Greetings again! Here is another question, related to the “new-to-us” C&C 36. Upon completion of the sale, we will need to make our first passage from Woods Hole, MA to Mystic, CT. I have to presume it is a pretty common voyage. Our plan gets us to anchor at Point Judith, RI at the end of day one and to Mystic day two. We have area charts, 2005 Eldridge, GPS and a working depth sounder. Any advice on routes, anchorages, tides, currents, etc would be appreciated. Richard Walter
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Pt Judith depths
At Pt Judith the anchorage inside of the vee-shaped breakwater can be rough but safe. Good depths can be had. If you choose to go up into the pond, be careful of the depths in the narrow channel. I draw 4'10" and have touched bottom and dragged through soft mud at the lower 1/3 of tide. Particularily watch the starboard side going in. There are buoys that are aground at low tide. Having said that, the anchorage in the pond is great. Very peacefull and excellent holding. The ride up is about 40 minutes so that may influence you to stay in the breakwater area. It may depend upon the weather. To get into the pond, follow the channel up past the two islands on your starboard and then turn south between the last island and another one further to the east. Stay slightly toward the western-most island at the turn. Once into the pond, anchor anywhere. I usually pick a spot east of the islands and centered between them. Depth is about 10-12 feet, heavy mud. Enjoy your passage. Is Mystic your home port, and if so where are you keeping your sailboat?
At Pt Judith the anchorage inside of the vee-shaped breakwater can be rough but safe. Good depths can be had. If you choose to go up into the pond, be careful of the depths in the narrow channel. I draw 4'10" and have touched bottom and dragged through soft mud at the lower 1/3 of tide. Particularily watch the starboard side going in. There are buoys that are aground at low tide. Having said that, the anchorage in the pond is great. Very peacefull and excellent holding. The ride up is about 40 minutes so that may influence you to stay in the breakwater area. It may depend upon the weather. To get into the pond, follow the channel up past the two islands on your starboard and then turn south between the last island and another one further to the east. Stay slightly toward the western-most island at the turn. Once into the pond, anchor anywhere. I usually pick a spot east of the islands and centered between them. Depth is about 10-12 feet, heavy mud. Enjoy your passage. Is Mystic your home port, and if so where are you keeping your sailboat?
Block Island
My own feeling is that the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge is well named; that's the only reason to stop there. I would suggest Great Salt Pond in Block Island; protected anchorage and right on your path. Other options are Newport or Jamestown, but a bit out of your way; good anchorage in Dutch Harbor on West side of Conanicut Island. Otherwise, check out the strength and timing of currents in Vineyard Sound as opposed to Buzzards Bay; it can make a big difference in the time to get past Cuttyhunk. If possible, take Vineyard Sound; buzzards Bay has a well-deserved reputation for being rough and unpleasant at times. Watch reef and currents on North end of Block Island; leave G1BI definitely to port. Finally, watch carefully through Watch Hill Passage between Fisher's Island and Watch Hill; check out the buoys on the charts, then check carefully on the passage; lots of rocks. Carl s/v Syzygy
My own feeling is that the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge is well named; that's the only reason to stop there. I would suggest Great Salt Pond in Block Island; protected anchorage and right on your path. Other options are Newport or Jamestown, but a bit out of your way; good anchorage in Dutch Harbor on West side of Conanicut Island. Otherwise, check out the strength and timing of currents in Vineyard Sound as opposed to Buzzards Bay; it can make a big difference in the time to get past Cuttyhunk. If possible, take Vineyard Sound; buzzards Bay has a well-deserved reputation for being rough and unpleasant at times. Watch reef and currents on North end of Block Island; leave G1BI definitely to port. Finally, watch carefully through Watch Hill Passage between Fisher's Island and Watch Hill; check out the buoys on the charts, then check carefully on the passage; lots of rocks. Carl s/v Syzygy
Oh yeah, Block Island, I forgot
Great Salt Pond at Block Island would be a better alternate to Pt Judith. Carl's info is all good and I will only add that anchoring in Great Salt Pond is very limited. Almost the entire harbor is taken by moorings. There is some good anchoring in 8-12 feet of water and the rest is 25-35 feet. Moorings are about $30 in season (I think, not sure, I don't use them). The clumps of rocks in Fisher Island Sound are well marked but plentiful.
Great Salt Pond at Block Island would be a better alternate to Pt Judith. Carl's info is all good and I will only add that anchoring in Great Salt Pond is very limited. Almost the entire harbor is taken by moorings. There is some good anchoring in 8-12 feet of water and the rest is 25-35 feet. Moorings are about $30 in season (I think, not sure, I don't use them). The clumps of rocks in Fisher Island Sound are well marked but plentiful.
Plan according to the tide
Watch your tide table coming out of Woods Hole and between Fisher Island and Watch Hill. I also agree that Vineyard Sound is preferable to Buzzards Bay. We sprent 40 hard hours in blow last summer behind the wall at Pt Judit, probably should have gone inside to one of the marinas but we arrived very late in the day. Stay away from the wall as depths can get shallow. There is also a sunken vessel in the center of the anchorage that is marked by a large buoy. The Block Island ferry enters through the western entrance to the harbor and then travels down the wall inside. Other then those few things it is a nice trip. if time permits and you haven't been, a stop a Cuttyhunk is wonderful. Enjoy your trip and new boat. Bob sv Kathryn, H356, Stamford, Ct
Watch your tide table coming out of Woods Hole and between Fisher Island and Watch Hill. I also agree that Vineyard Sound is preferable to Buzzards Bay. We sprent 40 hard hours in blow last summer behind the wall at Pt Judit, probably should have gone inside to one of the marinas but we arrived very late in the day. Stay away from the wall as depths can get shallow. There is also a sunken vessel in the center of the anchorage that is marked by a large buoy. The Block Island ferry enters through the western entrance to the harbor and then travels down the wall inside. Other then those few things it is a nice trip. if time permits and you haven't been, a stop a Cuttyhunk is wonderful. Enjoy your trip and new boat. Bob sv Kathryn, H356, Stamford, Ct
Home Sick
You guys are making me home sick. I moved my 356 from eastern CT, last April to Amelia Island Florida. Although I sailed all winter there is no better place to sail then New England Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, just the thought of those places brings tears to my eyes. Down here the places to go are limited and when you get there, the activities, other then fly swatting, snake shooing and alligator watching are limited. However, when you touch the bottom, there are no rocks. Enjoy your new boat and sailing New England
You guys are making me home sick. I moved my 356 from eastern CT, last April to Amelia Island Florida. Although I sailed all winter there is no better place to sail then New England Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, just the thought of those places brings tears to my eyes. Down here the places to go are limited and when you get there, the activities, other then fly swatting, snake shooing and alligator watching are limited. However, when you touch the bottom, there are no rocks. Enjoy your new boat and sailing New England
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