Posted by j32080 (j32080@…>)
Peter,
I’ve done both. Both in the Freedom 21 and in my (faster) J/32, as
well with others.
First off, quite a bit of planning is necessary for both passages.
That said, here are some summaries, tips, etc. for those in the
geographic area that wish to do this.
Some trips I’ve done heading north from the canal:
- (Freedom 21) July, 1995 (the best trip ever!)
Departed, under power, Hen Cove in Pocasset (Red Brook Harbor area)
about 0600 (solo, albeit the dog was with me). Motored through the
canal. Exited the east end of the canal about 0800. Nice SW
breeze. Broad reach under main alone at 5-6+ knots up the coast
toward Boston. Plan was to stop in Scituate harbor depending upon
timing. I was already at Minot’s Light (~5 NM north of Scituate Hbr)
by 1400. Then the cold front came through with a wind shift to the
NW. Motored/motor sailed the remainder to Boston (outer harbor) and
anchored at Worlds End in Hingham/Hull (Weir River).
Now this was the first time that the dog had been on board! She was
in my lap the entire trip up the coast!
-
(J/32) 2007
Same trip. However, more motoring due to lack of wind.
-
I’ve also done the same trip, as crew, on a number of other boats.
In summary, I’ve transited the Cape Code Canal probably close to two
dozen times over the past 20 years.
So yes, you can travel from Boston through the canal, or the reverse
in one (very long) day.
The major issue is knowing when the favorable current window,
depending upon direction, “opens” and “closes”.
This becomes the controlling factor as to where you’ll spend
your “layovers”.
Use the Eldredge Tide and Pilot book
http://www.robertwhite.com/cgi-local/shop.pl?
type=item&item=eldridge_book&categ=rw_eldridge_tideware&nav_bar=weath
er
Also available at virtually every boating supply store on the east
coast.
Current data is also available from the Cape Code Canal
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/ccc/ccchome.htm
I usally plan to use Scituate and Red Brook Harbor as my layover
points. It can still be a long day depending upon wind (lack of,
or “on the nose”) and what time I have to depart in order to make
the current “window”. “O-dark 30” (read: dawn) departures are
common.
Places to stop (harbors of refuge, etc.) listed North to South with
comments.
North of the Canal (Cape Cod Bay)
Best bet is Peddocks Island
(http://www.bostonislands.com/isle_peddocks.html) in either Perry or
Portugese Cove. Anchor or use one of the transient moorings
http://www.bostonislands.com/trip_moorings.html . You’re not too
far from Boston Light and passage south.
This is my routine stopover point (using a mooring) both heading
south through the canal and return.
-
Plymouth
The problem with Plymouth is that it takes a good hour to get all
the way into the harbor. Brewers is the marina. There is also a
yacht club. Very little anchorage areas. Some people I know will
tuck in near Gurnet Point or anchor just at the end of the channel
near Duxbury Pier. Exercise caution with water depth.
-
Sandwich
http://www.sandwichmarina.com/
This is at the East end of the Canal. Reservations required. Web
site has online reservations.
Often used as a stopover point heading south to wait for the current
to shift or after transiting the canal heading north.
South of the Canal (Buzzards Bay)
-
Onset
Just after exiting the canal heading south but still in the Hog
Island entrance channel. Marina plus anchorage. I personally
travel a little further south to the end of the Hog Island channel
and stay in Pocasset/Cataumet.
-
Red Brook Harbor (Cataumet)
I use Parker’s Boat Yard (http://www.parkersboatyard.com/). They
are more “sailboat friendly” and cheaper than Kingman. Nice family-
owned business. The launch is “dot-calm”
Also available is Kingman Yacht Center
(http://www.kingmanyachtcenter.com/)
Just mind your navigation into the harbor. I use the “south
channel”.
Also good anchorage behind Bassetts Island.
— In freedom21@yahoogroups.com, “Peter Devlin” <devlin_peter@…>
wrote:
John, Did you sail to the eastern end of the canal in one day and
then through with the current the next, or go straight down from
Boston and through in one day? Where did you spend the nights?
Are
there transient moorings available at either end of the canal?
Peter,
Sailors always motor through the canal. In fact, it is
illegal
to
sail through. As a sailor, you always transit the canal with
the
current. The current can get up to 6+ knots. Passage time with
a
good current is about 1 - 1 1/2 hours motoring about 6 knots.
As for power boaters, I think that with the current fuel prices,
they will start to time their transit on a favorable current.
I had a 6HP and a 6 gallon tank plus an extra 2 1/2 gallon
portable
plastic container.
-John
— In freedom21@yahoogroups.com, “Peter Devlin” <devlin_peter@>
wrote:
— In freedom21@yahoogroups.com, “j32080” <j32080@> wrote:
Sure. I sailed mine all the way down the coast from Boston,
through
the Cape Cod canal, down Buzzards Bay and all the way to
Newport, RI
and back.
Just mind the weather.
John,
Did you motor through the canal–and was that any kind of
issue
with
regard to enough gas/ little motor etc.? It seems it would
take
a
few
hours to get through the canal, and with a 3 gallon tank and
an
8
HP
motor that could get sketchy.
Peter