--- chbenneck@juno.com wrote:

Hi Bill,

East Coast sailing used to be fun..............

For many of us it still is. I have been cruising small boats (under 25 ft for many years (including Hadley Harbor and Cuttyhunk 30 years ago in a Tanzer 22) and with the M15 it is only getting better. The recent trip to Buzzards Bay and Martha's Vineyard was one of the best I have made. I would encourage anyone who has not tried cruising in the Montgomery boats to give it a try. It is not a hardship. We eat well, sleep well, sail well and have more fun than the big boats. Don't be intimidated by the crowds and the big boats as there is still plenty of good times to be had in the shallow water areas in these same places. Judicious use of a lead line or depth sounder will help you locate a quite cove at Hadley's Harbor where you are virtually alone. We chose to anchor where we did. The free mooring next to us at Hadley harbor had a 1968 Pearson 30 with a very friendly couple on board. When they left a 60+ ft maxi yacht took up the mooring. It had bow thrusters and a 15 ft RIB with a 50 HP for a dingy. It was occupied by a couple who were struggled to say hello. So what, we have more fun. The 4, 100 year old, pristine condition, Hershoff 12 1/2s with tanbark sails were still a rare and beautiful sight weaving between the anchored boats and I doubt if the Maxi yacht couple even paid any attention. The Edgartown harbor master made a special trip out to visit with us because he "new who was having the most fun in the harbor". Yes the town mooring was $35 for the first boat and $20 for each rafted boat and the mooring was in the second mooring field out. Well we had a choices of secluded private spots but the forecast was for a 180 deg wind shift as it rose to 30 kts around midnight. We were thankful to be on a mooring and used the shuttle boat to get to town, take in the sights and take a fresh water shower. We thoroughly enjoyed the sight of hundreds of well kept yachts. The ranged from the many Hershoff 12 1/2s to sailboats in excess of 75 ft. Many were lovingly maintained and beautiful. Yes there was a 175 ft mega power yacht in Katama bay - so what - there was also a perfectly restored 28 ft Hacker Craft on a private mooring 1 mile from all of the other boats. At Tarpaulin Cove on the private Naushon Is. the 3 miles of sand beach is open to the public at no charge. Anchoring is free. There were two tall ships at anchor there that night. The 130 ft Shenandoah full of kids and sail training ship that anchored rather far out. Clear water, empty beaches and the people you do meet are very friendly. And best of all the winds are reliable and come almost every day. The only problem may be lots of current and too much wind. Fantastic trip and I would recommend it to anyone! I also made a solo trip to the Cobb Island off of the Virginia coast this spring. (off of Willis Wharf on a state map). These Islands are uninhabited and owned by the nature conservatory. I spent 4 days and 3 nights in and around these salt marshes and Islands. To get from the Salt Marsh to the Islands is a 10 nm trip through strong currents, narrow channels and miles and miles of shallow water. You are almost out of sight of land in any direction when 5 mi out but the water is only 3 inches deep at low tide outside the channels. I never saw another sailboat and only a few power boats off in the distance. Eagles, plovers and rails galore but few humans. Another great east coast sailing trip! I can go on and on and on. But I really you any of you reading this are encouraged to go cruising where ever you find adequate water to sail in. Thanks _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush