Photos courtesy of marinas.com
INTRO
T
he 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth is rapidly approaching, and the whole of southeastern Massachusetts is abuzz. And why not? It all began here. Bourne and Cataumet, at the opposite end of the Cape Cod Canal from Plymouth Rock, play an important role in the story of those days, as the birthplace of the free enterprise system in the New World. The world will be visiting in 2020. We’re advising you to get a head start. The canal towns are famous for much more, from fishing–President Grover Cleveland fished here so much that there’s an offshore ledge named after him–to food to relaxation. If you’re coming from Cape Cod Bay, enter the Cape Cod Canal from its eastern end, pass under all three bridges, then follow the channel to a red #2 buoy. Swing to port and head inside Wing’s Neck (look for the old lighthouse) toward Red Brook Harbor. If you’ve just come from Rhode Island Sound, approach the western end of the Cape Cod Canal. The main channel begins off the west end of Cuttyhunk, the last of the Elizabeth Islands chain. Run the entire 14 miles of the chain and, at the red #10 buoy, look
Buzzards Bay
by John Galluzzo
to the north-northeast for the Cleveland East Ledge Lighthouse, and keep it to starboard as you enter Cleveland Ledge Channel. Beyond the green #7 and red #8 buoys, watch to the northeast for a red #2 nun buoy that marks Southwest Ledge off Scraggy Neck. Keep it to starboard and head for Red Brook Harbor. To enter the harbor, find a red-and-green nun marking Eustis Rock, and when you do, look to the southeast for the channel that’ll swing you around the southern end and extensive shoaling of Bassett’s Island. To the southeast is Hospital Cove. Run a horseshoe pattern to buoys #10 and #11. Once you’ve passed the tip of Long Point off to starboard, turn your eyes to the east. The Kingman Yacht Center has 235 slips, 130 moorings and a restaurant facing sunsets over the harbor. Parker’s Boat Yard offers 130 moorings, nine slips, a full marine store, ice, fuel and showers, and even a half basketball court to stretch out those sea legs. From there, explore what the region has to offer, including the National Marine Life Center, Mass Maritime Academy, the Aptucxet Trading Post and some Cape Cod League Baseball. And don’t be surprised if you see some locals already dressed as Pilgrims. 2020 is coming. You’ve been warned. www.captainsguidemagazines.com
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