I was favorably impressed by the IBYC facility and commend the waterfront staff which is friendly and accommodating. Transient moorings are along the channel on the north side of the mooring field, and be advised that the tidal current is quite strong. The moorings themselves are the big "drum" type in which the pennants can be nested. Despite the size of the mooring field, launch service to and from the mooring is prompt (and free - which is a nice touch). Once at the dock house, guests are issued a key card that provides access to the gangway and bathroom facilities. I recommend the effective bug repellent that is available for purchase at the dock house, since blood-seeking flies are fierce between the full moons of July and August! On Friday morning, I asked the Club if I could lie along the dock for an hour or two to complete some varnish work on my boat's "eyebrows" and the staff was very accommodating. Tie-ups at the dock are normally limited to fifteen minutes.
Our reservation on Dockwa was not apparent to Captain Isabel, who kept us in a holding pattern for about 45 minutes. By the time we made fast, I was fairly frazzled. We truncated our stay due to TS Elsa and retreated to Menemsha harbor on Marthas Vineyard.
I transited from Westport Harbor to Menemsha via the Canapitsit Channel with a USN Captain (ret) on board. We made an absolutely magical crossing on a lake-like Buzzards Bay and MV Sound, arriving in Menemsha to a nearly-empty marina. We were promptly greeted by the Dockmaster and made fast to the fixed pier. No complaints, it was a weekend for the record book!
CBY is a very reasonable marina for cruisers. It’s a large facility, so the dock hands can be overwhelmed and unresponsive on VHF10. They’re very helpful once on scene. The pool is a nice touch and the showers and heads are fine. The facility is weathered but pricing is reasonable. Sailors need to contact the Shaw Cove bridge on VHF13 to request an opening but be prepared to wait since Amtrak rolls over the bridge with surprising regularity!