Approaches
Tarpaulin Cove opens directly onto Vineyard Sound and the entrance is clear of obstructions all the way across, so getting in and out presents no difficulty. The lighthouse shows prominently, especially from the east.
The only difficulty that we've encountered in trying to visit over the years is fitting it in to a larger itinerary. The currents in Vineyard Sound run hard (often 2+ knots) in one direction or the other - making the passage a discouraging one in the "wrong" direction at least half the time. But at about 5nm from Wood's Hole, Tarpaulin Cove is close enough to visit as a lunch stop on a short day.
Anchorages
The cove seems larger than the chart suggests. A dozen anchored boats would feel uncrowded and there's plenty of room in 10-20 feet with sand. Anywhere in the cove you'll feel some effect from whatever sea is running out in the Sound, though with the typical southwester, tucking in under the lighthouse can provide a slightly better lee.
Charlie Schock writes:
OK for overnight if you are confident of the weather. (Can one ever be confident of the New England weather?) If it comes to blow from the east you can always go through Quick's Hole. . .
True enough, though perhaps not how most of us would choose to spend a dark and stormy night.
There are no moorings or slips.
