Conference unifix::sailing

    A friend of mine who owns a Hobie 16 lives in Danvers.  He frequently
    puts in at Jubilee beach in Beverly (Salem Harbor).  Also, there's
    a boat ramp over on Winter Island, Salem.  Right next to the power
    plant.  We've used this before, but I really think Jubilee beach
    is preferable.
      
    He's also a member of a fleet that uses Hampton Beach NH as their
    base.  There's also a place up near Plum Island (on the other side of
    the Parker River) that's a popular place to put in cats like yours.  I 
    don't know the name of the place, or exactly how to get there, but I can
    find out for you.  I'll give him a call at work and put the location
    and directions in a subsequent reply here.
    
    If you're interested in sailing on Lake Winnapesauke, there's a
    place to put in at Ellequoya (sp?) State Park, for a small ($2-$3)
    fee.  That's on same side of the lake as Laconia, about 20 minutes
    south of Weir's beach.  I think it's a real bargain, as there's
    not only a really nice (but small) beach there, but also restroom
    facilities.
    
    ... Bob
    

    re .1
    
       On Winnapisakee, go right past Elicoy STate park for about a
    mile. Ames farm is on the left. Nice ramp. Elicoy is only used for
    the New Hampshire State Championships (labor day weekend).
    
       Too bad you own a Prindle. Sandy Bay Yacht club in Rockport races
    Hobie 16's. You could put in on Granite pier in Rockport. 
    
       Duxbury beach can be used very early or late in the season. Once
    the crowds show up, They close it off.
    
       There are lots of lakes in the area that can be good fun. trick
    is to get in and out with all the fisherman as it usually take a
    while to mast/launch a cat. 
    
       IF you owned a Hobie Cat, we have races from Late May thru September
    all over New England. You may wish to check with a local dealer
    for prindle to see when and where they race. It is really good to
    try lots of otherwise closed beaches and meet lots of good friends
    each weekend. I believe there is a dealer in Salem NH near Canopie
    Lake park. You could also call Lear Segel in RI for the info on
    the class racing. The phone number is around here somewhere on a
    recent Oday 25 question. Even if you do not which to race, you can
    always attend and use the facilities.
    
    
       Hope this helps
    
        john
    

    Re .2
    
    Oh yeah, forgot about Ames Farm.  You forgot to mention John that
    it's past Ellequoya if you're coming in from the north (i.e. it's
    south of the state park).  Most of us coming from Mass are coming
    in from the south, past Alton Bay, in which case Ames is before
    the state park.  Also, Rafe and I have put in at the state park
    at times other than Labor Day week-end.  As I said earlier, they
    charge a small admission fee.  But I'm not aware of any other
    restrictions.  As I recall, Ames also charges a fee.  But it's a
    very nice beach.  Last time I was there we rented one of the cottages
    right there at Ames Farm.  It was a real blast.
    
    RE .0
    
    The beach I mentioned in .1 over by Plum Island is called Pavilion
    beach, and it's in Ipswich.  There are two potential problems. 
    First, it's quite rocky at low tide, so cat tracks are recommended
    (or enough hefty human flesh to carry your boat into and out of
    the water).  The second is that last year there was a push by the
    locals to restrict parking to Ipswich residents, which means you'd
    need a town sticker to park there.  I don't know whether or not
    they were successful.
    
    Directions to Pavilion beach are as follows:
    
    Take 1A north into Ipswich.  Go just past the sign for Cranes Beach.
    Bear east off of 1A at the Ipswich Common (where 1A goes left).
    Take a left onto Jeffrey's Neck Road.  Go past the town boat ramp.
    Bear right at the fork.  Pavilion beach is 3-4 miles past the boat
    ramp.
    
    My friend also mentioned there's a place to put in at Salisbury
    Reservation, but he didn't have directions handy for that one.
    
    As far as Sandy Bay yacht club goes, my friend said they have to
    lift your boat into and out of the water by crane.  Sounds kind
    of inconvenient to me.  I know there's a boat ramp at Granite pier.
    I've never used it to launch a cat, but I imagine it could be kind
    of rough when there's waves.
    
    There's also a beach in Manchester where I've seen cats up on the
    beach.  Don't know about any restrictions, but it's right behind
    the little square off of 127.  I've dropped by there when my friend
    was there and taken his boat out for a sail, though.  And I can
    tell you that if you sail there look out for rocks at low tide,
    and those ain't lobster bouys sticking up all around out by the
    islands.  They're nets.  But once you clear the beach area and the
    nets it's OK.
    
    Hope this helps, have fun ...
    
    ... Bob

    RE:.1 &.2 BOB AND JOHN , I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE INFO ON CAT
    SAILING...AMES FARM IS UP TO $350/SEASON FROM $200 2 YRS. AGO, IT'S
    GREAT SAILING BUT TOO FAR FROM ANDOVER.  PAVILION BEACH SOUNDS GREAT,
    ANY ADDTL INFO RE: RESIDENTS ONLY? JUBILEE BEACH & SALISBURY RESERV.
    SOUND INTERESTING...ANY ACCESS OR PARKING PROBLEMS? I PLAN TO BY
    THE BIG WHEELS THIS YR. I HAVEN'T FOUND A PRINDLE DEALER YET. 
    THANKS, JERRY

    Just a few notes on Rockport.
    
    The Rockport Yacht Club does not provide any public access to the
    harbor.  The lifts are for members only, plus the traffic on T-wharf
    in the summer would be a real pain in the neck.  On the other hand,
    the last I heard the club is still a good bargain and they have
    quite an active group of Cat sailers.  The club has floats where
    most Cats are kept.  If you want any names and numbers I can put
    you in touch with some people.
    
    Over in the 'Cove, Granite Pier is fairly protected except from
    a South West storm.  It open right on Sandy Bay and is not too
    congested.  They charge something like $5 to launch a boat Memorial
    Day to Labor Day.
    
    Sailing around Rockport is fairly protected due to the breakwater
    that was started and never finished out in the Bay.  You have access
    to Gloucester and Manchester, or you can go North to Essex or Ipswich.
    Some say the oly way to go to Crain's Beach is by boat.
    
    Being at the end of the line Rockport is a bit out of the way, but
    Rt 144 to Rt 62 to Rt 128 will be as quick as going to Salem or
    Marblehead.
    
    Mark
    

    From Andover, Jubilee beach is probably the easiest and quickest
    access.  So I'll provide more info.  First, directions.
    
    Take 114 to 62 east.  Follow 62 into Beverly center.  Get on Rantoul
    or Cabot Street and take toward Salem.  Down where these two streets
    converge you'll see the water.  Where the road you're on bears right to 
    go towards the bridge, take a left, paralleling the water.  If you
    go past McDonald's you just missed it.  Follow that road to the very
    end, about 1/3 mile, past Jubilee Yacht Club.  The road ends at
    the Jubilee beach boat ramp.
    
    Now, as far as parking goes, just obey the posted signs.  Usually
    this means you'll have to park a block or so away from the boatramp.
    Not usually a problem.  But the police do take notice if you park
    where the No Parking signs are posted.  And as the Yacht Club is
    right there, some of the neighbors are sensitive to people not parking
    where they're supposed to.
    
    Try to be aware of the tides, as the beach has a shallow slope and
    at low tide it's a pain (if even possible) to get your car and trailer
    down to the water.  The times we've come in during low tide we've
    usually ended up disconnecting the trailer from the car and hauling
    it down and back by hand (messy with all that black "mud" down there).
    
    If the tide's reasonably high it's an easy access.
    
    The only other "problem" is just that Salem Harbor is not all that
    clean.  In fact, at times it can be downright disgusting.  Just
    figure out where the "bubbler" is out there and try to avoid it,
    especially when the tide's going out.  This means, stay reasonably
    close to the shore (100 yds to 1/2 mile) when going out, whether
    you're heading east or south.  
    
    If you choose to go east you'll be heading straight for Misery Island.
    If the wind's right, a cruise to Gloucester and back is a good day 
    trip.  It's about 10 miles each way, and there's some beaches on 
    Misery Island and in Manchester that you can pull up onto for a break.
    Watch the rocks on Misery though.  And keep in mind that if you
    land on the island, it's a preserve area and they will ask you for
    a couple of dollars admission fee (if they see you that is).
    
    If you follow the coast in the other direction you'll go into Salem
    Harbor, and on to Marblehead beyond that.  You'll usually see other
    cats out in this area.  We'll frequently find another cat out there
    who wants to play.
    
    Watch out around the islands in the Marblehead & Salem area though.
    There are some ledges out there that are exposed at low tide.  And
    if you're not paying attention you can find them when they're just
    a few inches below the water.  Needless to say, this can be a little
    hairy when you look down and see them just beneath you.  They're
    avoidable as long as you pay attention.
    
    If you go past Marblehead you'll head into Lynn harbor and on to
    Nahant beyond that.  This area's beyond the protection of the islands,
    and the waves out there can be pretty exciting sometimes.
    
    Overall it's a nice area, with lots of boats, lots of islands and lots of
    options for places to go with a cat.
    
    Have fun ...
    
    ... Bob

    RE: .3
    
    PAVILION BEACH IN IPSWITCH, LOOKS LIKE ITS AN EASY SAIL TO PLUM
    ISLAND AND CRANES BEACH...ANY FURTHER INFO ON PARKING,ETC LIMITED
    TO LOCAL RESIDENTS?
    
    THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO...
    
    JERRY

       re.3 Your right Bob, although I live in Mass, I come up 3 and
    then follow the highway toward the airport before heading south.
    
            The use of Ames farm is $3.00 for a day, so for a day trip,
    it is very cheap considering you can park there for the day. I don't
    know about the campsites Bob, but everytime I camp next Rafe, it
    is a Blast. That man is crazy!!!
    
          Sandy Bay is a private club. it is about 350 bucks for two
    people plus the float(i.e. mooring) and a sail locker. Yes, you
    have to lower your boat into the water which is a bit tricky the
    first couple of times or on a windy day, when a hobie 16 can be turned
    into a large kite 20 feet above the water (at low tide). The
    real hassle is getting in and out. If you leave the boat there,
    it is super, since your sails are there, and the mast is already
    up. Now if you wish to come and go with your boat on weekends, heaven
    help you. The roads in town are very narrow, the motorcoaches are dumpping
    people all over main street, and and every tourist in 50 miles HAS
    to drive out on the pier and then go back down again. I usually
    will come back later in the week just to get my boat for a race
    elsewhere.
    
        I find the winds really boring around Rockport for a catamaran.
    Most summer days are dead compared to the south side of the cape.
    Then again, I'm not having fun with a 15+ knot wind to allow me
    to fly the hulls.
    
    
        Well, I was going to keep this quiet, but the best place in
    New England for catamaraning is horseneck beach in the westport/new
    bedford area. It is really easy to get to because you just go down
    rt 24 onto 195 for a couple of miles. It is a state park, and parking
    is free. The wind blows like crazy, yet you can sail behind a water
    break which keeps the inner cove like glass. The only problem is
    that you have to get there by 7:30 in the morning on weekends because
    there are only 7 trailer parking slots. It takes me about 1 1/2
    hours to drive around rt 495 (I live 5 miles from Nashua). If you
    were to go down 93 through Boston, you certainly would get there faster.
    
        Finally Jerry, you may wish to check with your local state Senator.
    I hear he is a Hobie Cat nut, and last year was sponsering legislation
    for a small boat ramp just outside the opening to the Merrimack
    river for boats that didn't have motors. I don't know what came
    of it, but you may have a brand new state launch ramp right under your
    nose!
     
                                    
        regards
    
        john (who hope to be out this weekend on a local lake while
    the rest of you scrape hulls   8>(   
    

                   -->RYE HARBOR N.H.<--
    I love to sail my Hobie 16 out of Rye Harbor N.H. There's plenty
    of room for parking and set-up. $5 for launch and parking (last
    year anyway). The Isle's of Shoals are about 6 miles due east.
    They make for a nice day trip if there is a good breeze. When
    driving up, avoid Hampton Beach at all costs. Take Rt. 95 up to
    Rt. 51, then north on Rt. 1a.
    
    I have sailed out of Ames Farm several times and it is a nice facility,
    but that is the south end of the lake and the wind is better at
    the north end.
    
    My favorite lake sailing is Newfound Lake. It's 20 or 30 miles east
    of Winnepesake. Nice wind, fantastic scenery, crystal clear water,
    and far less crowded. There are only 2 small public launches, they
    are both along the west shore.
     
                                    Happy Sailing,
                                         Jeff Johnsen

    RE .7
    
    Pavilion beach is certainly an easy sail to Plum Island.  In fact
    it's only about 150 yards, across the swirling waters of the Parker
    River.  Crane's beach is just to the south.  There's lots of
    interesting sand bars out there to sail up onto at low tide.
    
    I still haven't been able to find out about the local parking, etc.
    restrictions.  Stay tuned ...
    
    Re .3
    
    That beach I mentioned in Manchester is actually in Magnolia.  Sorry,
    I always get these two mixed up.  It may also be a "residents only"
    beach though.  I have friends that use it a lot, but they live across
    the street.  I'll check into it when I get the chance.
    
    ... Bob

    If you don't mind fresh water, there is a lake on the Dracut/tyngsboro
    line. There is a nice ramp and lots of parking. It is all free,
    but once it gets really nice out, you have to put up with all the
    fishermen putting in/ coming out. At the far end of the lake is
    some guy with 11 Hobie 16s at his house (all set to go). He can
    usually be induced to come out by simply sailing by his little
    regatta! Easiest way I know to get to it is cross the Merrimack
    river in Tyngsboro and then bear left. Just past the blue moon
    strip joint is a street to the right called Lakeview. turn onto
    it and keep on going until you come up on the ramp on the right.
    
    
    john
    
     p.s. The wind as really gusty yesterday, and the water sure was
    cold.  Someday I am going to learn not to push my luck flying hulls
    the first day of the season.  8>)
                                     

    Just got off the phone with a friend of mine who lives in Ipswich.
    Forget Pavilion beach unless you just want to windsurf there.  She
    said they banned boats from the beach altogether. 
    
    Another one bites the dust ...
    
    ... Bob
    

    That beach in Magnolia is in fact a public beach.  I finally got
    around to asking about it.  It's right behind the Edgewater Cafe,
    across from the Surf.  Incidentally, when you're done sailing and
    need something to warm you up, that cafe offers the best Mexican
    food in the North Shore.  And it's BYOB.
    
    ... Bob

    During the holidays, I have been out checking out the damage from Bob
    and the Unnamed Nor'Eastern we had this fall. I have cased the south
    shore and will soon try to get out to the Cape, Mass Bay and North
    Shore. These reports are all personal observations, and will be
    confirmed with locals in the next few weeks as part of an article I am
    putting together for our fleet newsletter.
    
    Horseneck Beach is wiped out. They are just starting to repair some of
    the houses. The island is fine, but the road out is half gone and 
    closed. A friend tells me it is scheduled to be fixed for 3 years
    because of  budget cuts, but they trying to get it done in 1. Not sure
    if it will be ready for the first of the year. The shoreline east of it
    is gone. All the houses are gone. A lot of new septic systems are now
    in, so it is a matter of time before houses start spouting up. The fine
    sandy beaches are now a steep dropoff of baseball-to-softball sized
    stones. 
    
       New Bedford launches down by Fort Adams don't look too bad. I was
    surprized that the low tide yacht club is still standing as are most
    of the houses. Even Davy Jones locker restr. is open for business (I
    heard they had 4 feet of water in there from Bob). The state ramps
    look ok, and the beaches look ok, if a bit narrower than before.
    
    Monument Beach Didn't look too bad (compared to the 3 hand reports of 
    total destruction I heard of). The beach is a bit of a mess, but every
    thing seems to be there. It looks like it needs a good cleaning. The
    State boat ramp looks fine.
    
    Hopefully I will get a chance to scout Hampton, Salsbury, Duxbury and
    Mashpee this weekend. Stay tuned...
    
    john