What would be an intermediate paddle?
Moderator: Chip
What would be an intermediate paddle?
While it was nice to get out and paddle with all our non-paddling friends on the North River yesterday... Chip, Ron and I would have rather been doing something a lot more challenging, i.e. ocean. But I'm not sure what the next step would be. We don't want to bite off more than we can chew.
We've paddled around Plymouth Harbor a bit. And while we did some of Hingham Harbor, it was unnaturally calm and free of boats on that rainy day.
I have to assume that there are some ocean trips that are more agressive than others - I just don't know which are which.
So this question is up for comment to everyone, but I'm very interested in hearing from some of the more experienced out there like Steve. What trips should we be taking as our next step vs. others that should wait till we have a little more seasoning?
One that I mentioned in the old forum is Duxbury Bay. After I post this, I'll transpose that thread to this forum.
We've paddled around Plymouth Harbor a bit. And while we did some of Hingham Harbor, it was unnaturally calm and free of boats on that rainy day.
I have to assume that there are some ocean trips that are more agressive than others - I just don't know which are which.
So this question is up for comment to everyone, but I'm very interested in hearing from some of the more experienced out there like Steve. What trips should we be taking as our next step vs. others that should wait till we have a little more seasoning?
One that I mentioned in the old forum is Duxbury Bay. After I post this, I'll transpose that thread to this forum.
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I think Duxbury Bay would be ideal for those that have learned to do assisted and solo re-entries. The predominate wind on the bay is out of the SW. This means that there is a significant enough fetch to create some nice chop when launching from Powder Point on a windy day. It might be a good opportunity to pratice re-entries in rougher conditions.
Intermediate trip
I'm certainly not a more experienced paddler, but since you asked for ideas from everyone . . . Wollaston-Hangman's-Peddocks-Rainsford-Long Island & back. Done it twice, it's a lot of open water, I wouldn't do it on a rough day. But there is a lot chop on a good day, I'm meaning to do it again soon. Couple of nice beaches to stop on and stretch out, enjoy the view. It would be even better during the week, lots of traffic out there.
Hmmmm
I think you would want about 6 hours, but we've taken long breaks on the beaches to wander around out there. If you skip Rainsford and Long Islands and just head straight back to Nutt it is a lot shorter as well, probably do it in less than 5 with breaks if you go that way, then just paddle back along Houghes Neck. The roughest part of the trip was the Rainsford-Long Island leg, so you could sort of re-group at Peddocks and decide if you want to do that or just head back to Nutt.
Definition of an intermediate trip
Pat:
There are a sveral of ways to define an intermediate trip. One is the type of wind, waves, and traffic you'll be encountering, another is the length of time you'll be paddling between breaks, yet another is the paddling effort expected (casual speed or a brisk pace?), and another is the distance being traveled.
IMO just about anything in Boston Harbor that gets you out amongst the islands should be classified as an intermediate trip because of the distances involved and possibility of a certain level of wind and waves, not to mention boat traffic this time of year.
Dave has mentioned some ideas for Boston Harbor, a couple of other alternatives are:
Wollaston Beach, past Moon Head, circumnavigate Long Island & return. Has the advantage of exposing you to "conditions" but keeping the shore within easy reach if something unforseen happens.
Nickerson Beach on Squantum, to Thompson's Is. then to Spectacle Is. and back. You can also detour to City Point in Southie if you are so inclined.
Quincy Marine Center Hough's Neck, to Peddock's & back (can circumnavigate Peddocks thru Hull Gut if you time it right and pick the right direction)
Quincy Marine Center, to Sheep, Grape and Slate Is & Return.
And perhaps the piece d'resitance: Windmill Point Hull to George's and/or Lovell's Island, or to Boston Light, Calf & the Brewsters.
For most of these trips you would need to be able to paddle in at least two foot chop and possibly need to handle three foot plus swells. You would need to be able to maintain a 3.5 - 4 mph paddling speed for at least 2 hours without a break.
Wind is almost always a factor in Boston Harbor this time of year, count on 10 to 15 mph and don't be surprised if it goes to 20. If the weather is fair and warm an afternoon off shore breeze at 15 gusting to 20 is fairly typical.
If your route takes you across any shipping channels you must be watchful and prepared. Commercial Boat Traffic expects you to get out of their way and you must assume that Private Boat Traffic is too oblivious to see you, so you better get out of thier way too!
It goes without saying that you need to be able to preform a self-rescue in these conditions, and that you have the proper safety equipment.
Personnally, I'd recommend starting out with an extended trip or three among the Harbor Islands in Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay and Hingham Bay before venturing out from Windmill Point.
There are a sveral of ways to define an intermediate trip. One is the type of wind, waves, and traffic you'll be encountering, another is the length of time you'll be paddling between breaks, yet another is the paddling effort expected (casual speed or a brisk pace?), and another is the distance being traveled.
IMO just about anything in Boston Harbor that gets you out amongst the islands should be classified as an intermediate trip because of the distances involved and possibility of a certain level of wind and waves, not to mention boat traffic this time of year.
Dave has mentioned some ideas for Boston Harbor, a couple of other alternatives are:
Wollaston Beach, past Moon Head, circumnavigate Long Island & return. Has the advantage of exposing you to "conditions" but keeping the shore within easy reach if something unforseen happens.
Nickerson Beach on Squantum, to Thompson's Is. then to Spectacle Is. and back. You can also detour to City Point in Southie if you are so inclined.
Quincy Marine Center Hough's Neck, to Peddock's & back (can circumnavigate Peddocks thru Hull Gut if you time it right and pick the right direction)
Quincy Marine Center, to Sheep, Grape and Slate Is & Return.
And perhaps the piece d'resitance: Windmill Point Hull to George's and/or Lovell's Island, or to Boston Light, Calf & the Brewsters.
For most of these trips you would need to be able to paddle in at least two foot chop and possibly need to handle three foot plus swells. You would need to be able to maintain a 3.5 - 4 mph paddling speed for at least 2 hours without a break.
Wind is almost always a factor in Boston Harbor this time of year, count on 10 to 15 mph and don't be surprised if it goes to 20. If the weather is fair and warm an afternoon off shore breeze at 15 gusting to 20 is fairly typical.
If your route takes you across any shipping channels you must be watchful and prepared. Commercial Boat Traffic expects you to get out of their way and you must assume that Private Boat Traffic is too oblivious to see you, so you better get out of thier way too!
It goes without saying that you need to be able to preform a self-rescue in these conditions, and that you have the proper safety equipment.
Personnally, I'd recommend starting out with an extended trip or three among the Harbor Islands in Dorchester Bay, Quincy Bay and Hingham Bay before venturing out from Windmill Point.
Craig
Hurricane A/S Tracer Yellow/White
Heritage Shearwater - Red/White
Heritage Tandem - Mango
Hurricane A/S Tracer Yellow/White
Heritage Shearwater - Red/White
Heritage Tandem - Mango
Islands in Dorchester Bay
Dave:
If you launch from Nickerson Beach on Squantum Thompson's is very close. At extreme low tide you can actually walk from Squaw Rock on Squantum to Thompson's across the small channel then onto the sand bar to the island. I'd be surprised if some of the delinquents in the Outward Bound program on Thompson's haven't fiqured out that means of escape.
Spectacle is a bit beyond the end of Thompson's and you have to cross a major shipping lane (the one used by the Harbor Express Catamaran and all the other commuter ferries between Hingham/Quincy & Boston) to get there.
Depending on the wind direction and strength, this area can be a bit more challenging than Quincy Bay & Hinghm Bay especially with an onshore east northeasterly blowing in from President Roads - Deer Is does not provide any windbreak and the fetch right off Mass. Bay pushes the swells right down the chute between Spectacle and Long Islands. I've had a couple of nice afternoon rides down the bay with following winds and sea. The biggest seas I've personaly experienced were out off the tip of Long Island in President Roads - swells 4 to 6' with steep faces and short periods between waves, plus chop from many boat wakes.
If you launch from Nickerson Beach on Squantum Thompson's is very close. At extreme low tide you can actually walk from Squaw Rock on Squantum to Thompson's across the small channel then onto the sand bar to the island. I'd be surprised if some of the delinquents in the Outward Bound program on Thompson's haven't fiqured out that means of escape.
Spectacle is a bit beyond the end of Thompson's and you have to cross a major shipping lane (the one used by the Harbor Express Catamaran and all the other commuter ferries between Hingham/Quincy & Boston) to get there.
Depending on the wind direction and strength, this area can be a bit more challenging than Quincy Bay & Hinghm Bay especially with an onshore east northeasterly blowing in from President Roads - Deer Is does not provide any windbreak and the fetch right off Mass. Bay pushes the swells right down the chute between Spectacle and Long Islands. I've had a couple of nice afternoon rides down the bay with following winds and sea. The biggest seas I've personaly experienced were out off the tip of Long Island in President Roads - swells 4 to 6' with steep faces and short periods between waves, plus chop from many boat wakes.
Craig
Hurricane A/S Tracer Yellow/White
Heritage Shearwater - Red/White
Heritage Tandem - Mango
Hurricane A/S Tracer Yellow/White
Heritage Shearwater - Red/White
Heritage Tandem - Mango
Where's Hangman's?
Craig,
Sounds like a good trip. That channel between Long Island and Moon was a little hairy, it would be nice to launch from Squantum and avoid it. There's no way to cut over between Squantum and Moon, right? I like the idea of starting over on the other side, we could see more of Dorchester Bay that way.
I like that map Pat. Very nice.
Sounds like a good trip. That channel between Long Island and Moon was a little hairy, it would be nice to launch from Squantum and avoid it. There's no way to cut over between Squantum and Moon, right? I like the idea of starting over on the other side, we could see more of Dorchester Bay that way.
I like that map Pat. Very nice.
Dorchester Bay
Dave:
Nickerson Beach on Squantum is just under the "a" in Squaw on the areial photo that Pat posted. There is limited parking (6 - 8 cars) avialable about 75 yards up the road. As with most of the beach launching spots it's beneficial to plan your trip around high tide, but it's certainly not as muddy as Wollaston at low.
I understand your trepidations about the channel between Moon Head and Long Is., I tend to use the bridge as a screen - I follow the bridge closely to the center span then quickly cross the channel and duck back under the bridge on the other side. Crossing from Long Is to Spectacle involves less boat traffic than crossing from Thompson's. Crossing from Thompson's takes you across the same channel that goes under the Long Is bridge, but at a wider and less defined point.
If we're getting serious about going we should put something in the Upcoming Trips area. Unfortunately I have mother-in-law from Fla visiting which will severely limit my availability, if not completely eliminate it for next weekend (Saturday is pretty much a no-go at this point) and possibly the weekend after. I definitely cannot make any commitments more than 12 - 24 hrs. in advance.
Nickerson Beach on Squantum is just under the "a" in Squaw on the areial photo that Pat posted. There is limited parking (6 - 8 cars) avialable about 75 yards up the road. As with most of the beach launching spots it's beneficial to plan your trip around high tide, but it's certainly not as muddy as Wollaston at low.
I understand your trepidations about the channel between Moon Head and Long Is., I tend to use the bridge as a screen - I follow the bridge closely to the center span then quickly cross the channel and duck back under the bridge on the other side. Crossing from Long Is to Spectacle involves less boat traffic than crossing from Thompson's. Crossing from Thompson's takes you across the same channel that goes under the Long Is bridge, but at a wider and less defined point.
If we're getting serious about going we should put something in the Upcoming Trips area. Unfortunately I have mother-in-law from Fla visiting which will severely limit my availability, if not completely eliminate it for next weekend (Saturday is pretty much a no-go at this point) and possibly the weekend after. I definitely cannot make any commitments more than 12 - 24 hrs. in advance.
Craig
Hurricane A/S Tracer Yellow/White
Heritage Shearwater - Red/White
Heritage Tandem - Mango
Hurricane A/S Tracer Yellow/White
Heritage Shearwater - Red/White
Heritage Tandem - Mango
We can do it when you have the time.
Craig,
I think you probably have the best knowledge of the harbor. I don't feel ready to lead a trip at this point. We can move it to the other thread and plan it for when you're open.
(BTW Don't know if you got my email, I'm real sorry I missed you last week. Its really not like me to sleep late, but I guess three days off in a row just got me lazy. Next time I will definitely set an alarm to be sure.)
I think you probably have the best knowledge of the harbor. I don't feel ready to lead a trip at this point. We can move it to the other thread and plan it for when you're open.
(BTW Don't know if you got my email, I'm real sorry I missed you last week. Its really not like me to sleep late, but I guess three days off in a row just got me lazy. Next time I will definitely set an alarm to be sure.)
July 23-30
Craig and Pat,
Forgot, I'm going away the 23-30th, going to the Vineyard with the yaks on the roof! Anyhoo, I won't be able to make any trips in that time. Obviously if you can work something in that time you should go for it. Mabe we can save Dorchester Islands for August? It sounds like that will be the first time that everyone will be available to plan something.
This weekend Sunday might work though for a turkey outing. Once I know what is up for the weekend, I'ld love to join in if a trip comes together. I'm interested in checking out this spit place sometime. Sounds like a barbeque joint.
Forgot, I'm going away the 23-30th, going to the Vineyard with the yaks on the roof! Anyhoo, I won't be able to make any trips in that time. Obviously if you can work something in that time you should go for it. Mabe we can save Dorchester Islands for August? It sounds like that will be the first time that everyone will be available to plan something.
This weekend Sunday might work though for a turkey outing. Once I know what is up for the weekend, I'ld love to join in if a trip comes together. I'm interested in checking out this spit place sometime. Sounds like a barbeque joint.
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