MacGregorSailors.com

I would like to hear from real owners of Mac26x/m, not critics.
Would you feel comfortable making the journey from Newport, R.I. to Block Island?

Thank you so much for your time and comments.

Sincerely,
lewie

My vote is if the weather is right, which is a function of both boat and skippers level of experience - you should have a few years under your belt or make he crossing with a cruising friend if you are still a novice.

Do NOT make this crossing if you feel you HAVE to return by a certain time/date. The Block Island run has a large SE fetch and when the prevailing winds blow up, you get full ocean wave action - where x and M boats have to sit in the pond and wait it out.

If you check out the NETS group you can talk to lots of people on Macs who have done this crossing, myself included.

Once you get to Block Island, you and your shallow draft can enjoy lots of places those big bad keelboaters cant dream of.

Have to agree with Steve.

I have made this trip more times than I can remember. Actually did it on a Venture 17 as a teen.

As Steve mentioned, the way out and back can be a little brutal if you don't get the right weather.

If you are a little timid the first time, hug the coastline for awhile and reach in.

Get a good weather window, watch your tides and have a blast. Block Island is a wonderful place and you can't beat the ride home.

Splurge on a cruising spinnaker....its a Nantucket Sleigh Ride all the way back.

Can't see that I would. Just looked up google maps and it says that Newport, NSW, to Block Island RI is 16,781 kilometres and involves crossing the Pacific, then transiting to the Atlantic through the Panama Canal, on up to Block Island.

I reckon that might be a stretch for the Mac. Must check with Mad Mike!

I've done it many times, but the smallest boat was a 30 footer. However, we did have a 26' boat in our group a couple of times.
I knew many sailors who did the outside of long island from Manasquan NJ to Block often.

If conditions are right and you are a good navigator, sure. It's ocean and long swells can be expected.
I think 75% of the time we encountered fog. Hence the expression, "Where the heck is block island?"
One time in fog, we encountered a group of lost SeaDoo's who followed us into the pond. I can't imagine what would have happened to them if they didn't find somone who knew where they were. These guys were scared and so relieved to make it to safety. What in the world were they thinking being out there running to Block without nav aids?

It's a fun island that has fewer tourists than Nantuckett or Marthas Vinyard. Still my favorite island.

As mentioned, with shallow draft, you can get into places others can't.

If you want to bite off a small trip first, hit the Elizabeths and my favourite, Cuttyhunk. Only about 8 miles across Buzzards Bay so you can stand to be beat up for an hour or two at most.

Ahhhh, Cuttyhunk.

If I ever got mad at the world, this or the Block is where I would consider living.

Cuttyhunk is an easy one as Steve said. You could launch in New Bedford and be there in no time.

I REALLY miss New England. At least during the summer. What I would do for some clam cakes or a real lobster roll right now. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

As Stephen mentioned,come and join us in NE-TS,and check it out. We do a MV-Nantucket trip,as well as at least one Cuttyhunk run every season,and you can get a wealth of experience from other Mac owners.
It's not about the distance so much,as it's about having favorable conditions. Nice thing about an X or an M is that you can run for shelter pretty quick if things start getting dicey.

http://www.ne-ts.com/

When we had our MacX, we contemplated doing a similar run many times (Barn Island boat ramp in CT, instead of Newport). We never got around to it in the MacX, but we've gone from our mooring in Jamestown over to Block several times now with our Beneteau 361. I would definitely keep an eye on the weather - there is a LOT of traffic through there and I'd hate to do that during times of low visibility or when the big waves are crashing onto Beavertail Point. That said, Block is awesome! Best beaches in New England imho, and at the end of the summer, the water is *almost* what a former Texan would consider warm! Nah, never mind, that water is still too darn cold!

By the way, it was on one of those runs I learned why keel boats often motor with the main raised. We were getting the big rollers from the side, which generated an unpleasant side-to-side motion. I would have hated to have been in our MacGregor at that time. We raised the main like we saw other boats doing and that immediately stopped - the sail acts like a giant rocker-stopper and the ride became quite pleasant. Having learned to sail on the MacX, I was conditioned to not motor with the sails up. That only really applies to high speed motoring, not the scorching 8 knots our Beneteau motors at!

Have fun and we'll see you out there this summer!

Dean Thomas
Dutch Harbor Boat Yard, Jamestown, RI
Formerly Lion's Paw, 1999 MacGregor 26X
Now Second Wind, 2001 Beneteau 361

We raised the main like we saw other boats doing and that immediately stopped - the sail acts like a giant rocker-stopper and the ride became quite pleasant. Having learned to sail on the MacX, I was conditioned to not motor with the sails up

After 7 seasons with the Mac, I just figured that out last year...

I was born in Hyannis, Cape Cod and spent many years sailing the Islands and New England in many diffrent boats.
The smallest Sailboat I sailed to Block Island from Hyannis was a 22 ft. Seafearer and did that very well with as I recall long 8 ft. swells past Menemsha, Marthards Vinyard with winds around 15 knots on a beat.
I spent 2 weeks on that trip harbor jumping and still smell the pasteries the Local baker shop made. They would send out a boat full of pasteries every day and went boat to boat with their goods.
As others pointed out, one must be experanced to do the trip and a well sound Mac. and clear window.
I would do it in a second with my X if I was there and will when I retire and trailer up their.
Dave
PS: only time I got a Nantucket Sleigh ride was from Nantucket or Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard (we call it Marthards Vineyard).
Be prepaird for Pea Soup Fog!

lewie42 wrote:I would like to hear from real owners of Mac26x/m, not critics.
Would you feel comfortable making the journey from Newport, R.I. to Block Island?

Thank you so much for your time and comments.

Sincerely,
lewie

I miss the digging of pi$$ clams and Qhaugues off Sandy Neck and Cotuit. The summer Clam Bake in the sand pit full of corn on the corb,lobster,pi$$ clams, hard shell clams,blue crab,Bluefish,Potato's,Onion's,Garlic buried in smokeing seaweed with a aroma that filled the naborhood.Yummm
Dave

AWKIII wrote:Ahhhh, Cuttyhunk.

If I ever got mad at the world, this or the Block is where I would consider living.

Cuttyhunk is an easy one as Steve said. You could launch in New Bedford and be there in no time.

I REALLY miss New England. At least during the summer. What I would do for some clam cakes or a real lobster roll right now. Sometimes the simple things are the best.

DaveB wrote:They would send out a boat full of pasteries every day and went boat to boat with their goods.

Yea, I remember that.

As I recall the prices were a bit high, but who cares, for a baker to deliver fresh pastries to you for breakfast while at anchor, it's worth the added delivery charge.

Good times.

I've single handed out to Block Island several times, once in some pretty snotty weather. The Mac can take it if you can.


I miss Narragansett Bay.......

Can't see that I would. Just looked up google maps and it says that Newport, NSW, to Block Island RI is 16,781 kilometres

Not sure how far it is from Duluth but I only have 4 weeks vacation left for this summer. Maybe after I retire and gain a lot more experience, plus some nav and cruising courses.

Wally