Looking for anchorage in Nantucket or Martha’s

[BYCKarma]

Son (16) and I are sailing from Bridgeport to Newport and then to either of the above (N or MV). Never been to either, not going to shore other than for supplies (ie restaurants, museums not a factor). Any tips on quiet sheltered anchorage’s for a day or two. Leaving next week, 32’ sailboat

[Kettlewell]

On MV the best anchorage to pick up supplies is not the quietest. Anchor just outside the channel south of the breakwater as you enter Vineyard Haven. The area has about 6-7 feet of water and good holding, though there are usually boats there. You can dinghy to the free dock just north of the ferry terminal and Stop & Shop is just across the street. All the downtown shops and restaurants are within a few blocks. West Marine is a short walk down Beach Road heading towards Oak Bluffs. After you're done supplying you might want to move inside nearby Lagoon Pond for many nice anchorages. You can dinghy ashore at the end of many streets--just look for a bunch of dinghies left on the shore. The bridge into Lagoon Pond has a very restricted schedule, so you have to plan around that. Plenty of current in the channel, so the ideal is to enter with the current against you so you aren't being drawn toward the bridge while it is opening (very slowly). There are nice anchorages on MV off the beach just to the southwest of the Menemsha entrance channel, with only a few restaurants and shops ashore. Tashmoo no longer allows anchoring. Edgartown you can anchor just north of Chappaquiddick Beach for the night if the wind is in the south. https://sailmv.org/?s=tashmoo

[Shrew]

Nantucket has an extremely small anchorage, you could see if nantucket moorings has a ball available.

Edgartown on MV will be anchoring on the outside and has a decent amount of wake traffic and is exposed from the north. Harbormaster rents moorings.

Vineyard Haven would be your best bet. It is exposed from the North, but you can go into Vineyard Haven lagoon through the draw bridge and anchor inside. The grocery store is a block from the port authority dinghy dock. There are three different places in VH to rent a mooring as well. There is usually quite a few available, outside of busy holiday weekends.

Oak Bluffs is mooring at first come, first serve.

There is a free bus that will go from the towns to the grocery, but there is also a grocery in VH, so we usually just go there.

[Kettlewell]

There's a great little grocery store right in Oak Bluffs--Reliable Market--and also a good liquor, small market called Our Market right on the harbor. No anchoring in the main harbor--just moorings. Martha's Vineyard buses aren't free, but you can get a day pass for $8 ($5 for seniors) that will take you all over the island. Well worth doing. You can pick up the bus almost anywhere.

[Ded reckoner]

On Martha' Vineyard, we anchored off the beach in Edgarton Harbor (N41d23.2m, W070d29.5m). At Nantucket, we took a mooring ball for a storm that came through, but then we anchored in Nantucket Harbor (N41d17.9m, W070d04.5m). Dinghies can tie up at the respective Harbormaster's dock.

[CarlF]

Nantucket is a long trip for a day or two. And the only option is a $100/night mooring and a tourist crush ashore.

MV anchoring is pretty much limited to Vineyard Haven. Again, not praticularly pretty and a zoo ashore.

So I'd go to Cuttyhunk. About 50 people live on the island. No tourist crowds. Hardly any cars. Wonderful walks. A cute market, pizza place, and fresh fish on the dock. The famous CuttyHunk raw bar boat comes to your boat with fresh island oysters.

THe harbor is tighty packed but quiet and peaceful. Try to avoid Saturday night. Arrive around 1 or 2 to be sure to get a mooring. First come, first served.

If you want an "away from civilization" night anchor in Tarpaulin Cove on Naushon. Busy during the day with picnics but they mostly leave by 4PM and you'll have only a few boats left to share the Cove and the wonderful beach.

[Ded reckoner]

We loved Nantucket. If you go there, you *must* go to the Whaling Museum.

In any case, I second a trip to Cuttyhunk. I would hope you would love it as much as we did. At the time, I thought it was the most exotic place we had been to since the Dry Tortugas. We anchored out in Cuttyhunk Harbor (N41d25.5m, W070d54.8m). Dinghies tie up on the dock outside of the lobster shack.