Cuttyhunk Island

Day 189 to 192
1978 Statutory miles traveled


Located about 6 miles off the southern coast of Massachusetts and about 25 miles from Newport RI, this is a place that time seems to have forgotten. There are few cars, no bars and 4 restaurants (only 1 accommodates eating in vs take out). Full time residents top out at 32 in the winter and summer population swells to about 400. 2 of the residents are children who attend the one room school house.  The island is 1.5 miles long and only 3/4 miles wide, making it the 4th largest of the Elizabeth Islands.

Most of all it's just quiet.  Sitting here all I hear are the occasional dingy motor and the sailboat rigging slapping against their masts. From our spot, we can see Massachusetts and Gayhead cliffs on Martha's Vineyard.

The days here were spent exploring the island, from the highest point to the west end, watching the comings and goings on the mooring field and swimming or should I say floating off the back of the boat.

The highest point on the island is Lookout Hill, @ 150 feet. There are six bunkers that were built by the Coast Guard in 1941 to watch the surrounding waters for German U-boats. Stripped of their observation equipment and weaponry at the end of World War II, the bunkers are a great place to picnic or take in the spectacular view of the island and its surrounding waters.


On our trek to the west end you follow one of the two to three roads on the island until it turns into a dirt path. Then follow or for another 1/2 mile or so and you will come across west end pond,the Gosnold monument and another one of the prettiest beaches you've ever seen. 

On one of our afternoon dingy rides around the harbor, we ventured out to the moorings and anchorages outside the breakwater.  Here we ran into Passages, whom we had the pleasure of rafting up to in Wickford for a week.  This jaunt also took us fairly close to Nashawena Island where we saw cows on the beach and in the water.  Yup - COWS!!! Well, as Dennis says, this brought out the "JC" in me and I had to figure out what the deal was with these cows.  Here are some fun facts discovered along the way about Nashawena Island;

• Nashawena is the 2nd largest of the Elizabeth Islands, coming in at 3 miles long and just over 1800 acres, but least populated with the full time population being 2.  
• All of the Elizabeth Islands except for Cuttyhunk and Penikese are privately owned by the Forbes family of Boston, MA.
• John Murray Forbes was part of the first generation Forbes who accumulated their wealth from trading between North America and China in the 19th century Opium wars; exporting opium, furs and other manufactured goods for the import of tea to be sold in the US & Britain.  Notable Forbes family members include John Forbes Kerry.
• In past years Nashawena was used for sheep farming, but many were killed when coyotes began invading the island (swimming from Woods Hole, MA, similar to the situation in Cuttyhunk, where small dogs and other animals are at risk).  
• Nashawena land use has been deemed agricultural by the MA state of representatives, therefore they pay little or no property taxes. Hmmmmm
• The branch of the family who owns Nashawena now raises cattle (Scottish Highland cattle) to manage the vegetation - and apparently they love the beach.

We spent the evenings on the fly bridge admiring the stars. There is no ambient light here so this was the perfect place to watch the perseid meteor shower which was at it's peak the days we were here.  We saw several shoot stars each night.  

Link to Cuttyhunk Pix