Cape Cod (Cotuit) Destinations

[BarryL]

Hello,

Next week (Thursday - Monday) three friends and I will be on Cape Cod, staying in the Cotuit area. One of the guys has an O'day 30 that we can use. I'm looking for suggestions on good places to day sail, or perhaps spend a night at. I have quickly looked at some charts and I see that Martha's Vinyard is close, the Elizabeth Islands are not too far away, and that Hyaniss should be easy.

What are some of the 'must see' places, as well as the 'stay away' from places. The crew will be four guys in their early 40's.

Thanks!
Barry

[sailingdog]

Cuttyhunk is nice... as is Hadley Harbor or Menemsha. Tarpaulin Cove is a good choice if the wind is out of the north. Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, or Edgartown are also good choices.... but it really depends on what you're looking for. Most of these places are a bit on the quiet side... Cuttyhunk and the rest of the Elizabeth Islands are dry IIRC, as are some of the ports, like Vineyard Haven, on the Vineyard.

[denby]

Barry,

Just did that area in my O'Day 302. From Milford Harbor went east and did a couple of stops before reaching Menemsha. The next morning went to Vineyard Haven ( talked to a dog ) then up through Woods Hole and onto Cuttyhunk. Very nice sailing.

[sailingfool]

I know Cotuit quite well. Have breakfast at the kettleHo!

Note that you need to enter and exit from Osterville to the west, use the Seapuit river to get to Cotuit Harbor. Read what this guy has to say. Boating_Guide_to_America:State_MA:Place_Cotuit_and _Osterville

All trips in nantucket Sound need to take the East-West current into consideration, and the 3-4 knots in delivers can make a big difference in travel times and in course steered.

If you are new to the area, here's my personal recommendations for over night trips, you can see them all in four days, skip one or two if you don't want to spend so much time on the boat:
1. Edgartown; lots of good bars and resturants and the prettiest Colonial town in new England. A must see. Go here for reservations Edgartown Harbormaster - The Official Site

Nantucket. Same description as Edgartown, just bigger, more expensive, and more crowded. See the beautiful people. Go here for reservations Nantucket Moorings

Vineyard Haven and\Hadley Harbor. VH is my favorite destination, smaller and more quiet than Edgartown, home of the famous Black Dog Tavern, Mad Martha's ice cream, Murdick's Fudge, and Bunch of Grapes Bookstore. See the intellectual beautiful people. Hadley Harbor is just 4 miles away at the Northern tip of Naushon Island, breate-taking place for a quiet lucnh stop. Watch the Forbes families come and go.

Hyannis is a short day trip, tie up behind Baxter's bar all the way into the harbor, have a few drinks while you chat up the crowd, you may get lucky and pick up a few crew for the ride back.