per night and they will double & triple you up per hook - fun harbor (if that's what your looking for - non-secluded). Personally, I like to security of a mooring whenever sailing to a new Island - especially if the harbor is not 100% protected. Martha's Vineyard has a good public bus system so getting around is easy. If you ride your bike along along the Eastern coast of MV (along Beach Rd) heading to Edgartown - it may look familiar - that's where they filmed the beach scenes in the movie "Jaws"! As far as sailing - make sure you plan according with the tide. Currents through Nantucket and Buzzards bays can be very powerful and if you plan them to run in your favor you could really shorten your trip-time. Conversely, they could add hours to an normally short passage! The following is an excellent book available at Amazon I would recommend keeping onboard: A Cruising Guide to Narragansett Bay and the South Coast of Massachusetts: Including Buzzard's Bay, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island Do me a favor-- I am trying to collect sailing recommendation from sailors like us here. I started up a website that comprises just that http://cruisingguide.blogspot.com/ - experiences and recommendations from sailors - please post or email me your own experiences for me to post and view/use the ones I have posted already. Thanks and good-luck! Rob
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Tony Z
My favorite cruising grounds......
Nantucket is awsome but , be carfull of the currents out in the sound. The water can boil up rather vigorously. If you have the chance, grap a copy of the cruising guide to the newengland coast. It has everything you need. A few choice tricks for the Vinyard..... Have fun The lagoon in Vinyard haven is a perfect protected ancorage and it's free. A few minutes to Vinyard Have via walk. Lake Tashmoo is another but a bit remote. If you can get in the pond in Menemsha you won't be disapointed. Hadley Harbor in Wood Hole is not to be missed, A real jewel.
Nantucket is awsome but , be carfull of the currents out in the sound. The water can boil up rather vigorously. If you have the chance, grap a copy of the cruising guide to the newengland coast. It has everything you need. A few choice tricks for the Vinyard..... Have fun The lagoon in Vinyard haven is a perfect protected ancorage and it's free. A few minutes to Vinyard Have via walk. Lake Tashmoo is another but a bit remote. If you can get in the pond in Menemsha you won't be disapointed. Hadley Harbor in Wood Hole is not to be missed, A real jewel.
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Bob
Great Trip
It's a wonderful trip. We did it last year however we started and finished Stamford, Ct. Currents diffinately are to be watched as is the weather window especially in a 22 ft boat. As we enter Nantucket Harbor in our Hunter 356 it was blowing out of the northwest in high 20's with 5 to 8 ft seas. As we sailed down the channel you can encounter the ferry and many large motor yachts so be wary and watchful. Nantucket moorings are very good but reservations well in advance. Stayed on a mooring outside the harbor at Vineyard Haven for two days. Had great weather fortunately, had there been a blow there is not much protection. On the way up we also stayed at Cuttyhunk for a day and a night, again mooring outside the harbor. Can't say enough good about the place but it is very very quiet. Have a great trip, plan according to the tides and weather and enjoy. Bob and Camille sv Kathryn, H356, Stamford, Ct
It's a wonderful trip. We did it last year however we started and finished Stamford, Ct. Currents diffinately are to be watched as is the weather window especially in a 22 ft boat. As we enter Nantucket Harbor in our Hunter 356 it was blowing out of the northwest in high 20's with 5 to 8 ft seas. As we sailed down the channel you can encounter the ferry and many large motor yachts so be wary and watchful. Nantucket moorings are very good but reservations well in advance. Stayed on a mooring outside the harbor at Vineyard Haven for two days. Had great weather fortunately, had there been a blow there is not much protection. On the way up we also stayed at Cuttyhunk for a day and a night, again mooring outside the harbor. Can't say enough good about the place but it is very very quiet. Have a great trip, plan according to the tides and weather and enjoy. Bob and Camille sv Kathryn, H356, Stamford, Ct
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