Long Island to Nantucket in a CD27

[donald metznik]

I'm thinking about making a trip this spring from the south shore of Long Island to Nantucket. This would be the longest trip that I've taken the boat on so I'd like to get some information about a few things before I decide. First, what are the conditions of the waters that I would be travelling through? Second, what kind of preperation would the boat need? Third, how long would it take? And lastly, what route should be taken? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks a lot and happy sailing.

Don



donald.metznik@mail.trincoll.edu

[Dana]

It is good sailing water. It starts off with deep water (140') but you will be entering shoals and CURRENT as you get closer to Nantucket. I would suggest stopping at Block Island (West Harbor) and then take your pick of Cuttyhunk, Hadley's Harbor, or vineyard Haven as good places to stop. The current increasing dramatically between Martha's Vineyard/Nantucket and the mainland. You should have a good tide/current chart. You may find like most of us did, that "riding" the current in the direction of travel saves many, many hours. If you go up Buzzards Bay, watch the current change at Woods Hole. The approximate 7 knots of current there is something else. You must catch the tide change. Between the Vineyard and Natucket there are a number of shoals. Pick a good day for the final jump out from the Vineyard. Spring brings the promise of less other boaters thus room at Cuttyhunk or Hadleys but early spring can be rough. Loran/GPS is a definite plus. Area, of course, known for fog. It took me about 3 days between Chatham and Block Island in less than ideal early spring weather. It just depends on the weather. The winds unless they are out of the SE (foul) are in your favor.

Dana



arenius@aol.com

[chuck yahrling]

I'm thinking about making a trip this spring from the south shore of Long Island to Nantucket. This would be the longest trip that I've taken the boat on so I'd like to get some information about a few things before I decide. First, what are the conditions of the waters that I would be travelling through? Second, what kind of preperation would the boat need? Third, how long would it take? And lastly, what route should be taken? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks a lot and happy sailing.

Don

Try to get or read the "Cruising Guide to New England" I read through the chapters recently and all of the cautions mentioned in other posts are detailed. I would want it on board if I were making that passage.

$0.02




yahrling@cybertours.com

[Carl Nord]

Made the trip a number of times from the Conc River/ Stonington area in my former 27 (Nord*Star). A nice stop on the way is up the Sakonnet River (Fogland Point). Next day leave early and plan to get into Cuttyhunk EARLY for a mooring inside. With the 27 the poles up close to the dock are a good choice. (Call Charles Tilton on the VHF)If you have favorable tides the trip to Nantucket can be made in one day. Otherwise go up into Woods Hole area (WATCH THE CHART) for a night, or the south shore of the Cape. If you spend a night on the Vineyard first, chart your course carefully over to Nantucket. I have made a number of direct runs to Nantucket from Edgertown, but you have to be careful. You can (and I have ) lightly touch the sand bottom on the way. A odd feeling to be out of sight of land and see sandbars ! But the CD will handle it.
I agreee that a tide table and chart are essential, and a good cruising book. It is a fun place to go to. The Cruising guide to the New England coast may still have a handwritten chart on how to get to the extreame East end of the harbor. A zig zag unmarked course that gives you wonderful privacy and the feeling of being on a tropical Island. (low Barrier beech to the north. A bit of a challange but worth it.
Good luck. The boat will do well by you.
Carl Nord
http://pages.cthome.net/nord/index.html



cnord@snet.net

[David Evans]

I'm thinking about making a trip this spring from the south shore of Long Island to Nantucket. This would be the longest trip that I've taken the boat on so I'd like to get some information about a few things before I decide. First, what are the conditions of the waters that I would be travelling through? Second, what kind of preperation would the boat need? Third, how long would it take? And lastly, what route should be taken? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks a lot and happy sailing.

Don

Don:

I have taken my old Catalina 22 to Nantucket from Narragansett Bay a couple of times (I have since seen the light and sail a cd25). I use tide current tables to decide whether to shoot Buzzard's Bay and cut through Woods Hole, or take Vineyard Sound. Lake Tashmoo (next to Oak Bluffs) is a very quiet stopover. Nantucket Harbor was dredged last year, so its pretty easy to follow the marks up to the end of the harbor "Head of the Harbor". I avoid the shoals between Edgartown and Muskeget, but I'm a natural chicken about that sort of thing.

Woods Hole can be dangerous. Last Summer I called the Army Corps of Engineers at the Cape Cod Canal, and they very kindly ran their computer program that predicts current velocities at various times. Next time I go, I will certainly call them again. Good Luck DE



evansd@ride.ri.net

[Jon Larson]

Don,

Use common sense and watch the weather and sail in stuff you think you can handle. I agree strongly with the advice to have either a Loran or a GPS on board that you know how to use. I made one trip out with a friend and was most pleased that he had radar, also, the fog can really be soupy. Nantucket is a beautiful place and a most rewarding cruise destination and with reasonable care to your sailing and navigation abilities, you'll be glad you went.

A number of people have recommended Cuttyhunk as a good place to overnight. Cuttyhunk is a beautiful harbor, great place to be during a blow, but sadly, 2/3 of the East Coast believes that also. While PERI was still cruising the East Coast, our last two visits to Cuttyhunk made me decide to NEVER again moor inside the harbor during the main cruising season unless they had gone to all permanent moorings. We had one guy come along and catch our anchor line in his spade rudder while he was trying to anchor, and then try to back off. He really chewed up a good anchor line. We calmed him down, went under and got the line under his rudder and helped him anchor properly a good distance away. The last trip was a night of vicious squalls, boat after boat had their anchors drag, amazing that some people will anchor a 40 foot boat with something adequate for a rowboat. I sat up all night prepared to fend off the boats as they blew about. During the squalls and while they were barging about the harbor fouling other's anchors and bashing other boats, an incredible number of people wouldn't even come on deck during the rain to do anything about it. Many ended up on the beach. PERI's 35 pound CQR never moved. Our cruising companions anchor did because some idiot dropped their anchor on his, hauled up both anchors and then just took off. Enough was enough and never again as the crowding and idiot component in there was just too much. If I were in the Cuttyhunk area and wished to spend the night, I'd rent a permanent mooring at the outside of the harbor and then dink in to walk about that beautiful island.

Jon Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay

I'm thinking about making a trip this spring from the south shore of Long Island to Nantucket. This would be the longest trip that I've taken the boat on so I'd like to get some information about a few things before I decide. First, what are the conditions of the waters that I would be travelling through? Second, what kind of preperation would the boat need? Third, how long would it take? And lastly, what route should be taken? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks a lot and happy sailing.

Don

jon9@ix.netcom.com