DaySailer Marketing

[Peterw11]

I'm about an hour and a half from Buzzard's Bay, and I'd be game to give it a shot. I've never singlehanded on anything larger than a small lake, but hey, you can't live forever.

Keep in mind, folks, that even though Buzzard's Bay is a bay, and somewhat more protected than the open ocean, it can be a real challenge if Mother Nature gets riled up.

Do a bit of online research and you'll find some interesting stories.

[persephone]

I'd agree that Buzzards bay may not be the best choice. I've been out there on a 30' during Buzzards Bay Race Week and seen 6 foot waves.

Might be better on the inside of the cape. East of yarmouthport (I think) towards wellfleet. The only difficulty I see is weather or not one would be able to find adequate facilities for parking cars with trailers and on beach camping for the overnights. Most of the towns are very snooty about visitors, camping and parking (read as charge money for simple services).

If I were planning this I would shoot for after Labor day. The water is still warm, weather is usually comfortable (can even be summer like), and far less tourists around. Some towns even relax parking restrictions etc.. after summer is over.

[persephone]

I should say parking overnight with a trailer.

[K.C. Walker]

Peter,

You've got a point about Buzzards Bay being more subject to weather conditions than say the Intercoastal Waterway. In January I was sailing in Florida on the intercoastal waterway and even though the winds were 15-20 I could go sailing because it was somewhat protected. In fact, I grabbed a sunfish from the club and really had a lot of fun with it. I'm sure my Daysailer would've been fine but I'm pretty sure my wife would not have been happy.

On my home waters around Stonington Connecticut under the same conditions I would have stayed in the Little Narragansett Bay which is pretty protected. Out on the Block Island Sound or the Fishers Island Sound would've been pretty hairy, probably like it would be on Buzzards Bay. So, that is certainly something to think about.

Also, I guess part of defining an event like this would be; is it a challenge? Is it a leisurely vintage O'Day DaySailer parade? Obviously, racing events would be more structured, which in some ways would make them easier.

KC

[K.C. Walker]

Geoff,

You're right about Cape Cod towns being snooty, expensive and crowded during the season, after Labor Day is much better. However, at least in Wellfleet, the retired population is significant enough now that even September is fairly busy.

I'm a little familiar with Wellfleet and Wellfleet Harbor (which opens to Cape Cod Bay). The only real ramp for launching is at the town pier and it's very steep. I think you need to have a towns sticker to use it and you can only get that if you can prove that you have accommodations in Wellfleet (if it's like the beach stickers). Wellfleet Harbor has an average tide of 11-12 feet, so at low tide there's not much water. There is good parking for trailers on the pier, though.

I'm not as familiar with Orleans but I think they have a yacht club with a Daysailer Fleet on Pleasant Bay which opens to the outside (the Atlantic).

KC

[seandwyer]

How much time are we thinking? Would this be a weekend or maybe a Friday to Monday sort of thing, or what?

I'd REALLY like to come, but I just looked and its about 15 or 16 hours from here. I'd be willing if its a longer trip than just one over nighter. I can't remember who said that most people probably already have made plans, but they are probably right. Me? I was supposed to go to the Gulf in AL for vacation. Had a place on a lagoon with a dock lined up and everything. I don't think that's looking too cool now.

[jdubes]

So we're gaining some traction. I'm open to going anywhere, i'm most familiar with Buzzards Bay and all the different places to put in. I’ve put 4 place off of BB we could put in. Wellfleet and Wellfleet Harbor (which opens to Cape Cod Bay) is also fine, i could find a good location to put in and park vehicles. The only thing with Cape Cod bay is that you can't puddle jump between islands. If we were to go to Buzards Bay, we could spend the night on Cuttyhunk, Gosnold beach, west island Fairhaven or one of the other islands in the bay.

The months we could target are either August or September. It would be cool to make this into an overnight Fri/Sat or Sat/Sun, or Fri/Sat/Sun

These launch sites all provide great access to sailing, and are easy to launch with or without a motor.

New Bedford

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=498+Rodney+French+Boulevard,+New+Bedford,+MA&sll=41.600382,-70.912425&sspn=0.001994,0.004377&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=498+Rodney+French+Blvd,+New+Bedford,+Bristol,+Massachusetts+02744&ll=41.600361,-70.912371&spn=0.031643,0.070038&t=h&z=14

Wareham, Tempest knob -

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tempest+Knob+Terrace+Beach+Marina,+Oak+Street,+Wareham,+MA&sll=41.751256,-70.700326&sspn=0.009909,0.022659&ie=UTF8&hq=Tempest+Knob+Terrace+Beach+Marina,+Oak+Street,&hnear=Wareham&ll=41.75148,-70.700326&spn=0.009525,0.022659&t=h&z=16

CCSB - right next door to the Tempest Knob launch site

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cape+code+ship+building&sll=41.75148,-70.700326&sspn=0.009525,0.022659&ie=UTF8&hq=cape+code+ship+building&hnear=&ll=41.755514,-70.703051&spn=0.009909,0.022659&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A

Mattapoisett - Easy in and out.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Water+Street,+Mattapoisett,+MA&sll=41.659062,-70.80476&sspn=0.007519,0.017306&g=water+Street+near+Mattapoisett,+Mattapoisett+Center,+MA&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Water+St,+Mattapoisett,+Plymouth,+Massachusetts&ll=41.658758,-70.80991&spn=0.007903,0.017509&t=h&z=16

Cape side of Buzzards bay - Monument Beach

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Emmons+Road,+Monument+Beach,+MA&sll=41.713141,-70.615048&sspn=0.003075,0.007204&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Emmons+Rd,+Monument+Beach,+Barnstable,+Massachusetts&t=h&z=16

Thoughts?

[Melbourne55]

Why not find some good existing picture and place them on a separate page with comments about the DS? Once that is done see if Cape Cod would like to provide a link? Lots of good photos out there, camping, racing and cruising. That other boat doesn't have much to say for itself outside of racing.

[Peterw11]

I was doing a little research on the sailing conditions on Buzzards Bay last night and it seems the overnight parking/visitor access to ramps may be a prime consideration. A lot of them are municipally run and available only to residents.

I'm guessing the further west you go, more towards Mattapoisett, Somerset, New Bedford, the lower the "snoot" factor, and the more likely you are to find access.

I've been to Westport/Horseneck Beach area fairly recently, and it appears to be a lot more laid back than the Cape side.

Interestingly enough, a childhood friend had a summer house in Westport Point, right up the street from the town dock, and I spent many weekends there back in the '60's. I drove through there last summer, for the first time in 40 years, and the place had hardly changed at all. Much of it was just as I remembered it.

We used to jump off the Rte. 88 bridge into the river (near Tripp's boatyard) and everything was pretty much the same. Amazing.

Horseneck Beach looks a lot different, though. It wasn't anywhere near as elaborate way back when.

[K.C. Walker]

Jason,

I like the idea of Buzzards Bay. Let's face it, this would be a weather dependent event. Island hopping sounds very appealing. Wellfleet Harbor is actually pretty boring to sail in, in my opinion. The inside of the Cape from Orleans to Provincetown is all very shallow water so you really can't get in close, especially at low tide.

September sailing in New England can be as good as it gets. As mentioned before the water is still warm (for New England) and the humidity clears out of the air and it can be just gorgeous. Of course, it's also hurricane season.

It seems like you being a local and having local knowledge adds a lot to the appeal for Buzzards Bay. I think an overnighter would be very memorable and a lot of fun. Could we make it to one of the islands and do they have accommodations for overnighting?

KC

[jdubes]

So here's one option. The best place to put in that would give us good coverage of the bay would be either Mattapoisett or NewBedford. Depending on the wind we could go east across the bay to one of the islands, or go south down towards Fairhaven, New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport. Mattapoisett has a two very friendly launches. Almost to friendly, people are always hanging around watching the boats go in and out while they snack on ice cream. You mess up and families will see it. The other is tide dependant if you have tall trailer tire but doesn’t require a motor, the other requires a motor if you have a northerly wind. Typically the wind is a southwesterly wind. Perfect for launching. I have a 2hp motor and it works fine for me.

I’ll snap some photos this week to give you a visual of the launch.

With respect to the islands and accommodations Cuttyhunk does have accommodations. There are a number of Inns around the island. Gosnold doesn’t have any accommodations.

Jason

[K.C. Walker]

Jason,

Have you sailed out to Cuttyhunk in your DaySailer? It looks like sailing out along the Elizabeth Islands could be really fun. How easy would it be to make it from one of your chosen launch sites? I did a little web searching and it looks like Cuttyhunk could be a very cool destination. I found this review http://www.coastalsailing.net/Cruising/ ... yhunk.html .

It does look like accommodations and restaurants are very limited so we might want to check into that. Not that that wouldn't add to the charm.

Just to throw in an alternate idea for Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. I sail this lake quite a bit, in fact the picture earlier in the thread was from that lake. It is a big lake about 10 miles x 20 miles. My wife's cousin got married at Ames Farm Inn and it could make a nice package deal set up. They have rooms and cabins, also they do events like family reunions and weddings, or fishing groups, or SAILING groups. They have a couple of boat ramps and parking is included for your trailer. http://www.amesfarminn.com/accommodations.htm

September sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee is still excellent. Actually it's even better than August because the boat traffic goes way down. It's still pretty warm for New England.

KC

[jdubes]

Going east i've only sailed to Falmouth / Woods Hole and somewhat around Gosnold. That's a good daysail if the winds are in your favor. I wouldn't target a round trip in one day, that's a lot for a DS. I've done it in a Mariner and a J/24. One thought for about lodging is to camp on the beach.

Now If we didn't want to not go across the bay, we could start at Wareham and head down the coast. There are many areas to explore and dip into. I wouldn't go any farther than Wesport. Once you get into Westport the Waves can get real high.

Lake Winnipesaukee sounds like a blast also. Whether we go around BB or somewhere else, the thing i'm looking forward to is sailing with other DS's.

Jason

[mistermoon]

I'm taking my DSII to the Everglades Challenge next year. I'd be happy to take one of the unsold CCSB boats instead. Call me. I could use the sponsorship!

The FL120 course is wonderful by the way and would be good for a group of DS's to go. I certainly had a good time in my boat.

[K.C. Walker]

Jason,

It seems like we should start a new thread because this is looking like a fun idea but it sort of under a topic that some people might not notice. It looks like Buzzards Bay is pretty darned attractive and you seem to have a handle on alternatives for local conditions, if we need them.

What do you think we should name the event, The New England DaySailer Meet Up, or Rally, get-together, Cruising Event? We can title a new thread and see what kind of interest we get. What do you think?

KC