2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Pilot Notes
Massachusetts and Rhode Island
The Best of Southern New England
REED’s RECOMMENDS: Whether you arrive in Rhode Island’s
Narragansett Bay on a Herreshoff boat or something a bit more
t
modern, a visit to the Herreshoff Marine Museum (www.herreshoff.
ilo
org) is practically a requirement. Located in the town of Bristol at ap-
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proximately 41° 40 N, 71° 16.9 W, the museum has its own dock, a few
moorings and space for short-term anchoring. Give the museum a
call at 401-253-5000 to arrange things.
Northeast of Narragansett Bay is Buzzards Bay, the Elizabeth Islands.
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tts
and Cape Cod. While everyone has at least heard of Nantucket and Mar-
tha’s Vineyard, and most of them end up visiting there, Cuttyhunk is
hus
a delightful, quiet, uncrowded version of what the world might be like
without fast-food restaurants, traffic lights and urban din. 41° 25.6N, 70°
assac
M
54.9 is roughly the middle of Cuttyhunk Harbor, but plot your course
there with great care. Consider arriving in time for the festivities mark-
ing the Fourth of July. We won’t spoil the fun by telling you everything;
suffice it to say that it is earnest, exciting and completely in character.
Another little gem is Hadley Harbor, just to the west of the west
side of Woods Hole. The Inner Harbor is about as secure an anchor-
age as one could ever hope for. If you will find yourself at 41°31 N
and 70°41.8W and pay attention to the chart, you can work your way
around the east side of Bull Island into the Inner Harbor.
At the very end of Cape Cod is Provincetown, tucked into the curl
of the elbow of the Cape. There aren’t many towns anywhere like P-
town, as it’s known, where what you do or who you are doesn’t matter,
as long as it doesn’t bother anyone else. The Pilgrims first landed here;
the Pilgrim Monument notes that fact and is the highest granite struc-
ture in the nation. It’s at 70°11.3N, 42°03.13W, and it’s well worth the
hike to the top. From there you can look down at the harbor and see
the restored William Hand-designed schooner Hindu taking people
out to see the whales or simply enjoying the sunset.
And if you’re up for a waterborne party, consider entering the Figawi
Race (www.figawi.com), which kicks off the local sailing scene each
summer over Memorial Day weekend. The annual event attracts up-
wards of 240 entrants (including a few dozen powerboats) on a jaunt
across Nantucket Sound from Hyannis to Nantucket. Beware: the fa-
mous Sunday Morning Joke Session is not to be missed, and is not for
the faint of heart (and definitely not for the kids!).
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