Approaches
Menemsha Harbor opens directly onto Vineyard Sound via a narrow dredged channel between breakwaters. A 25 ft high flashing green sits at the end of the eastern breakwater and there's an (unlit) green bell about 250 yards off the entrance. Current runs hard, but straight, through the entrance, from a knot or two up to 4 or 5, as the expanse of Menemsha Pond drains and fills with the tide. The only tricky part of the entrance is to recognize that there's very little room for boathandling inside the breakwaters and to prepare accordingly.
The harbormaster reported depths were 18 feet in the entrance channel and 12 feet in the basin. {2005} The mooring basin opens to your left immediately inside the breakwaters. Current in the basin is negligible.
Anchorages
Anchoring is possible outside the breakwaters and clear of the moorings. It's protected enough for calm summer weather and the prevailing southwesterly, but any groundswell from the west or chop in the Sound makes it rolly. Menemsha Bight is exposed from northeast around to west, and goes from uncomfortable to untenable in any significant northerly.
There is no room to anchor inside the breakwaters. Menemsha Pond looks tempting, but depths in the creek leading to it vary yearly and generally don't admit large keelboats. The dredging indicated on the chart is intended more to promote circulation and water quality than navigation. Overnight anchoring in the Pond is prohibited.
Moorings
The Town maintains a handful of guest moorings outside the breakwaters. They are frequently used throughout the summer, but they are subject to the same weather as the anchorage discussed above.
Inside the mooring basin are two town moorings for visitors, to which several boats may be rafted. The basin is well sheltered from any weather short of a hurricane.
For any of the moorings, contact the harbormaster.
Slips
The town also maintains 120 feet of dock space for visitors, along the north edge of the basin, north of the fuel pumps. South of the fuel pumps is designated for the use of commercial fishermen.
Call the harbormaster to arrange for dock space.
