Previously, my trusty Duncan and Ware guide urged enough caution, I skipped it. Today, there's more info available on my boat, and it's current. Between advice details on electronic charts, AC and the internet, I got a better sense of what to expect on my ipad sitting in Gloucester Harbor. Best source for my first trip was Bostonsailingclub.com (it's great btw, anybody use it?)

It's been years since I hovered in current waiting for bridges to open. I'm glad I waited for HW. Current flows in both ways. Easy stuff for motorboats but my boat with sketchy reverse direction, is cumbersome when you have to make it sit still. Sure enough as I hovered, invisible southbound traffic cleared and the bridgtender then gave me the go.

Once inside, it's a pretty neat tickle of water. I was alone so 2 chartplotters(one close detail, one zoomed out), and the depth sounder, were key as I had to stay put in the narrow channel with boats around me. You can see the bottom just outside of the channel at HW, so pay attention! The Railroad Bridge is a bit tight(especially for your mast) but it was near slack and the tender was great in telling me when to go(he can see southbound traffic, you can't).

Once through the bridges(the last one if fixed at 65') you can relax, as long as you stay in the channel. There's an eclectic mix of housing inside, a few mansions, a few houseboats. Wrecks lined the channel here where the depths were showing not much more than 4' would be here at low water.

There are a few marinas inside that I'd consider in the future. I think it would be fun to spend the night inside and do a little dinghy gunkholing and hiking. There's a lot to see and sail on Cape Ann that I've missed by going way outside in the past.

This spot was a local hangout for swimming. Nice beach and I saw on AC that it's possible to anchor here for the night. A little tricky with the current, but I like a challenge.