Dozens of times we're just gone for a quick sail in Pleasant Bay.
These trips in the confines of a few square miles, generally in
perfect weather and visibility are not worth plotting on a chart or
recording. This accounts for most of our sailing.
Trips up and down the channel (about 5.5 miles from our mooring to
outside Chattam Harbor) and just outside the channel are also
generally uneventful and are not recorded. Our finding is that with a
draft of 27 inches, the depth in the channel is adequate, though we
can no longer make it through without grounding in sand at dead low
tide. The harbormaster advised us to avoid 2 hours to either side of
low tide if possible.
So far we've recorded logs ad hoc. Some times the information
recorded is more complete than other times. Next season we'll be
trying out some new log sheets which
should result in more complete and more consistent logs.
|
Date: August 8, 2002 |
Summary: Sail to
Monomoy Cut entrance and back. |
|
Crew: Curtis, Tara, Erin, Daniel. |
Photos |
|
Comments: The "cut" is the narrow and exteremely
shallow channel between North and South Monomoy (don't go there
without local knowledge). We could not enter under sail due to
the opposing ebb current from the cut. Tara felt mildly seasick
and so wanted to go home rather than motor up the cut to see the
seal haulout.
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Date: August 13, 2002 |
Summary: Singlehanding
to Nantucket. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
Photos |
|
Comments: Visibility was very limited.
Navigation much of the time was GPS with visual confirmation of
markers. Little progress was made between 10 AM and 1 PM, sailing
upwind against current. Polluck Rip was entered at about 2 PM,
exited at 5PM. Nantucket Harbor was reached in total darkness.
The range lights were used to enter the channel under sail. A
minor grounding in soft bottom across from Brandt point. Anchored
under motor.
|
|
Date: August 14, 2002 |
Summary: Return
from Nantucket. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
No Photos |
|
Comments: Wind was variable in strength from well
under 5 knots to about 20 knots in late afternoon. Visibility was
limited somewhat, but not a problem. Some surfing was done in
morning. Pollucks Rip was exited at RN"6", cutting across Bearse
Shoal toward RW"C". Progress was best 12:30 to 1PM, reaching 6.8
knots on a broad to beam reach. Current was favorable throughout
the day, except an ebb current in Pleasant Bay. The day's sailing
began and ended with the strongest winds.
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Date: August 18, 2003 |
Summary: Pleasant Bay
to Nantucket. |
|
Crew: Curtis, Andy. |
Photos |
Comments: The prior day had stormy weather with
strong winds from the East. NOAA predictions for Monday initially
indicated a possibility of small craft advisory, but were later
revised to 15-20 knots from the North with 3-4 foot waves. By
Monday morning predictions were again revised down to 10-15 knots.
We had early moderate winds within Pleasant Bay, 15 knots or so.
In the channel and after leaving Chatham Break, the winds
decreased to 10 knots, later decreased even further. Visibility
was very good to excellent.
| Intended course (total distance 29.7 nm) |
| RW "C" to RW "PR" | C 176 M | D 7.5 nm |
| RW "PR" to GC "5" | C 274 M | D 4.1 nm |
| GC "5" to R "8" | C 276 M | D 2.2 nm |
| R "8" to R "12" | C 232 M | D 4.4 nm |
| R "12" to G "15" | C 208 M | D 3.8 nm |
| G "15" to RW "NB" | C 200 M | D 7.7 nm |
|
|
Date: August 20, 2003 |
Summary: Nantucket
to Edgartown. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
Photos |
Comments: Winds were predicted to be 10 knots
overnight, but were 15-20 or more. Winds were predicted to be
15-20 and started that way but died almost completely and returned
very light. Headway was sufficiently poor that the current in
Nantucket Sound shifted before light winds returned. This
relatively short trip ended up taking a very long time.
| Intended course (total distance 26.3 nm) |
| RW "NB" to near G "17" | C 346 M | D 10.7 nm |
| near G "17" to CRC | C 292 M | D 4.2 nm |
| CRC to RW "NS" | C 295 M | D 4.8 nm |
| RW "NS" to EH1 | C 261 M | D 3.9 nm |
| EH1 to EH2 | C 212 M | D 1.9 nm |
| EH2 to EH3 | C 212 M | D 0.8 nm |
| EH3 into harbor | C 265 M | -- |
| Note: CRC is a waypoint in "Cross Rip Channel",
about midway between R "20" and G "21". EH1, EH2, and EH3 are
waypoints in the Edgartown Harbor approach. |
|
|
Date: August 22, 2003 |
Summary: Edgartown
to Vineyard Haven. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
Photos |
Comments: Winds were predicted to be 10-15 knots
and for once NOAA was right. This was a short sail, good wind,
and took only three hours mooring to anchor.
| Intended course (total distance less than 7 nm) |
| EH1 to EC1 to EC2 | C 319 M | D 4.4 nm |
| EC2 to VH1 | C 286 M | D 1.2 nm |
| VH1 to VH2 | C 221 M | D 0.9 nm |
| VH2 to VH3 | C 238 M | D 0.4 nm |
| Note: EH1, EH2, and EH3 are waypoints in the
Edgartown Harbor approach. EC1 and EC2 are waypoints near
East Chop. VH1, VH2, and VH3 are waypoints in Vineyard
Haven Harbor. |
|
|
Date: August 23, 2003 (morning) |
Summary: Vineyard
Haven to Nowhere. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
Photos |
Comments: Winds were predicted to be 15-20 knots
from the NW. Actual winds were from the NW but very weak. This
was to be a sail to Newport but was aborted due to lack of wind.
Due to currents best departure times were 7:30-8 AM or 8-8:30 PM
or the next day at 8:30-9 AM.
| Intended course (total distance 43.8 nm, not
including distance from Vineyard Haven to RW "NW") |
| RW "NW" to VSE | C 090 M | D 1.8 nm |
| VSE to R "30" | C 259 M | D 12.4 nm |
| R "30" to R "32" | C 255 M | D 6.3 nm |
| R "32" to R "2" | C 300 M | D 19.0 nm |
| R "2" to R "4" | C 015 M | D 0.7 nm |
| R "4" to NH1 | C 005 M | D 1.2 nm |
| NH1 to NH3 | C 061 M | D 1.9 nm |
| NH3 to NH4 | C 144 M | D 0.5 nm |
| Note: VSE is a waypoint in Vineyard Sound on the
East side. NH1, NH2, NH3, and NH4 are GPS waypoints on the
way to Newport Harbor. NH1, NH2, and NH3 are on a
straight line. |
|
|
Date: August 23, 2003 (night sail) |
Summary: Vineyard
Haven to Block Island. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
No Photos |
Comments: Winds were predicted to be 15-20 knots
from the NW with gusts to 25 and 2-4 foot waves. Winds from the
NW are ideal for destinations such as Newport or Block Island
which are to the SW. Due to currents best departure times were
8-8:30 PM or the next day at 8:30-9 AM. To make sure to get out
before winds died, a night sail was undertaken.
| Intended course (total distance 57.6 nm) |
| VH3 to VH2 | C 058 M | D 0.4 nm |
| VH2 to VH1 | C 041 M | D 0.9 nm |
| VH1 to RW "NW" | C 308 M | D 2.4 nm |
| RW "NW" to VSE | C 090 M | D 1.8 nm |
| VSE to R "30" | C 259 M | D 12.4 nm |
| R "30" to R "32" | C 255 M | D 6.3 nm |
| R "32" to R "2" | C 300 M | D 23.5 nm |
| R "2" to G "1BI" | C 253 M | D 5.6 nm |
| G "1BI" to WP1 | C 224 M | D 2.2 nm |
| WP1 to R "2" | C 185 M | D 1.5 nm |
| R "2" to GSP | C 159 M | D 0.6 nm |
| Note: VH1, VH2, and VH3 are waypoints in
Vineyard Haven Harbor. VSE is a waypoint in Vineyard Sound on
the East side. WP1 is a waypoint to the northwest of Block
Island intended to keep out of the shallow water on the way to
the harbor enterance. GSP is a waypoint in Great Salt
Pond. |
|
|
Date: August 27, 2003 |
Summary: Block
Island to Vineyard Haven. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
Photos |
Comments: Winds were predicted to be 15-20 knots
from the SW. This was close to accurate with winds starting at
10-15 and dimishing half way through Vineyard Sound where strong
following currents keeping progress good. Winds picked up as West
Chop was neared. Good progress was made on the entire trip, with
6 knots or more wing and wing sailing for an hour or two while
crossing of Rhode Island Sound.
| Intended course (total distance 57.1 nm) |
| GSP to R "2" | C 339 M | D 0.6 nm |
| R "2" to WP1 | C 005 M | D 1.5 nm |
| WP1 to G "1BI" | C 044 M | D 2.2 nm |
| G "1BI" to R "32" | C 094 M | D 28.6 nm |
| R "32" to R "30" | C 075 M | D 6.3 nm |
| R "30" to VSE | C 079 M | D 12.4 nm |
| VSE to RW "NW" | C 270 M | D 1.8 nm |
| RW "NW" to VH1 | C 128 M | D 2.4 nm |
| VH1 to VH2 | C 221 M | D 0.9 nm |
| VH2 to VH3 | C 238 M | D 0.4 nm |
| Note: GSP is a waypoint in Great Salt Pond. WP1
is a waypoint to the northwest of Block Island intended to
keep out of the shallow water on the way to the harbor
enterance. VSE is a waypoint in Vineyard Sound on the East
side. VH1, VH2, and VH3 are waypoints in Vineyard Haven
Harbor. |
|
|
Date: August 28-29, 2003 |
Summary: Vineyard
Haven to Pleasant Bay. |
|
Crew: Curtis. |
Photos |
Comments: The prediction was for 10-15 knots,
which direction seemed to depend on the forecast area, Nantucket
Sound was to get SW, becoming variable and weak in late evening,
stronger the next day with showers and thundershowers the next
evening. I didn't want to be in a tourist mecca on Labor Day
weekend so to beat the thunderstorms I decided to sail right away,
possibly stopping at Chatham and taking the Monomoy Cut or
possibly anchoring outside Nantucket and taking Polluck Rip after
a current shift. If the wind held I might be able to make Polluck
Rip before 10 PM and anchor in the Atlantic until first light and
then enter Chatham Break. It didn't. About half way between G
"17" and PR-W (see below) I made a diversion to anchor which added
about 18 nm to the trip. This ended up being a 28 hour
singlehanded sail of nearly 70 nm with 5 hours spent on anchor in
two different places waiting for current or tide change.
| Intended course (total distance 45.1 nm, plus
about 5nm to get to Pleasant Bay) |
| VH3 to VH2 | C 058 M | D 0.4 nm |
| VH2 to VH1 | C 041 M | D 0.9 nm |
| VH1 to RW "NW" | C 308 M | D 2.4 nm |
| RW "NW" to R "22" | C 115 M | D 6.7 nm |
| R "22" to RW "NS" | C 115 M | D 4.0 nm |
| RW "NS" to CRC | C 115 M | D 4.7 nm |
| CRC to G "17" | C 111 M | D 4.2 nm |
| G "17" to PR-W | C 085 M | D 6.7 nm |
| PR-W to R "12" | C 055 M | D 3.6 nm |
| R "12" to R "8" | C 071 M | D 1.5 nm |
| R "8" to GC "5" | C 100 M | D 2.2 nm |
| GC "5" to PR-E | C 082 M | D 2.2 nm |
| PR-E to RW "C" | C 000 M | D 5.6 nm |
| Note: VH1, VH2, and VH3 are waypoints in
Vineyard Haven Harbor. CRC is a waypoint in Cross Rip
Channel. PR-W and PR-E are waypoints at the west and east
entrance to Polluck Rip. |
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