Conference unifix::sailing

    Theere are 3 bridges. The route 128 bridge you just sail under (unless
    you're the QE2). Then the railway bridge for B&M railraod. nasty right
    hand turn here and difficult to see what's coming. I'm not sure of the
    frequency. There were all kinds of problems with the bridge due to
    changing over to a hydraulic system. Once I had to wait 3 hours for it
    But lately it seems to be better. best to call ahead. If you have to go
    round the Cape it can take 4-5 hours. The other bridge is the Cut
    bridge that is on route 127. They'll open that when boat traffic builds
    up. best time for all this is HIGH TIDE SLACK WATER. The canal has not
    been dredged for quite a while. It's fine at low tide if you keep 
    to the channel markers and concentrate on that. there's a narrow
    appraoch coming inm from annisquam on the south side. On the north
    side the water gets very shallow but is sand. main thing is get the
    Cape Ann chart and follow the channel markers very closely and you'll
    be ok.
    
    When you get out of the canalkeep to the southside of the harbor and
    watch out for Normans Woe (you'll see it on the chart)
    
    

    Try to make your trip at slack water (preferably high). The current can
    run 2-3 knots, and strengthens at the bridges due to the narrowing of
    the channel (particularly at the cut at Gloucester harbor). One of my
    more interesting early sailing experiences was to be dismasted by
    collision with that bridge when our (very) inexperience skipper assumed
    he need only blow his horn and motor up, and the bridge would open.
    When he realized his mistake, the current had us and backing down did
    not prevent us from hitting the bridge. Scary.
    
    The other thing to beware of is commercial fishermen coming through.
    It's wise to concede them the right of way.
    
    Be careful and cautious, but don't feel intimidated into going around
    if you don't want to. The trip is actually rather interesting.
    
    Ross Faneuf
    

    By the way, if the wind is blowing you could also consider doing a
    circumnavigation of cape Ann! As I said in my earlier reply it can
    take 4 to 5 hours but it's nice cruising  - can take a while to
    get around Halibut Point sometimes -if you're short of time you can
    crank up the engine for an hour to get you by it  (it always seems as
    if the wind is blowing from Halibut Point when you're going South).
    
    Consider that when you leave the river, you've got quite a haul til
    you're out of the harbor.
    
    

    There is a railroad bridge and a highway bridge to go through (Rte
    128 bridge is high enough so it is no problem) Both Blynman Canal
    Bridge and B&M Railroad Bridge monitor VHF Channel 18. You can also
    reach both drawtenders by telephone: Blynman Canal (508) 283-0243
    and RR Bridge (508) 281-6440.
    
         Current generally is not a problem, although approaching the
    Gloucester highway bridge with the current while waiting for the
    drawtender to open the bridge can sometimes get one's adreneline
    flowing.
    
         Respect buoyage absolutely,especially approaching Rte 128
    overhead bridge from the Annisquam end as there are several 
    shallow spots just outside the channel.
    

    n.b. raising the bridge.
    
    I don't know if this is standard practice, but the bridge tender
    has refused to raise the bridge until all sails are lowered.  Also,
    they tend to delay a while if you come by at a peak road traffice
    time.  Raising the highway bridge tends to get drivers very mad
    if they are on their way to work :-).
    
    Ron

    Lowering the sails before he opens the bridge might be the result of
    the numbers of people who try to SAIL thu the Cut. There was such an
    incident last summer in the Gloucester Daily times. As the paper drily
    pointed out, "they didn't make it". The worse problem there seems to be
    all the idiots who don't read the rules and refuse to give way to the
    vessel with the current behind them. That and sailboats with ancient,
    weak auxiliaries.
    
    To .0, don't get intimidated. It's really a pleasant passage.
    
    

    	I made the trip a couple on weekends ago. Dead low, drafting
    6 feet. Have your charts handy, some spots you can assume a straigt
    line from marker to marker. Go slow, running aground is not too
    bad because of the sandy bottom. Both draw bridges can be signeled
    by one long and one short on the horn. I would recommend that you
    make the trip under power with sails down.

    You really don't need to drop the sails til you get close to the
    128 bridge. After that DEFINITELY yes. Before the bridge you can have
    a fun sail.

Good suggestions in the previous replies.  Here are some add'l thoughts:

If you like feeling more secure with more knowledge, invest in the 
Annisquam River/Gloucester Harbor chart.  It covers the entire river from 
end-to-end on one side of a full-size chart, and has more than twice the 
detail shown on #13279, the standard Cape Ann chart.

RE: sandbars, remember they form on the insides of curves, just like other 
rivers.  Always double-check to be sure the "next" buoy you're heading for 
isn't the "next-to-next" one -- the intermediate buoy sometimes is more 
than 45 degrees off the high-tide-intuitive rhumb line!

And watch out for the Wingaersheek bar; it extends nearly a mile north of 
the rocks on the beach, and fools many a skipper headed into the river.  
Aim for the shore at least a quarter-mile north of the lighthouse, and 
leave nun 4 to stbd.  At high tide it will look like a very roundabout 
route, but it's a prudent one.

As a long-time resident of Cape Ann and frequent river pilot, for a 
north-to-south transit I'd suggest that you plan to enter the river about
1 hour *before* high tide.  Yes, you will be swept along with the tide for
a while, but it's all pretty open at that end.  (And if you bump onto the 
sand, you've got another half-foot-plus of rise to lift you gracefully 
off!)  About underneath the Rt 128 high bridge is the tide split, so
you'll do the last ~1/3 *against* the weakening tide.  That way, as you
approach the blind corner at the RR bridge, or the Cut, or other boats
waiting for the bridge/s to open, you can slow or even hold position while
maintaining some steerage.  It beats getting swept down into trouble while
motoring in reverse without rudder control! 

Gee, after all that, can you believe me when I also say you should have a 
fun and interesting trip through the river!?

J.

    While we're on the subject of making a passage through the Blynham
    cut where the drawbridge is, are there any locals that know the
    story of Dunfudgin Point?  The way I remember it was, it had to
    do with poling barges through the cut.  Once you were past the point
    you didn't have the current to cope with and you were done "fudging".
    

    We made it through the canal. I guess I didn't pay much attention to
    John Spencer, because I skipped one red buoy and found the bottom, but
    got going with no problem.
    
    We went on Saturday, and the only real issue was the weather. From the
    canal to Salem was an interesting ride Saturday P.M., with much rain,
    and more wind. With the wind in our faces, we motored the last leg. The
    part that seemed "normal" was that when we got to our mooring in Salem,
    the sky cleared up with bright sun.
    
    Thanks to all for the information provided.
    
    Joe