| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 164.1 | | SUMMIT::THOMAS | | Thu Aug 29 1985 09:01 | 19 |
| You might try Boston Harbor or Casco Bay. But before you just launch I'd
recommend you talk to someone who's sailed in the area, that you have up-to-date
charts (assuming you know how to use charts - not meant to patronise butyou
don't describe your level of experience), Coast Guard mandated safety gear (at a
minimum), and a reliable engine.
If you're not familiar with tidal actions, rise & fall, currents, etc., try to
go out with someone (on their boat!) in a tidal area before you try it on your
own. Learn the "Rule of 12ths" and apply it to your sailing plans in any tidal
area.
Do you know how the prevailing SW winds act depending on the time of day?
Above all, be prudent!!
Sorry if I pontificatd,
Ed
|
| 164.2 | | USMRW1::BRYAN | | Thu Aug 29 1985 09:39 | 24 |
| If you're willing to drive a bit, try sailing in relatively protected
waters such as Narragansett Bay in R.I. or Buzzard's Bay from South
Dartmouth to Onset. Buzzard's Bay is subject to greater tidal currents
in places (Wood's Hole is the most obvious example), but its a great
crusing locale. Watch out for ships if you sail in the shipping
channels.
Narragansett Bay is a roomy bay that has fairly predicatable winds: SW
5-15 knots, dying midday and returning about 3:00 p.m. (sometimes up to
15-25 knots). If you can't find good sailing here, there's no
salvation.
A motor is mandatory for open ocean (I think), and I suppose you could
get away without one in Buzzard's or Narragansett Bays --- but you
should still have one: harbors are busy, winds die, currents are
sometimes nasty, and bridges to windward are tricky.
I know next nothing on trailoring and where to launch. Call one of the
marinas.
-RPR-
P.S: BEWARE OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CRAZIES ON THE WATER THIS WEEKEND!
|
| 164.3 | | RDF::RDF | | Thu Aug 29 1985 10:54 | 17 |
| Ill second the Narragansett Bay vote, but it probably depends on where you
are located. Sounds like North Shore might be closer. I would think
twice about Boston Harbor in a daysailor, but maybe its because I like to
swim off the back of the boat :-)
Buzzards Bay is nice, but you can get steep choppy seas (4 to 6 ft) when
the winds and tide are right (every few days) and an 18 ft daysailer should
not venture out too far. See Eldriges about tides and weather here. You
really want it with you there and in Vineyard sound.
I had a daysailor in the bay for 2 years, and outside of having to sail into
a slip, it wasn't bad. I'd recommend the motor though, in case
you're stranded in a calm. The winds in the bay are predictable, and the SW
5-20 knots in Narraganset bay make it quite enjoyable.
Rick
|
| 164.4 | | MTBLUE::BELTON_TRAVI | | Thu Aug 29 1985 13:57 | 12 |
| If Casco Bay (Portland, ME area) is not too far away, it is outstanding for
daysailing. On the more pleasant days I see many daysailors out among the
islands in 15-19 foot boats. You have your choice of sailing inside the
innermost line of islands in protected waters, or venturing out past the
last row of islands to open ocean.
The tides are about 10 feet producing pretty good currents in some of the
sounds, but these can be avoided or lived with. I don't trailor my boat, but
I think there's a public ramp in So Portland__you'd need to check this.
-Travis
|
| 164.5 | | PSYCHE::GRANT | | Thu Aug 29 1985 13:15 | 8 |
| I second the motion for Casco Bay. It's well protected in the inner bay
with 5-15 Knot winds much of the time. I've been there 2 years now, with
a Chrysler 26'. To find the public ramp, drive to the end of Broadway in
S. Portland. When you come to South Point Marina, turn left. The ramp is
right over there. The tidal currents aren't too bad, but watch out for the
turbulence created by some of the large oil tankers that off-load in S.
Portland.
|
| 164.6 | | HYSTER::MAZER | | Thu Sep 05 1985 14:59 | 14 |
| Casco Bay, while a mini-haul for most of us, is truly an excellent place to sail daysailers. There are many islands just offshore which you can sail right up to to if you have a centerboard, as most of them have sandy beaches. The bay is also fairly
well protected, yet most of the time I've sailed there we've had
good steady winds. A great place to launch is the public landing at Falmouth
Foreside, just two miles north of Portland.
Get off the maine Turnpike at exit 6 or 7 (I forget) and get on I-195, I think
it is, which scoots by Portland. Follow signs to Route 1 Noeth--Falmouth
Foreside, go over a causeway, proceed one-half mile to Rt. 88, which bears
off to the right. Go a few hundred yards past Handy Boat yard, and turn right.
It's an easy launch from the landing!
Good Luck, Andy Mazer
|