Martha's vineyard

[janina30]

Hi all - I am new to this site..... just looking to see if anyone has any tips for my first 2 wk excursion. Hopefully my 1977 catalina 30 will be up to the trip.

we are taking off out of old lyme marina on the 7/7 to a mooring at the watch hill boat yard. From there to Jamestown for the night of 7/8 where I have reserved a mooring as well at conanicut marina. 7/9 up to Cuttyhunk where I put a reservation in for a slip then on the 10th over to vineyard haven where I have a reservation through the 14th. On the 14th hope to sail around and spend a night in menemsha bight (weather cooperating), then over to block for a few and back to old lyme.

So questions I come up with - how rough is it from MV to BI and how long has it taken - I have the computerized maptech program but I would like some real time information?

2. menemsha sees like a bit of a hassle but worth it? is the only place for a 30' boat with a 6ft draft in the bight where it can be a bit choppy or is the pond deep enough

3. traveling east to buzzards bay - should i go all the way up to woods hole and track backwards to my slip at cuttyhunk or can i go through quicks hole pretty easily

thanks so much for all the interesting information I have already received just by checking out the posts!
-Stacey

[Bene505]

We did the trip from Block to MVI last July. Block to Cuttyhink was a great day sail. Cuttyhunk was great to explore. There are bed and breakfasts to have dinner at, or you can oder cooked lobster during the day and have it ready to take back to the boat for dinner time. I think it's first-come-first-served, no reservations. Fill up with water there, I didn't but heard the glacial water from the water dock is the best.

from Cutty to MVI, we went through an opening in the islands -- I think it might have been Quicks Hole. It was 1 island north of Cuttyhunk. Watch the currents on the east side of that island chain. The tides flow out to the south and in to the west -- solving the mystery of why there were so many shipwrecks there was one of the things that helped launch Eldridge's tide books. There a section in the book describing it.

As you go up to the north between Cuttyhunk and MVI, keep a look out for our propeller. (grin) It fell off somewhere near the NW corner of MVI. It was a nice 3 bladed prop that was just reconditioned by the marina. We really missed it for the next week or so.

We stayed at Edgartown. Wolfie, the dockmaster's son put our new prop on. The pump-out guy -- on his own -- managed to get a stuck fill port open and even lubricated it. really a nice place with people who take care of their visitors. Edgartown has a floating water dock. (Yes, Wolfie laid the pipe for it.)

Block to Cuttyhunk is open water. On the way back, we motor-sailed into 4 foot waves.

out of time.... good luck.

Regards,
Brad

[hellosailor]

Stacey-
I'd suggest picking up a copy of "Eldridge" at any chandlery. Full of invaluable information for the area, including tidal current charts, tide and current times, courses and routes, and way more than that.

[capecodda]

You have a good plan.

IMO the best ways into Vineyard sound are either through Quicks Hole or between Cuttyhunk and the Vineyard when arriving from the west. Avoid Robinson's hole (it's doable, but a little tricky), and if you want to do Woods Hole do it at slack in a sailboat. My friends that run local marina's will not like this advice because Woods Hole brings them a broken boat that got washed up on the rocks at least once a week in the summer (good business). Get good tide tables. Try to time your passages through Vineyard Sound to go with the tide, this will elevate your speed a couple of knots (or vice versa if you don't).

I like Cuttyhunk best. It reminds me of Maine. Another nice overnight anchorage is Tarpaulin Cove, assuming normal summer conditions with a W in the wind direction. The outside of Menemsha should be fine too in normal summer winds. Inside, they have very little space in a small basin.

Vineyard Haven is fun, watch the ferry traffic and the people. Lots of moorings available outside the breakwater, and lots of room to anchor.

Oak Bluffs in more the party town. Prepare to get rafted up on moorings or take a slip with people walking buy your boat to the wee hours. If you want peace and quite, don't go.

Edgartown is also very nice. We like to anchor outside the harbor in settled conditions. There's a lot of current now in the harbor since the breach on the south side opened up.

I think I remember Block to Cuttyhunk as around 40 km. In prevailing SW this can be a nice sail. Be sure to find the guys with the raw bar boat in the evening. Great stuff.

Have fun.

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by janina30

Hi all - I am new to this site..... just looking to see if anyone has any tips for my first 2 wk excursion. Hopefully my 1977 catalina 30 will be up to the trip.

we are taking off out of old lyme marina on the 7/7 to a mooring at the watch hill boat yard. From there to Jamestown for the night of 7/8 where I have reserved a mooring as well at conanicut marina. 7/9 up to Cuttyhunk where I put a reservation in for a slip then on the 10th over to vineyard haven where I have a reservation through the 14th. On the 14th hope to sail around and spend a night in menemsha bight (weather cooperating), then over to block for a few and back to old lyme.

So questions I come up with - how rough is it from MV to BI and how long has it taken - I have the computerized maptech program but I would like some real time information?

2. menemsha sees like a bit of a hassle but worth it? is the only place for a 30' boat with a 6ft draft in the bight where it can be a bit choppy or is the pond deep enough

3. traveling east to buzzards bay - should i go all the way up to woods hole and track backwards to my slip at cuttyhunk or can i go through quicks hole pretty easily

thanks so much for all the interesting information I have already received just by checking out the posts!
-Stacey

Sounds like a great plan. Love each of your stops.

Jamestown: Dinner outside at Trattoria Sympatico -- a bit pricey. The Narragansett Cafe has great blues bands most nights and no cover.

Cuttyhunk is great. Very quiet. We love to have breakfast at the Fisherman's club or Anglers club, or some name like that. It is on a bluff on the Southern part of the island. Awesome views. They only serve breakfast. Make sure you walk up the main street to the old fort at the high point of the island for views of the Harbor and Buzzard's Bay.

Vineyard Haven is great. Art Club for awesome breakfast and lunch. There's also a great place to eat lobster outdoors for cheap at a picnic table on the same strip. Also, Black Dog is fun for dinner, but remember, it's a dry town, so bring your own.

Menemsha is well worth it. One of my favorites. Beautiful sunsets. Great raw bar. Still very quaint fishing village (but busy in high season). But it is very rolly outside, even in good weather. If you call the Chilmark Harbor Master at 7:00 AM (I think) from Cuttyhunk you might be able to get a reservation for that night inside Menemsha. You should be fine with six feet. Ask the Harbolr master when you call. Big tidal rip in and out of the harbor.

Quick's Hole is wide and very manageable. Just make sure you time it right or you won't make much progress. If you don't have Eldridge, buy it.

Have a great trip.

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Familiarize yourself with Sakonnet, RI, and Westport, MA. If the weather is bad, those are your two options between Cuttyhunk and Block Island.

On a lighter note: MV has a great bus system. Buy a day pass, and you can visit Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Gay Head, etc while moored in Vineyard Haven

[JimsCAL]

I've anchored in Menemsha bight. OK in good weather. The pond is too shallow to get into with your draft. There are several moorings inside (three boats rafted per mooring I believe).

Quicks Hole is doable. Just don't try it in fog.

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

I've anchored in Menemsha bight. OK in good weather. The pond is too shallow to get into with your draft. There are several moorings inside (three boats rafted per mooring I believe).

Quicks Hole is doable. Just don't try it in fog.

Ask the harbormaster about your draft. I think you should be fine.