Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

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Tungsten
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Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by Tungsten »

This is a great trip for experienced paddlers that Jamie and I Completed on August 29th as proof of concept. Members will need a 15+ foot sea kayak with forward and aft hatches, spray skirt, pump, provisions, and be comfortable paddling 10 miles without a shore break and potentially 3+ foot seas. Arrival is at 7:00 am. There are no facilities at our launch site. We will depart from Quissett Harbor at 7:30 am to catch optimum tidal current. This is the same launch site as the Weepecket Island trip, so parking is limited to 12 vehicles. Carpooling is recommended where available. We will be launching at nearly a lunar high tide, so the beach at the break-wall will be covered in about 4 to 6 inches of seawater. There is also some seaweeds there. It will be important to stay in close formation through the woods hole channel with boat and ferry traffic. I will be bringing a GPS enabled VHF radio. If members want to separate from the main group to explore, an additional VHF is needed for communication. I also will bring a dedicated Garmin Etrex GPS navigation device. We will arrive on the beach in Vineyard Haven just north of the Steamship Authority pier. Facilities are available. Resting period is 60 to 90 minutes based upon majority consent. We can anticipate returning to Quissett Harbor by 2:30 pm. Total distance around 21 miles.

Google Maps coordinates of launch site: 62 Quissett Harbor Road Falmouth MA, 02540.

Option B: (If Needed) Should a member be unable to complete the second leg of the trip...take the ferry into woods hole and we can arrange a pick-up for person and kayak.

Data and images from the August 29th trip can be found at http://www.spendthecash.com
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Jamiec
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by Jamiec »

Looks good see you then !
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josko
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by josko »

Please guys, stay out of the (Woods Hole to MV) shipping channel. Tide turns against you at 10;30.
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Tungsten
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by Tungsten »

Thank you for the information Josko. We conservatively estimate by 10:30 the group will be in Vineyard Haven. The returning tide will assist us on the second leg. Clearly this trip is not for everyone, but if your confident in your skills, this paddle can be completed safely and enjoyably in the warm September ocean.
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Tungsten
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

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I've moved the times back half an hour to accommodate the shortening daylight. Arrival will be at 7:30am with launch at 8:00am. The weather looks ideal for all activities this weekend. Sunday is an optimal day with a full super harvest moon in the evening. We will have assistance from tidal current that will be flowing exceptionally due to the moon at perigee. The wind will be a non-factor from the south about 5 mph. Ocean water temperature is still near peak in the mid 60's.

"You may delay but time will not." B. Franklin

Thanks,
Marc
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by JohnnySmooth »

Hope you are right about the wind. Been on MV for last week and we've had a pretty good blow for most of it out of NNE and the seas definitely have some chop. On ferry now back to Woods Hole and seas are about 2-3 ft with some white caps.
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by rkhederian »

Marc,
I am in. See you guys at 7:30 tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
Bob K.
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Tungsten
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

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See you at 7:30 Bob.
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Re: Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard Round trip. Sunday 9/27

Post by Tungsten »

Thanks to Bob for stepping up and joining me for an excellent paddle to the Vineyard. Extreme tidal currents created "moguls" over the vineyard shoals and "rapids" through the east gutter of the Elizabethan Islands. Perfect day on the water.
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