I am cruising to Block Island, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket first two weeks in August. Anyone like to share information?
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Have a Good Cruise.
You have picked 2 beautiful weeks for that cruise. You may hit morning fog. Just wait it out until it lifts. At Block Island the tide makes a 90 degree turn to go out to sea. Give it space. Cuttyhunk could be your next destination. On weekends a guys come around with the Sunday NY Times and lobsters. Then over to Mememsha - small but quaint. Your alternative is to sail up the coast of the Elizabeth Islands for Woods Hole. There is an excellent and popular harbor just before the channel. Hadley's Harbor. As you go in watch depth if you draw 6 feet or more. Going through the channel at Woods Hole and in Vineyard Sound requires traveling with the current. The current does not coincide with the tide. Stay away from all ferries. You may have right away but their bow is stronger than your deck. At MV drop a hook off the beach at Oak Bluff. Town is most interesting but not fancy. Several good restaurants at nice prices. Rent bikes or Mopeds and tour. Edgartown is very quaint, restaurant food may be twice the price but no better in taste. Take a ride around the island on a tour bus. At Nantucket is a totally restored 1840's town at the harbor. Beautiful. Emerse yourself in the Whaling Museum. Have a good credit card for food. A continental breakfast can be $12- $15. But, the island is beautiful. If you choose the ocean south of of the islands expect sea swells. Winds in early August will be SSE 5(-) mph at 8:00 AM, 25 mph at 3:00 PM there and in Buzzards Bay.
You have picked 2 beautiful weeks for that cruise. You may hit morning fog. Just wait it out until it lifts. At Block Island the tide makes a 90 degree turn to go out to sea. Give it space. Cuttyhunk could be your next destination. On weekends a guys come around with the Sunday NY Times and lobsters. Then over to Mememsha - small but quaint. Your alternative is to sail up the coast of the Elizabeth Islands for Woods Hole. There is an excellent and popular harbor just before the channel. Hadley's Harbor. As you go in watch depth if you draw 6 feet or more. Going through the channel at Woods Hole and in Vineyard Sound requires traveling with the current. The current does not coincide with the tide. Stay away from all ferries. You may have right away but their bow is stronger than your deck. At MV drop a hook off the beach at Oak Bluff. Town is most interesting but not fancy. Several good restaurants at nice prices. Rent bikes or Mopeds and tour. Edgartown is very quaint, restaurant food may be twice the price but no better in taste. Take a ride around the island on a tour bus. At Nantucket is a totally restored 1840's town at the harbor. Beautiful. Emerse yourself in the Whaling Museum. Have a good credit card for food. A continental breakfast can be $12- $15. But, the island is beautiful. If you choose the ocean south of of the islands expect sea swells. Winds in early August will be SSE 5(-) mph at 8:00 AM, 25 mph at 3:00 PM there and in Buzzards Bay.
Dennis
What size boat are you sailing and where are you starting from. I am thinking of doing same trip but have not set a date yet, I did block last year and want to add maybe newport this year, would like to share any info you have making this trip,how many days have you allowed for this trip. Nick
What size boat are you sailing and where are you starting from. I am thinking of doing same trip but have not set a date yet, I did block last year and want to add maybe newport this year, would like to share any info you have making this trip,how many days have you allowed for this trip. Nick
Block Island info
I'm going to be taking off from that area for a trip south in a few days, so here's some fresh local info. I was at Block Island 2 weeks ago, and there was a change in the channel into Great Salt Pond. The channel, which is narrow to begin with, had shoaled a bit on the south side (your starboard as you enter) in the section that is closest to the beach. My suggestion is to favor the left-center side of the channel if you can. If you must, wait for boats exiting to pass rather than be on the right side of the channel at its closest point to the beach. PS I'm still looking for local knowledge on the Henlopen (Delaware) breakwater as an anchorage.
I'm going to be taking off from that area for a trip south in a few days, so here's some fresh local info. I was at Block Island 2 weeks ago, and there was a change in the channel into Great Salt Pond. The channel, which is narrow to begin with, had shoaled a bit on the south side (your starboard as you enter) in the section that is closest to the beach. My suggestion is to favor the left-center side of the channel if you can. If you must, wait for boats exiting to pass rather than be on the right side of the channel at its closest point to the beach. PS I'm still looking for local knowledge on the Henlopen (Delaware) breakwater as an anchorage.
Block Island / Martha's - Blog
Dennis - I've been over there a bunch of times before the kids arrived. I decided to create a blog to organize all my reccos on the area so take a look and the link below and click on Block Island and Martha's Vineyard for more info. Give yourself at a day between betting from BI to the Vineyard and make sure you check the tide table - don't try to go against the tides getting to the Vineyard from BI. Enjoy and read all my reccos on the blog. Rob http://cruisingguide.blogspot.com/
Dennis - I've been over there a bunch of times before the kids arrived. I decided to create a blog to organize all my reccos on the area so take a look and the link below and click on Block Island and Martha's Vineyard for more info. Give yourself at a day between betting from BI to the Vineyard and make sure you check the tide table - don't try to go against the tides getting to the Vineyard from BI. Enjoy and read all my reccos on the blog. Rob http://cruisingguide.blogspot.com/
Local Knowledge
Hi, We are doing a similar cruise at the same time. My yacht club does a cruise to Block every year. Where are you starting from? In the Vineyard, make a reservation in Oak Bluffs for dockage, fairly reasonable. http://www.oakbluffsharbor.com/ Mid week should not be a problem but they book early. If you wish to moor, they tend to raft people up there. Pay showers by the docks or you can go to the Wesley Hotel across the street and buy a token to use one of their bathrooms. Oak bluffs is fairly busy but one of my favorite cruising spots. Carousel for the kids. Summer concerts in a park. Vineyard Haven is a quieter place. More expensive dockage. http://www.theblackdogwharf.com/ Moorings available inside the breakwater, you can anchor out of the breakwater but would be exposed to a Nor'easter. Excellent holding ground. Excellent public transportation on the island. In my opinion, the best beaches are on the south side of the island. Good place to rent bikes and ride on paths. Edgartown: Fancy inns and restaurants. Cute town. Limited moorings and anchoring for transients. Block gets very crowded on the weekends. I haven't been there in many yrs so I can't help you there. Nantucket has a marina in the harbor ($$$$) but moorings are much more reasonable. Great for bike riding and beaches. On the Cape, Falmouth has a nice marina on the port side coming in. Very clean facilities. http://www.town.falmouth.ma.us/depart.php?depkey=harbor
Hi, We are doing a similar cruise at the same time. My yacht club does a cruise to Block every year. Where are you starting from? In the Vineyard, make a reservation in Oak Bluffs for dockage, fairly reasonable. http://www.oakbluffsharbor.com/ Mid week should not be a problem but they book early. If you wish to moor, they tend to raft people up there. Pay showers by the docks or you can go to the Wesley Hotel across the street and buy a token to use one of their bathrooms. Oak bluffs is fairly busy but one of my favorite cruising spots. Carousel for the kids. Summer concerts in a park. Vineyard Haven is a quieter place. More expensive dockage. http://www.theblackdogwharf.com/ Moorings available inside the breakwater, you can anchor out of the breakwater but would be exposed to a Nor'easter. Excellent holding ground. Excellent public transportation on the island. In my opinion, the best beaches are on the south side of the island. Good place to rent bikes and ride on paths. Edgartown: Fancy inns and restaurants. Cute town. Limited moorings and anchoring for transients. Block gets very crowded on the weekends. I haven't been there in many yrs so I can't help you there. Nantucket has a marina in the harbor ($$$$) but moorings are much more reasonable. Great for bike riding and beaches. On the Cape, Falmouth has a nice marina on the port side coming in. Very clean facilities. http://www.town.falmouth.ma.us/depart.php?depkey=harbor
Nantucket moorings
Last year they were $60/night with a two night minimum. The only decent anchoring is by First Point and from there it is about 0.6nm to the town dock over rather exposed water. A launch runs and will cost $6 each way or a round-trip for $10pp. Nantucket is very pricey IMHO.
Last year they were $60/night with a two night minimum. The only decent anchoring is by First Point and from there it is about 0.6nm to the town dock over rather exposed water. A launch runs and will cost $6 each way or a round-trip for $10pp. Nantucket is very pricey IMHO.
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