Sailing Grounds of Buzzard's Bay, Vineyard Sound and Cape Cod 

Images and stories of coastal cruising along the shores of Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, 
Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands

Buzzard's Bay

Cuttyhunk    Fairhaven    Falmouth    Hadley's Harbor    Kettle Cove, Naushon Island

Marion   Mattapoisett   Padanaram    Woods Hole

Vineyard Sound

MiddleGround    Tarpaulin Cove, Naushon Island    Waquoit Bay

Buzzard's Bay and Vineyard Sound are a special area for sailors. Throughout the summer, the prevailing winds come from the South West, 
and tend to pipe up to 20+ knots each afternoon. A beautiful swell builds through the afternoon, one that is predictable. 
Sailing vessels from far flung hailing ports can be seen in abundance during the summer season. 

I have known the bay in the best of conditions, and some of the worse. 
From Nasketucket Bay it is an easy reach to Wood's Hole, a hard beat up the bay to Cuttyhunk.
The currents from Lake Tashmoo to the Elizabeths can be so strong that a vessel 
actually moves backwards over the ground, as you charge through the current.

I've sailed across the bay in the dead of night, no auxiliary to propel her by, 
with the air still and no choice but to sail the vessel back under sail alone.. 
It took hours to cross, hours of quiet reflection, catching each zephyr of the wind.

I've seen the bay with huge waves, once with a shark eye to eye with me in a swell parallel to the vessel. The standing waves of 
Quick's Hole and Robinson's Hole are real, and to be respected. A hundred foot working vessel was flipped in these waters.
Over four foot walls of water that one must simply plow into, on and on and on.

 I once saw a water spout churn up the bay, the clouds a pitch black. I've been buffeted 
by a squall that was so blinding the bow of the boat disappeared in the downpour and wind.

Buzzard's Bay and Vineyard Sound are my home. I have sailed her waters for the last forty years. 
Being on the bay brings a sense of acceptance, of transcending time and place, and of the majesty of the spirit of nature.

Marthas Vineyard

Lake Tashmoo    Edgartown   Oak Bluffs   Menemsha   Gay Head   Vineyard Haven    Chappaquiddick Island

Nantucket Sound

   Nantucket    Cotuit    Mashpee

Rhode Island

Newport    Tiverton

Acadia, Maine

The Christmas Fleet
Yuletide, Mistletoe and Scrooge

Catboats of the Cape and Islands

Working for the Steamship Authority

Working for Cape Dory Yachts

Boat Dogs

LakeTashmoo 2007

I lay on the bowsprit, facing astern, with the waves foaming into spume under me,
the masts with every sail white in the moonlight, towering high above me.
I became drunk with the beauty and singing rhythm of it, 
and for a moment I lost myself-actually lost my life.

I was set free!

I dissolved in the sea, became white sails and flying spray,
became beauty and rhythm, became moonlight and the ship and the high dim-starred sky!

I belonged, without past or future, within peace and unity and a wild joy, 
within something greater than my own life, 
or the life of Man, to Life itself!

To God, if you want to put it that way.

- Eugene O'Neill, Long Day's Journey into Night

Travels,  DanaMorris.net