It would be appreciated if anyone having experienced passage from Buzzards Bay through Woods Hole to Nantucket Sound could provide a few pointers/recommendations. I understand the buoyage system may be somewhat confusing. I have an 8-hp diesel so must be particularly careful about selection of time for transit. Is there a period of slack tide following an east flood to the Sound? Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks, Bruce C.
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No worries
At full blast this is an amazing sight. Full sized marker bouys can be dragged under water w/the current. Study the charts and go during daylight the first time. Get a copy of Eldridge tide tables at any of the book/boat stores. They do a good job of describing this place and provide accurate current predictions for the area. you don't need to wait for "slack tide" Just don't go through during maximium flow if your concerned. We have an S.U.V. "severely underpowered vessel" and do just fine. It's a short trip through so here's another tip..... Don't buck the tide in Nantucket sound. The current in the sound is deceiving. The Eldridge book will also help you here. It will save you a ton of time. And, if you need a place to wait out the curent, you can not do better then Hadley harbor in Woods hole. Have a good voyage.....
At full blast this is an amazing sight. Full sized marker bouys can be dragged under water w/the current. Study the charts and go during daylight the first time. Get a copy of Eldridge tide tables at any of the book/boat stores. They do a good job of describing this place and provide accurate current predictions for the area. you don't need to wait for "slack tide" Just don't go through during maximium flow if your concerned. We have an S.U.V. "severely underpowered vessel" and do just fine. It's a short trip through so here's another tip..... Don't buck the tide in Nantucket sound. The current in the sound is deceiving. The Eldridge book will also help you here. It will save you a ton of time. And, if you need a place to wait out the curent, you can not do better then Hadley harbor in Woods hole. Have a good voyage.....
I want to thank those who responded to my inquiry regarding Woods Hole. As you can imagine, I was somewhat concerned as this was my initial passage. My son-in-law and I spent the evening in Hadley Harbor (outer) on Saturday, 09 Sep, and made the passage the following morning approx. 2 hrs. after start of northeast flood. We went through at speeds of 6.5 to 7.2 kts. It was a short fast trip! The current also favored us in Vineyard Sound as we motored along at 5.5 to 6.0 knts. There must have been 30+ boats in the outer harbor at Hadley's. Thanks again, Bruce C.
Bryce
I have the same photo! In fact I saw it happen and called the C.G. The guy was racing to beat me and one other (slow and steady) sail boater into the Woods Hole channel. All he cared about was getting in front of me - of course I gave him plenty of room... He completely ignored the bouys and went on the wrong side, panic'ed and instead of backing out tried to gun his boat over the shoal. Well you see the results... After we had a nice lunch in Hadleys who do I see getting a tow accross Buzzards bay but this guy. He waved off the tow boat guys, dropped their lines, fired up his boat and raced off for the Cape Cod Canal - once again catching up with me. He then stopped as the C.G. was hailing him and asking his intentions. They got him on his cell so I did not hear what happened next but I did see him drifting down Buzzards for about two hours sideways. We picked up a mooring in Onset and right at dusk who comes roaring up the cape cod canal...you guessed it! All I can say is if you see him coming get out of his way! What a crackpot. Bruce - the transit through woods hole is not that daunting pay close attention to the bouys and maybe hang around the entrace for a few minutes to watch somebody else go through, it will be over quickly. Andy
I have the same photo! In fact I saw it happen and called the C.G. The guy was racing to beat me and one other (slow and steady) sail boater into the Woods Hole channel. All he cared about was getting in front of me - of course I gave him plenty of room... He completely ignored the bouys and went on the wrong side, panic'ed and instead of backing out tried to gun his boat over the shoal. Well you see the results... After we had a nice lunch in Hadleys who do I see getting a tow accross Buzzards bay but this guy. He waved off the tow boat guys, dropped their lines, fired up his boat and raced off for the Cape Cod Canal - once again catching up with me. He then stopped as the C.G. was hailing him and asking his intentions. They got him on his cell so I did not hear what happened next but I did see him drifting down Buzzards for about two hours sideways. We picked up a mooring in Onset and right at dusk who comes roaring up the cape cod canal...you guessed it! All I can say is if you see him coming get out of his way! What a crackpot. Bruce - the transit through woods hole is not that daunting pay close attention to the bouys and maybe hang around the entrace for a few minutes to watch somebody else go through, it will be over quickly. Andy
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