WD-70 Menemsha

It was time to say good bye to Nantucket after a very enjoyable 3 days here. Time to pull up the anchors. Our “secret” anchor location has good holding. Good holding is great, but it often means extra time to clean the anchor and the chain before stowing it in the anchor locker. Otherwise, you may get a stinky anchor locker which is in the bow of the boat and too close to our heads while we sleep.

Leaving Nantucket is more challenging than Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs when it comes to ferry traffic. Our timing resulted in ferry dodging, nothing to worry about, just be aware and stay out of their way!

After a 5¼ hour (38 nautical miles) trip, we anchored off of Menemsha after lunch. Ahh, Menemsha, we have missed you. We only anchor at Menemsha when the conditions are right because it can get so rolly out there.  Inside the little harbor there are a few docks and two mooring balls that are only for sailboats. 🤔

Next was an afternoon walkabout through this small working fishing village located in the town of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. The Chilmark Master Plan has stated goals “To maintain the visual character of Menemsha as a small fishing village, and “Assure the priority of commercial fishing boats (over) pleasure craft.” Menemsha was the shooting background for the fictional “Amity Island” in the 1975 film Jaws. Menemsha is a blend of old and new, land and sea, quaint and modern. 

Our last two visits were in 2016 and 2017 so it has been a while.

Stepping off of our dinghies and onto the docks, the bronze swordfish sculpture by Jay Lagerman greets us in the dunes. The 17-foot fish was commissioned for Chilmark’s tricentennial in 1994 to honor the fishing industry. In 2012 we met Jay Lagerman while riding on the MV bus. 

I just love the signs on Menemsha. The Chilmark Chandlery sign is an old favorite and now there is a new one that is just as cheeky and cute.

We all did a little shopping. Al and I bought shirts (sweatshirt for him and t-shirt for me) at Beetlebung. I much prefer the little crammed shop here in Menemsha to the fancier location in Oak Bluffs. For years I have admired the clothing, so I finally succumbed and bought something. It is all silkscreened during the winter months right in this shop.

Our tradition is to get dinner at Larsens and eat on the overturned crates. Larsens has undergone a huge renovation and is no longer the semi-shack it was. As we were walking by, the woman at Memensha Fish Market offered us samples of lobster bisque and clam chowder so we decided to change things up and get our food there instead of Larsens. The lobster bisque was a big hit with all four of us. We do wish we had chosen a lobster feast and will definitely do that the next time.

It was early to bed for an early departure. We had 52 nautical miles ahead to get to our last harbor, Watch Hill. To catch some current, we left Memensha at 5:00 am on Friday. It’s a rule that on any cruise of significant length, that there needs to be at least one pre-dawn departure. (I just made that up, but it is really cool to see the sunrise as you are underway.)

We had a variety of weather and conditions for our seven-plus hour trip that day. The ocean rollers were quite large but spread out enough so that the discomfort was bearable. I wish I could capture them in a photo but it never looks as good, or bad.

By the time we anchored at Napatree, the sun was fully out and we had another beautiful day ahead.