Sailing out of Newburyport

[LookingForCruiser]

How does sailing out of Newburyport, MA compare to Buzzards Bay ?

I grew up in Marion, so I know the Buzzards Bay area. But it's a minimum 90 minute drive down there. It's only an hour to Newburyport, so my wife is much more into keeping a boat there (which means that's where the boat will be of course). Unless there's some compelling reason not to...

So my first question is, what destinations are in reach for weekend sailing out of Newburyport ? Anything interesting ?

And my second question is, I've heard the currents are ferocious depending on the tide, so how rough a ride is it? I was on a large cat out of Newburyport last summer and didn't notice any roughness at all, but maybe it was the time of day or something...

Thanks!

[nolatom]

Well, it's been a while for me, but Newburyport and Buzzards Bay are rather different experiences.

Buzzards Bay is Bay and Sound sailing, takes a while to get to the ocean and deep water, and lots of harbors close by, so you may never get out beyond the Sound, because there are so many destinations nearby. Afternoon sou'westers in the summer can make for challenging but fun sailing. Not much current, except in/near the Cape Cod Canal.

Newburyport is more of an "Atlantic Ocean's right here" port, the river current and crossing the bar can be challenging in the wrong conditions, but not too bad in general. There's some fun local cruising for an overnighter around Plum Island Sound, but other cruising destinations are an ocean trip, either up to the Isles of Shoals (about 10 miles and a nice spot) or up to Portsmouth or York, or down to some of the small harbors alons Cape Ann.

Both are fun, just different. One's Bay sailing in warmer water, the other is real cold-water sailing out at sea.

[KODAD]

Never been to Buzard's Bay, but my folks keep their boat in Rye Harbour, NH, during the summer.
We do a lot of day and weekend sails, often stopping in Newburyport. A very cool old New England town. Just a hop to Rockport, Ma, Annisquam(sp), Gloucester, to the south or as stated Isles of Shoals, Portsmouth, and Maine to the north. The Merrimack River can get tricky with winds and tides, but not so that it's at all scary.

[pedrodelrio]

I grew up in Wareham, but lived in the Newburyport are for 20 years and kept my boat in front of the boardwalk. We must have sailed to the Isles of Shoals a thousand times. Nice destination, and really one of the few for a day sail or a long weekend. But it did get old. Buzzards Bay is definitely more diverse and fun, but Newburyport does have one major advantage. It's a great place from which to stage a cruise to Maine if you've got 10 days of free time. Sometimes we would cruise the boat to, say, Rockland. Then leave it there for a week or two, and come back and sail back to Newburyport over a long weekend.

Peter Swanson

[Maine Sail]

Why not Portland, Maine? It's only another hour beyond Newburyport but SOOOO much more exciting and beautiful!! Thousands of islands anchorages and gunk holes galore! The wife would love it!! Show your wife these photos and it may help diminish the extra drive time..

Maine Coast Sailing Photography

[sailingdog]

I'd say that it depends on the boat and what kind of sailing you want to do.

IMHO, Buzzards Bay definitely has more options for weekend trips... since you're within easy range of Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, the Elizabeth Island, Newport, Block Island, Cape Cod, and all the small harbors throughout Buzzards Bay itself.

Halekai's suggestion of Portland isn't too bad either.

One other thing to consider is how well protected the harbor is from storms. New Bedford and Fairhaven are very well protected due to the Hurricane Barrier. I've seen the difference between being behind the barrier and being exposed to storm surge.

[Alden68]

LFC:

Dont do it!

I have many friends with boats in the Merrimac, and I kept mine there in the winter for years. Depending on the location of your slip (if you will be at one...if you plan on a mooring you can disregard much of these ramblings) you must plan every departure and arrival with the tide as you cannot leave your boat tied up with the stern facing the ebb.....to much pressure against the docks. So imagine you have a slip where your bow faces upriver and you return home at max flood. You now have a 5 knot current beind you as you try to maneuver bow first into your slip. You will however become a docking master and will develop the steely nerves of a naval airman doing a carrier landing.

This IMHO ruins the cruising experience as you cannot just 'get up and go'. In addition, you might depart with wonderful weather and return to find the Hazardous Bar sign flashing merrily away. There is a reason the CG maintains the same vessels there as the Columbia River bar. I have left the river in a Catalina 400 and powered through 15' standing, breaking waves. Not pleasant. And don't forget the other hazardous to navigation.....while you are clenching the wheel waiting for the first wave to crash over the bow you still have to dodge joey's in 8' aluminum boats bass fishing! The mouth can, at times, be very nasty.

Don't forget comining back home when the river is at max ebb. My boats weighs 12,000 lbs. and has a 50 hp diesel. Picture full throttle, one eye glued to the temp gauge and the other eye watching seagulls WALK faster than you on the breakwater!

And finaly, to finish my rant, the other posters are 100% right....there are better cruising grounds around for you and the admiral unless you want to go to Portsmouth NH and/or the Isle of Shoals every day.

Take care and good luck!!

Mike

[sailingdog]

Hmm... More choices in destinations, better protected anchorages and harbors, and a much less dangerous entrance to your home port.... seems like a no-brainer now. Didn't realize the Merrimac was that bad there... but then again the last couple of springs, they've had to truck fish upstream, because the river was flowing to quickly for the fish to swim upstream...

[Alden68]

not to mention every so often Lawrence manages to dump a few million gallons of raw sewage into the river....