After being stuck below decks and locked into the most remote corner of Hadley Harbor by a week-long nor’easter, we finally escaped back to civilization.
Meet Woods Hole Yacht Club, an adorable two-room (and small office) clubhouse built in 1957. Inside are the deep natural ambers of aged pine.
On the walls, sepia photos of sailboats in full spender racing against the wind. The kitchen has the original giant white porcelain farm sink and no stove.
The only shower was built (somewhat later) into an old pantry closet, a cramped space, but it comes with unlimited steaming hot water. The two heads are in the other room with carved signs that say, as you might expect, His and Hers. They are open from 8 am to sunset until Columbus Day.
Members are friendly, curious, and extremely helpful with local knowledge, don't plan on a short conversation. Fortunately, there are plenty of comfortable Adirondack chairs to carry out such conversations overlooking the spectacular harbor sunsets.
Currently, WHYC has only one transient mooring (so book ahead) and they charge $75.00 a night. Expensive for us East Coast travelers, but not out of the norm for New England. It's a short commute to the floating dingy dock, but there's a less exposed tender dock around the corner in Eel Pond, but you might have to duck your head getting under the small draw bridge.
The view from the mooring ball includes a parade of locals who have built floating fishing shacks or cabins on platforms attached to moorings. These constructions vary in style and architecture, some more avant-garde others very traditional; all fascinating to look at.
Woods Hole is a delight to explore and great therapy for the SV Angelfish crew suffering from cabin fever. A half-mile walk through this iconic Cap Cod town is the Pie In The Sky Cafe, which serves the best croissants and coffee concoctions. Sitting in the cafe, provides excellent people-watching of academics who work locally and travelers who arrive by train or ferry.
We will spend three days here in Wood Hole before we travel again. For SV Angelfish, it's just a hop to Martha’s Vineyard and only a jump to the island paradise of Nantucket.
We will follow the wind, wherever it blows.