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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:SAILING
Notice:Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:UNIFIX::BERENS
Created:Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2299
Total number of notes:20724

304.0. "Marion, MA, to Salem, MA?" by MILVAX::GERSTLE (Carl Gerstle) Thu May 15 1986 00:06

A friend of mine (no, really!!) and I are planning on sailing his Catalina-30 
from Marion, MA to Pickering Wharf in Salem, MA this weekend.  Neither he nor 
I have made the trip before and were wondering about how long (give or take a 
gust) we should expect this passage to take (rhumb-line course).

We HAVE to make the trip this weekend as the mooring he is on 'goes away' on
Saturday so the plan was to set off early Saturday morning, then anchor or 
moor at the nearest harbor we get to Saturday night if not up at Salem.

Wisdom as to timing and negotiating the Canal is most welcome; Notes being 
what they are - flames are welcome too!


Thanks,
Carl

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304.1Does this help?SUMMIT::THOMASEd ThomasThu May 15 1986 13:1220
    If your friend hasn't done so already, get his (or your) buns down
    to a marine store and get the 1986 Eldridge. It's got a good section
    on transiting the Canal. 
    
    Scituate would be a good place to stop on the way up. That would break
    it into two fairly easy days for you. Coming from the South don't try
    to "cut the corner" going into the harbor. Go out to the bell and go in
    in the channel. There are some nasty rocks off the southern side of the
    entrance. The Harbor master is in the inner harbor at the town docks.
    If you're looking to anchor somewhere I'd recommend you NOT try the
    North River (just south of Scituate Harbor). The inlet can be tricky,
    even with "local knowledge". 
     
    You should have a nice downhill ride all the way into Salem if there
    are no storms or cold fronts going through.
    
    Good luck, 
    
    Ed

304.2PULSAR::BERENSAlan BerensThu May 15 1986 13:214
As I recall from my one trip through the canal, it is about 8 hours from 
the Massachusetts Bay end of the canal to Marblehead. Getting into Salem 
after dark is a mite risky unless you are familiar with the area.

304.3Scitute and DuxburyCURIE::DONOHUEThu May 15 1986 13:5711
    If you are planning to stop in Scitute, call EASY RIDER on channel
    16.  He will find you a mooring (you can't anchor in Scitute). 
    Last year the cost was $12.00 a night.  He also provides launch
    service.
    
    If you can't get as far as Scitute, you can anchor off Clarks Island
    in Duxbury.
                       
                             John
    

304.4NECVAX::RODENHISERThu May 15 1986 14:4112
  Having been through the canal a few times now I can't re-emphasize
  .1 enough. GET ELDRIDGE. You're timing depends totally on the
  currents. Leaving Marion, once you clear Bird Island it could
  still take 1-3 hours to even enter the canal proper depending
  on flood or ebb. Forget going through if the currents aren't
  with you. Check the charts but there are a number of places to
  hole up prior to heading through. Last time I did this trip it
  involved leaving Marion at 9:00pm and then waiting near the Maritime
  Academy until slack at about 4:00am.
  
  John