Best place to anchor east cape cod canal?

[rpeebles]

Will appreciate recommendations as to best anchoring spots at sandwich ma entrance to cape cod canal to wait for favorable transit time. My sailboat under power 5 kts. Thanks!

[Shrew]

There's not much by way of anchorages in that area. Take a look at Active Captain:

https://activecaptain.garmin.com/en-US/Map

Barnstable Harbor looks like the closest.

The wind tends to prevail out of the South - SW that time of year. You might get away with sitting right outside if it's only for a few hours.

[Manateeman]

We built a home in Sandwich. Barnstable harbor is a good distance away, shallow but you could ride out a hurricane in it...nice hard sand.
Just hang out close by...in sandy bottom. Radio the Canal guys about the other end where wind against the tide gets very bad..they don’t call it Buzzards Bay for nothing. Be patient. Barnstable is nice if you have to wait a few days.
Happy trails to you.
Mark

[psk125]

Best plan is to try to arrive during favorable transit period. We had fun one time coming down from Maine overnight and got there a little early. Had enough breeze to counter the current though... entered the canal doing 10.5 knots under a reefed main.

[sowwaninii]

As others have said, there are no anchorage’s outside the east entrance to the canal. There is a marina a short distance from the entrance on the east side. You might be able to tie up there while waiting for a favorable tide.
Another option might be to go into Plymouth and then time your departure to catch the tide.

[guyrj33]

Either time your arrival for favorable passage or spend a night is Situate harbor and leave with canal entry timing in mind.

[Scrimshaw4]

I've anchored several times off the beach on the north side of the eastern (Cape Cod Bay) canal entrance when the wind is out of the south. Just make sure you stay well off the beach. Not good if any wind from the north quadrants.

[Island Time O25]

I recall that many years ago, in the late 1990s, we tied up to the pilings near the enterance, right before the turn to the marina, to wait for favorable tide, supposedly put there for this very purpose. Not sure if they're still there or if one is still allowed to tie up to them overnight.

[NewportGuy]

The Sandwich Marina is just inside the east entrance. See their website re availability of transient dock for a few hours during your countdown to tide change.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by NewportGuy

The Sandwich Marina is just inside the east entrance. See their website re availability of transient dock for a few hours during your countdown to tide change.

That used to be a great option, and quite reasonable. But the town of Sandwich finally wised up and is now charging the going rate (or a bit more) for transient dockage. They even have hourly rates. I think most of us would do better to just stem the current, motoring, waiting for it change. There are some nice restaurants there, and the canal information center is fascinating, so it may be worth it to some.

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by psk125

Best plan is to try to arrive during favorable transit period. We had fun one time coming down from Maine overnight and got there a little early. Had enough breeze to counter the current though... entered the canal doing 10.5 knots under a reefed main.

Of course......... keeping the following in mind:

Sailing vessels are required to have and use auxiliary power during passage throughout the Canal. Use of sails while motoring is permitted. But, large course changes and/or tacking are strictly prohibited in the landcut and approach channels.


https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Porta...fety_Guide.pdf

[Hudson Force]

I had anchored well in a spot off the south end of Clark's Island in Duxbury Bay a couple of times, but I most often timed my departure from Provencetown to make good current through the canal. We always enjoyed the excellent anchorage at Onset at the Buzzard's Bay side.

[elknimrod]

Originally Posted by Scrimshaw4

I've anchored several times off the beach on the north side of the eastern (Cape Cod Bay) canal entrance when the wind is out of the south. Just make sure you stay well off the beach. Not good if any wind from the north quadrants.

Me too. It works, even overnight, if the wind direction is steady.

Ed