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GrecRI
RO# 20962
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 Posted - Jul 25 2011 : 21:17:10
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If we get a good forecast for the week of 8/15, we are hoping to make the run from Narragansett Bay to Cuttyhunk and possibly Menemsha or other points on the Vineyard.
We've had this plan in place for the last 3 years in a row, but had to cancel each due to weather, engine problems and a change in work schedule. We are hoping that all the stars aligne properly this year. ;)
Other than traveling on the early morning calm, I'm curious if there are any general 'rules of thumb' for Buzzards Bay in terms of timing the tides, currents, etc for a smoother/safer ride.
Any input from those who make this run regularly would be appreciated.
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Homeport: Warwick, RI
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jrpar
RO# 11343
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Posted - Jul 26 2011 : 05:16:58
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The run from the bay to Cutty is pretty straightforward..
Don't cut corners when making the turn east at Brenton Pt and give Sakonnet Pt a wide berth as well. Ran into some fish traps/long lines thru the years..
You do need to watch the wind/tide combination a bit on Buzzards vs. Vineyard Sound. I've had Buzzards flat as glass where the sound had 1-2 ft chop and vice versa depending on the wind direction/tide.
If you plan to cut thru the islands, don't try using Canapitsit Channel. Go a little further east and use Quicks Hole. Current will run 2-3 knots, but it's parallel to the channel and it's a straight shot thru. Only real hazard is Lone Rock on the north entrance side. I wouldn't reccomend using any other cut without local knowledge.
John
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Homeport: Palm Coast, FL
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Prospective
RO# 23085
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Posted - Jul 26 2011 : 09:41:29
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We love Cuttyhunk. It's one of my families favorite destinations. Your profile says you have a 26 SeaRay. You can certainly do the the trip in that boat but conditions will be the key. I second what jrpar said. You may want to go down the sakonnet rather than out castle hill. It keeps you out of the sea swell a little longer. The run is easier than the run to Block Island because the swell is generally just off the beam. So it's easier to ride. Give sakonnet point a fairly wide berth to avoid the fish trap areas. I usually head out to the RW Whistle at the sakonnet entrance then turn to about 105degrees to the RG middle ground mark entering cutty. I like to leave it to stareboard.
Fog is the worst part. Strongly recommend inputing waypoints into a chart plotter to follow. My first trip out of Narra Bay was to Cutty and it was pea soup. Navigating into Cutty is a little tricky when you can't see anything. On a clear day it's easy.
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1990 Tiara 3600 Open
Twin 3208 CAT Diesels
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Homeport: Barrington, RI
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JohnC
RO# 204
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Posted - Jul 26 2011 : 20:13:54
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We went to Cuttyhunk 2 years ago and enjoyed it. One thing to note is that if you want to get a mooring don't arrive too late. We planned things to arrive at Cuttyhunk on a Monday figuring that would be a quiet day and easy to get a mooring. I called in the morning, harbormaster said plenty of moorings and we took our time leaving Montauk. I forget exactly what time we arrived, somewhere around 2-3 in the afternoon, and while we got a mooring it was one of the last ones. Boats that arrived not long after we did were too late and had to anchor (and not a whole lot of anchoring room there) or take one of the outside moorings. I wasn't expecting that on a Monday, during a non-holiday week. I don't think the docks ever filled up though.
John
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Homeport: Long Island, New York
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Jul 26 2011 : 21:55:46
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I love cutty, it s one if my favorites in the area and usually our charter guests favorite stop as well. Much nicer than overrated Block in my opinion
It s all well marked but you need to watch for pots in the area, coming from the west you won't get into the sound but cross the mouth of the bay, easy in
The channel in the harbor is easy although a little narrow
Dockage is the cheapest in the aera, $2 or $2.50 a ft. They have pilings inside the harbor for moorings
Will be there next week, Thursday night i think
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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GrecRI
RO# 20962
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Posted - Jul 27 2011 : 09:37:15
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Thanks for all the tips. I used to make this run regularly with my father when I was a kid, and even though he had a significatnly bigger boat, we ran into some scary weather situations a couple of times.
Weather predictions are also what caused a couple of our cancellations in recent years.
I picked up a tide chart/current table for the area. In general, and when given the option, I assume I should look for slack tide with the wind and current in the same direction, correct?
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Homeport: Warwick, RI
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TimHenn
RO# 126
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Posted - Jul 27 2011 : 21:28:26
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Cuttyhunk is, as others have stated, a favorite stop for the whole crew. My daughter still wonders why as there is little to do but in fact, that's part of the attraction.
-- wind and current in the same direction, IMHO, if you have fair weather conditions with seas predicted in the 2-3 or 2-4 (typical) for RI sound at say 8+ sec apart it doesn't really matter what the tide is and the wind won't be an issue with flat seas like that. I normally get a real time read from the Tower to see if precition and reality are in sync. If the conditions are tighter together this can be a sloppy ride and turn dangerous quickly. If I was to pick a tide to make the run out to Cutty (from the SAK entrance) it would be the ebb tied across RI sound but it really doesn't matter much with a good weather pattern.
Coincidentally, we are also targeting Cutty on 8/13 as well, maybe we'll see you out there. We always go north in east passage and then down the SAK to head out to cutty, a nicer trip all the way around.
Safe travel
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Homeport: Portsmouth, RI
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Andy65
RO# 25185
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Posted - Jul 28 2011 : 22:56:43
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Beware of anchoring in Cuttyhunk. There are clumps of sea grass which provides poor holding for a danforth anchor. Ask me how I know.
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giolic
RO# 23638
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Posted - Jul 29 2011 : 07:22:38
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Hope you get good weather this time
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Homeport:
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GrecRI
RO# 20962
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Posted - Aug 07 2011 : 16:34:31
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Looking into a stop over the night before the trip to get an early start for Cuttyhunk the next AM. I'm going to check into transient slips at Sakonett Point Marina.
If that doesn't work out, what is the water/anchorage off third beach usually like?. Is it feasible to anchor in that area overnight?
Any input would be welcome.
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Homeport: Warwick, RI
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eahearn
RO# 25723
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Posted - Aug 07 2011 : 19:21:20
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If you can't find anything at Sakonnet Point you could try Pirate Cove Marina in Portsmouth - they'll likley have a transient slip or mooring for you if you need it. Or you could try Standish Boat Yard in Tiverton, right across the river, but all they have is moorings. It's about 11 miles from there to the mouth of the Sakonnet River.
- Ed
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| 2006 Silverton 34 Convertible |
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Homeport: Portsmouth, RI
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caltexfla
RO# 14522
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Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 07:24:37
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Tripp's in Westport is very handy to Cuttyhunk. They have docks and moorings, walking distance to good restaurant, fuel, etc. Nicer set up than Sakonnet IMO, just call and get advice on navigating the inlet (avoid ebb tide!) 508 636 4058. We used to live on a mooring in Westport Harbor during the summer. Great spot for taking off to the islands.
George
Hatteras 56 MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport
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Homeport: Wherever
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Prospective
RO# 23085
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Posted - Aug 08 2011 : 08:31:33
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With due respect to George, if you can make Westport, you can make Cutty. And the Westport approach is known for being a bit tricky so I don't think you gain anything there. Sakonnet point and Pirates Cove are both slip options. Third beach is a good anchoring option with a nice 1hr run to Cutty the next day. Have done it several times. Thats also a good option rather than arriving cutty later in the day and not being able to find a mooring. Better shot in AM than PM.
Third beach is open to the North and East so in prevailing SE it is fine. But watch your wind direction. If wind is N or E, another option is Fogland Point. Third beach also has town moorings available through Portsmouth. And half the time the harbormaster doesn't even come by to charge. But that's a good option too.Anchoring is good with mostly a sandy bottom.
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1990 Tiara 3600 Open
Twin 3208 CAT Diesels
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Homeport: Barrington, RI
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BillyK
RO# 24466
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 06:17:37
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If your going to dock at Cuttyhunk, you will need fender boards. Pilings are on the outside of a stationary pier. Six foot or better rise and fall of tide. You can make them yourself out of 2x6 and a couple of holes.
Billy K.
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Homeport: Patchogue, N.Y.
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 07:20:51
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Tides at Cutty are 4', not 6'!!
I ve tied up there a few times, no need for fender boards at all, just set long springs and cross you stern lines. It s so protected that with most boats you don't need to worry about fenders, if you do then an horizontal fender works just fine
It s about 10nm from the Sakonet to cutty so with most planning boats it's barely an extra Half hour, if the weather is fine then you may as well skip the stop and if there are no moorings you may as well anchor in the outer harbor If RI Sound is too rough then you re better off waiting in fishers or pt Judith (which as pretty good fuel prices btw)
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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Prospective
RO# 23085
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 08:37:46
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Agreed with Pascal on the tides and tie-up. But the distance stuff is spoken like a guy on a big boat. As someone who's done this trip several times on a much smaller boat your plan is not terrible. The trip is generally much smoother in the AM. If you get a late start then stoping in 3rd beach is a good option. It's more like 14nm from sakonett point to Cutty as the crow flies. But the sea swell hits well before that in the river. Once you allow for that then the potential for a bumpy ride is closer to an hour. You can certainly do the run as a straight shot, done it plenty of times. But nothing wrong with your idea either. Based on your location, certainly wouldn't lay over in Pt Judith.
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1990 Tiara 3600 Open
Twin 3208 CAT Diesels
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Homeport: Barrington, RI
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 08:44:42
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well, you try the run in a big unstabilized boat with the swells on the beam, and you will probably wish you were in your Tiara!
yesterday even though the winds were light and had shifted to the north the day before, the swell made it pretty rolly, too rolly to run off plane.
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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Prospective
RO# 23085
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 09:39:50
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Lol.. I am much more likely to take my chances on the Tiara... I was thinking more of the times I did it in my old 28ft Monterey. My kids hated the swell. Once you made the turn toward cutty it wasn't too bad but it was the run south out the Sakonnet before turning to east that could be the roller coaster ride. And if there was a chop on top of than it was a mess. But still not as bad as the run from Beavertail to Block Island!
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1990 Tiara 3600 Open
Twin 3208 CAT Diesels
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Homeport: Barrington, RI
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caltexfla
RO# 14522
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 17:44:23
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How is Sakonnet in any way a better option than Westport? I'm missing something here. There are few if any transient slips there. the new club is nice, but that's it. We have summered one way or the other in Little Compton for 35 years. Westport is just a nicer cruising destination, I agree that with a high speed boat you'd only do a stay over as an embellishment to the cruise as opposed to going straight to Cutty. Getting in there is easy if you follow local knowledge. Tripp's will let you stay at the fuel dock after hours if another slip is not available, or you can call the Back Eddy restaurant and see if they will let you stay the night. Excellent food, a little pricey. We've always taken a mooring at Cutty, so can't help on the slip tie up issue.
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Homeport: Wherever
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GrecRI
RO# 20962
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 18:17:18
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Not making the run in one shot had more to do with schedule, odds of catching a calm sea, and being able to get a mooring/dock at Cuttyhunk than with thinking the trip was too long for one run.
We'll be leaving the afternoon of the 15th. Given that Cuttyhunk moorings could all be taken, and the odds that the sea will likely be rougher than in the AM, it seemed to make more sense to overnight on the mainland side and hit the open water early the next morning.
We really didn't consider Pt. Jude because it is quite a bit out of our way. The choice would really be between Newport and somewhere on the Sakonett. We are meeting up with another boat that is coming from Mystic however, so they may choose to stay at Pt. Jude depending on timing/weather the night of the 15th.
One of the scariest memories I have from boating as a child was hearing the port prop come out of the water on my father's 36' Pacemaker as we made the turn to duck into Westport to escape bad weather. I'm sure lots of guys navigate that inlet regularly, but I've been leery of it ever since.
I've heard others speak of anchoring in the 'outer harbor' if the moorings are all taken. How bad can that area get if the wind picks up during the night? Does the outer harbor have the same anchoring problem with a 'weedy' bottom as the inner harbor?
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Homeport: Warwick, RI
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PascalG
RO# 12212
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 18:56:47
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We anchored in the outerharbor on Thursday with 15kts out of the NE (worst case scenario) and holding was excellent. Actually we anchored 3 times which had nOthing to do with setting or holding, but guests wishes... Long story...
With the more common S to W winds the outer harbor is very nice and as good a place to overnight before getting a slip or mooring
Otherwise stop in Newport... Always a great destination.
I ve never been to Westport, the entrance just looks too tight with a 6' draft, but being just across cutty indont see the point of stopping there.
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Pascal
1970 Hatteras 53 MY
26' Starfish sloop
12' Westphal Catboat
16' Hobie Cat
13' Sandbarhopper
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Homeport: Miami, FL
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sortie
RO# 2043
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 19:42:53
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George + 1. No comparrison between Westport and Sakoonet. Westport is much nicer, local harbormaster happy to assist anyone not sure of entrance. well worth the vist.
John
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| Life is To Short To Own An Ugly Boat |
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Homeport: Merritt Island, FL
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caltexfla
RO# 14522
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Posted - Aug 09 2011 : 21:09:38
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You stop in Westport because it is a very nice destination, for one thing. One of the prettiest harbors there is. You can go in and out stupid or you can do so smart, and smart is easy to obtain. 100 boats or so do it all the time, including bigger ones than mine, or less powered than mine (such as the many sailboats that are based there), and we did it all the time as in once or twice a week. I never thought, "gee, this would be so much tougher in a boat 10 feet longer than mine with a foot more draft". Let alone a 36 Tiara. But let your superstitions and guesses guide you if that's your thing. Don't want any inept riff -raff ruining our harbor., a bad thing for all concerned.
By the way, we always took a mooring on the outside of Cuttyhunk. More privacy and very pleasant. Enjoy!
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Homeport: Wherever
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Prospective
RO# 23085
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Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 08:28:44
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quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla
You stop in Westport because it is a very nice destination, for one thing. One of the prettiest harbors there is. You can go in and out stupid or you can do so smart, and smart is easy to obtain. 100 boats or so do it all the time, including bigger ones than mine, or less powered than mine (such as the many sailboats that are based there), and we did it all the time as in once or twice a week. I never thought, "gee, this would be so much tougher in a boat 10 feet longer than mine with a foot more draft". Let alone a 36 Tiara. But let your superstitions and guesses guide you if that's your thing. Don't want any inept riff -raff ruining our harbor., a bad thing for all concerned.
By the way, we always took a mooring on the outside of Cuttyhunk. More privacy and very pleasant. Enjoy!
Wow... Not sure if this was directed at me but since you mention a 36 Tiara, I'll assume it was..
I LOVE Westport and have been going there for years. I have not visited by boat but would like to do that as well. My suggestions were based on the POSTERS stated objectives... ie.. to Stop over on the main land side so he could make the quick run to Cutty in calmer AM conditions. He's in a smaller boat, not a 36ft Tiara and coming from Narragansett bay. Since he's coming from Narra bay, Westport doesn't suit his objective as I understood it. 3rd beach is a perfectly reasonable stop over for his purposes. But by no means would I call it a great cruising destination. I was simply suggesting, as the poster himself recognizes, that if you can make Westport, you might as well go to Cutty which is his ultimate destination.
Perhaps I'm reading too much into your post but it stikes me as a bit hostile. And I don't see what I might have done to deserve it. If I am mis-reading, I apologize.
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1990 Tiara 3600 Open
Twin 3208 CAT Diesels
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Homeport: Barrington, RI
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TimHenn
RO# 126
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Posted - Aug 10 2011 : 21:16:49
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"...what is the water/anchorage off third beach usually like?. Is it feasible to anchor in that area overnight?"
Moorings at 3rd beach are available for $20/night. This is fairly new as they used to be mostly, if not all, private. If the wind is out of the south and/or west it would be very comfortable for an overnight stop. If it's out of the north your gonna get rocked. Never anchored there but have seen large and small do so for a day stop so holding is likely pretty good.
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Homeport: Portsmouth, RI
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Tips for a Cuttyhunk run
