NEMA Cruising 2010

by Ken Levitt, Cruise Chair. Revised 5/2/2010

2010 looks to be a great year for NEMA Cruising.  We can all hope that our bad weather for the year is behind us and every cruise will have the best of conditions.

Dates and destinations are subject to change over time. During the cruise, wind, weather, and input from participants determine how things unfold. We will try to keep you informed with future communications, but the best way to keep up to date on cruising events is to be on the cruising mailing list. On the NEMA 2010 Membership Renewal Form, there was a check box to sign up for the cruising mailing list. If you checked this box you are all set. If not, please contact us and have your membership record updated.

If you do plan on attending an event, make sure you let the responsible person know your plans in advance, even if you are unsure about your participation. That way you can be notified of any last minute changes in plans.

Here's what we have planned so far:

Buzzards Bay Blast Race/Picnic – June 26^th-27^th

Around the buoys day races Saturday and Sunday.  Day sailing and picnicking on Saturday (bring your boat or just come to the picnic by car).  The events on Saturday are followed by raft-up in Wareham with barbeque at Gleason’s Saturday night. The barbeque includes the annual NEMA-South picnic. There is a nice sandy beach, good holding ground and typically very protected.  Ken will link up members who want to day sail together on Saturday and/or Sunday.

You are also welcome to go out on the race course and see how you do.  Racing is scheduled to start at 11am.

Bob Gleason  (Racing) 508-295-0095

Ken Levitt (Day Sailing)  508-295-3542 

Lake Champlain – July 9^th through 18^th

Every year the North East Trailer Sailors (NETS) spends a week on Lake Champlain. If you have never sailed there you don't know what you are missing. This year, NETS has again invited NEMA members to join them. This is a highly diverse group of old, young, singles, couples, and families. They are almost entirely monohulls, but don't hold that against them. They are some of the nicest and friendliest sailors I have ever met. We're expecting anywhere from 10 to 15 boats to attend. The entire group does not stay together all of the time. They split us at times and rejoin later. Most nights are spent anchored a few feet of water off a beach (no tides), with a few at the state operated marina on Burton Island. If there are any significant number of multihulls, we will likely take a few side trips together to satisfy our need for speed. The cruise runs from Friday July 9 through Monday July 18. Some boats join later and others may leave sooner.  The choice is yours, feel free to join and leave at any time. It is a very relaxed atmosphere with lots of late day socializing.

Black Dog Dash – July 24^th

This is a racing event sponsored by NEMA, but is also a good excuse to cruise over to Martha's Vineyard and do some socializing with other NEMA members. If you have been thinking about giving racing a try, this is an extremely low key event and a good chance to get your feet wet.  If there are at least three interested cruising boats, I will organize a “Fun Race for Cruisers” to start just after the real race and end a little before so that we will not miss any of the racing or social activities.

Buzzards Bay Getaway – July 25^th through August 1^st

An eight day cruise leaving Vineyard Haven the day after the Black Dog Dash.  The destinations will be based on weather conditions and input from participants.  Possible Eastern destinations include Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod.  Possible Western destinations include Cuttyhunk, Block Island, Newport, Long Island, and Connecticut.

NEMA North Rally and Barbecue – August 21^st (cancelled)

The NEMA North Rally and Barbecue will be held on Aug 21st (with the 22nd as a rain date) at Ted Grossbart's waterfront house in Marblehead, MA, on Salem Harbor.  Come by boat or come by car.  Get together for a fun afternoon with other NEMA members, or take the opportunity to get in some cruising in the historic Salem/Marblehead area.  Watch the newsletter for details on what to bring and how to get more information.

 Vineyard and Nantucket – September 10^th through 14^th

Joining the North East Trailer Sailors (NETS), the cruise will start out on Friday with launching at the Wareham Town Ramp.  Overnight anchorage will be in Red Brook Harbor behind Bassetts Island in Pocasset.  Saturday is a sail through Woods Hole to Lake Tashmoo on Martha’s Vineyard.  Lake Tashmoo has a dinghy dock which is about a one mile walk to Vineyard Haven.  If you don’t have a dinghy, other cruisers will be happy to give you a ride in.  On Sunday, some cruisers will head home while others will sail on to Nantucket.  Stay as long as you want in Nantucket.  If winds are against us on the way back, you will either have to start back early in the morning, or spend the night in a harbor on Cape Cod.

Start a Cruise

For those of you on the Northern or Southern fringes of NEMA (Maine and Long Island Sound), how about organizing a cruise in your area? Show off what your home turf is all about.

Any (and all) NEMA members are encouraged to organize cruises. Cruises happen when members make them happen. Don't just sit by and wait for someone else to do all the work.