BSC Cruising from Fairhaven
The Boats
In 2010 we are berthing Thea (C40) and Anne (C35) at the Fairhaven Shipyard in New Bedford/Fairhaven harbor on Buzzards Bay. They will be available to qualified Cruising 35 and Cruising 40 members for cruises starting and ending in Buzzards Bay throughout the season.
Cruising Information
For the BSC Online Cruising Guide's look at some of the harbors within easy cruising range of Fairhaven, see the Buzzards Bay Regional Chart or Cape & Islands Regional Chart.
For details on the town of Fairhaven and the Fairhaven Shipyard as a starting point or destination for a cruise, see here.
Qualified Members
The prerequisite for C35 and C40 members who wish to schedule their cruises out of Fairhaven is the same as for members who wish to sail south of the Cape from the BSC. Specifically that means the Coastal Passage Making course or equivalent experience. All C40 & C35 members who wish to book a cruise out of Fairhaven should have either taken CPM or have substantial cruising experience as skipper and/or crew beyond the Cruising Course. Please contact the BSC office with any questions.
Reservations
Cruises out of Fairhaven will follow the same reservation system that we use in Boston. All Fairhaven cruises will be a maximum of seven days, including prep and boarding, and will count as a member's high or low season cruise. There are no additional charges for booking a cruise out of Fairhaven, although the same charges for a second (low season) cruise that apply in Boston will also apply in Fairhaven.
Last year the cruises out of Fairhaven were quite popular, although there were a handful of weeks available on both boats. When cruise weeks are not booked, we will notify members that the boats are available for daysailing or overnights instead.
Schedule
All the cruise weeks will begin and end on a Friday. The boats will be available for loading and boarding Friday afternoon at 5 pm. They will be clean, with the fuel and water tanks full, holding tank empty, adequate propane, etc. The boats are due back on Thursday night, with the holding tank empty and the fuel tank full.
This schedule results in six full days of cruising in Buzzards Bay (without the two 'delivery days' from Boston through the Canal and vice versa), while allowing our staff adequate time to clean and maintain the boats between cruises.
Pumpout & Fuel
There is a pumpout facility in the harbor on Pope's Island. Members returning from a cruise will need to pump out before leaving the boat. There is a fuel dock at the Shipyard.
Support
BSC staff member(s) will be available Fridays to handle maintenance, check-in and check-out as needed. To make our Friday maintenance efficient, we will schedule a telephone check-in between members and the BSC manager on duty for the last afternoon of each Fairhaven cruise.
We have also signed both Thea and Anne up for TowBoat US memberships, which cover any BSC member sailing either boat.
Parking
There is short-term parking inside the Shipyard for loading and unloading, as well as free extended parking in a lot across the street for members while they are cruising. The Shipyard gate is staffed 24 hours a day for entry on foot. An access card for vehicle entrance will be available to all members who schedule cruises from Fairhaven.
Provisioning
There's a Super Stop&Shop on the main commercial strip about two miles east of the Shipyard, open until midnight most days.
Outfitting
West Marine is thick on the ground on the west side of Buzzards Bay. There's a store on Pope's Island (the middle of New Bedford/Fairhaven harbor); there's one in Fairhaven itself, and one in Marion if you're driving from the south shore.
Restaurants
Two favorite locals are Margaret's and Elizabeth's, both a short pleasant walk north along the harbor from the Shipyard. Good food, varied menus, and a casual atmosphere that fits the off-the-boat vibe.
Local Attractions
The New Bedford Whaling Museum is worth a trip to visit on its own merits. If you're weather-bound in Fairhaven it's an ideal half-day diversion.
