AJAYA'S CRUISE - Onset - Massachusetts and through the Cape Cod Canal

Onset - Massachusetts and through the Cape Cod Canal

AJAYA'S CRUISE

Phil & Nikki Hoskins

Sun 11 Jul 2010 23:28

41:44.12N, 70:39.08W

We resisted the temptation to hum the old BeeGees number about a certain State in the Union on the way to Onset. This would be our only stop in Massachusetts as we need to push on quickly to Maine. It's already into July and the summer season in Maine is July and August. Of course some say "oh you must stay and see Maine in September - it's beautiful" presumably because you can actually see it as the fog of July & August has by then cleared away! We have spoken to many a cruiser about what to expect when we get there, lobster pots and fog are always vying for the No.1 slot of 'obstacles to be feared' And of course there's the large amount of granite on the sea bottom to avoid if possible. Anyway, September is not an option for us as we want to be south back in the Chesapeake before any late hurricanes visit Maine which sits in their way in the far north as a land mass curving eastwards out into the Atlantic. It's known quite a few strikes over the years and this is reputed to be a strong year so out we go by end of August. Beside all the jelly fish have cleared out of the Chesapeake by then so swimming without being stung to death becomes a possibility once again.

We motored most of the way to Onset catching two more nice Bluefish on the way. In fact we could have filled the boat with them as they seemed to be everywhere around us and feeding well not too surprising there is a quota of 3 per boat. Once there we found a nice little sea-side resort close to the Cape Cod Canal which the Americans kindly built in the 19th century to avoid the long haul round the outside. In World War 1 this was the hunting ground of many a U Boat especially when it was known that the canal had been blocked by a ship that had been accidentally sunk causing shipping to have to go the outside route.

We stayed in Onset for two nights, leaving a day in the middle for exploring before getting up at a ridiculous hour to catch the favourable tide eastwards through the 7 mile Cape Cod Canal. The difference being if we didn't then it would take up to 3 hours to motor through against a 3 knot current.

Wickets Island just offshore with Onset town beach in foreground another view taken just right of last pic with Ajaya far distant centre

The anchorage off Wickets Island had good holding which enabled us to leave the boat anchored whilst we headed to ashore to try and check in by phone with the Homeland Security - a requirement whenever we change between States. We later learnt that Wickets Island had once been home to an Indian tribe. In more recent years a strong hurricane had caused a huge tidal surge causing a lot of the island to be lost into the surrounding water and during the process loads of old buried Indian bones were washed into the sea. The locals kindly reburied them and Wickets is now uninhabited.

It's a busy little resort with lots of day visitors, an outside free film auditorium and a largish local population of Cape Verdians who had sailed to Onset many years ago although we weren't sure why. The well manicured sandy beach had lifeguards although being well away from the open sea there was barely a ripple on the water so we guessed they were there to deal with the odd heart attack when older citizens braved the freezing cold water. We shopped at the local general store and spent time browsing in a fascinating shop full of interesting locally made arts and crafts and advertising evening belly dancing and meditation. Oh, and displaying a book written by David Ike (so that's where the one copy went). All in all, a pleasant place and useful as a staging post to transit the canal.

The Cape Cod Canal

Our passage through was uneventful. It was misty going on foggy, but not bad enough not to see a large barge and tow heading towards us. The canal is now much wider than when built and boats can pass easily unless very large in which case the canal authorities will use a traffic light system to avoid potential disasters. At the western end is a railway bridge where the central span over the canal is usually parked 150 feet in the air on giant counterweights. A wonderful feat of engineering. We transited at an average speed of 9 knots over the ground taking just under an hour, and were 'spat out' the other end with a still favourable current. The forecast was good so we decided to continue all the way to Penobscot Bay in Maine - some 140 miles to the north before a cold front exiting the eastern seaboard brought northerly winds with it. Maine here we come.