Approaches
The harbor at Plymouth is nearly 5 miles from open water. With the sun setting right in your eyes and the outgoing current pushing hard on your bow, those miles can seem twice as long. Plymouth is not a convenient stopover for a sailor enroute to someplace else, but the entrance is merely long, not difficult. There is plenty of water to get in and out at any tide, and the channel is well marked. The range lights leading into the mooring area, however, are widely reported to be nearly indiscernible among the lights of town. {cs}
The outer channel, from Gurnet Point, past Brown's Bank to the Duxbury Pier Light (aka "Bug Light") does shift year to year, and the buoys sometimes move accordingly.
Following the Chart Kit's pre-printed course between Gurnet Point and Bug Light may take you outside the channel.
Plymouth's extensive shoals confound the most recent charts, and demand the navigator's respectful attention.
Also note that there is a security zone around the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, on Rocky Point south of Plymouth Bay. In 2002, the zone extended about a half mile off shore.
Anchorages
At the elbow of the dredged channel, behind Plymouth Beach, is a narrow anchorage. It is remote from the bustle of town and harbor, but not from the traffic in and out.
Even more secluded are the anchorages west or north of Clarks Island. They are over three miles from town, however, and feel exposed in a westerly of any force.
Moorings
There isn't room to anchor behind the breakwater, but there is generally a mooring available in the well-sheltered field between the breakwater and town.
Guest moorings throughout the harbor are handled by the Plymouth Yacht Club, whose launch monitors the uncommon VHF 08. The PYC website states they do not take reservations for moorings; their clubhouse is at the south end of the harbor.
Neither the Harbormaster nor the Plymouth Harbor Launch Service, both located on the Town Wharf, is in the transient mooring business.
Slips
Just north of the yacht club and convenient to the heart of town are the facilities of Brewer Plymouth Marine. With over 100 slips, there is usually one available for an overnight visitor, though reservations are recommended.
