Conference unifix::sailing

     See note #294.10 and 294.11
    
     Price is still the same this year. Moorings are always available.

    
    Paul:
    
    
    	I am planning on mooring my boat in Newburyport this year
    	at Yankee Marine and would like to known what problems you 
    	have had during tide changes, bridges, entering the port
    	in fog, and the effects of the river current.
    
    
    					Richard

    While not Paul (-: I have been sailing out of Nbt for 8 years so
    may be able to give you some useful info. Basically the river runs,
    and runs, and runs.. about 3kn out, a little less in. Tide charts
    are not accurate and current turns ~ 1/2 - 1 hr. after low water
    and and high water. Fog is fog like elsewhere but does tend to stay
    out of the river but does come, when it does, with a vengence and
    usually on the fall of the tide. You have to watch the marks and
    keep looking aft to be sure you're not being set out of the channel.
    
    The bridge is personed from around 6 am until 11 pm from I believe
    April through Sept. and adheres to a blast on the horn and channel
    13 VHF. They are pretty good about opening on demand. A wave and
    a thanks go a long way the next time... 
    
    The biggest problem is the mouth of the Merrimack; its a dredged
    channel, over a sandbar, and fills in pretty quickly although you
    almost always have 8'mlw. HOWEVER: on an outgoing tide and anything
    from the East/south it is a bear. Frequently with 8'+ close spaced
    seas, breaking, marks towed under etc. BUT: regardless of what the
    chart (based on 1963 info I believe..) indicated stay close (and
    I mean close enough to scare you..) to the NORTH jetty. There is
    plenty of water up to the rocks and the breaking is not so bad.
    Follow the fishermen/lobstermen. There IS a strobe light on the
    old Coast Guard building which supposedly goes on when the conditions
    are dangerous but often it seems to stay on all the time in a good
    sou'wester. Best thing is, if you are not already outside, to ease
    your way on an outgoing bad situation and take stock. It is easier
    to get out then to get in under similar conditions. Often, on the
    change of tide and the higher the better even very bad conditions
    will improve to let you get in. I assume you have an inboard engine.
    An outboard will be useless in all but good conditions. Every year
    someone comes to doom there, generally visitors or drunks, but we
    all can get caught. It is considered one of the worst river entrances
    on the East coast, for good reason. Generally each year there is
    at least 1 or 2 days when we choose to go up-river.. But, with care
    and intelligence, you won't have any problems. The best guide is
    to watch the fishermen. When they don't go out there is a reason.
    Go and see from inside and judge how your boat will fare. And give
    it a try with preparation. The point of no return going out is about
    at the last lighted mark. Coming in its right at the breaker line.
    Last year I came in from wintering in the Annisquam and it looked
    so bad that I tied myself in but managed to sneak by the North jetty
    without even taking water into my pram. Use wind AND power under
    these conditions.
    
    Anyway have a good summer. Its really worth it and the warnings
    shouldn't deter you if you keep your head.
    Good sailing, Ed

    Hi.  Here's another input from a Newburyporter.  Along with what
    was said in the previous reply (all true, by the way), one of the
    biggest problems (and getting larger) is the amount of traffic on
    the river.  In that the last 2-3 years has regenerated a large 
    interest in power boats (I don't want to argue the merits, here)
    there is a massive amount of traffic leaving the river in the morning
    and returning in mid-to late afternoon.  Although there is restricted
    speed from the ice breaker (off of the American Yacht Club) into
    the inner harbor, there is no restriction from this point to the
    mouth about a mile away.  The wakes can be massive, particularly
    from the party boats.  I have seen many small sailing craft submerge
    their outboards from the combination of wave action and vessel wake
    at the mouth.  The congestion and general lack of good seamenship
    can really spoil your day if you get caught in this rush.  My advice
    to many people inquiring about the Newburyport harbor is to leave
    early and come back early or after 6:00.  I hate sounding pessimistic,
    but I see this problem getting worse this year as that there are
    3 new party boats coming into the Newburyport harbor and I am told
    that there will be a significant increase in boat traffic (power
    mostly).  There will be a new harbormaster which I believe will
    help the speed inside the icebreaker.
      The good news is that Yankee is very well sheltered.  You don't
    have to fight the car traffic in downtown Newburyport to get there
    and with Doyle buying the place out, it should be pretty well managed.
    Have they told you of their construction plans?  If they are doing
    alot of waterfront work (which, I believe they applied for), could
    this be disruptive to your mooring or slip?  Anyway, there is a
    lot of good things in Newburyport (Yankee Homecoming is a lot of
    fun).  Maybe we'll see you in this year's Windward Invitational.
    Welcome.
    JS

    RE: .2
    
    I HATE TO MENTION IT, BUT, I do not have a sail boat, I.m a
    stinkpotter.
    My boat is up for sale, and when sold, I will probably get either
    a Herrshoff Eagle or a cape Dory 25.
    
    My first year of boating was on the Merrimack River where I moored
    at City Boat in Newburyport.
    
    It is a great place to get experience reAL FAST, and you better
    be a quick learner.
    
    My boat is a light displacement lobster boat with a Volvo I/O and
    is 23 feet LOA.  Going out to the mouth I would have to dio loops
    whenever a large power boat past me from astern as their wakes would
    put me out of control.  I learned to do a loop and take their wakes
    head on.
    
    I have gone out through the jetties when their was 5-6 foot breaking
    seas (not wise) I was so tired when I made it through that after
    15 minutes of rest, I headed back in (again not wise) however, I
    had sufficient power so that I could do 20 knots and I was able
    to ride the back of the breaker ahead of me (you can't always do
    that as some times the waves travel at 30 knots.
    
    I have seen the current in the river so bad that all our mooring
    balls were a foot under water (try picking one up under those
    conditions when your by yourself -- fun).
    
    I have seen small sail boats under outboard power going full blast
    against the current making progress backwards (I don't think thats
    right).
    
    Full keel boats with sufficient power don't seem to have any problems
    except that it takes a long time to get from the jetties to the
    bridge.
    
    Bridge is no problem for sail, use channel 13.  They open right
    up.
    
    I enjoyed Newburyport, even having my boat there.  It was nerve
    racking at times, enjoyable at other times.  A challange always.
    
    Good luck, hopes this helps
    
    Paul

    We spent last year at Pickering Wharf in Salem & we will be there
    aagain this summer.  It was fine for us, but we do not require fuel
    and water - we have a Catalina 22 and can haul the amount we need
    of these easily on the shuttle service - this would be more of an
    issue on a larger boat or a power boat.  For these services you
    would have to go over to Beverly Harbor or Marblehead Harbor, both
    not far away.  Overall the price, availability, and closeness to
    Rt. 128 are what make it right (although the traffic from Pickering
    Wharf to 128 can be bad at times).

    
    
    	Well I have finally arrived at Yankee Marine. We arrived at
    the best time of day at the end of a high tide with no wind or heavy
    current. The depth was 20-25 feet and my winged keel draws only
    2'11''. The mast is 35' above the water line.  I am not looking
    forward to challenging the strong current. I have a raft and have
    rowed over to my mooring. Yankee just happens to be at the narrow
    part of the river. I follow the reverse current or eddies up th
    side and then row like mad across the center. Its a lot like white
    water rafting. I am getting a 3hp engine this weekend and feel that
    I will still have to do the same except not row. I own a O'Day 272
    named Crickets, stop by and say hello, this is my first year owning
    a sail boat and would appreciate any advice on how to handle the
    Merrimac River at Newburyport.
    
    					Thanks for the info.
    					Richard