2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Pilot Notes
Massachusetts Pilot Notes
Coastal Summary 39 Woods Hole 51
Cape Ann 40 Quicks Hole 51
Gloucester to Boston 41 Tarpaulin Cove 53
Boston to the Cape Cod Canal 47 Buzzards Bay 53
t
Cape Cod Canal 48 Buzzards Bay, South Shore 60
Race Point to Nantucket Shoals, Buzzards Bay, North Shore 60
ilo
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Outside Cape Cod 50 Sakonnet River 63
Nantucket Sound 50 Narragansett Bay 63
Vineyard Sound 51 Block Island Sound 65
Coastal Summary
Bay, through the Cape Cod Canal to Buz-
e
tts
Cape Cod divides the Massachusetts coast- zards Bay and Rhode Island Sound. The route
hus
line, forming a boundary between what is outside Cape Cod offers no safe havens, and
generally considered N and S New England. requires boats not heading into Nantucket
Water temperatures N and E of the cape are Sound to sail well offshore to clear the haz-
assac
noticeably colder than S of the cape. ardous Nantucket Shoals.
M
Fog is common throughout the region in the NOAA has designated Cape Cod Bay and
summer, often seeming patchy and unpredict- the region E of Cape Cod as Critical Habitat
able. Thick fog can accompany warm fronts, for endangered right whales, and identified
stationary fronts and the warm air preceding the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctu-
the arrival of a cold front. As in the rest of New ary as an additional area of importance. See
England, radar remains a valuable asset here. Special Warnings and Notices in the Rules and
Commercial traffic is thick all along the Regulations chapter for details on regulations
coastline. Extensive tug and barge traffic can for operating in these areas.
be found from Boston S toward Long Island Cape Cod Bay is generally calm due to the
Sound and commercial fishing vessels are prevailing SW winds. The coastline is mostly
common everywhere. Monitor VHF 13 for sandy beaches, salt marsh and extensive
commercial traffic, particularly along the ap- shoals with small, shallow harbors.
proaches to Boston and the Cape Cod Canal. Tidal current may reach 6kts in the Cape Cod
Vessels approaching from N can sail around Canal, making timing of this passage critical.
Cape Ann or pass through the Annisquam For boats awaiting a fair current, safe havens
River to Gloucester Harbor. are available at either end. Most boats transiting
From Cape Ann, the coast turns W toward between the canal and The Race (the entrance
Boston. The preferred route for boats transit- to Long Island Sound) can ride a fair current
ing the coast is from Cape Ann to Cape Cod through Rhode Island Sound and Buzzards Bay
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