I'm sorry not to have noticed your post until some 3 months after you posted it! Would be interested to hear how your cruise itinerary panned out (and what type of boat you were sailing).

I haven't tried Quisseet yet, but it's high on my to-do list. I'm a big fan of Red Brook and Hadley, though for very different reasons. Either would have been viable alternatives for your 2nd leg.

Around the outer Cape from P-town is a good haul. I think you're wise to pick Stage Harbor (Chatham), as Woods Hole would be a very long trek. Saquatucket Harbor is Harwich is also a good alternative (though it's slips only; no moorings or anchorage).

Tarpaulin Cove and Menemsha are on the Vineyard Sound side of the Elizabeth Islands; Hadley and Cuttyhunk are on the Buzzards Bay side. All 4 are great spots to visit (though Tarpaulin isn't really a harbor). Vineyard Haven is also cool.

Anyhow, hope you had a terrific cruise. I'll try to be a little more timely about picking up on Cape Cod cruising threads in the future!

 

Hi ACKward,

Thanks for your belated reply. And your thoughts and suggestions. We ended up skipping the outer cape, and it being the week of 4th of July, hit the following itinerary:

Barrington, RI to Third Beach, Newport (Nasty weather system had big waves hitting us all the way down the Sakonnet River for 3 hours)

Newport to North Falmouth, MA Nasty, washing machine weather at the intersection of the Sakonnet and Buzzard's Bay that day. We had free dockage at Brewer's Fiddler's cove, which get my wife's award for "best bathrooms facilities ever").

North Falmouth through Cape Cod Canal to Plymouth, MA We stayed for 2 days after having an easy time with our first traverse through the canal.

Plymouth to Manomet, MA We have friends who live here, and while not a protected anchorage we were able to stay overnight without issue, laying out 150 ft of chain.

Manomet through Cape Cod Canal to Catumet, MA. Kingman Yacht Center was a lovely spot.

Catumet to Padanarum A return to this favorite harbor.

Padanarum to Jamestown, RI Conanicut Marine runs a top notch facility that we frequent.

Jamestown to Barrington, RI

Due to the timing with Independence Day, we saw fireworks virtually every night, including the last night in Jamestown, RI where we were moored 25 yrds from the barge firing them off.

Since that time, I've had two other area trips:

1) A trip with some buddies: Perfect weather and wind in August, 2013
Padanarum to Hadley's,
Hadley's through Woods Hole to Edgartown,
Edgartown via Quick's Hole to Cuttyhunk,
Cuttyhunk to Newport, and
Newport to Barrington.

2) Vacation heading West for the first time with the wife:
Barrington to Dutch Harbor, RI
Dutch Harbor to Stonington, CT
Stonington across Long Island Sound to Coeckles Harbor, Shelter Island, NY
Coeckles Harbor to Sag Harbor, NY
Sag Harbor to Montauk, NY (2 nights)
Montauk to Block Island, RI
Block Is. to Newport, RI
Newport to Barrington, RI

Still have some short trips and daysails planned...with heat aboard, we will try to extend our season. Enjoy the rest of the year!

Best wishes,

Mark

 

Hello,
I read details of your plans and ultimate journey with great interest. I am planning a solo sail to circumnavigate Cape Cod beginning June 30 at Quissett Harbor through the Cape Cod Canal - over night at Sandwich Harbor then across the Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown. Then out around outer Cape to Outermost Harbor near the Chatham Light. Thence from Chatham to Nantucket arriving on July 4. I'm sailing a 26 ft Luger Tradewinds with 15 hp outboard. Have made several solo trips but never outside the Cape. Will attempt to reach destinations each day under daylight but trip is planned during full moon phase. Have studied charts, tides and currents - particularly focusing on Race Pt, Pollock Rip, Butler Hole etc. Would greatly appreciate any related advice and recommendations.

Kevin

 

Years ago after I weathered a hurricane in Nantucket on my way to ME.... I decided to go outside and around the Cape to Ptown and the across the gulf the next morning. It was a very nice sail! I've done the CCC to Ptown and back a number of times as well. I liked the outside... very peaceful out there.

 

Just some input......

I've sailed outside the Cape. It's amazing how many lobster pots are out there. No reason not to go, but a straight tack for any length of time was impossible. I was sailing from Boston directly to Nantucket and really thinking that part was going to be open ocean and relaxing. Nothing of the kind. Lots of fishing boats. Pretty view of shore though.

I've been on ACK for the 4th. Great time. You should have a mooring or slip reservation, which sell out. Book now. The anchorage is small, will be filled, has variable holding and is very exposed to NE storm winds. Maybe, with your swing keel, you'll be able to sneak behind the mooring field. However, if the weather is bad, the USCG will broadcast a message saying the harbor is closed to anyone without a reservation.

Some of your legs are pretty long for your boat, but I hope you have good weather and a great time!!