The water temperature in the harbor is nearing 70 degrees and the buzz on the inner-harbor stripers is now dwindling, as they head to slightly cooler waters. With hope, the dense fog that has surrounded us for a weekplus will soon dissipate to reveal the full moon’s shine during the late evenings.
Walking the waterline, you may stumble across beach peas this time of year, a native Nantucket wildflower that can survive in the harsh salty atmosphere of beach and dune environments. These pale purple petals can be found along the coastline of Coatue or while walking a trail to the water at Jetties Beach.
The view from Sandbar at Jetties never disappoints. It is like a runway for megayachts entering the harbor during the summertime. The procession is yet to begin, but there have been a few stray yachts at anchor and arriving in the harbor.
There is currently a 115-foot yacht called B5 at anchor outside the west jetty. A few larger yachts have already docked at the Boat Basin, including Sea Nash last weekend. While disembarking the Boat Basin the 50 (150-foot) Westport backed over a neighboring vessel’s anchor chain, wrapping the chain around its prop half a dozen times.
Unable to maneuver under propulsion, Sea Nash shuffled over to the town pier, where she lay until a professional diver could unwrap the chain with an underwater hydraulic saw.
Due to the extreme circumstances and environmental factors, the town pier was able to act as a temporary safe haven for Sea Nash, for the protection and safety of the vessel, all surrounding vessels and the professional divers. Sights like this will not become common at the town pier in the future.”
Summer is already sailing along, and Monday the Jetties Sailing Center opened for the season. On the harbor side of Jetties Beach, there is something for everyone from the tiniest salt to the retiring old salt, including toddlers, youths and teens in between. Tiny Salts classes are offered to children ages 2 through 4 years, to introduce the youngest mariners to sailing the seashore. The tiniest can jump off boats, sing songs and learn sailing terms.
Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are always available, and depending on one’s level of skill, there are a variety of sailboats to rent. Rhodes 19 sailboats are known to be ideal family day-sailors, also built for racing and to withstand heavy weather. There are also 420 sailing dinghies and Marshall Cat 15s. The 420s are popular for teaching and racing, and the Marshall Cat is a perfect way to explore the harbor off Hulbert Avenue.
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