New England / Martha's Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard

The 100 Square mile Island of Martha's Vineyard with a population of around 10,000 is just a short cruise from the Southeast shores of mainland Massachusetts. MV is separated from the Elizabeth Islands and Cape Cod by Vineyard and Nantucket sounds. The island was a result of glaciation; the island has cliffs composed of boulders and clay deposits in the north, and low, sandy plains in the south.

About Martha’s Vineyard:
Before the European arrival, the Wampanoag Indians were the first known settlers of MV, which was then called Noepe or “land amid the streams”. The English were the first to settle the island in 1642. Originally a farming, brick making, salt production, and fishing community, Martha's Vineyard became an important commercial center, with whaling and fishing as the main occupations. In the late 1800s the island, with its harbors, beaches, and scenic attractions, developed into a summer resort. This saved the Island from financial collapse with the decline in whaling and the Great Depression as the wealthy continued to prosper. MV is divided into the towns of Chilmark, Edgartown, Gay Head, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury. A good portion of the island's interior is set aside as a state forest. In the late 1980s the small Wampanoag tribe, based in Martha's Vineyard, took legal action to reclaim ancestral land in Gay Head. Gay Head could now be referred as the area formally know as Gay Head or XXXXXXXX

The Island became of political notoriety in 1969 when Mary Jo Kopechne was killed when a car driven by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy drove off the Dike Bridge. The bridge connects Chappaquiddick Island located just to the East of VM and is actually connected via a causeway (aside from the infamous bridge). In 1975 MV became known for its Hollywood notoriety with the filming of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws”. The famous beach scenes can be relived (well aside from the shark) along Joseph Sylvia State Beach – makes for a neat bike ride along the coast. MV received further Kennedy notoriety again in 1999 when John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren Bessette were lost in a plane crash off the coat of Gay Head (Western most tip of MV)

In 1977, MV tried to secede from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but failed. MV also failed to secede from the US in an effort to create an independent nation. Enjoy MV and don’t fear any civil or revolutionary outbreaks unless they are filming a movie about an unpatriotic shark!

Now Getting There…
Although not too far off from the mainland, cruising to Martha’s Vinevard can be a challenge. If your approach is from the East or the Buzzards Bay you need to plan accordingly with the tide schedule affecting Vineyard Sound. The tidal currents running through Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound could be extremely tricky and lack of planning will put you against 5 knot currents for the better part of your trip. The passage through Quick’s Hole is tight but not too difficult. Plan your trip according to the tide...not your schedule. Make sure you have updated marine charts and tide table book complete with tide charts to show the varying currents around MV approaches at different times of the day.

Once you make your way up Vineyard Sound to the Eastern most approached of MV you are ready to plan for your stay at. The 3 recommendation I would give for MV would be Vineyard Haven (The Northeastern entrance to the Island, Oak Bluffs and/or Edgartown) See one of the chart links below for an illustration of these 3 harbors.

Vineyard Haven
Vineyard Haven offers both a free anchorage or the comfort of a town mooring (~$35 per night). The town moorings are located inside the breakwater and therefore offer rather calm waters. The anchorage field outside the breakwater could chop up with an Easterly wind. A third option is another anchorage located in Logoon Pond bay accessible just before the breakwater entrance in Vineyard Haven. Check your local charts for details and accessibility.

Vineyard Haven’s town offers everything you will need in the way of supplies, shopping and marine services. There is a town dock, fuel, public showers, dingy dock, grocery stores and anything else you probably need. I would recommend getting a mooring in VH – the town dock is just a few yards away from the town moorings!! Very convenient. There are also public transportation buses that loop from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. See the maps below for complete details on stops, fairs and other routes around MV. You can also get cabs, rent bikes or even a car. The famous Black Dog restaurant is a short walk from the town dock – buy a shirt…skip the meal. Food was OK, nothing great but you need to at least check it out. One thing to know about Vineyard Haven – it is a dry town but they do allow you to bring your own wine into a restaurant!

Oak Bluff
Now if bring your own is not your style then venture up the coast to Oak Bluff. Oak Bluff offers visitors a well appreciative cultural experience. The harbor is small and completely commercialized but bustles with life. Moorings are limited and expect to be rafted 3-4 vessels per mooring. With the most social sunset New England has to offer – don’t expect things to die down after dark. A younger and energized crowd keeps the restaurant and bar owners busy with a smile! Shopping and public transportation are available as well. All marine services are available too in Oak Bluff.
For complete information on Oak Bluffs Harbor and services available visit www.oakbluffsharbor.com.

Edgartown
Some of the oldest mansions on MV overlook the harbor views of Edgartown. Great town to stroll through.

Chappaquiddick Island which is not technically an Island as it’s connected via a causeway. Don’t try to tell the Chappaquiddick locals they are not on an island – its residents formed a rather tight-knit community and see them distinctly separate from the rest of MV. There was even a time when they called the mainland “America”- which, I g store/automobile mechanic's garage that is only open in the summer.

Satellite Image of the area
http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/galhistory/2000_nov_22.html

MVOL.com
Official Homepage of MV
Massvacations.com
http://www.mvy.com/

Restaurants
http://www.mvol.com/directory/restaurants/
http://www.mvy.com/islandinfo/placestoeat.html

Fishing Tournaments
http://www.mvderby.com/

Island Webcams
http://www.mvol.com/articles/51/

Interactive Map
http://www.mvol.com/maps/
http://www.mvy.com/islandinfo/index.html

Beaches
http://www.mvol.com/beaches/

Getting Around (taxis, buses, biking, walking, mopeds)
http://www.mvy.com/islandinfo/gettingaround.html

Oak Bluffs
http://www.oakbluffsharbor.com/location.shtml

Lighthouses
http://www.mvy.com/islandinfo/lighthouses.html

Harbormasters
Edgartown
508-627-4746 or508-627-6185
Monitors ch. 9, 16;working ch. 74
Menemsha
508-645-2846
Monitors ch. 9;working ch. 8
Oak Bluffs
508-693-9644 or508-693-4355
Monitors ch. 9;working ch. 71
Vineyard Haven
508-696-4249 or508-696-4200
Monitors ch. 9;working ch. 69